Building Design and Construction Handbook - Merritt - Ventech!

2.6 SECTION TWO
neering firm. The prime professional should define the consultants required and
assist the client in selecting those consultants. The architect or engineer should
define and manage their services even if the specialty consultant contracts directly
with the client for liability purposes, with the understanding that the client has the
ultimate say in decision making.
While several consultants may be required, depending on the complexity of the
project, the cost for each may be minimal since their services are provided over
short periods of time during the development process, and all consultants are usually
not servicing the project at the same time. The following consultant services, most
of which are not normally provided by architects and engineers, are provided by
various firms:
• Acoustical
• Audiovisual
• Communications
• Exterior wall maintenance
• Fire and life safety
• Food service
• Geotechnical engineering and subsurface exploration
• Graphics
• Space-usage operations
• Independent research and testing
• Landscaping
• Marketing and leasing
• Materials handling
• Parking
• Preconstruction survey
• Schedule
• Security
• Site surveyor
• Special foundation systems
• Special structures
• Specialty lighting
• Telecommunications
• Traffic
• Vertical transportation
• Water features
• Wind tunnel testing
2.5 CLIENT-A/E AGREEMENT
Although verbal contracts can be considered legal, a formal written document is
the preferred way to contract for professional services to be provided by an archi-