You wouldn’t go to your dentist for oral surgery without asking exactly what procedures he or she will be performing and what it will cost, would you? But this is exactly the trap that many architectural and engineering consultants fall into—neglecting to provide a specific list of services that they will perform as part of their contract. Outlining your scope of services is important to helping reduce professional liability and risk as well as boost your bottom line. To avoid surprises, it is important to nail down exactly what you are going to do—including a list of additional services you
The cost of construction materials jumped in March, even as the amount contractors charge to complete projects remained stagnant, according to a recent analysis of producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. “Price shocks for a number of key construction materials may have caught contractors by surprise in a period when overall inflation remained very moderate,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Even though the increases are generally small compared to the high levels of last March, contractors have not been able to pass along these new costs, putting firms at risk of
Among the Colorado Dept. of Transportation’s plans for construction this summer in the Denver metro area is the start of a $310-million safety and capacity improvement project on U.S. 36—the state’s largest road construction project of the year. In all, CDOT says there will be more than 40 active construction projects in the Denver metro area this summer, totaling over $600 million. While a large number of projects are continuing from last year, there are several projects that will begin in the coming weeks or later this summer:• U.S. 36 between Federal Boulevard and 88th Street: The $310-million design-build project
The Regional Transportation District broke ground on April 11 on a 1,000-space parking structure at 14th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood. The four-story structure will serve riders of the RTD FasTracks West Rail Line and the existing RTD bus system. The Lakewood-Wadsworth station is expected to be utilized by 5,530 riders on weekdays. The structure is being built by Swinerton Builders Colorado and is scheduled to open in May 2013, along with the West Rail Line.The parking structure is designed to maximize sustainable features such as low water-use landscaping, bicycle parking and provisions for future solar panels and plug-in
Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison and JE Dunn Construction recently topped out The Pinnacles student apartment complex, a 92,000-sq-ft project that will include 54 apartments and accommodate up to 226 tenants. Rendering courtesy of Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects The 92,000-sq-ft Pinnacles project will include 54 apartments and accommodate up to 226 tenants. JE Dunn is the general contractor for the project that broke ground last summer. The $16-million project includes the demolition of outdated Coronado, Beckwith and Keating Halls and is expected to be completed before the 2012-13 school year.Two WSC representatives participating in the topping out ceremony were
Denver’s JE Dunn Construction, a commercial general contractor, recently completed two medical office buildings (Medical Plaza 1 and 2) on the St. Anthony Medical Campus in Lakewood, Colo. Combined, the Medical Plaza buildings total approximately 197,000 sq ft. Courtesy of JE Dunn Construction Medical Plaza 1 and 2 are four-story buildings totaling 96,804 sq ft and 101,581 sq ft, respectively. Adjacent to St. Anthony’s full-service hospital and Level 1 trauma center, the buildings offer a variety of outpatient, health care and other medical services. Designed by Denver’s Davis Partnership Architects PC, Medical Plaza 1 and 2 are four-story buildings totaling 96,804
Colorado State University says it has retained global design firm Populous as an architectural consultant on the university’s new football stadium project. With offices around the globe, including Kansas City and Denver, Populous specializes in designing arenas, stadiums, ballparks and convention centers. The firm has designed more than 80 projects for U.S. colleges and universities, including TCF Bank Stadium, an on-campus stadium completed in 2009 for the University of Minnesota. TCF Bank Stadium is the first football stadium to achieve LEED-Silver certification. The firm is also designing a new on-campus stadium for Baylor University.“Populous has tremendous experience designing stadiums around
Contracts of adhesion have nothing to do with mastic, glue or paste. Instead, they are something that contractors, particularly those who engage in contracting with public entities, should know about. One of the definitions of a contract of adhesion is that it is a contract “ . . . presented on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, commonly in a standardized printed form, without opportunity for the ‘adhering’ party to negotiate more reasonable terms except perhaps on a few particulars.” The significance of that type of contract is that some of the terms of contracts of adhesion may not be legally enforceable.A recent
As we have already seen this spring, Mother Nature delays construction. The issue, though, is whether weather delays are severe enough for contractors to legitimately and successfully seek a contractual time extension. Several events can secure extensions for weather-related delays—which typically are not compensable, but they can grant relief from liquidated damages. However, not just any bad weather justifies a contractual time extension. Rather, the delay must be caused by exceptionally inclement weather—historically bad weather comparable to record events maintained by the National Weather Service.So, your first step: visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.weather.gov) and examine records to
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had increased in February, pulled back slightly in March. The index now stands at 70.2 (1985=100), down from 71.6 in February. The Present Situation Index, however, increased to 51.0 from 46.4. The Expectations Index declined to 83.0 from 88.4 in February. Consumers’ appraisal of current conditions improved in March. Those claiming business conditions are “good” increased 14.3% from 13.7%. However, those claiming business conditions are “bad” also increased, to 32.7% from 31.7%. Consumers’ assessment of the job market was mixed. Those saying jobs are “plentiful” increased to 9.4% from 7.0%, while those stating
RSS
