P R O G R E S S R E P O R T - Illuminating Engineering Society

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NEED AN EXIT STRATEGY? A ROUNDTABLE
PANEL DESCRIBES THE TWISTS AND TURNS
OF PROJECT CLOSE-OUT
In his essay entitled “Bringing Humanities to
Lighting,” in last month’s LD+A, Howard Brandston
listed 10 criteria for good lighting design, Number 10
being that “the design has, where applicable, withstood
the test of a rigorous post-occupancy evaluation by the
client and his personnel.”
Brandston, admittedly, was describing a best-case scenario.
In reality, “most people doing lighting layouts never
visit the job site to see the completed project,” he says,
and post-occupancy evaluations of lighting “are very rare.”
So the question remains, how does the typical project
end? The short answer: it depends. Generally, the lighting
designer’s work continues into the construction phase,
but from there things get murky. Factors ranging from
geography, the relationship between the designer and
contractor, the financial resources of the client, and the
type of client and installation all play a part in project
close-out.
Discussing these issues is a panel featuring Jim Baney,
a principal with Schuler Shook, Chicago, IL; Jill Cody, an
associate with Hammel, Green and Abrahamson,
Milwaukee, WI; Mary Claire Frazier, a principal with
Candela Architectural Lighting Consultants, Seattle, WA;
and Jeff Gerwing, an associate with the SmithGroup,
Detroit, MI.
Here’s what they had to say about the end game.
How does a project typically end for your firm?
Gerwing: For the final result of the project to match
my expectations, my role as a lighting designer cannot
end in the design phase. I don’t think that the hands-off
approach that many designers take provides the client
with the full level of value they deserve. A high quality
lighting design is only achieved through solid concept,
technical excellence and attention to detail. Unfortunately,
it is this last issue—attention to detail—that is not
entirely under our control; even the most carefully coordinated
and documented designs can be foiled by
“value engineering,” faulty construction, or poor construction
quality due to tight schedules. For this reason,
it’s critical to be involved in construction administration
past the design phase...creating the punch list that is
given to the owner listing items to be corrected by the
contractor. After those items have been corrected, the
project is then ready for any final aiming and focusing
to achieve the design intent. Those tasks typically close
out the project.
Baney: As much as possible, we include construction
phase services in our scope of work. Our final tasks usually
include fixture aiming and focusing, and control
system programming. On all projects, our specifications
require that copies of as-built fixture and control drawings
be left with the owner. Also, for control systems,
we specify that operation manuals be provided along
with a training session for the owner’s staff.
Optional services include the preparation of fixture
maintenance manuals, relamping schedules and aiming
diagrams to allow the owner to better maintain the
lighting system. Unfortunately, very few owners are
willing to pay for these services.
Baney Cody Frazier Gerwing
Over
Out
&
78 www.iesna.org October 2005 LD+A 79