The document outlines the history, structure, and functions of the AIA-MBA Joint Committee, established in 1965 to facilitate collaboration between architects and general contractors. It details the Best Practices Guide created by the committee, which provides guidelines on various aspects of construction including drawings, contracts, and safety responsibilities. The guide is now available online and addresses recommendations for effective project management and procurement methods within the construction industry.

1. An AIA-MBA Joint Committee Update:
The Evolution of the Best Practices Guide
January 14, 2014

2. Agenda
• Introduction
• AIA-MBA Joint Committee History
• About the AIA-MBA Joint Committee
• The AIA-MBA Joint Committee Best
Practices Guide

3. Introduction
Master Builders’ Association
Founded in 1886
200 Member Companies
Construction Companies Average 41 Years in
Business

4. Introduction
AIA Pittsburgh
Advancing the value of Architects &
Architecture for more than 150 years!
Spring – Build Pittsburgh
Fall – Design Pittsburgh
www.aiapgh.org

5. Introduction
We can be a resource for CSI by:
• Continuing Education
• MBA Headquarters
• MBA News
• AIA e-Columns
• Networking

6. About the Joint Committee
Did you know that the first committee of
the MBA was the MBA Architects
Committee?
This committee was established in 1886
and its membership was all contractors.

7. About the Joint Committee
Chartered in 1965, the AIA-MBA Joint
Committee provides a unique forum for
Architects, General Contractors and Owners to
meet and discuss existing conditions of the
construction industry.
As a result of this forum, a set of guidelines was
created to reflect the best practices for
procedures involving drawings and
specifications, bidding, contract documents and
administrative procedures during construction.

8. About the Joint Committee
Some of the Past Chairs include:
AIA Pittsburgh MBA
Dahlen Ritchey Ted Frantz
Jim Kling Bob Salvatore
Doug Shuck Nick Navarro
Charles Parker Ray Volpatt, Jr.
Joel Bernard Rob Sklarsky

9. About the Joint Committee
Architect Members:
Joel Bernard, AIA, Co-Chair, IKM, Inc.
Joseph Chaffin, AIA, Baker Design
Ron Dellaria, AIA, Astorino
Chip Desmone, AIA, Desmone & Associates
Mark Dietrick, AIA, Case Technologies
Tom Donoghue, AIA, Donoghue Consulting
George Ehringer, AIA
Greg Madej, AIA, DRS Architects
Mike Moyta, AIA, CSI, Design 3 Architecture
Charles Parker, AIA, Stantec
Sean Sheffler, AIA, WTW Architects
Doug Shuck, AIA, WTW Architects

10. About the Joint Committee
General Contractor Members:
Rob Sklarsky, Co-Chair, RJS Conuslting
Steven Bishop, Landau Building Company
Bill Derence, Mascaro Construction
Michael Ellis, Mascaro Construction
Justin Hough, PJ Dick Incorporated
Scott Koontz, Jendoco Construction
Dave Meuschke, Burchick Construction
Brett Pitcairn, PJ Dick Incorporated
Craig Stevenson, James Construction
Joe Tavella, Massaro Corporation
Gino Torriero, Nello Construction
Ray Volpatt, Jr., Volpatt Construction

11. About the Joint Committee
Owner Members:
Michael Barnard, Oxford Development
Elmer Burger, Point Park University
Eric Cartwright, UPMC
Scott Pollock, Oxford Development

12. About the Joint Committee
Legal Counsel:
David Scotti, Esquire, Cipriani & Werner PC

13. About the Joint Committee
• Calendar Year
– September thru May
• Meeting Format
– Guest Presentation by industry experts
– Business Meeting
• Task Forces
– Contracts
– BIM
– Flooring Failures
– Owners Roundtable

14. About the Joint Committee
The James Kling Fellowship Award
Past Recipients:
Ted Frantz
Tom Murphy
William English, AIA
Pat Navarro
Luke Desmone, AIA

15. About the Joint Committee
The James Kling Fellowship Award
Established by the Joint Committee to
recognize those individuals who best
exemplify collaboration between the design
and constructor professions.

16. The Yellow Book
Established in 1967.
The original charge of the Joint
Committee was to create a list of
recommended construction practices.

17. The Yellow Book
The popularity of this resource has fluctuated
over the years depending on:
•Industry conditions
•Participants on the Joint Committee

18. The Best Practices Guide
Referred to as the Yellow Book until
2010, when it was renamed to:
The AIA-MBA Joint Committee Best
Practices Guide

19. The Best Practices Guide
This resource is now entirely housed online:
www.mbawpa.org/aia-mba

20. The Best Practices Guide

21. The Best Practices Guide
Sections:
• Drawings & Specifications
• Bidding
• Contracts
• Temporary Services
• Bonds, Insurance & Liability
• Safety Responsibilities
• Release of Liens
• Procurement & Supplements
• Miscellaneous

22. The Best Practices Guide
Drawing & Specifications
Recommendations:
• Record Significant Changes Made During
Construction
• Document Distribution for Bidding Purposes
• Drawings and Specifications for Successful
Bidders
• Submittals

23. The Best Practices Guide
Bidding
Recommendations:
• Advertising & Receiving Bids
• Addenda
• Alternates
• Bidders Information Sheet
• Bidding Unclassified Excavation
• Substitutions
• Investigation of Soil and Sub-Surface Conditions
• Listing Subcontractors
• Contract Documents

24. The Best Practices Guide
Contracts
Recommendations:
• Changes in the Work
• Final Acceptance of Contract Work
• Liquidated Damages
• Order of Precedence Between Drawings and Specifications
• Retained Percentage
• Unit Prices
• Allowances
• Securing of Building Permit Procedure

25. The Best Practices Guide
Temporary Services:
Recommendations:
• Temporary Services – General
• Temporary Heat and Its Related Power
• Temporary Light and Power
• Temporary Water Supply

26. The Best Practices Guide
Bonds, Insurance & Liability
Recommendations:
• Bid Guarantee
• Hold Harmless Clauses
• Roofing Warranties
• Insurance
• Warranties
• Stored Construction Materials - Payment

27. The Best Practices Guide
Safety Responsibilities
Recommendations:
• Housekeeping
• Hand Rails – Perimeter Protection
• Holes or Openings in Floor or Roof
• Temporary Fire Protection
• Hazardous Materials

28. The Best Practices Guide
Release of Liens
Recommendation:
• Pennsylvania Construction (Mechanic’s) Lien
Law

29. The Best Practices Guide
Procurement Methods
Recommendations:
• Project Delivery Systems
• Qualifications Based Selection System
• Best Value Contracting for Public Procurement
• Design-Bid-Build
• Construction Management-At-Risk
• Agency Construction Management
• Design/Build
• Negotiated Bid
• Integrated Project Delivery

30. The Best Practices Guide
Miscellaneous
Recommendations:
• Value Engineering
• Building Information Modeling

31. The Best Practices Guide
The following are examples of letters that the Joint
Committee sent:
• Correcting the public perception on the
construction industry
• Building permit suggestions
• PA Separations Act
• Best Value Contracting
• Reverse Auction Bidding

32. The Best Practices Guide
Project Examples:
• Bidders agree to build to the Architect’s
intentions
• Designers agree that the building will be built
to code (call)
• Day of the week and time of day
• A need for an extension
• Geotechnical reports available to bidders
• Pre-construction fees

33. AIA-MBA Joint Committee
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