July 17, 1985

CHANCELLORS
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT BRADY
DIRECTOR SHIRLEY

Policy for Independent Design and Cost Review of Building Plans

To maintain the quality of design of University construction projects and to ensure that cost considerations are fully incorporated into design decisions, the following policy is effective immediately.

1. Independent review shall be conducted of the architectural design of all projects which are subject to design approval by The Regents' Committee on Grounds and Buildings. Such review shall be performed early in the preparation of design, at appropriate intervals during design, and at the time of completion of design. Selection of the reviewer or panel of reviewers and the format for the review are left to the discretion of the Chancellor or equivalent responsible officer, subject to the following:
   
   
   1. the reviewers shall be licensed architects or other design professionals appropriate to the scope and type of project;
      
      
   2. the reviewers shall have no current connection with the firm or firms acting as executive architect or as consultants on the project being reviewed;
      
      
   3. the reviewers shall not be employees of the University, except that faculty members who are otherwise qualified may serve; and
      
      
   4. the review shall focus on, but need not be limited to, the compatibility of the design with its setting and the appropriateness of the design to its functional program and the project budget.
      
      
2. Independent cost estimates shall be conducted for all major capital projects which may be subject to design approval by the Committee on Grounds and Buildings as well as for other projects when deemed appropriate. Such cost estimates shall be made prior to submittal of the schematic design to the Office of the President for presentation to the Committee on Grounds and Buildings and incorporated into the design presentation. It is recommended that the review be conducted again at the time of completion of design and during the preparation of construction documents. The selection of the cost estimator is at the discretion of the Chancellor or equivalent responsible officer, subject to the following:
   
   
   1. the cost estimator shall have no current connection on the project being estimated with the firm or firms acting as executive architect or as consultants on the project being estimated; and
      
      
   2. the cost estimator shall not be an employee of the University, except that faculty members who are otherwise qualified may serve.

David Pierpont Gardner

cc: Members, President's Cabinet
Vice Chancellors
Director Batzel
Director Rogin
Principal Officers of The Regents