The American Institute of Architects has introduced two types of integrated project delivery agreements that reportedly ease the integration of design and construction integration.

The first type is transitional and serves as a first step to integrated project delivery, the AIA says. The second type, the single purpose entity, reportedly introduces an integrated way of delivering a construction project.

The transitional agreements use a familiar, contracting model: B195-2008, an owner-architect agreement; A195-2008, an owner-contractor agreement with a guaranteed maximum price amendment; and A295-2008, a shared “general conditions” document.

The general conditions document includes not only the terms and conditions for construction, but also the architect’s design services and the contractor’s pre-construction services. Both B195 and A195 are short agreements that provide only the business terms for the parties’ agreements. The A295 general conditions document establishes not only the owner’s, architect’s and contractor’s respective duties, but also describes in detail how the parties will work together collaboratively at each phase of the project.

Both types of IPD agreements require the use of building information models, and they both implement the design and construction phases identified in the IPD Guide. The IPD phase names reflect the need to cast off conventional phase names associated with linear processes, such as schematic design and design development, in favor of phase names that more closely reflect the integrated processes taking place.

Due to the participation of contractors, subcontractors and fabricators during design, the IPD transitional forms are said to provide the benefits of better informed design decisions and fewer contractor claims based on construction documents. Also, with BIM, the parties have the opportunity to resolve design questions prior to construction, thereby avoiding the collisions between building systems that often arise under the traditional, linear process.

The AIA’s second type of IPD agreement, single-purpose entity, allows for complete sharing of risk and reward in a “one-for-all-and-all-for-one” approach.

In this agreement, C195-2008, the owner, architect and construction manager form a limited liability company with each of the three as a company member. The purpose of the company is to plan, design, construct and commission the project.

For information, visit www.aiacontractdocuments.org on the Internet.

Architecture Billings Remain Weak

After sinking to its lowest level ever in March, indicating a rapid slowdown in billings at U.S. architecture firms, the Architecture Billings Index rose slightly in April.

A score above 50 indicates an increase in billings, and the April ABI rating was 45.5 nationwide, up from the historic low mark of 39.7 in March.

As expected, the Midwest was below the national average with a 41.6 score, the second lowest in the nation.

Nationwide, there were two bright spots: inquiries for new projects (53.9) and institutional (50.4). Pushing down the index were mixed practice (45.2) commercial/industrial (39.3) and multi-family residential (33.5).

Carson Building to House Freed’s Headquarters

About 50,000 sq ft of space in Louis Sullivan’s Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. flagship store at 108 S. State St. will become the corporate headquarters for developer Joseph Freed and Associates, the building’s owner. The firm will occupy the entire fourth floor.

The building, originally constructed in 1898, has been renamed the Sullivan Center. It contains more than 1,000,000 sq ft, including 250,000 sq ft of retail and 750,000 sq ft of office and mixed-use space.

Construction started in March, and completion is expected by Labor Day. Skokie-based Alter Group is the contractor on the renovation.

Greening Indy Nonprofit Gets Greener with New Headquarters

Local nonprofit Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc. is likely the first nonprofit in the Central Indiana city to have its new headquarters at 1029 Fletcher Ave. in the Fountain Square neighborhood to be LEED certified.

KIB worked with local design firm Ratio Architects Inc. to incorporate environmentally sensitive elements into the design, starting with reuse and redevelopment of an urban lot and pre-existing building.

Other elements incorporated include a pervious-pavement parking lot to reduce stromwater runoff; a reflective “cool roof” to reduce the heat-island effect and energy usage; a 10,000-gal cistern to capture rainwater for watering plant material and a central atrium to capture natural daylight and give KIB staff views to an open-air courtyard of native plants and trees. Occupancy sensor-activated lighting and a solar and turbine power demonstration sight are also in the works.

Premium costs for LEED items increase total building renovation costs by 10 to 15%.

Lurie Garden Designer Gets Landscape Honor

Kathryn Gustafson, the designer of the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park, has received a national honor from the Washington, D.C.-based American Society of Landscape Architects.

Gustafson received the Design Medal in honor of her “exceptional accomplishments” for more than 25 years, the ASLA says. She is the head of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd. in Seattle and Gustafson Porter in London.