Quote:
Originally Posted by pilsenarch
^bKL is not responsible for either the design or the engineering...
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You are spreading blatant misinformation: bKL is the Architect of Record.
"Consultant Team
bKL Architecture, architect of record
Gensler, hotel architect
HBA, interior architect
Magnusson Klemencic Associates, structural engineer
dbHMS, MEP design assist
Mackie Consultants, civil engineer
OLIN, landscape architect
CDC, facade consultant"
The above is taken directly from Studio Gang's website:
https://studiogang.com/project/vista-tower
As AOR, they are directly responsible for the design and engineering of a building.
A design team with the experience of the firms listed above does not simply make 'a huge mistake', nor would they cover up something as massive as requiring a blow-through floor. I firmly believe Occam's razor, in that the changes were Owner-directed, which required the design team to come up with the solution of the blow-through floor. If this was truly a mistake on the part of the design team, they would have been fired a long time ago, regardless of whatever relationship Magellan has with bKL or Studio Gang. Clients, owners change their minds A LOT, even during construction; it is their prerogative, especially if they feel it would improve a project, and assuming they have the money to do so.
Nearly 20 years ago, I had just completed grad school and was hired by a firm during CA phase of a large educational building at UC. The Dean of the college didn't like the orientation of the suite of admin offices, as he wanted to have a view of the students entering the building from the second floor where the offices were located, so the decision was made to rotate over 10,000 sq ft of office space by 90 degress(!!!) to accommodate the Owner's request. This was after a construction permit was issued for the project, and during framing of the steel structure. The university gave their blessing because the Dean of this particular department held a lot influence, so they were willing to shell out millions to change everything, which entailed: coordinated civil/architectural/structural/MEPFP/landscape drawings, additional permit submission to reflect the design change, multiple change order to account for the fact that the steel framing was already up, not to mention required additional structural support to cantilever the offices in the desired, new orientation. IIRC it was between $8-10 million in combined change orders so that the Dean could be happy. All Owner-directed, and the design team willingly obliged.
Architects, engineers are professional, licensed consultants, all understand fully how little margin of error there is on projects even for small change orders, let alone massive alterations such as a blow-through floor.