Board, provision was made for regular monthly meetings of all contractors, superintendents of construction, foremen, inspectors, and others in the architect's office, and at times at the new building, to talk over disputed questions that might arise between any interested parties, to compare the progress of work of each contractor, to make adjustments and interpretations, and to check up on the time schedule. It was arranged that careful minutes should be kept of what transpired at these meetings and a copy sent to every contractor and person present and to every member of the Board and to the superintendent and assistant superintendent. It was arranged that the assistant superintendent also establish the policy of reporting to the Board of Education for action, every change or alteration in plans or specifications, no matter how trivial, even when contractor had furnished a better service. Every such change clearly and specifically stated the debits or credits involved, if any extension of time was to be allowed, and the mutual agreement by all contractors. This was done to avoid any controversy or dispute over deviations from plans and specifications. The assistant superintendent also required a daily progress report from the supervisor. This was submitted in the following form: February 15, 1926 Mr. Chas. C. Cotton Assistant Superintendent in Charge of Business Affairs DEAR SIR: IN RE: DAILY PROGRESS REPORT January 29th.-Plastering and lathing continued first and second floors. Cement floor in basement progressed. Tile partitions continued. All trades made progress. January 30th.-Plastering and lathing continued. Lathers were working on odds and ends. Tile partitions continued. Cement floors in basement two-thirds done. Plasterers were ready to begin on auditorium ceiling. Mechanical trades made progress. February 1st.-Plasterers continued on second story. Also began working on auditorium ceiling, and were putting brown coat on third floor. Bricklayers made progress in Girls' Gymnasium. Cement work in basement progressed. All other trades made progress. February 2nd.-Plastering continued in first, second, and third stories and auditorium ceiling. Cement floors in basement continued. Electric panels arrived and being uncrated. Brickwork in Girls' Gymnasium progressed. Work on marble tile continued. All trades made progress. February 3rd.-Plasterers made progress. Progress made on marble tiles. Cement floors in basement progressed. Mechanical trades made good progress. February 4th.-Cement floor in basement continued. Plasterers made progress with first floor practically completed. Finishers working in second story and third floor plastering well along. Good progress made on auditorium ceiling. All trades made progress. February 5th.-Cement floors in basement progressed. Plasterers continued. Marble men made progress on window stiles. Electrician was busy distributing his panels and installing same. All trades made progress. February 6th.-Plasterers continued on the second and third floors, and auditorium ceiling. Cement work in basement progressed. All trades made progress. February 8th.-Cement floors in basement were completed with the exception of one corridor and some small places. Plasterers continued in second and third stories and in the auditorium. The carpenters were busy putting grounds on the stairways preparatory to plastering. Mechanical trades made progress. February 9th.-Tile was being moved into basement for partitions and bricklayers began laying tile. Cement finishers were working on base in first, second and third stories, and were laying floors in toilets. Mechanical trades made progress. February 10th.-Tile partition work in basement continued. Plasterers were well along in the second and third stories. Most of the finishing was on in the first story. Work on the auditorium ceiling continued with good progress. Cement workers continued on the second floor. February 11th.-Cement workers made progress on the second and third stories. Working on toilet floors and corridor bases. Plaster ers made progress. Tile partition work in the basement continued. Basement floors were being hardened to prevent staining. All mechanical trades made good progress. Summary.-Good progress has been made by all trades. The plastering is completed in the first and second stories with the exception of the stairways and rear corridor, second floor. The third floor brown coat is practically all on, and much of the finishing is completed. Work on auditorium ceiling has progressed favorably, and the ceiling is now two-thirds finished. Tile partition work in basement is progressing rapidly, and is expected to have this portion finished by the middle of the coming week. Much of the cement work in the toilets and showers has been completed and the base in the corridors is being rapidly placed. It is expected that the building will be ready for finish by February 17th. Mechanical trades have all been rushing their work, and at the present time are well up with the general contractor. Plastering will be completed about ten days ahead of schedule. 1. During the erection of a new school building, the busy superintendent or assistant superintendent can not give personal attention to the many questions which arise daily and hourly for decision. All of these are important; many are momentous. He nevertheless does not want the Board to suffer loss or criticism for not having obtained full value for both architectural and contractual expenditures in complete conformity with the plans and specifications. Has this superintendent proceeded properly? If not, wherein has he failed? 2. Delays are the most annoying of all contractual procedure. Have they been reduced to a minimum? Can you suggest any other method of reducing them? 3. Conflicting interpretations of plans and specifications by the different contractors and subcontractors result in serious loss of time, squabbling, and many times lead to law suits for "extras," "extension of time," and damages. Have these been avoided? Can you suggest other safeguards? 4. Should a supervisor of construction be engaged by the Board? Does his work conflict with that of the architect? What should he be paid? What training should be required of this man? Does the Board gain or lose from this service? 5. Disputes as to authorization for deviations from the plans and specifications often arise during the progress of building operations and afterward, sometimes involving large expenditures of money. Have such disputes been avoided? What further plans would you suggest for harmonizing the work on this building? BIBLIOGRAPHY BRUCE, W. G. School Architecture: A Handy Manual for the Use of Architects and School Authorities. Johnson Service Co., 1906. (Revised 1910) DONOVAN, J. J. ET AL. School Architecture-Principles and Practices, pp. 33-34. Macmillan, 1921. EVANS, E. J. Building Contracts. Dutton, 1922. HENZLIK, F. E. Rights and Liabilities of Public School Boards Under Capital Outlay Contracts, pp. 57-100. Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1924. LOCKHART, G. L. Public Schools-Their Construction, Heating, Ventilating, Sanitation, Lighting, and Equipment, pp. 121-24, 131-40. H. W. Kingston Co., St. Paul, Minn., 1918. NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. Report of Committee on School House Planning. National Education Association, Washington, D. C., 1925. PERKINS, D. H. What Service Should the School Architect Render the Board Beyond the Drawings of Plans and Supervising Construction? American School Board Journal, 67:64-65, 140, July, 1923. |