Can A General Contractor Build the Skatepark? |
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Thursday, 20 September 2007 |
While it is not recommended to rely upon a general contractor to build on the exacting standards of a skatepark design, in some small cases it can provide a substantial cost savings.
Many skatepark designers fully expect to build their own designs. In some cases this is due to their significant contribution to the crafting of the RFQ. When the designer specifies particular requirements of a construction company, they can “steer” that job to those firms they feel will be able to construct the special structures to perfection. That construction company might even be themselves.
When that occurs, some skatepark designers fail to create full skatepark construction plans (or schematics) due to their confidence that they will be awarded the construction bid. This saves the designer money that can ultimately be used to enhance the final construction in some way… perhaps by including additional features or implementing exotic materials where none were previously specified.
General contractors will be a reasonable solution for those simple structures that require no awareness of skateboarding. However, even the humblest of structures require plans that define exactly what is to be built, using what materials, and what tolerances or deviations are permissible and what are not. The inclusion of minutia such as expansion seams may seem excessive to a company accustomed to building sidewalks, but a poorly positioned seam in or near a skate structure can immediately become a dangerous nuisance.
When a general contractor is awarded the job of constructing the skatepark, the schematics must be detailed enough to be enforceable. In most cases a contractor will not build to a higher standard than that which is specified. If a particular grade of smoothness is not specified, the general contractor will often produce lumps in the finished concrete. There is very little that anyone can do about this as there was never any contractual obligation to not have lumpy concrete.
Every skateboarding community in the nation has a story or two about a skatepark project that became a disaster due to an unenforceable or vague design.
Even if your designer intends to build your park, if the job will go to public bid, be sure the RFP describes exactly what you expect of the winning contractor.
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