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David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 998
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 07:57 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I have an Owner's representative that would like us to change our Documents to "Project 1, 2, 3, etc." instead of "Phase 1, 2, 3, etc.". Is there a really good reason not to do this change, other than it is silly and a waste of time?
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 757
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 08:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

well, except for the fact that the "project" is actually defined in the contract for construction as being a specific portion of work. go back to your contract for your services and also the Owner/Contractor agreement and see what those documents call the project. if the project is actually defined as multiple "projects" then I suppose there's some point to the exercise. (I'm betting the contracts aren't written that way, though.)
Richard Baxter, AIA, CSI
Senior Member
Username: rbaxter

Post Number: 75
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 09:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

A ‘phase’ usually defines a distinct portion of the overall project work, from beginning to closeout. Phased work usually requires input from the selected general contractor and therefore generally requires a single contract for all phases. I’m right now working on project that includes 2 projects, each with several construction phases, and the fast track projects are also divided into bid packages. Needless to say, it gets very confusing.

“Phase” is also the standard term used to describe the different stages of the design process (design development phase, schematic phase, construction phase, etc.)

If the owner wants the contract documents bid as entirely separate contracts, it makes sense to call each one a project. If there is only one contract, it makes more sense to call the portions of the work “packages”. I hear the terms “work package, bid package, and permit package’ used depending on how the project architects are issuing the documents.

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