Chapter One

1.1 Introduction

Designing and constructing buildings, civil structures, industrial facilities, interior design projects, and other structures and facilities is one of humankind's most difficult endeavors in spite of the fact that it is a common activity. All facilities start as a project that takes a journey through a sophisticated and complex process in order to come into being. Talented individuals with advanced education, specialized knowledge, well-developed decision-making abilities, and in some cases professional licenses are required to manage, direct, and monitor the process. All that talent and skill has to be marshaled and brought together to converge on a common goal of producing a project. Then a considerable amount of both time and money are required to accomplish the goal. Yet out of the need for shelter, protection, and comfort, we design and construct facilities to house the activities of our private and public lives, both individually and socially. We aspire to create facilities that are useful, functional, visually pleasing, and enjoyable to occupy.

This journey is called the project delivery process, and this practice guide presents the many pieces and parts that compose that process. While this practice guide is not about creating and designing facilities, it is about the logistics of project delivery from conception to occupancy. It provides insight into the vast array of activities that are either required or necessary in the delivery process. Not every concept presented in this practice guide will be necessary for every project. The informati