Luzerne Consulting, LLC

02/02/2026

Time may change me, but I can't trace time.

Did you know that David Bowie's classic song 'Changes' was written about construction claims and changes? 

Ok, that may not be true.

Changes are sometimes inevitable on construction projects, whether they're the result of differing site conditions, scope gaps, contract document errors or omissions, or owner changes. When a plan is in place to deal with changes when they occur, the process can be less stressful and contentious. This is accomplished by having a robust Change Order Management Program with company-wide policies, procedures, and systems in place so team members have guidance when responding to changes.  

Benefits of establishing a change order management program include:
+ Awareness of contract clauses addressing change order submission timelines as well as clarification of entitlement
+ Importance of periodic schedule updates, sometimes defined in contracts, and archiving the baseline and previous schedule updates (if you claim a delay, you have to prove it!)
+ Understanding of what needs documented, and how it is documented, distributed and archived (daily reports, field reports, meeting minutes, photos and videos, emails, etc.)
+ Procedures for cost accounting and tracking extra work, materials, and equipment, crews, etc.
+ Assignment of in-house claims expert to review change orders for completeness and accuracy (does your change order include overhead, profit, and bond increases?)
+ Dispute resolution best practices like negotiation strategies or a dispute resolution ladder
+ Clear approaches for managing risk throughout all phases of the project

But a written formal change order management program is only successful when expectations are clear, training is provided, and ongoing program improvement is performed.

In my Claims and Changes class, I often reference Chapter 4 - How to Develop and Implement a Change Order Management Program from the text, 'How to Get Paid for Construction Changes' by Steven S. Pinnell. This is a great resource for any organization looking to develop a thorough change order management program.

12/11/2025

mop_it.pdf

bleep_yeep_deeeeppp.pdf

down_or_wah.pdf

These are file names a student of mine was assigning their homework this semester. And, yes, I did do an internet search to see if 'mop it' is some new phrase used by youngsters on the TikTok. While humorous, it highlights the importance of clear file naming procedures in an organization. Common sense would dictate that file names have a job name and/or number, document identifier, and date. Yet, inconsistent naming habits persist among some coworkers.

* Ever download 17 versions of the same plan?
* Ever wonder which set of drawings are the ones issued for bid?
* Ever open a folder with 42 undated Geotech reports?

Appropriate file naming procedures are essential for effective project documentation and accessibility. As employees may be unavailable due to vacations, departures, or alien abductions, it is vital that any team member within the organization can efficiently locate necessary documents.

The manner in which information is presented in documentation also holds significant importance. In a legal textbook I once read, the author noted that the information must be composed in a way that someone unfamiliar with the project can fully understand the content.

The ASCE Publishing text "Construction Contract Claims, Changes, and Dispute Resolution" devotes an entire chapter to documentation best practices. It highlights the importance of robust document management because it enhances the project's success, especially when a dispute arises. But to adequately manage documents, it is critical that an organization have adequate procedures, ensure personnel are trained in those procedures, and ensure that the procedures are followed on a consistent basis.

How does your organization approach digital file management?

11/28/2025

Are you an L.A. fan?

Several years ago, an architect I worked for shared a story from his graduate days at Columbia University. During class one day, his professor, Robert A.M. Stern, arrived wearing a monogrammed sweater. A student looked at him, and in all seriousness, asked if he was an L.A. fan….as in the Los Angeles Rams. If I recall correctly, he said the professor wasn’t amused.

My introduction to Robert A.M. Stern was his PBS mini-series “Pride of Place: Building the American Dream.” For several weeks in the spring of 1986, I would park myself in front of the tv on Monday evenings and intently watch every episode of the series that focused on American architecture. Like most high school freshmen that spring, I probably should have been watching Moonlighting, Falcon Crest, or the latest video Pet Shop Boys video on MTV. But at the age of 14, I already knew I wanted to be an architect, so being the geek that I am, I eagerly awaited each episode.

Several years later, during my daily walk to work along the San Francisco Embarcadero, I watched the construction of the new GAP headquarters building. It was exciting to see, in person, a building designed by The Man.

While some of my views on architecture have changed over the years, I am thankful for RAMS (that is Robert A.M. Stern, not to be confused with the Los Angeles football team) for teaching me so much about American architecture at a young age.

“Look at them, how boring they are…”

11/14/2025

Productivity and Overtime

When scheduling a project, do you consider how productivity can impact your scheduling decisions?

How do you measure productivity? Do you even think about productivity? Do you assume that working overtime will get the project completed faster?

Many of us have spent evenings and weekends trying to complete tasks or finish a project on time. But are we as productive as we think we are? For instance, working 10 hours a day for five days may not result in more output than the standard 40-hour work week.

By assuming that one is 100% productive working five days a week, 8 hours a day, we can use a simple formula to determine efficiency and effective hours per week:
Efficiency (%) = 100% - 5[(days-5) + (hours-8)]%

Let’s do the math when working five days a week, 10 hours a day, or 50 hours per week:
Eff. % = 100% - 5[5-5) + (10-8)]%
Eff. % = 100% - 10%
Eff. % = 90%

When working 50 hours per week at an efficiency rate of 90%, only 45 hours are genuinely productive. Therefore, extending the workday by two hours results in an actual increase of approximately 5 productive hours per week, rather than the presumed 10.

Although this calculation is approximate, it serves as a useful method for estimating realistic productive work hours during project planning.

10/10/2025

On Wednesday, Luzerne Consulting hosted the NAWIC Baltimore Chapter #135 October Coffee & Convo event.

Tara Labosky, AIA, LEED AP, CCCA delivered an informative presentation on negotiation strategies and facilitated a construction role-play simulation focused on dispute resolution techniques.

Thank you to everyone who attended! It is always interesting to hear the outcome of each team's negotiation.

09/22/2025

How do you resolve construction disputes?

Understanding contract terms, keeping records of discussions, and documenting work are all important steps.

However, strong negotiation skills play a significant role in effective dispute resolution.

One approach to cultivating negotiation abilities is through structured role-play simulations. Such activities are integrated into Tara Labosky's Construction Claims and Changes course at CCBC, where participants assume assigned roles and operate within defined time constraints to resolve hypothetical construction disputes, including periods for preparation and debriefing.

On October 8, Tara Labosky of Luzerne Consulting, LLC will facilitate a similar role-play simulation at NAWIC Baltimore Chapter #135 Coffee & Convo, designed to impart practical dispute-resolution skills to attendees.

Thank you to Associated Builders and Contractors Greater Baltimore for hosting!

This is a Web Application Firewall (WAF) provided by Cloudflare, a leader in web application security, which is part of your StarChapter service.

08/05/2025

What does your schedule look like?

During my time as an architect, our schedules were often a simple list of dates and tasks organized by phase, with limited information on how each task was connected, or a realistic project timetable. It is no wonder we were always working overtime, stressing at the last minute to complete projects, and generally missing deadlines. (Fig. 1)

While studying construction management, I was introduced to proper scheduling techniques like precedence diagrams. These are a simple way to determine the overall schedule duration, activity float, and critical path. They are also an important scheduling tool when developing a network model and start with four simple steps: (Fig. 2)
1. Define activities
2. Assign durations to activities
3. Order activities
4. Establish activity relationships

From here a simple network diagram is drawn to graphically represent the activity orders and relationships, using nodes to represent activities and lines/arrows to illustrate the connection between them. (Fig. 3)

The activity nodes are then expanded to include the activity name and duration, as well as space to enter the activity’s early start (ES), early finish (EF), late start (LS), late finish (LF), and float, once calculated. (Fig. 4)

The calculations start with the ‘forward pass’ which determines the early start and early finish times, as well as the overall duration of the project. Next, the ‘backward pass’ determines the late start and late finish times as well as each activity’s float. Activities with zero float will be the critical path. (Fig. 5)

* Early Activity Start (ES): Earliest time activity can start, determined by latest of early finish times of all IPAs (that would be immediate preceding activities – not India Pale Ales).
* Early Activity Finish (EF): Earliest time activity can finish, determined by adding duration of activity to early start time
* Late Activity Start (LS): Latest time activity can start without delaying project completion
* Late Activity Finish (LF): Latest time activity can be finished without delaying project completion
* Float: amount of time an activity can slip without affecting project completion date
* Critical Path: activities where any delay to start or completion date will extend project duration time; activities with no float.

Precedence diagrams simply introduce scheduling logic, while a list of dates and tasks remains just that—a list, not a schedule.

For a detailed series of short, step-by-step videos showing how precedence diagrams work, check out https://www.engineer4free.com/project-management.html .

07/01/2025

PERT – not just for bouncin’ and behavin’ hair.

Originally developed by the US Navy, the Program Evaluation Review Technique, or PERT, is a tool to determine the mean value of an activity duration (expected) using a three-time estimate: optimistic, most-likely, and pessimistic activity durations.

Te = (To + 4Tm + Tp) / 6

* Te = mean value of the activity duration (expected)
* To = Optimistic activity duration
* Tm = Most likely duration
* Tp = Pessimistic activity duration

While most of us are optimists at heart and there will always be some level of uncertainty, a realistic schedule often requires careful consideration of task durations. Here are some factors to consider:
* How do interruptions (phone calls, questions, diversions for other projects) affect productivity?
* Are task times continuous or summed from multiple intervals?
* Will adequate staff be available, considering other ongoing projects?
* Will lowballed durations be made up by exempt staff working overtime? (looking at you, architecture firm principals)
* Is your duration based on the A-team's performance, and what if the D-team takes over?
* Does the duration account for assembling tools and materials, travel, meetings, internal reviews, and onboarding team members?
* Does the duration include time for review, discussion, and decision-making with team members?
* How does the time of year affect durations due to factors such as weather, holidays, and vacations?
* Have all potential risks been identified, evaluated, and incorporated into the task duration?

Perhaps one of the most critical aspects of establishing project timelines is incorporating input from all team members. There are instances when unknown factors may only be identified through collaborative efforts.

06/24/2025

Your digital twin is cute.

But do you know how to use a T-square? A lettering guide? A compass?

Can you draw a line with a uniform weight by delicately rolling your lead-holder?

This Saturday June 28, I will be teaching these skills as well as other hand drafting basics at "The Lost Art of Architectural Hand Drafting" class at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen in Lancaster from 3-6pm.

Aspiring architects, engineers, construction professionals, students, and those seeking to learn new drawing skills are welcome!

Upon completing this class, students will:
1. Gain proficiency in traditional architectural drawing tools, including T-squares, triangles, and mechanical pencils.
2. Develop the ability to draw fundamental elements such as lines, line types and weights, circles, and arcs.
3. Acquire skills in basic lettering techniques using guidelines, styles, and lettering guides.
4. Execute tracing of simple plans and elevations integrating essential line elements, shading (poché), and fixture templates.
5. Get a free sticker.

Can't make it on June 28? Another class is scheduled for August 16, 1-4pm!

Register at https://pacrafts.org/events/the-lost-art-of-architectural-hand-drafting-june-28/

Instructor: Tara Labosky Skill Level: Beginner Learn the lost art of architectural hand drafting by using the tools and techniques employed by architects prior to computer-aided drafting (CAD). Students will draw a simple floor plan, elevation, perspective, and misc. architectural elements. About th...

06/03/2025

"In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the….anyone…anyone…"

Last week, I attended a seminar on construction tariffs presented by ASA of Central Pennsylvania and Cohen Seglias. Key points covered include:
* The ‘T’ in tariff does not stand for Trump, as tariff is not an acronym (per the presenter’s discussion with his 8-year-old son).
* Consider including escalation clauses in contracts.
* Contracts should specify the required documentation for a claim.
* Think about the impact on future claims when signing waivers for monthly applications for payment.
* Check if the contract defines what constitutes force majeure.
* Effective claims management involves having a competent Project Manager, being flexible and proactive, and maintaining thorough documentation.
* In ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, Ben Stein lectures about the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.
* Stockpiling due to potential tariffs may disrupt the supply chain, causing material shortages, longer lead times, unpredictable delivery schedules, etc.

Earlier this spring, a discussion on tariffs arose in my Construction Claims and Changes class. If a contractor submitted a bid last fall, would it be reasonable to consider that tariffs should have been discussed when signing the contract, given that Trump frequently mentioned imposing tariffs during his presidential campaign?

"Something-D-O-O economics."

05/27/2025

Contractors and Subcontractors – Are there gaps in your project team?

Luzerne Consulting provides a range of services to complement your team and enhance project management efforts.

With nearly 30 years of experience in architecture, construction management, and land development, Luzerne Consulting can help with:
* Planning & Scheduling: Developing project schedules and risk management matrices.
* Bidding: Preparing bid invitations/packages and conducting bid reviews.
* Permitting: Administering applications.
* Demolition: Managing utility disconnects, hazardous material removal, and permitting.
* Dry Utilities: Coordinating applications for removals, relocations, and/or new services.
* Project Documentation: Preparing progress reports and punch lists.
*
Communication: Facilitating team meetings and managing adjacent property/tenant relations.
Luzerne Consulting also offers staff training in Contract Documents (Blueprints), Planning and Scheduling, and Claims and Changes.

We are certified as a WBE, WOSB, SDB (PA), and SB (PA).

04/28/2025

Blueprints or Contract Documents?

For those who’ve studied the CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide, you probably remember the graphic that defines the difference between procurement requirements, project manual, contract documents, etc. What resembles a 2nd-year architecture design project for a high-rise building is actually a great illustration that explains the difference between, and importance of the documents floating around a project.

When teaching Blueprint Reading classes I start by asking students about their experience. While most have some familiarity with plans for their specific trade/discipline, many are unaware of the existence of specifications.

Recognizing all types of documents used to communicate the design is crucial. It’s not just about reading blueprints, but understanding some basics:
• Contracting requirements – agreements that describe contractual requirements and processes
• Drawings – graphic representation of the work
• Specifications – written narrative of the work
• Drawings and Specifications are complementary and if one takes precedence over the other (hint…check the contract!)
• Organization of materials and products via Masterformat
• Project team roles, responsibilities, and relationships
• Design phases and the process of developing Contract Documents

Last week at Lansdowne High School, I presented a contract documents lesson to students and conducted exercises on scale and plan reading. While this was a lot to squeeze into a short time (78 slides to be exact!), it gave students a foundational overview of some of the knowledge necessary for a career in the built environment.