[Hardhatdan]

Depending on the design, they could proceed with demo, excavation, foundations. The major issue being, if it was some ultra uniqe above ground structural design and that has progressed to 25%, then there could be major impacts to the loads, stresses, etc, put on the foundations requiring either in process changes or rework. This was the case for the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg, really interesting story there on how they mitigated and the amount of RFIs and issues it cause.

Things can be mitigated through building a more standarded design, or building more standard sections of the design first. I still believe you can still achieve a remarkable design in doing so.

Back to the actual reality, there is no point to push into construction for fall anyways. The cost due to heating, hoarding and related productivity of piling and pouring concrete in the winter season means that outside of demolishing and perhaps some excavation, major construction will most likely not proceed until early spring. If the client pushes for this early start, those additional costs will be reflected in either reductions in expenditures for the end product design, other disciplines, finishes or a higher overall costs.

Allowing the design team time to advance and allowing the constructor to create a schedule that actually suits out climate and therefore delivers maximized productivity will allow for greatest bang for the buck. Common sense, you bet, but something often forgot by Clients who set strict timelines that these projects MUST meet. Ideally I hope the GOA gives them a window to work in and let the consultants and constructors do what they do best, design, plan and execute the work.