American Institute of Architects Releases Newly Revised Architect Scope Documents

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 23, 2017) – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is releasing the second part of the once-in-a-decade 2017 edition of the A201, design-bid-build family of documents for a total of 34 newly revised 2017 documents. This release includes updated versions of the Architect Scope documents and many of the frequently-used AIA forms. Working with architects, contractors, subcontractors and owners, the AIA Documents Committee updates this core set of documents every 10 years. This helps ensure that the AIA legal forms and agreements reflect changes and trends in the industry, and that the AIA Contract Documents remain the Industry Standard.

“We revised several of our most frequently used project forms, in part to coordinate them with other recently revised documents, but also to make them more efficient and user-friendly,” said Mike Koger, AIA, Esq., manager and counsel of AIA Contract Documents. “With a pulse on the industry, we understand that architects are providing services beyond basic architectural services, to respond to this trend, we heavily revised several of the architect scope documents. We hope that all industry participants take advantage of the significant written resources and education programming opportunities available to learn about, and understand, both the 2017 core document revisions as well as the documents and forms updated as part of this release.”

Some of the major changes to the Architect Scope documents include:

• Site Evaluation and Project Feasibility Services: B203-2017 was updated to clarify the architect’s responsibility to prepare a site evaluation and feasibility report as a deliverable as part of its services, and includes a simplified list of services and an enhanced initial information section.
• Historic Preservation Services: The Existing Buildings Assessment services were revised so the architect can provide a preliminary evaluation of the site’s historic buildings, then provide more detailed services as necessary. B205-2017 also clarifies the architect’s responsibility regarding hazardous materials on a project with historically significant buildings or features.
• On-Site Project Representation Services: B207-2017 was revised to allow the owner and architect to establish the scope of the representative’s authority to act on behalf of the architect. B207-2017 also includes enhanced and clarified responsibilities for the on-site project representative to keep a daily log of site activities, prepare monthly written progress reports, perform certain off-site activities, and observe on-site tests and inspections.
• Facility Support Services: B210-2017 is set up as a menu of services with six main categories of services – (1) Facility Condition Assessment, (2) Facility Performance Assessment, (3) Operations Assessment, (4) Space Management, (5) Maintenance Management, and (6) Digital Facility Management System. The first three service categories were included in the 2007 version of B210, but have been expanded in the 2017 version. The later three service categories are new to the 2017 version of B210.
• Commissioning Services: C203-207 is no longer written as an architect’s scope of services in the B-Series of documents. Instead, C203 is silent as to the professional background of the person or entity performing the commissioning services and is categorized as a consultant document in the C-Series of documents.

Some of the major form changes include:

• Certificate of Substantial Completion: G704-2017 was reorganized so the architect can sign the form, and include the date of substantial completion, immediately after the description of the work the architect is certifying.
• Notice of Additional Services: G801-2017 was updated to allow an architect to satisfy the additional services notice requirements included in B101-2017, B103-2017, and B104-2017.
• Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement: G802-2017 was revised to simplify the process to amend owner/architect agreements when additional services are not contemplated as part of the amendment. For such amendments, the owner and architect need only to describe the amendment, indicate changes to the architect’s compensation and schedule, and execute G802-2017 according to the underlying owner/architect agreement.

The documents included in this October release are:

• B201-2017, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: Design and Construction Contract Administration
• B203-2017, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: Site Evaluation and Project Feasibility
• B205-2017, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: Historic Preservation
• B207-2017, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: On-Site Project Representation
• B210-2017, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: Facility Support
• C203-2017, Standard Form of Consultant’s Services: Commissioning
• G701-2017, Change Order
• G701S-2017, Change Order, Subcontractor Variation
• G704-2017, Certificate of Substantial Completion
• G710-2017, Architect’s Supplemental Instructions
• G714-2017, Construction Change Directive
• G715-2017, Supplemental Attachment for ACORD Certificate of Insurance 25
• G801-2017, Notice of Additional Services
• G802-2017, Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement
• G803-2017, Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement
• G808-2017, Project Directory and Design Data Summary

The revised 2017 documents are currently available through an unlimited access license or as a single, customizable document on ACD5, the online platform. The documents are also available as single, non-editable documents on AIA Documents on Demand and as paper versions through some AIA Chapters. Visit aiacontracts.org/purchase for more information. 

For more information, visit AIA.