Please support the Amendment to HB1705 that would permit architects to provide agency construction management as agents of the owner.

 

Architects and engineers are design professionals who already provide professional design, advise the owner and provide contract administration services. Logically, Agency Construction Management is one piece of contract administration services already defined as architectural services during pre-construction and construction phases of the project.

 

Architects have served in this capacity for 75 years, regularly acting for the owner when multiple contracts are issued on a single project. Another name for this service would be agency construction management.

 

The confusion arises with construction management at risk. Most insurance industry professionals will tell you that CM at risk is general contracting. Other states differentiate between these very different types of services. The problem with HB1705 is that it blurs the two, incorporating agency construction management which is more properly managed by architects and engineers.

 

Architects complete a five-year university curriculum, serve as interns for three years and successfully complete a 3.5 day examination to become licensed. We believe these credentials fully satisfy the professional requirements of construction management as the owner’s agent.