Architect seeking specifications advice

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Author Message Cyril Chong New member Username: ccarchitect Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2024 Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - 03:31 am:    Hello, I am an architect designing a 4,000 SF community center in Northern California. This is my first major project since I have gone independent as a sole proprietor. In the past, when I was working on larger projects for other firms, we always hired a spec writer who produced project manuals upwards of hundreds of pages. Now I am on my own, and given the relatively small size of my project, I want to seek advice on how I should proceed with specs now we are going to start on Design Development. Larger spec writing firms may not be interested in working on small projects and the project itself probably does not require a full-blown 400-page specs. I understand that there are spec writing softwares/platforms such as RIB speclink or Deltek. Are these softwares suitable for architect who does not have any spec writing experience? Is there one that has a shallow learning curve for someone who has never written a spec before? I would certainly prefer to work with a professional spec writer if I could, since I don't want to make any critical mistakes that will likely happen if I jump into a realm that I am not familiar with. Any advice would be highly appreciated. (alternatively if you want to recommend someone or yourself please let me know) Loretta Sheridan Senior Member Username: leshrdn Post Number: 172 Registered: 11-2021 Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - 08:58 am:    There is a professional organization, Specifications Consultants in Independent Practice, most of the member of which are independent specification writers. There is a "Find a Specifier" link on the site which gives you options of parameters for looking. That would be a great place to start. Best wishes! Loretta Sheridan Senior Member Username: leshrdn Post Number: 173 Registered: 11-2021 Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - 09:00 am:    And I forgot to include the website: www.scip.com Edward R Heinen CSI CDT CCS LEED-AP Senior Member Username: edwardheinen Post Number: 25 Registered: 04-2022 Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - 10:08 am:    A few insights and recommendations: Consider not just the project, but your business. Develop an overall approach to specifications resources that support your design contracts, and stage those design contracts to inform your resource, as a continuous part of your business plan. Options include 1) produce specs in-house, 2) hire an outside consultant. Many firms produce specs in-house, but lack expertise and the time to produce specs consistently and reliably. As a sole practitioner, you have an unlimited amount of non-billable time for new learning, but specifying can take many years of hard work to become fully competent. RIB Speclink is a pretty good option. It has become more useful to users who are not trained specifiers. Although there is always a learning curve, they engage consulting practitioners that provide webinars, and they provide a certain amount of help to subscribers. MasterSpec used to have a product called "Small Project" but I don't know where that stands. If you hire an outside consultant, you can propose to work on a transactional basis. Better yet though, build trusting collaborative relationships with your consultants, which is very much the going approach these days. Experienced, qualified consulting specifiers should be able to take on projects of all types and sizes. Specifying is more than just technical editing. All must be coordinated and aligned with proposed contracts, construction project delivery, and regulatory requirements. Start the process by planning project delivery in pre-design, or at least SD. For best results, use best practices from the best sources. The Construction Specifications Institute is the go-to source for specifying practice standards and expertise, through local chapters, certification training programs, and well-established publications. Peter Jordan (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - 10:57 am:    Jordan Consultants does projects of all sizes and although we are based in Texas we have produced specifications for projects in Hawaii. We also have specification formats for small projects where the volume of specs is less than 100 pages. Keep in mind that private projects that use contractors whose work you are familiar with may require less. Alternatively, public projects that are publicly bid may require a more robust project manual. Contact Holly A. Jordan FCSI CCS LEED AP BD+C (hjordan@jordanconsultants.com) if you are interested in more information.