Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Contruction, Architects and Building Commissioning

[Ann Zabaldo (zabaldo]

On Jul 27, 2007, at 11:41 AM, Sharon Villines wrote:
> http://www.architectural-support-group.com/
>
> We didn't use this firm for our engineering study because they had
> provided some project supervision and had consulted with our
> developer so we wanted a third eye. They also do commissioning and
> many other services.
>
> Sharon
> ----
> Sharon Villines
> Takoma Village Cohousing
> Washington DC
> http://www.takomavillage.org


Actually, Sharon, Architectural Support Group (ASG) was OUR third eye  
during construction for project supervision of the green and  
sustainable technologies we were installing.    ASG was on our  
payroll not the developer's.

TVC was a PATH grantee (I've forgotten what PATH stands for ... but  
it's something like:  Partnership in Advancing Technology and  
Housing).  We are also a case study for DOE's High Performance Data  
Base.

At the time of our construction we were using state of the art energy  
systems and construction materials the developer was unfamiliar  
with.  We hired one of ASG's principals to "oversee" the proper  
installation of these systems.  It was money well spent and I urge  
groups to hire an independent party to "oversee" the construction  
process in general.  Construction is a HUGELY complicated process.    
There can never be enough eyes.

In fact, when the developer of Takoma Village where Sharon and I  
live, started his second cohousing project, Eastern Village, which is  
LEED certified Silver, he INSISTED that the community hire a third  
party to represent its interests because he recognized the value of  
having such a person on board from the beginning.  It can reduce a  
lot of upset down the road when issues can be more easily addressed  
during construction than after move-in when tearing down walls and  
digging up foundations are an expensive proposition.  Eastern Village  
hired ASG.

And even when you have a third party involved from the beginning  
representing your interests you still should have a deficiency report  
done as Sharon suggests.  Buildings & building systems are very,  
very, very complicated. Third party oversight during construction and  
a deficiency study after move-in are cheap insurance.

Best --

Ann Zabaldo
Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC




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