Page 23 - Spring 2020 Digital inLEAGUE Volume 43 Number 02

Construction change Orders: fundraising support. Now take it for a test drive: consult
with professionals, speak with colleagues, solicit
A Quick Guide advice from other organizations, and prepare your
Be prepared: There will be change orders. Several organization for future success.
types of change orders exist and each change could
combine several aspects of each:
• Owner-directed changes: You decide that you
can afford that additional restroom or want a
different configuration for the bar. Michael R. Schnoering, FAIA, leads the
design and management of many of
• Unforeseen conditions: Many secrets can be the firm’s arts, educational, and civic
hiding under finishes, slabs, and soil. Performing projects. His work encompasses a wide
selective probes during design can help identify variety of innovative new and adaptive
some of these, but there can always be surprises use designs involving public and private
during construction. entertainment, lecture, education, and
administrative spaces. He has guided
• Errors and omissions: Architects and engineers are award-winning renovation projects in theaters on the
human, and they make mistakes. national stage and completed successful projects at several
• Code: Sometimes code official interpretations of well-known historic downtown theaters.
important elements such as egress and other life Michael’s experience with projects for the arts extends
safety accommodations only come to light when to his volunteer service. He serves on the boards of the
construction is in place. A prime example is the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT); the New
placement of exit signs and emergency egress Jersey Theatre Alliance (NJTA), and the Cultural Access
lighting. Network of NJ (CAN). He has shared his knowledge on
theater planning, design, and accessibility, and advocates
possible projects: for increased access in all locations beyond the minimum
code requirements. His passion for access in the arts has
• Understand your building’s original and existing use led to multiple speaking engagements at national LHAT
and its architectural features. conferences as well as regional training events for the
Cultural Access Network.
• Consider how your project supports your Michael holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from
organization’s mission. the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), and is a
• Research what your community wants and needs. Registered Architect in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New
York, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Washington
• Determine whether market conditions support your DC, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin,
project. Missouri, Indiana, and Colorado. He is a Fellow of the
American Institute of Architects.
• Think about existing and new programming
options. Strategies to Limit Changes
• Factor in the building’s condition. What are the strategies to limit changes and to
effectively manage them when they arise?
• Identify resources and funding sources. • First, early in the process, ensure the architect has

• Realistically consider feasibility. been given enough time to complete documents
and that an effective quality assurance
All theatre owners and management teams have (document review) process is in place.
wish lists for the future. Small community theatres,
especially, face challenges. A renovation or other • Make sure that you and your organization review
project might help them become a more thriving the drawings and specifications with the architect
and engineers to ensure that they reflect the
community venue, but they are less equipped to project that you envision.
begin. This article detailed an overview road map of
best practices in terms of planning, team building, and • During budgeting, carry a construction
contingency to fund unavoidable changes.
• During construction, when changes become
known, encourage a team approach to problem
solving.
• There may be frustrating and heated moments,
and it will be important to remain focused on the
big picture.
• Require that the contractor provide detailed
information about the costs contained in
each change (i.e. labor and materials shown
separately) and rely on your design team to
review each change order request to help
determine if the work proposed is appropriate and
priced fairly.

May 2020 INLEAGUE | PAGE 21