JA WEIR ASSOCIATES Professional Services Offered | ||
Traditional Consulting
Traditional consulting has been practiced for decades here in the United States. It allows the consultant to assist the Architect in the system choice or simple design of the exterior wall and, by reviewing the progress drawings through the Schematic, Design Development and Construction Document phases as well as interacting with the various consulting disciplines in meetings, ensure the design intent for the system is clear, concise and well documented. We also provide the appropriate specification sections which are fully coordinated with the overall construction document package produced by the design team. This design is taken out to bid and, once a contract is awarded, we begin the process of reviewing drawings and other submissions, participating in the performance mock up testing phase and undertaking both factory and site observations. Traditional consulting would then be broken down into the following phases:
Design Schematic Design Design Development Construction Documents
Bid (Tender) Pre-Bid Services Bid Review
Construction Administration Submission Review Performance Mock Up Testing Factory and Site Observations | Design Consulting
Design consulting encompasses many of the same services used in traditional consulting. The main difference is that the actual design of the exterior wall is documented by the consultant instead of by the Architect as it traditionally is. We offer this option to allow the Architect to concentrate on the overall project design and not get mired down in the detail drafting process. Design consulting would then be broken down into the following phases:
Design Schematic Design Design Development Bid Document Generation Construction Documents
Bid (Tender) Pre-Bid Services Bid Review
Construction Administration Submission Review Performance Mock Up Testing Factory and Field Observations
There are various levels of design that can be undertaken for the Architect. We can design the system in general terms and provide basic CAD details for inclusion into the architectural drawings. We can also build a complete bid package which can go out with the appropriate contract document sections to enable the exterior wall to be bid early and separate from the other portions of the project. | Due Diligence and Forensic Many Clients either do not construct their buildings or supplement their portfolios with purchasing existing properties. We are often called upon by these Clients directly or through a property assessment company to provide a condition survey on the exterior wall of the property under consideration for purchase (or sale). Our services include a review of all historic documentation of the exterior wall (including architectural and subcontract shop drawings) and an interview with the building engineering personnel to form a preliminary picture of the exterior wall. We then review the condition of the exterior wall from by non-destructive means on both the interior and exterior of the building; physically reviewing the wall from a swing stage, boom lift or, in the case of adjacent buildings, from a building roof or setback. Additional research is undertaken on materials and, quite often, the original construction of the project. This work culminates in a report which is issued to the Client for use. We also remain available for conference calls and queries by the various parties.
In the case of a forensic review, the same work is undertaken as in the due diligence service though we are working more to find the cause of issues being experienced with the exterior wall versus just an idea of its condition. This service typically requires some destructive investigation as well as water testing and individual material testing. Once the cause (or causes) of the existing problem has been identified, a repair scheme is determined, a sample area repaired, the work bid and a contractor is brought on board to undertake the work. |
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