Childcare Construction Plan - Report Example

Childcare construction plan report

Executive summary

The construction plan report has been prepared to indicate the various construction stages involved in the construction process of the low-rise childcare center. This project is located at 14 George St, Highfields NSW 2289.

The construction plan report includes

A properly generated construction plans report regarding the proposed childcare center. In the report, the six phases of the construction stage are discussed in details in the manner in which the construction of such a low-rise building is initialized up to and until it is completed.

The structure comprises

A detailed discussion of the six stages of construction in the low-rise childcare project. However, the six stages outlined are basic and applicable to any construction work all around the world. The report also provided the Gantt chart that is generated with respect to the WBS description of the six stages of construction. In addition, pictorial drawing of both mechanical and structural component adopted in the construction process are also provided together with their respective cross-section planes.

Introduction

Behind every strong and durable building lies a well-drafted construction plan. As such, the construction personnel has the capacity to develop the intended construction work that meets the set standards and requirements (Oberholzer, Eichholzer & Ruberti, 2015). However, to achieve this, commitment and adherence to the architectural, mechanical, hydraulic, and the electrical drawings provided is advised since they solely guide the construction work in each aspect and dimension. Failure, to observe this pictorial illustrations, the building is exposed to several factors including being faulty and may cause misfortunes to the human resources, its occupants, or even the public by extension (Giesbrecht & Gumpertz, 2011). This construction plan report will offer a step-by-step description of the activities required and involved to achieve the construction stage of the childcare center.

Work breakdown structure (WBS)

The construction stage is typically the guidance that provides how a building is constructed (Gahlot & Dhir, 1992). These standards are basic and applicable to many constructions works globally. However, some aspects in the construction stage differ significantly due to distinct geographical locations that have different structures and requirement (GSA, 2017). Overall, construction stage is essential because it provides a detailed insight and an overview of the project from the conceptual stage, the bidding of the projects, construction, payment, and ultimately the completion of the project. Therefore, the construction stage will be of much importance to the construction of the childcare center plan from its initialization up to its completion stage. The childcare center is a low-rise building that is guided by a six phase of construction stage. These stages include the concept, contracts, and bid document, bidding of the project, construction, payment of the project, and completion of the childcare project.

Concept

The low-rise childcare project began by the provision of the required architectural, electrical, hydraulic, structural, and mechanical designs. In this phase, the designs were carefully assessed and examined before the actual construction kicked off (Underwood & Isikdag, 2010). Normally, this phase is fundamentally vital since it the first stage, and it aids in evaluating the manner in which the various sections of the building will be effectively coordinate and fitted according to the set standards and regulations (Uher & Loosemore, 2003). In the childcare project, the architect who is the primary designer of the project-observed and controlled the entire project design, its specifications, its finishing materials, and other architectural aspects. Moreover, the architect supervised the engineer’s role and responsibilities for the hydraulic, electrical, structural, and the mechanical design of the childcare project. In this case, the engineers and other human resource were required to conform and adhere to the provide childcare project design and requirement as indicated by the architect. Important to note, the engineers were required to be recognized and licensed by the respective authorities.

Long before the project was initialized, the architect and the engineers held several meetings with the client to purposely discuss the role and function of the prosed project. In addition, though the meetings the architects and the engineers got familiar with the core reason as to why the project was being constructed, and the relationship between spaces are evaluated and reviewed. In the meeting, the three parties also consider an insight of any completed projects in the neighborhood and its surroundings if any. Typically, this kind of a preliminary programming aids in the creation of a list of solutions, feasibility studies, alternatives, and most importantly the fiscal estimates of the childcare project. After the architect, engineers, and the client were thorough about this stage, and they consented the preparation of the schematic plans.

Schematic plans are the initial steps and plans of the childcare project. This plan targeted to illustrate and demonstrate the relationship between the actualized activities and the spaces. Any changes were to be recorded and used to develop the final schematic plan. Notably, the entire first phase was approved by the client with the help of the architects and the engineers and thus started the preparation of the respective bidding documents and the accompanying working drawings.

Contracts and bid document

As a way of legalizing the construction of the childcare project, the builder was required to produce a capable bidder with the working drawings as well as the plans for the proposed-childcare-project structure (IRS, 2017). These documents should also address the projects specifications and the terms and condition in which the contract was spelled out.

Contract working document plan

Regardless of the kind of activity taking place on a construction site, there should be a preparation of the contracted document (CSP360, 2017). This does not matter whether the building is being renovated, expanded, or newly erected the contract documents should be there. In this case, the pictorial representation of the childcare center projects were provided illustrating and guiding in how the childcare facility ought to look like, its layout, equipment, and the respective amenities of the project (Yelton, 2014). These draws are key because the provided the architect's plans and designs regarding the entire facility appearance from flooring to roofing.

Other drawings and plans were also provided in this phase such as the architectural plans, hydraulic plans, mechanical plans, electrical plans, and the structural plans. All of these were important mainly because of the role and guidance they offered to the contractor. The architectural plan, for instance, indicated the childcare project layout, the recommended foundation, floor, and roofing. On the other hand, the electrical drawing illustrated the manner in which the project was to be connected to the power mains and how various elements such as elevators and lifts were to be connected. The structural plans indicated the structural aspect of the building such as the foundation with good consideration of factors like rain, earthquakes, wind, and snow among other natural aspects (Edgerton, 2008). This drawing and plans indicated that the childcare center was to be structurally built not only for the dead weight but also for the live weight that includes the people working or living in the building. Dead weight, on the other hand, is merely the weight of the building.

Mechanical plans were developed to attain specified features and requirements in the building. For example, the mechanical engineer was required to produce and designate proper mechanisms for both heat, plumbing, and ventilation (Hendrickson, 2012). This would significantly aid in meeting the set standards for the childcare center and that of the designated activities. However, the mechanical engineer was to work closely with the structural engineer to produce designs and elements that do not exceed what the foundation could carry.

Bidding

This was the third phase of the construction stage of the childcare project. Normally, this was done after the owner determined that the construction is feasible and there existed enough funding to finance the project (Jackson, 2010). As such, the tender was published in the local dailies open for public and qualified bids. However, there exists the sequence that should be followed when developing a contract bid. In this case, for instance, different contractors were issued with the childcare center plan and other specifications to come up with a financial estimate of the contractor bid (Wu et al., 2017). From there, and after several contractors have placed the bid, the owner or the client then reviewed different bid and chose the one that was cost friendly and met the specifications and standards of the project as indicated in the drawings and the plan. The person or the contractor who best meets the set regulation and childcare project specifications were awarded the bid and the go-ahead to initialize the construction work.

Construction (Fieldwork)

Construction is the fourth stage. In other words, this is where the actual fieldwork of the childcare center began. In this stage, the construction work was broken down into building permit, subcontractor, scheduling subcontractor, shop drawing, project submission, and change orders. Notably, before the construction could even start, we acquired the building permit from the respective municipality. As such, the drawing and the project's plan was presented to the authorities building department together with the application permit. The approval of the application and construction permit did not take long. However, the municipality had to take some time and assess the properties of the geographical location such as the soil and other natural phenomena. In other cases, hearing of the project is recommended should there be some opposition in approving the project. In this, however, the project faced no opposition and thus the approval time was not lengthy. The latter was also facilitated by the fact that the position of the and the set standards of the childcare center met and fulfilled the municipalities set threshold.

The subcontractor is a cooperation that ranges from one primary operation to a nationwide corporation that may be a division of a larger corporation. Normally, subcontractor differs from general contractors in the sense that they have limited scope in their work regarding ability, skills, and knowledge. Essentially, subcontractor enters into a contract with the general contractor, who in turn grants them the facilities to accomplish a particular task, for instance, the construction of the childcare center project. The subcontractor provides the material but the general contractor pay.

Scheduling of subcontractors is yet another element in the construction phase. Normally, this sub stage fully managed and run by the general contractor, who in this case allocates duties and tasks to the subcontractors. However, the general contractor has the mandate to allocate duties to quite some subcontractors in a manner that does not inconvenience or limit other subcontractors. To achieve this in the construction process of the childcare center project the general contractor issued and divided the various tasks to the skilled subcontractors. For example, the general contractor adopted a sequence of scheduling to the various subcontractors such as clearing of the proposed site, excavation, and preparation of the foundation, frame the steel, and concrete flooring among many other tasks (HLE, 2017).

On the other hand, shop drawing is the other phase in the construction stage. Normally, this phase requires that the drawing indicating the designs specification to the contractor be adopted in developing the shop designs. The shop design entails the production of the finishing materials in accordance with the design specifications, However; this should only happen before the construction project is initialized. Even then, the respective engineer or architect is required to assess and approve the measurements of the various elements as indicated or specified in the design.

Project submission is a crucial constituent in the construction stage. In this level it was required each tool or item that was fixed or installed in the childcare center design gets the architects approval to enhance and attain the detail of the project. As such, the childcare center was achieved in full conformity to the intended design in all its construction aspects. Evidently, this is such an influential component in the construction of buildings that are required to attain a professional look.

Ultimately, the construction phase also comprises of the change order element. Normally, this level stipulates elements and aspects that need to be removed or added to the project. Therefore, this step can either increase or decrease the cost of the project. In case any changes are required, a change order document is issued, and it indicates the change order number, date, the change description, and the cost involved.

Payment plan

The fifth stage of the construction stage is the payment plan. Normally, after the contractor has completed the construction of the designated project, for instance, the childcare center project, they ought to receive their pay. This stage has, however, to conform to the set payment specification. In this case, for instance, the payment of the childcare center was documented and stipulated in the A201 record or rather document, which is under the general condition for construction contracts. The A201 document contains the AIA, G701, and G702 forms. The G702 form requires and mandates the contractor to break down the just completed bid into a subsection, which is then reviewed by the architects and engineers. If the just-completed project meets the set standards, then the client releases the funds. If the engineers or the architects, on the other hand, dispute the various sections of the bid, the change order document is signed with a proper indication of the places or sections that need to be redone. The change order should also be reviewed to effectively adjust, if any modification with respect to the change order happened.

Completion

After all the other stages of construction have been approved, then the building or the project is regarded as complete. Therefore, completion is the final phase or rather stage of the construction stages (McKinnon & McKinnon, 2016). Important to note, this stage prepares the building for occupation (Klinger & Susong, 2006). This stage is further subdivided into as-built plan, notice of partial occupancy, notice of substantial occupancy, and eventually the issue of certificate of completion. The as-built plan stipulates the changes that could have happened during the construction process. This phase is essential since it aids in managing and assessing the financial aspect. The notice of partial occupancy is issued after a section of the building required for occupation is assessed and allowed. On the other hand, notice of substantial occupation is issued after a significant part of the building, or rather, project is completed. Upon completion, the childcare passed the final assessment, and the certificate of occupancy and completion was issued (RocketLawyer, 2017).

Gantt chart

Conclusion

In conclusion, the construction process of any building or project is a gradual and a systematic process that requires commitment and adequate allocation of resources. Before any project is initialized, there are standards and procedures that should be observed and adhered to. This includes, for instance, the six stages of construction and their constituent elements. As such, the project in progress is erected and completed in the right manner and in accordance with the legal authority’s legal framework. It is thus crucial that the architects and engineers promote and educate the importance of the construction stages especially when quality, and durability of the project is at stake.