Constructing Recreation Facilities 8 chapter

Groundbreaking Before the construction begins, a groundbreaking ceremony is often held in recognition of the official start of the project. This step recognizes the project as having gained the necessary support to become a reality and initiates the construction process. The groundbreaking is a time to recognize the people and groups that helped bring the project to this stage.

Construction Documents After design documents or blueprints have been reviewed during the value assessment and engineering step, the architect creates final drawings reflecting adjustments decided on by the owner or administrator, architect, contractor, and construction manager. These revised documents are called construction documents.

Final Blueprints The final blueprints are the design documents that communicate the details of what is to be constructed. The final blueprints indicate how each component of the project is to be completed by the contractor. These documents are also copied and given to subcontractors and craftspeople to serve as their guide for constructing their part of the project.

Specification Book The specification book, or spec book, communicates the details of a project to the contractors. It provides written detailed references to the blueprints. When there are problems or misunderstandings, the spec book can clear up the differences. As the project increases in size, so does the amount of detail in the spec book.

Shop Drawings Shop drawings support blueprints and spec books. Shop drawings are another step in the construction process that assists contractors with design expectations. Shop drawings are interpretations of the blueprints by the contractor or subcontractor that are approved by the architect.

Change Orders The change order is a written design order that authorizes the contractor to make the proposed changes in the work at the construction site. These changes can have serious cost implications that all parties want to avoid. It is usually understood that if the change can be made during construction, it will be less expensive than correcting it later.

Project Schedule The content or layout of a project schedule represents all aspects of the project, including site preparation, demolition, architectural developments, electrical work, mechanical installation, landscaping, and when each stage is to be accomplished, including the day, month, and year. The project schedule could be in the form of a book or a poster displayed on a wall.

Construction Management More often than not, owners do not have the capacity to supervise a construction project, especially if it is large and complicated. Construction managers are responsible for all phases of a construction project because they have the knowledge, insight, and ability to supervise all phases of the project. This arrangement should be formalized in writing between the facility owner and the construction management company.

Construction Management Functions: Progress Meetings The construction management team schedules and conducts regular progress meetings with people in the project, where all aspects of the project are discussed in detail. Attendees are the owner or administrator, user representative, architect, vendors, contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and consultants. Any existing or potential problems should be resolved to avoid delays that can lead to greater problems.

Construction Management Functions: Coordination Coordinating the facets of a project can be challenging because of the number of workers, subcontractors, vendors, timetable requirements, unexpected problems, inspections, and weather delays that often occur. Coordination of a project is a critical role for the construction manager because delays can cost money, create tension, and negatively affect the completion schedule of a project.

Construction Management Functions: Project Schedule The project schedule is a conceptual plan that reflects every phase of the project. The construction manager’s responsibility is to keep construction progressing according to the project schedule. Work functions are identified for each part of the construction team, and timetables are established; each function is to be monitored by the construction management firm.

Construction Management Functions: Quality Check The construction manager is responsible for monitoring contractors’ work and identifying problems and then taking the necessary steps to rectify the situation. A construction manager is the agency representative and must ensure that the agency receives what is outlined in the blueprints and specification book.

Construction Management Functions: Interpreting Legal Requirements Construction managers interpret the local and state codes that must be observed during construction. The watchdog role of the construction manager occurs with electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural details and the legal codes that must be applied to each phase of the project. Failure to follow certain requirements can result in the owner or contractor being held responsible and can result in lawsuits that affect all those involved with the project.

Construction Management Functions: Inspection Construction managers are involved in scheduling and overseeing inspections that are conducted by local governing agencies. Inspections are a required part of a construction project. An inspector’s role is to act in the best interest of the future employees and users of the facility by ensuring that the construction process does not create inconveniences or dangerous situations.

Construction Management Functions: Changes The construction manager initiates change orders, and they are forwarded to the architect, who reviews and forwards the changes to the administrator for approval. After the administrator authorizes the change, it is then returned to the contractors for correction. Construction managers keep track of all change orders and coordinate when the work is to be completed.

Construction Management Functions: Site Safety and Security Construction managers play a key role with site security and safety by monitoring access, posting signs, installing tape warning barriers, and hiring guards and watchdogs to monitor the site. These security efforts must be taken seriously because of the danger and cost of any accidents that might occur.

Construction Management Functions: Visitation Those invested in a facility construction project enjoy the progress of a project. Construction managers are responsible for controlling this interest through a process called visitation. A well-planned visitation system can help with public relations while ensuring the safety of the visitors.

Final Stages Late in any construction project, after all the structural, mechanical, and electrical work is done, steps are taken to complete the facility. This fine-tuning makes the core product and core product extensions function as they were intended. The construction manager plays a key role in directing all aspects of this final stage by seeing that everything is done in a timely and proper fashion.

Final Stages: Owner or Operator Training Toward the end of a project, certain aspects of a facility, including the use of equipment, needs to be explained and its proper use demonstrated. Training is usually provided for operators of technical equipment. It may also be important for facility managers to participate in training in order to train future staff and assist in operation and maintenance of equipment and systems.

Final Stages: Maintenance Manuals Maintenance manuals provide instructions for taking care of maintenance areas and systems. This transfer of maintenance responsibility is organized by the construction manager.

Final Stages: Finishing Stage The finishing stage includes work done by the contractors that includes painting walls, installing light fixtures, hanging doors, and installing windows and floor coverings. The finishing stage is the fine-tuning of aesthetics, acoustic considerations, and other appearance details and also includes moving in equipment and furniture.

Final Stages: Key System All facilities will eventually need to be secured from inappropriate access. The extensiveness of a project will dictate just how complicated a key system will need to be. From the beginning, key access should be planned, designed, and controlled with a number or coding system to identify the specific key with an area or piece of equipment.

Key System: Keypad and Card Reading System

Final Stages: Signage A common mistake made by facility administrators is not providing adequate signage to direct users to appropriate areas. Planning and designing signage require the capacity to visualize the total use of a facility. The perspective of a first-time user should be considered when designing signage that links all areas into a logical flow that gets people to where they want to be.

Final Stages: Punch List During a final walk-through of the completed facility, usually a few items or areas do not meet design expectations, are incomplete, or are completed below acceptable standards. A punch list is a system of assessing and recording everything that is to be finalized before making a final payment to the contractor.

Final Stages: Furniture and Equipment Planning, designing, purchasing, and coordinating the installation of furniture and equipment can be one of the most demanding aspects of a facility project because many detailed decisions on furniture size, quantity, and layout have to be addressed. The administrator or owner makes many decisions regarding what the contractor will be responsible for as part of the project and what the owner will provide with separate funds.

Final Stages: Acceptance and Occupancy The final stage is coordinated by the construction manager and concludes with owner acceptance and occupancy. Often there is a need for facility employees to take over or move in while a few minor aspects of the construction process are still being completed, so they can prepare for the delivery of the core product or product extensions. The construction manager should consult with contractors to allow for this transition unless serious problems need to be resolved.

Final Stages: Opening Ceremony The opening ceremony is a culminating event or celebration that may be similar to the groundbreaking ceremony. This ceremony creates an opportunity to publicly thank everyone involved with the project as well as promote the official opening of the facility. (continued)

Final Stages: Opening Ceremony (continued)