OVERVIEW

Everyone involved in a building project wants it to be successful. This includes the stakeholders, design team, architects, engineers, contractors, lawyers, and sub-consultants. However, it is not enough to ‘want’; there are key design factors that determine whether a building project will turn out to be successful or not. The purpose of this book is to highlight those factors that can make or mar a building project. These factors affect all kinds of building projects regardless of budget, size, or opportunity. Inside, you will find solutions to factors that contribute to errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the bid documents so that they may be corrected prior to construction.  

As far as building projects are concerned, everyone is responsible regardless of what role or function. Any error that is not discovered at any stage can go on to affect other areas. Often time, the error snowballs into multiple problems.  For instance, a simple flaw in the contract documents can metamorphose into a design flaw that can end up undermining the entire project. Smart developers, architects and contractors understand and appreciate the value of a clear and concise set of bid documents.
It should be said at this point that there are no perfect sets of documents. As all humans are involved, there is bound to be some measure of deficiency. This book exists to reduce those deficiencies to the barest minimum and to provide added value with recommended corrective measures and tools that the reader can take action on existing projects.

The world of architecture and construction is rife with design flaws that are usually kept secret from building owners, owner representatives, procurement officers, and facility managers. The results are unplanned cost overruns, inaccurate cost estimates, design errors, added time, and reduced resources.  A careful study of this book will reveal the inner workings of the design and construction industry. This will help you understand how construction projects are planned, frequent design flaws, and how to optimize contract documents. The principles in this book were distilled from years of experience and constant learning. They are specially curated to help the seasoned and non-trade professionals spot built-in problems and flaws that typically escape the untrained eyes.

The goal of this book is to help you save time, money, and resources. If your building project works out without major disputes, delays, or surprises, then this book will have achieved its purpose. The content of this book includes design and construction secrets, problematic design issues, case studies and solutions. While you can begin at any chapter, it is advisable that you go through the book sequentially. This will provide a gradual but sure reveal into the inner workings of the design and construction industry.     

By reading this book, you are taking the first step towards managing and reducing construction errors relevant to your building project!