[William Sinclair]

Good topic.

 

While I don’t know where the percentages originated, it seems that at some time a standard project was historically averaged, percentages were then derived off of it for A&E soft costs, and the market accepted those costs.

 

Where I’ve seen percentages used most effectively is in a public bidding process, as per your example.  If you have put together an accurate estimate for construction, it is a quick way to attach soft costs and contingencies that are readily comparable with other bids.

 

Of course, one can try to justify a higher percentage based on the work, but that’s where the competition comes in; it seems a higher percentage is more justified on a smaller, non-public project.  

 

Though, if one is to achieve the higher percentage in a public project scenario, it would most likely be done inside the project team, where the architect or engineer you’re working with agree that your work load is significant enough to garner a higher share of the proposed soft costs without raising the overall market-approved ceiling on soft costs.

 

My 2 cents!

[William Sinclair]

“…just another body in the morgue.” LOL!

I needed a good laugh, thx.

[William Sinclair]

I agree, Andrew. It’s a much different animal if the contract work is one’s main source of income. I’ve just been creating spreadsheets projecting billable hours needed over the course of a year, 2yrs, 3yrs… and it gets pretty tricky… something like 20 billable hrs @ $85/hr (or $1700/wk before taxes and expenses – and saving for annual expenses – in a home office) is neccesary from week to week in order to make a sustainable family wage.

Of course there are many variables… location, family size, standard of living, etc, etc…

[William Sinclair]

Thanks for sharing, Jonathan. I’ve had people call rates of $45-50 “outrageous” up here in Spokane, but I know several people charging over double that here.

[William Sinclair]

Great stuff, Nick.

My humbly-offered two cents:

1) Photos of installed work (if available)
2) Challenge: distill sheet descriptions to 3 short bullets (and I think 12 pt minimum)
3) No pixelated imagery
4) Any construction document examples?

* Love the process work
* Great ideas on display
* Talent and heart

[William Sinclair]

Hi April,

I think Tanya’s points are very good; do you want to be a designer as well as a technician?

In hindsight, I would want to learn and apply more knowledge of materials and construction costs into my designs as a BLA candidate… I’m not sure if I had time for that though… it would have been good to do more detailing of the concepts I was creating and be less focussed on beautiful sheets (not putting up complete garbage, but organized and less graphically intensive).

[William Sinclair]

What age are the patients? Is it for a specific type of addict? How does the center treat the various addictions? Do they incorporate horses in the rehabilitation?

I think it would be a good idea to call up or visit a few different facilities and ask them for some ideas on programming elements that would be an extention of what they are trying to do with their program. One program may find that some outdoor exercise facilities would be helpful while another may think that a reflection pond fits better… perhaps both.

I think that bringing in some of that background will give you the interest and depth you are after. As a student you can seek out a particular client, i.e., the one who has the most interesting treatment approach to you. You can then take what you glean from their approach, couple it with some some of your favorite and relevant ‘healing garden’ research, and away you go!

What is the weather like at the rehab center location? Are there any cold/hot/humid weather conditions to consider? What is the scale of the facility?

I think having a real location (even if it’s an imagined situation… just a real location) and responding to the needs of that place gives your project greater tangibility and interest.

All the best!

[William Sinclair]

Thanks, Keith!

[William Sinclair]

Paul,

Thanks for getting into some of the nitty gritty involving lawsuits. I will remember your words of wisdom regarding time/cost of being one of the ‘named’ in a lawsuit. Very good to know that you have had a positive experience with Leatzow when it counted the most.

[William Sinclair]

Does your service include negotiation with the underwriter or is it more of a review that will inform someone else (like a lawyer or the client) to negotiate the terms?

I have heard of the need for continued coverage after the fact. Now I have a name for it. If you choose the “infinite” tail coverage option, are there infinite premiums?

So, you mention buying E&O insurance for a single project. Is that how it usually works or do LAs carry a general policy to cover whatever might come up? Also, as a start up (doing some moonlighting), is it better to go this way — on a job-to-job basis?

[William Sinclair]

Thank you, David. Your detailed response affirmed my internal sense that there must be some important nuance in getting a fair and reliable deal regarding E&O Insurance. I appreciate that you laid out some specific areas of concern.

This is definitely the sort of thing that could make or break a fledgling practice. It sounds like you might be in the business of reviewing the description of operations… is this expensive?

Why would I go to a risk management company rather than a lawyer specializing in business contracts?

[William Sinclair]

Thanks for the good information. I hope others will illuminate as well.

[William Sinclair]

I only did a 2-day workshop with him and still rely on some of the things I learned there. A couple of my friends went to Kansas and came back far better illustrators than they left as… one started an income stream with his illustrations almost immediately and has found a real lifelong joy in drawing — filling sketchbooks on his travels, etc. — this from a guy who was thoroughly frustrated with drawing and not showing much promise — he’s better than most now.

I’d say the proof is in producing positive, life-changing results… I’d love to take the course befor Mr. Lin decides to hang it up.

I think that if one takes offense to Mr Lin’s class structure, sense of humor and overall disregard for most political correctness, they ought to avoid exposing themselves to such unpleasantness by simply steering clear of his classes and financially supporting another gifted instructor to learn the desired skills.

It occurs to me that all of this discomfort is especially avoidable if one has forewarning that their personal values and endurance will be thoroughly challenged. I hope you have found a teacher who can offer you the skills you seek in an environment that will support your learning style.

[William Sinclair]

Hello all.

I just took the exam (Section E… last, but certainly not least) yesterday… after the test, a few of us came to the consensus on a central question regarding the plucky vignette design feature of requiring maximum slopes in tight situations: Does our ability to draw multiple curving, parrallel lines at about 1/8″ apart really an apt test of our landscape architectural abilities? Those enjoyable 4:1 swale/basin side slopes at 40 scale come to mind.

How much grading weight is placed on drawing those lines? By the amount of time it consumes, one might think it is half the test value and of the highest importance in our day to day existence in the profession… I have done a couple of red line reviews and found a finicky circle with something like “contours drawn too close together” in reference to some wavering freehand lines I had drawn while I was dealing with such a forced situation with all of my extra time.

Wouldn’t it be fair on a problem that is primarily focused on moving water (as opposed to manipulating landforms for another purpose…i.e., views or a curbed roadway), that one need only provide swale high point elevations and locations, swale center lines with slope percentage, and other critical spot elevations?

I hope I made it this time, but I know one can not be sure…

[Author]

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