Construction & Evaluation
Construction & Evaluation
Construction and evaluation covers bidding and negotiation, contract administration, site observation, submittals, RFIs, change orders, payment certification, substantial and final completion, closeout, and post-occupancy evaluation. The architect observes for general conformance with contract documents but does not supervise means, methods, safety, or the contractor's schedule. Key documents include the schedule of values, AIA G702/G703 payment applications, retainage, lien waivers, shop drawings, O&M manuals, warranties, and as-built records. Substantial completion triggers owner use, warranty start, and punch-list work; final completion releases retainage and closes the contract.
Traps: saying the architect "guarantees" the work by visiting the site or approving submittals; confusing substantial completion with final completion; and forgetting that change orders require written authorization and may affect time and cost. Another trap is certifying payment without verifying stored materials or retainage. Also, the contractor-not the architect-is responsible for jobsite safety.
Worked example: contract sum $1,000,000, retainage 10%, completed work $300,000, approved stored materials $20,000. Earned amount is $320,000; retainage is $32,000; certificate for payment is $288,000, subject to prior payments and any withholdings. Rule of thumb: payment certification = earned amount − retainage − prior payments, and never certify beyond the contract sum without an approved change order.