The construction industry in general and the architectural profession specifically, seem to enjoy the same challenge on every project. You would think the challenge is about the design - trying to optimize the response to the owner's program and the..
Reinventing? Let's Standardize!
by David Stutzman | Dec 16, 2013 | contract documents, CSI, MasterFormat, Outline Specs, PageFormat, PPDFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), SectionFormat, Specifications, standards, UniFormat
PPD - Basic Organization
by David Stutzman | Oct 21, 2013 | basis of design, CSI, Design Development, MasterFormat, Outline Specs, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Schematic Design, UniFormat
Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD) are a formal method of presenting construction project data in a consistent, organized fashion. PPDs are arranged by element name, functional requirements, and system components - using the same organization as..
It's a Digital World
by David Stutzman | Oct 7, 2013 | contract documents, CSI, Division 01, Drawings, Outline Specs, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Publishing, Specifications
Linking BIM and Specs Through PPDs
by David Stutzman | Sep 16, 2013 | BIM, CSI, MasterFormat, outline spec, Outline Specs, PPD, PPDFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Revit, Specifications, UniFormat
Technology provides a means to connect data. Standards provide the organizations that make the data connections meaningful.
Specifications Formats & Processes
by David Stutzman | Aug 12, 2013 | AIA, contract documents, CSI, MasterFormat, outline spec, Outline Specs, PageFormat, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, AIA B101, Architect, SectionFormat, Specifications
Construction specifications contain data, lots of data. These data must be easily found by the hundreds of individuals involved in any construction project - not just the architect and contractor, but the subcontractors, materials distributors,..
Specification Work Flow
by David Stutzman | Jul 15, 2013 | Computing, Construction Administration, Construction Documents, Design Development, Master Specifications, outline spec, Outline Specs, PPD, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Quality Assurance, Schematic Design, Automation, Specifications, word processing
It's linear - just like design! Start at the beginning and finish at the end. Straight line. No sidesteps. No circling back. No changed minds. Smooth sailing start to finish.
Who Controls Project Schedules?
by David Stutzman | Jun 17, 2013 | Division 01, outline spec, Outline Specs, Professional Practice, Progress Documents, Schedules, Schematic Design, Architect, Specifications, Work Plan
As a consultant to architects, primarily, we must react to schedules set by someone else. It may be the owner, architect, construction manager, or contractor. We never have any say in the project schedule, but are responsible for meeting all the..
Building Design and Documentation Are Iterative
by David Stutzman | Feb 11, 2013 | CSI, Design Development, outline spec, Outline Specs, PPD, PPDFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions (PPD), Professional Practice, Schematic Design, AIA CES, Specifications, UniFormat
Building design starts with a concept, a sketch at a macro scale. At the first stroke of the designer's hand, there is no concern for concrete strength, nor concrete as a building material. The initial sketch may be a simple massing study to determine..
Are Outline Specs Necessary?
by David Stutzman | Jan 7, 2013 | AIA, CSI, Design Development, Estimate, Guide Spec, outline spec, Outline Specs, PPD, Professional Practice, Schematic Design, Specifications
A very good question. By searches on this blog, it is one question that definitely wants to be answered. Something must be necessary, but is it really an outline specification?
Multipurpose Design Documents
by David Stutzman | Oct 15, 2012 | agreement, AIA, contract documents, CSI, Design, Design Considerations, Drawings, outline spec, Outline Specs, Specifications, SpecText
What documents are architects obligated to produce? The obvious answer may be drawings, of course, to show what design must be constructed. Under AIA Owner-Architect Agreement documents, in addition to drawings, the architect must produce outline..