Glossary
Addendum: An addition or revision to the "Construction Documents" issued after the project has been bid but before the contract is signed. It becomes a binding part of the contract.
Additional Services: Any service by the Architect not specified in the contract. Typically this includes presentations, meeting, and design studies over and above.
Allowance: A lump sum or unit cost that is held in the bid to allow for items to be chosen or designed later in the construction process, or to cover unknown costs.
Alternate: A portion of the project that is bid separately. This allows the final decision to include or delete the alternate to be made based on final pricing.
Application for Payment: Formal procedure where the Architect certifies that the Contractor has completed the amount of work he is asking to be paid for, prior to the Owner submitting payment to the Contractor.
Architect's Supplemental Instructions: Formal procedure for clarifications, corrections, or information to be communicated from the Architect to the Contractor.
As-built Drawings: Drawings showing the final completed project, including all changes during construction.
Builder's Risk Insurance: A specialized form of property insurance that provides coverage for loss or damage to the work during the course of construction.
Building Construction Cost: Cost of building only, not including "FF&E", design fees, or "construction contingency".
Certificate of Substantial Completion: Architect's certification that the building is complete, except for final punch list items.
Change Order: An addition or revision to the "Construction Documents" issued after the contract has been signed. Typically, a proposal of the cost change is received from the Contractor prior to it being prepared by the Architect, and approved by the Owner and the Architect.
Construction Change Directive: An addition or revision to the "Construction Documents" issued after the contract has been signed. This is rarely used, usually when there is a safety or timeframe concern.
Construction Contingency: Money set aside by the Owner to cover any unforeseen design omissions or problematic conditions encountered during construction.
Construction Documents: The "Construction Drawings" and "Specifications" that tell how the building goes together. These form the basis of the contractual agreement between the Owner and the Contractor.
Construction Document Phase (CD): Phase of the design process where the details of how the building is put together are developed, along with final integration of all systems.
Design Development Phase (DD): Phase of the design process where the design of the floor plans and elevations are finalized. Finishes and basic interior elevations are developed. Systems are developed.
Estimating Contingency: Line item in any "Cost Estimate" to cover any unforeseen design issues or assumptions. This percentage typically decreases as the project progresses as the documents become more detailed and easier to price.
Field Report: Report by the Architect documenting site visits, and any problems or conditions noted.
FF&E (Fixtures, Furnishings, & Equipment): Items typically purchased directly by Owner and not included in basic "Building Construction Cost".
General Conditions: That part of the "Specifications " that sets forth many of the rights, responsibilities, and relationships of the parties, particularly those provisions that are common to many construction projects.
GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price): A sum established in an agreement between Owner and contactor as the maximum compensation to be paid by the Owner to the Contractor for performing specified work on the basis of the cost of labor and materials plus overhead expenses an profit.
Master Plan (MP): Phase of the design process where all major elements and phases of the plan are shown in relation to each other. Building(s) are sited, and include all programmatic information.
Owner's Rep: The designated individual who is authorized to make decisions on the Owner's behalf during the construction process.
Program: The list of spaces required by the owner, including size, adjacency, equipment, and other special needs. This is basis of the design.
Project Cost Total: project cost, including "Building Construction Cost", "FF&E" costs, "Construction Contingency", site work costs, and design fees.
Proposal Request: This is a requested change to the "Construction Documents" submitted to the Contractor for pricing, before being executed in a "Change Order".
Punch List: Final items to be completed/corrected by Contractor, after substantial completion. This usually entails the Architect and Contractor inspecting the entire building in detail.
RFI (Request for Information): Formal procedure for the Contractor to ask for clarifications or additional information needed for construction or bidding. It is typically answered via "Addendum" during the bid phase or via "Architect's Supplemental Instructions" during construction.
Schedule A: supplemental list, usually in chart form, of a project system, subsystem, or portion thereof.
Schematic Design Phase (SD): Phase of the design process where functional relationships between spaces/rooms are fully worked out. Final site relationships are developed. Basic elevations and building sections are developed. Basic systems (structural, mechanical, and electrical) are chosen.
Specifications: Written descriptions of the quality of both the products and work to be performed, which along with the "Construction Drawings" form the "Construction Documents".
Submittal: Shop drawings, product data, and product samples submitted by the Contractor to the Architect for approval, based on compliance with the "Construction Documents".
Unit Cost: A procedure to bid a portion of a project where the exact quantities are unknown at the bid date. This is a price per unit, that applies no matter how small or large the quantity executed is.