Working with the Dark Side a'k'a' Engineers

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Working with the Dark Side(a.k.a. Engineers)

• Breakfast Briefing

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Agenda

• Mindsets Matter
• Taxonomy of Engineers
• Project Milestones
• Changes Errors
• Nightmares Fantasies
• CAD Coordination Basics

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Mindsets Matter

• Successful Architect
• On the Cover

Successful Engineer NOT on the Cover
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Result of Mindset

• Motivation focused on reducing risk
• To Career, Project Client
• Has difficulty with subjective opinions

If respect and appreciation is present on both
sides of the equation then communication flows
naturally and does not need checklists to make
coordination happen.  Perceived lack of
respect/appreciation by Architects leads to
bunker mentality by engineershunker down,
wait out the war, and above all.stay defensive.
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Taxonomy of Engineers

• Engineers Engineer
• Fluff Bluff Engineer
• Expert Engineer
• Designer-engineer
• Fresh out of College engineer
• Veteran Project Engineer
• Superstar Engineer

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Engineering Types

• Engineers Engineer loves calculations, has
  tremendous capacity for detail cannot see the
  forest for the trees - often misinterprets thrust
  of questions, etc.
• Fluff Bluff Engineer talks a great game,
  works well in the conceptual design arena is
  derided by peer engineers, high incidence of
  technical incompetence

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Engineering Types

• Expert Engineer has depth of theoretical
  understanding practical experience in a
  particular system or issue is the go to
  person when a thorny issue crops us can lead a
  project out of control if not managed.
• Designer-Engineer engineer without a degree
  that came up through the ranks as a CAD drafter
  then designer is generally the best resource
  for physical layout and construction
  documentation can make fundamental mistakes.

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Engineering Types

• College Grad quick to learn, fast on CAD, often
  highly competent in calculations absolutely no
  physical clue as to what they are drawing
  REPRESENTS 1 SOURCE OF ENGINEERING AND
  DOCUMENTATION FOR MOST LARGER FIRMS
• Veteran in the business 15 years, generally
  okay in all arenas (drawing, specifications,
  design, client communications, etc.), has enough
  war stories to be reasonably careful, can work
  okay in conceptual study environment, can resolve
  field problems to conclusion is known to draw
  on his/her engineering peers extensively for
  advice.
• Superstar functions well in all arenas tends
  to populate top ranks (director, partner, owner)
  value diminishes as attention to projects is
  spread thin

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Project Milestones

• Project Formation
• Block Stacking
• Architectural DDs
• Architectural CDs
• Value Engineering
• Bid Buy-Out
• Construction

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Project Formation

• Infrastructure Impact
• Cost vs. Quality
• Budget
• Design Schedule
• Team Building

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Block Stacking

• Know basic elements of Systems (checklist)
  (size system)
• Make sure everything fits roughly
• Understand Main Distribution
• Block layout equipment rooms
• Note visible elements

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Architectural DDs

• Final system decided
• Further Client Buy-In
• Main Distribution
• Final block layouts
• Begin Specifications

Nothing is Final Nothing Gets Done
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Architectural CDs

• Partitions (in stone)
• Life Safety (ratings code)
• RCP (heights types)
• Lights (layout selection)
• T/E Plans (user code)
• Fixtures (who specs?

Oops.the duct is 48 deep, not 4..the
substation is larger because of HVACmore
plumbing stacks are needed, rooftop dunnage,
etc..etc
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Value Engineering

• Conceptual Pricing Limited Use
• Once CDs have Started NO GO
• Process can be gamed
• Quality vs. Cost / Cost vs. Risk

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Post Documentation

• Bid Buy-Out
• Large or High-Risk Projects
• O/A/E/C Team relationship forged
• Additional VE Identified
• Meetings can reveal EO in advance
• Smaller Projects
• Non-formal lines of communication established
• Chance to explain design decisions
• Litmus test for potential problems

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Post Documentation

• Construction
• Field Issues
• Engineers like to review internally
• Behind-the-scenes buy-in / communication
• Change order environment is key
• Field Visits
• Informal visits result in better contractor
  relations
• Engineer as resource for installer (sounding
  board)
• Owner gets sense of coverage

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Errrs Omisions

• Minor Changes
• Fact of Life
• No Change Orders / Fee ASRs
• Three strikes your out rule
• Contractors prefer changes packaged together
• Major Changes
• Hold on to your Hats..its EXPENSIVE
• YES.. Change Orders Fee ASRs
• Big Change Perceived Risk
• Systems are interactive Changes Propagate

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Errrs Omisions

• True Errors
• Hard to Pin Down an Engineer
• Defense of Career / Reputation
• Look for Smoke Screens / Shift on Contractor
  Opinion
• Best Relationships Open acknowledgment
• Reduce the Defensive Reflex
• Elicit the context of the EO
• Establish the project impact (time money)
• Decide on a Mutual strategy

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Engineers Nightmares

• The non-reality Architect
• Seeks design purity aesthetic nirvana
• Does not appreciate ugly facts of reality
• The change happy Architect
• Designs by Addendum
• Kills profit
• Increases Risk of being Blamed for COs

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Engineers Fantasy

• An Architect with a Design Vision
• Makes entire team stretch beyond normal range
• Results in project beyond original conceptions
• An Architect that Understands Engineers
• Plans space for systems
• Orchestrates communication on issues
• Knows when to engage let engineers lay low

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CAD Coordination Basics

• Titleblock
• Need as separate file
• Need room of our logo disclaimer language
• Need formal issue dates / titles
• Demolition Background
• Demo partitions on separate layer
• Demo RCP on separate layer
• Room name/numbers on separate layer
• Descriptive text on separate layer

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CAD Coordination Basics

• New Work Background
• Same separation of layers as demo
• T/E outlets indicated special heights IDd
• Lights laid out, tagged scheduled catalog
  cuts available
• P fixtures shown you schedule or we schedule
  catalog cuts available
• Ceiling heights coordinated
• Life safety partition plans indicated smoke
  partitions, 1 HR, 2 HR partitions

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Coordination Intermediate

• Vendor Information
• Powered furniture need power connection details
• Special Equipment (lg. copiers, etc) need cuts
• Kitchenettes Refrigerator, Coffee, Filter,
  Dishwasher
• Kitchens Kitchen consultant drawings all info
• IT Rooms Equipment heat loads power
  reliability
• Reception desks power in millwork, etc.
• Security power for devices, maglocks, card
  readers
• PA / Etc. Other misc. systems Power Pathways

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Thanks!
www.hpegroup.com