One of the main jobs of an architect is to administrate the project that he/she has designed: construction administration is essential for architects. An architect simply can’t step away from the administration for his or her own construction project since that’s abdicating responsibility for one’s own work.
If you’ve ever met an architect, his/her temperament is not so different from an artist. They may not design abstract paintings or compose music, but they regard their designs as works of art which take into account the environment, living spaces and other factors that make a space livable in the first place.
What is Construction Administration?
Construction administration is the follow-up to the final design of the project. After the blueprints have been made, sealed, and handed off to the contractors, the construction work can begin. The client then forms a relationship with the contractor. However, the architect shouldn’t be asked to completely recuse himself/herself from the project because they need to know if the construction process is following their design. If not, the project may suffer from shortcomings that can negatively impact the structure.
What Occurs During Construction Administration?
Architects have a lot of responsibilities during the administration of a construction project. The basics include tracking project stages and visiting the construction sites. They also have to ensure that the right materials are being used for the structure and that the materials are up to the specifications that they sanctioned.
If there are any changes that have been made or need to be made, they have to be there to rectify the negative impact that could affect the building. They have to sign the documentation to record changes to the schedule or the materials being used in the project. During the project, any applications for payments from the contractor have to be approved by the architect and have to be in accordance with the work that has been completed already.
Construction Administration Can’t Be Given to the Contractor
As shown above, architects have so many project responsibilities, which is why construction administration is essential for architects to do their jobs effectively. Nonetheless, it’s very common these days to hand these tasks completely to the contractor, even though the architect is much more capable of supervising the project.
The contractor is strictly practical with their approach since they don’t care much about the design. The main job of a contractor is completing the assignment on time and saving the most money on the project.
An Architect Deserves to See His/Her Vision Through
The pure creative drive by which the architect operates ensures that he/she puts in the best work and that the final product is as true to the vision as possible. Taking that away from the architect means surrendering to the industrial, “colder” part of construction altogether.
Only an artist can understand the pure aesthetics of the design, and in most cases, a contractor is not an artist in the same way that an architect is. This isn’t a flaw in the work ethic of the contractor; instead, it’s an element of his job to get the work done in as little time and with as little investment as possible in order to be more efficient.
Architects Need to Take Back Their Domain
Architects are partially to blame for the fact that they don’t have the reins to their projects anymore. They have grown complacent and haven’t demanded to be featured for the remainder of the project after the designs have been finalized.
If they take ownership and responsibility of the project that they designed more forcefully, this will not only be better for the customer but also better for the building.
Architects are licensed professionals that are involved in the construction of every project so that the firm that employs them isn’t legally exposed. It’s, therefore, their responsibility to follow through with the plans that they designed and make sure that the building is constructed as they’ve imagined it to be.
Contractors don’t understand the intricacies of building design; neither is it their vocation. They’re there to follow the plans that have already been designed. However, in order to do that, architects have to intervene. Architects are responsible for the building site and the people who will occupy it. They’re also responsible for the safety and the livelihoods of the people that are working on the building. Hence, they need to emphasize to others how construction administration is essential for architects to make sure the building is of high quality.
Aside from being designers and artists, architects are also administrators. This is a stressful job, without a doubt, but there is a definite need for architects to do it since they can do it so well if they put their minds to it. In order for architects to do this job better, they can take advantage of the newest technologies that are being introduced in construction, such as hiring a virtual assistant.
Virtual assistants can help complete paperwork, do tough calculations, and perform research. To learn more about how virtual assistants can help you with construction administration, contact us today.
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