After the voters approve a ballot proposal for new construction or renovation, the school board will hire professionals to design and build the facility. The architect will propose a design that reflects the board’s intent and stakeholder input. The construction manager (CM) will guide the board through the construction process, which will translate the board approved architectural design into a completed structure. The board should hire a qualified architect and construction manager who will provide the best and most professional services possible from the beginning of the design process through the project’s completion. Both firms should commit to serve the board, and by extension, those the board represents, namely all district stakeholders. What follows are a few suggestions the board should consider when hiring an architect or construction manager.
In my experience, the school board often favors firms who are located within or near the district. The board wishes to spend construction dollars, which can be considerable, in the local community. Although this is an admirable sentiment, it may not always be best when it comes to hiring an architect or construction manager.
The school board is well advised to secure an architect with school construction experience. Constructing or renovating a school (or other facility intended to serve staff and students), is different from other structures. There can be specific state or local codes, requirements, and considerations that can best be interpreted by an architect with experience in school construction. The board should seek a firm that provides complete design and engineering services to insure in-house coordination of all aspects of the project. The board’s proposal request should require the architect to include documentation of successfully completed school construction or renovation projects and references.
The construction manager, like the architect, should have school construction experience. The CM will work with suppliers, skilled trades, subcontractors, and state or local inspectors on the board’s behalf. An experienced construction manager can advise the board on the ability of suppliers, skilled trades and subcontractors to provide quality materials and timely services, as well as inspection procedures. The board also should require the construction manager’s proposal to include documentation of successfully completed school construction or renovation projects and references.
The school board should expect the architect and construction manager to carefully monitor the project to insure that it is well-planned, coordinated, timely, efficient, and correct. The board should expect periodic reports from both to advise the board of any issues or concerns.
The staff, parents, students, and community expect the school board to provide leadership during school construction. The board also must account for the efficient use of voter authorized tax dollars. An important first step for board leadership and accountability is to hire a full service architect and construction manager with experience in the successful planning, execution, and completion of a school construction or renovation project.
