If you’ve worked on complex buildings, you already know how tightly architecture and structure are intertwined. Structural coordination touches nearly every part of the building, from layout and program fit, to floor thickness and ceiling height, to cladding, stairs, and equipment loads. While architects are clearly not structural engineers, most of us like to think …
What Architects Should Review in Fire Protection Consultant Drawings by Phase Fire protection systems are tightly regulated and highly integrated with architecture and code compliance. While architects don’t need to design these systems, they do need to confirm that design intent and performance requirements are clearly documented and coordinated with the building layout, use, and …
What Architects Should Review in Plumbing Consultant Drawings by Phase Plumbing systems often run beneath the surface, literally and figuratively. But when they’re not well coordinated, the impact is anything but hidden. Misaligned pipe routes, undersized sumps, or overlooked slab conflicts can lead to disruptive change orders, unexpected delays, and long-term performance issues. This checklist …
What Architects Should Review in Electrical Consultant Drawings by Phase While architects are not expected to be electrical engineers, they must be able to identify potential coordination issues in consultant drawings. Overlooked layouts, incomplete riser diagrams, or unverified service points can result in additional bulletins, addendums, field changes, and regulatory delays, all of which impact …
Architects don’t need to be mechanical engineers, but we do need to understand what to look for when reviewing our consultants’ HVAC drawings. This checklist is designed to help you evaluate your mechanical consultant’s deliverables at each phase of design: Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Documents. By breaking it down by phase, you can …
How to Review Fire Alarm Drawings Across Design Phases Architects are not expected to be fire alarm experts, but they must know what to review in consultant deliverables. A coordinated fire alarm system is critical for building code compliance, life safety, and AHJ approvals. Missing devices, misplaced risers, or uncoordinated FCC layouts can lead to …
