When writing construction specifications what is really important the format or content? Listening to some design teams, it seems lack of consistent format generate the greatest anxiety. Why is this? Well architects are generally visual creatures...
Format? OR Content?
by David Stutzman | Nov 3, 2014 | CSI, MasterFormat, PageFormat, Professional Practice, SectionFormat, Specifications
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
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..
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,..
Simplex or Duplex - Reducing Spec Volume
by David Stutzman | Jul 22, 2013 | CSI, Duplex, font, Hard Copy, Macro, PageFormat, Practice Guide, Professional Practice, Publishing, Simplex, Specifications, typeface
We started a new project this week with a familiar client. One of the first things we do is to set the specifications formatting instructions for the entire team. Since it was a repeat client, we copied the previous format, updated the project..
How Perfect Must Specifications Be?
by David Stutzman | Aug 13, 2012 | CSI, MasterFormat, PageFormat, Practice Guide, Professional Practice, SectionFormat, Spec language, Specifications
I would like to produce perfect documents every time. However, I remember Hal Barcus, one of my architecture professors saying, "Architecture is never done; you just run out of time, patience, or money." As a student, I didn't appreciate the valuable..
SectionFormat and PageFormat 2008
by David Stutzman | Aug 8, 2010 | CSI, MasterSpec, PageFormat, Practice Group, SectionFormat, Specifications, Specifying Practice Group, SpecText
Fifty-three members of CSI's Specifying Practice Group met August 5 to discuss the updates for two of CSI's formatting documents: SectionFormat and PageFormat. The meeting included wonderful discussion and interaction among the members while reviewing..