Besides spare parts, a new building needs a complete and accurate record of itself. A building of any complexity must have a set of “as-built” drawings showing what was actually constructed. Rehab and restoration architects routinely charge significantly less for their work if as-builts are available. Part of the shame of the headquarters building (1970) of the American Institute of Architects in Washington is that it was completed without as-builts, making the later all-too-necessary renovations even more of a pain. There also needs to be assembled in one place a complete legal paper trail of
...more
