Design professionals must effectively communicate their visions to achieve their design intents. This is true especially when metal or other materials are used in innovative ways, such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, in Los Angeles, or the Art Gallery of Alberta (To see the Metal Architecture Design Award-winning project, go to page 18), in Canada. Many design professionals try to convey their visions primarily in details, particularly when they are working on innovative designs, because they want their visions to be fully realized. While such enthusiasm is admirable, it can lead to practical problems if design professionals do not understand the relationships between construction documents, and project delivery methods.
A design professional must understand how construction documents are organized, so the graphic representations on the drawings coordinate with the specifications, and information is presented in the proper location. If the drawings conflict with the specifications, it creates confusion for everyone involved in the project and nearly always embarrasses the design professional, who did not effectively communicate the design intent. For example, an architect who wants metal cladding on an undulating building envelope to transition seamlessly from a wall to a roof must know how to communicate this to the building team. Similarly, a structural engineer responsible for the building framework of such an unusual building must specify the materials required and illustrate the complex intersections of framing members.
Demonstrating Professional Knowledge
Communication problems can be minimized if design professionals invest the time required to learn about the details of the project delivery methods. Professional certifications and certificates from trusted industry organizations represent perhaps the best way to demonstrate that one has mastered this knowledge. For example, passing a certification or certificate program test related to construction documents proves to colleagues and potential employers alike that a design professional possesses skills and knowledge that will help the building team and benefit the client.
The Construction Specifications Institute offers a variety of professional certifications and certificate programs that are respected throughout the construction industry. For instance, the Construction Documents Technology certificate program can help not only design professionals, but contractors, suppliers and owners understand the project delivery process, including the roles of various members and how to write, interpret and manage construction documents of all types. An understanding of this side of a project helps the entire project team communicate effectively with other professionals and can save everyone much time, effort and possible misunderstanding.
The CDT certificate program requires knowledge of the following areas:
- The construction process: construction contract types, modifications and substitution procedures
- Contractual relationships: rights, responsibilities, contract provisions, and the relationship and organization of construction documents
- The use of construction documents: organizational formats and interpreting construction documents
CSI developed the CDT certificate program to allow anyone involved in the design and construction process to demonstrate their knowledge and commitment to the profession. In addition to the CDT certificate program, CSI offers certifications that demonstrate advanced knowledge.
A Step Ahead
Certifications and certificate programs, like the CDT, can help give recent graduates of universities, vocational-technical schools, and trade schools an edge in the job market, because they can fill in possible knowledge gaps. Most architecture and engineering programs focus on design and teach students little about writing, interpreting, and organizing construction documents. The CDT certificate gives young professionals a chance to gain knowledge they will need during their careers but have not yet learned at school or gained through experience.
Experienced professionals also can demonstrate greater value to their organization with the CDT certificate. In an environment of increased financial pressure, many experienced architects and engineers may have to take on additional roles, such as preparation and organization of project specifications. The CDT study program offers a broad overview of a project from conception to completion, giving emerging professionals a comprehensive understanding of their projects. It also requires familiarity with the conditions of the contract, one of the basic construction documents.
An Educational Foundation
In addition to providing general knowledge about construction documents and processes, the CDT certificate is a prerequisite for advanced CSI certifications, including the CCS (Certified Construction Specifier), the CCCA (Certified Construction Contract Administrator) and the CCPR (Certified Construction Product Representative). Building on the CDT certificate, the study programs for these certifications require in-depth knowledge of specific parts of the construction process.
For those pursuing CSI certificate programs and certifications, CSI offers a wide range of support, such as online test preparation courses and free study guides. Many CSI chapters offer study courses, with personal attention to those who are interested. In March, CSI released the first in a series of reference books for its certifications and certificate programs, to make exam preparation more affordable. The new reference books also ensure that the exams stay relevant to industry practices. In the past, CSI’s “Project Resource Manual” served as the reference for the CDT exam. The first reference book released this year, the “CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide,” will serve as the primary source document for those studying for the CDT certificate in fall 2011.
To learn more about CSI’s certifications and certificate programs, and its practice guides, visit the certifications page at www.csinet.org/Main-Menu- Category/Certification.aspx.
Sheldon Wolfe has been an architect for nearly 30 years, and a specifier for more than 20. During that time, he has worked at the University of Minnesota and the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission, and in small and large private sector firms. He recently celebrated 15 years with BWBR Architects in St. Paul, Minn. Sheldon also has been active in CSI, having served several years on Institute Technical Committees, three years on the Institute board, and on a variety of chapter and region committees. He may be best known for the more than 300 articles he has written for newsletters and magazines, under the headings, “GUI Bytes,” “TechNotes,” “Mr. Wolfe Goes to Washington” and his current series, “Curmudgeon’s Corner.”
