Responsibilities of the Owner’s
Representative in a Construction
Project
Jonathan Franklin
University of Washington School of Law
Jim Hambleton
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
The Players
 Owner
& owner’s representative
 Architect
Interior design & furniture consultant
Acoustical & lighting consultants
 Contractor
Construction manager
Project supervisor
Owner’s Representative
§ 3.2
The Owner shall designate … a
representative who shall have express
authority to bind the Owner with respect
to all matters requiring the Owner’s
approval or authorization.
The Design Pieces
 The
program
 ABA Standards 701 – 704
 Defining your program




Pre-design
Schematic design
Design development
Construction documents
ABA Standards
 701:
General requirements
 702:
Law Library
 703:
Research & study space
 704:
Technological Capacities
The Design Pieces
 The
program
 ABA Standards 701 – 704
 Defining your program




Pre-design
Schematic design
Design development
Construction documents
The Construction Pieces

RFI: request for information

PCO: proposed change order

PR: proposal request
The Construction Pieces

RFI: request for information

PCO: proposed change order

PR: proposal request

Submittal
The Construction Pieces

RFI: request for information

PCO: proposed change order

PR: proposal request

Submittal

Punch list
The Process: Construction
Weekly OAC Meeting
 Attendees:
players plus subcontractors
 Agenda:
Construction schedule
PCO log
Old business
New business
RFI log
Submittal log
The Process: Construction
Weekly OAC Meeting
 Attendees:
players plus subcontractors
The Process: Construction
Weekly OAC Meeting
 Attendees:
players plus subcontractors
 Agenda:
Construction schedule
The Process: Construction
Weekly OAC Meeting
 Attendees:
players plus subcontractors
 Agenda:
Construction schedule
PCO log
The Process: Construction
Weekly OAC Meeting
 Attendees:
players plus subcontractors
 Agenda:
Construction schedule
PCO log
Old business
New business
RFI log
Submittal log
The Process: Construction
Responsibilities of the Owner’s Rep
 Be
thoroughly familiar with the blueprints
Construction plans
Elec/tele/data plan
Finish plan
Reflected ceiling plan
Millwork detail
Furniture plan
Door & finish schedules
The Process: Construction
Responsibilities of the Owner’s Rep
 Construction
AIA contract
 Coordinating
oversight consistent with the
the owner’s vendors with the
contractor’s vendors
The Process: Construction
Responsibilities of the Owner’s Rep
 Construction
AIA contract
oversight consistent with the
 Coordinating
the owner’s vendors with the
contractor’s vendors
 Walk
the construction site on a regular basis
The Process: Construction
Responsibilities of the Owner’s Rep
 Construction
AIA contract
oversight consistent with the
 Coordinating
the owner’s vendors with the
contractor’s vendors
 Walk
the construction site on a regular basis
 Punch
list
Summary
 Communicate
with your constituencies
 Defer to the professionals
 Don’t settle for something that is not right
 Make decisions and be ready to explain
those decisions to your supervisor
 Keep a sense of perspective and a sense
of humor