Diary of a BECxP: Delegated Design Dilemmas

This presentation was initially provided at the 2021 Convention in Phoenix, Arizona

Delegating the design of portions or even the entirety of the building enclosure to specialty contractors has become common practice. However, issues with the delegated design process persist throughout the industry. How can project participants take full advantage of the benefits of delegated design while minimizing risk? This presentation will draw from a combination of research and professional experience to assist designers, contractors, owners, building enclosure consultants, and building enclosure commissioning providers (BECx Providers) with the delegated design process. We will provide a brief overview of the motivations for using delegated design, common problems associated with the process, and inconsistent policies and requirements in varying jurisdictions.

We will also outline strategies for successfully implementing delegated designs within both traditional and modern project delivery methods. In traditional design-bid-build projects, specifications play a critical role in defining the expectations for project team members. Meanwhile, newer project delivery methods ensure specialty designers and contractors are contracted early in the design process. With the advent of building enclosure commissioning, early project involvement of building enclosure consultants and BECx Providers can add value in the form of additional quality assurance to protect stakeholder interests.

Demetria Boatwright, CDT

Raths Raths and Johnson | Willowbrook, IL

Demetria Boatwright is a technical staff member with the structural engineering team at Raths, Raths & Johnson, Inc. She has experience with a variety of projects involving condition assessment, field investigation, forensic research, and documentation of structural components and systems and distressed buildings. She is an enrolled Professional Engineer Intern with the state of Illinois and holds a Construction Document Technologist (CDT) certification. She is an active member of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI), as a part of the Women in Structural Engineering (WiSE) committee, and serves on the communications committee for the Construction Specification Institute Chicago Chapter (CSI Chicago).

Patrick Reicher, REWC, REWO, SE, CCS, CCCA

Raths Raths and Johnson | Willowbrook, IL

Patrick Reicher is a principal with Raths, Raths & Johnson, Inc. He has experience with the forensic investigation, evaluation, and repair design of existing building enclosures; and building enclosure consulting and commissioning for new construction projects. Reicher is a structural engineer in Illinois and a professional engineer in several states. He is also a Registered Exterior Wall Consultant, Registered Exterior Wall Observer, Certified Construction Specifier, and Certified Construction Contract Administrator. He currently serves on several committees and task forces for the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) and the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA).