Resolving Project Disputes (CE) (PjM) (PDD)

A few precautions put in place, and attention paid to a few key details and processes, will go a long way toward reducing conflicts in a construction project. They will also facilitate the architect’s administration and resolution of the same.

There is an interesting scripture that states, "Woe unto this world because of offenses for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man, by whom the offence cometh." There will always be conflicts wherever large sums of money are being spent. There are also some truly contentious people who enjoy strife, but thankfully, they are rare.

Conflicts will happen. But it is far better to be the peacemaker on the site than one causing the conflict. That is where the designation of the architect as the initial decision maker, becomes less a source of stress and more of a blessing. Because the scriptures also say, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

• Explain how an architect must balance competing interests on a job site
• Recognize the behaviors on-site that an architect should avoid, because of potential liability
• Discuss what is meant by the work adhering to the design intent
• Determine what are acceptable delays, for which a contractor should have the time of the project extended
• Assess the ramifications to the owner and the project, of requiring work to be uncovered and possibly corrected
• Summarize the differences between mediation, arbitration, and litigation

Paul Spite, BS, BA
AFD Consulting, Founder and Principal

Paul is a Registered Architect with over forty years of experience, a course developer and has been a teacher in multiple venues in the past. He is also a writer in many venues, having developed many studies, a few published articles, numerous short stories, multiple screenplays, two non-fiction manuals for church design and one novel. More to the focus of this endeavor, Paul has also created presentations for twenty-six lunch and learn presentations for building material manufacturers, webinars covering the subjects of Aging-in-Place and Architectural Acoustics and eleven distance learning courses for architects, engineers and contractors. As he nears retirement from managing his small architectural practice, Paul hopes to focus even more of his energy on teaching and on course development.