Time is Money: Construction Contract Times, Delays, and Schedules-Time is Money Construction Contract Times Delays Schedules HO2 Partisan Pros

Time is Money Construction Contract Times Delays Schedules HO2 Partisan Pros

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The blog post "Partisan Professionals: Contractors Deserve Ethical Treatment" by Kevin O’Beirne highlights the ethical obligations of architects, engineers, and geologists to act truthfully and impartially in their professional roles, especially when working with construction contractors. Despite pressures to support their clients’ short-term interests and preserve relationships, design professionals must avoid partisanship that disadvantages contractors, as this can violate both professional licensure standards and codes of conduct established by industry organizations.<br /><br />O’Beirne presents two examples illustrating common ethical dilemmas. In the first, an engineering team initially denied a contractor’s request for additional payment over ambiguous specifications but ultimately accepted the change order after consulting an impartial advisor. In the second, a consulting engineer evaluated a contractor’s large claim impartially despite client pressure to support the owner’s position, which prevented costly litigation and fostered settlement.<br /><br />The post stresses that design professionals’ impartiality is not only ethically mandated under state laws and professional codes but also required contractually by common industry documents such as EJCDC C-700 and AIA A201. Engineers and architects must prioritize honesty and objective judgment over aligning solely with the party paying their fees, as ethical conduct avoids disputes, litigation expenses, and reputational harm.<br /><br />O’Beirne concludes that professional integrity and objectivity best serve clients' longer-term interests, contractors’ fair treatment, and the design professional’s own credibility. The post underscores the importance for design consultants to deliver even “bad news” candidly, thereby promoting trust and reducing conflicts in construction projects.

Keywords

ethical obligations

architects

engineers

geologists

construction contractors

professional licensure

codes of conduct

impartiality

contract disputes

professional integrity