AIA
American Institute of Architects. The leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners.
AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
Completed project documents showing all work changes as marked up by the Contractor. During the construction process it is common for many changes to occur in the field. A set of “As-Built” plans will allow the Client to have accurate documentation of their built project.
ASLA
American Society of Landscape Architects. The national professional association for landscape architects. “The Society’s mission is to lead, to educate, and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning and artful design of our cultural and natural environments.
BASE PLAN
A plan indicating the basic existing site elements such as paving, driveways, sidewalks, streets, walls, fences, building footprint, window locations, doors, walkways, and any other items which will remain. With a blank lot, often the Plot Plan is used for the base. When a Plot Plan can not be supplied often a Parcel Map can be supplied by the City.
BUILDING SETBACKS
Cities Planning Departments and Home Owners Associations use building setbacks to ensure there is enough open space between neighboring properties, walls, streets and slopes. HOA’s often have large front yard setbacks and pool setbacks.
CHANGE ORDERS
The Client’s written order to the contractor, which authorizes a change in the construction work and contract time and/or amount. Often, the design professional also signs the change order and then issues it to the contractor. Change Orders are very common during a construction process. A complete set of Construction Documents will help ensure fewer Change Orders. It has been known for contractors to deliberately bid a project low to get a signed contract and then add in many Change Orders at a higher rate later on.
CITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT
The purpose of the Building Department is to ensure that your landscape project is being built to local codes for safety purposes. Items will need to be permitted such as; electrical outlets, gas lines, walls over 6’ tall, overhead structures, fireplaces, and so on. During the construction process your contractor will be required to pass several site inspections by the Building Department Inspector.
