This section is from the book "The Law Of Contracts", by Samuel Williston. Also available from Amazon: Treatise on the Law of Contracts.
The Architect's professional services consist of the necessary conferences, the preparation of preliminary studies, working drawings, specifications, large scale and full size detail drawings; the drafting of forms of proposals and contracts; the issuance of certificates of payment; the keeping of accounts, the general administration of the business and supervision of the work.
The fee payable by the Owner to the Architect for the performance of the above services is the percentage hereinbefore defined as the basic rate, computed upon the cost of the work in respect of which such services have been performed, subject, however, to any modifications growing out of these Conditions of Agreement.
The Owner is to reimburse the Architect the costs of transportation and living incurred by him and his assistants while travelling in discharge of duties connected with the work, and the costs of the services of heating, ventilating, mechanical, and electrical engineers.
The basic rate as hereinbefore defined is to be used when all of the work is let under one contract. Should the Owner determine to have certain portions of the work executed under separate contracts, as the Architect's burden of service, expense, and responsibility is thereby increased, the rate in connection with such portions of the work shall be four per cent greater than the basic rate. Should the Owner determine to have substantially the entire work executed under separate contracts, then such higher rate shall apply to the entire work. In any event, however, the basic rate shall, without increase, apply to contracts for any portions of the work on which the Owner reimburses the Engineer's fees to the Architect, and to the cost of articles not designed by the Architect but purchased under his direction.
If after a definite scheme has been approved, the Owner makes a decision which, for its proper execution, involves extra services and expense for changes in or additions to the drawings, specifications or other documents; or if a contract be let by cost of labor and material plus a percentage or fixed sum; or if the Architect is put to labor or expense by delays caused by the Owner or a contractor, or by the delinquency or insolvency of either, or as a result of damage by fire he shall be equitably paid for such extra service, and expense.
Should the execution of any work designed or specified by the Architect, or any part of such work be abandoned or suspended, the Architect is to be paid in accordance with or in proportion to the terms of Article 6 for the service rendered on account of it up to the time of such abandonment or suspension.
Whether the work be executed or whether its execution be suspended or abandoned in part or whole, payments to the Architect on his fee are, subject to the provisions of Article 5, to be made as follows:
Upon completion of the preliminary studies, a sum equal to 20% of the basic rate computed upon a reasonable estimated cost.
Upon completion of specifications and general working drawings (exclusive of details) a sum sufficient to increase payments on the fee to 60% of the rate or rates of commission arising from this agreement, computed upon a reasonable cost estimated on such completed specifications and drawings, or if bids have been received, then computed upon the lowest bona fide bid or bids.
From time to time during the execution of work and in proportion to the amount of service rendered by the Architect, payments shall be made until the aggregate of all payments made on account of the fee under this Article, but not including any covered by the provisions of Article 5, shall be a sum equal to the rate or rates of commission arising from this agreement, computed upon the final cost of the work.
Payments to the Architect, other than those on his fee, fall due from time to time as his work is done or as costs are incurred.
No deduction shall be made from the Architect's fee on account of penalty, liquidated damages, or other sums withheld from payments to contractors.
The Owner shall give thorough consideration to all sketches, drawings, specifications, proposals, contracts, and other documents laid before him by the Architect and, whenever prompt action is necessary, he shall inform the Architect of his decisions in such reasonable time as not to delay the work of the Architect nor to prevent him from giving drawings or instructions to contractors in due season.
The Owner shall furnish the Architect with a complete and accurate survey of the building site, giving the grades and lines of streets, pavements, and adjoining properties; the rights, restrictions, easements, boundaries, and contours of the building site, and full information as to sewer, water, gas, and electrical service. The Owner is to pay for borings or test pits and for chemical, mechanical, or other tests when required.
The Architect will endeavor to guard the Owner against defects and deficiencies in the work of contractors, but he does not guarantee the performance of their contracts. The supervision of an architect is to be distinguished from the continuous personal superintendence to be obtained by the employment of a clerk-of-the-worka.
When authorized by the Owner, a clerk-of-the-works acceptable to both Owner and Architect shall be engaged by the Architect at a salary satisfactory to the Owner and paid by the Owner, upon presentation of the Architect's monthly certificates.
When requested to do so, the Architect will make or procure preliminary estimates on the cost of the work and he will endeavor to keep the actual cost of the work as low as may be consistent with the purpose of the building and with proper workmanship and material, but no such estimate can be regarded as other than an approximation.
The words "the cost of the work" as used in Articles [2 and 6 hereof are ordinarily to be interpreted as meaning the total of the contract sums incurred for the execution of the work, not including Architect's and Engineer's fees, or the salary of the Clerk-of-the-Works, but in certain rare cases, e. g., when labor or material is furnished by the Owner below its market cost or when old materials are re-used, the cost of the work is to be interpreted as the cost of all materials and labor necessary to complete the work, as such cost would have been if all materials had been new and if all labor had been fully paid at market prices current when the work was ordered, plus contractor's profits and expenses.
' Drawings and specifications as instruments of service are the property of the Architect whether the work for which they are made be executed or not.
The Owner and the Architect, each binds himself, his successors, executors, administrators, and assigns to the other party to this agreement, and to the successors, executors, administrators, and assigns of such other party in respect of all the covenants of this agreement.
The Architect shall have the right to join with him in the performance of this agreement, any architect or architects with whom he may in good faith enter into partnership relations. In case of the death or disability of one or more partners, the rights and duties of the Architect, if a firm, shall devolve upon the remaining partner or partners or upon such firm as may be established by him or them, and he, they or it shall be recognized as the "successor" of the Architect, and so on until the service covered by the agreement has been performed. The Owner shall have the same rights, but in his case no limitation as to the vocation of those admitted to partnership is imposed.
Except as above, neither the Owner nor the Architect shall assign, sublet or transfer his interest in this agreement without the written consent of the other.
All questions in dispute under this agreement shall be submitted to arbitration at the choice of either party.
No one shall be nominated or act as an arbitrator who is in any way financially interested in this contract or in the business affairs of either party.
The general procedure shall conform to the laws of the State in which the work is to be erected. Unless otherwise provided by such laws, the parties may agree upon one arbitrator; otherwise there shall be three, one named in writing by each party and the third chosen by these two arbitrators, or if they fail to select a third within ten days, then he shall be chosen by the presiding officer of the Bar Association nearest to the location of the work. Should the party demanding arbitration fail to name an arbitrator within ten days of his demand, his right to arbitration shall lapse. Should the other party fail to choose an arbitrator within said ten days, then such presiding officer shall appoint such arbitrator. Should either party refuse or neglect to supply the arbitrators with any papers or information demanded in writing, the arbitrators are empowered by both parties to proceed ex parte. The arbitrators shall act with promptness. If there be one arbitrator his decision shall be binding; if three, the decision of any two shall be binding. Such decision shall be a condition precedent to any right of legal action, and wherever permitted by law it may be filed in Court to carry it into effect.
The arbitrators shall fix their own compensation, unless otherwise provided by agreement, and shall assess the costs and charges of the arbitration upon either or both parties.
The award of the arbitrators must be in writing and, if in writing, it shall not be open to objection on account of the form of the proceedings or the award, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the State in which the work is to be erected.
The Owner and the Architect hereby agree to the full performance of the covenants contained herein.
In Witness Whereof they have executed this agreement, the day and year first above written. In Presence of
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