Changes Are Inevitable During Construction - How They Are Managed Determines Whether They Create Disputes
No construction project is built exactly as designed. Unforeseen conditions, owner-directed scope additions, coordination conflicts, and manufacturer substitutions all generate requests for change during the construction phase. The AIA A201 General Conditions provide the framework for how changes to the Contract are proposed, evaluated, negotiated, and executed. The architect's role in change order management is one of the most consequential and dispute-prone aspects of construction administration - and it is directly tested on the ARE CE exam. Architects who understand the change order process, document it correctly, and maintain the owner's awareness of cost and schedule impacts can prevent most construction disputes; architects who allow changes to accumulate informally are setting up the project for close-out conflicts.
Types of Changes Under AIA A201
Change Order (CO): The formal document by which the owner, contractor, and architect all agree to a change in the Contract Sum, Contract Time, or both. A Change Order requires signatures from all three parties. It is used when the scope of change is defined, the price is agreed upon, and the schedule impact is resolved. The CO formally amends the original contract. Construction Change Directive (CCD): Used when the owner needs the contractor to proceed with a change before the cost or schedule impact has been fully negotiated. The CCD is signed by the owner and architect (not the contractor) and directs the contractor to proceed with the work. The contractor's entitlement to compensation and time adjustment is determined through the CCD process (contractor submits cost documentation; architect makes a determination). A CCD avoids project delay when the change is necessary but the negotiations are not complete. Minor Change in the Work: The architect has authority under A201 Section 7.4 to authorize Minor Changes in the Work - changes that do not affect Contract Sum or Contract Time - through field orders without owner signature. Examples: dimension adjustments within tolerance, material substitutions of equal quality and cost.
Evaluating Change Order Requests
When the contractor submits a Proposal Request (PR) response or a change order request, the architect evaluates: (1) Is the scope genuinely additional to the original contract requirements? (Scope already required by the contract drawings and specifications cannot be change-ordered as extra.) (2) Is the unit pricing reasonable? (Compare to original bid, market rates, or a fair-cost estimate.) (3) Is the schedule extension justified? (Does the critical path extend? Concurrent delays may reduce the contractor's entitlement.) The architect makes a written determination and recommends the Change Order amount and time to the owner, who must approve before the CO is executed.
Key Exam Points
- Change Order: all three parties sign; amends Contract Sum and/or Contract Time; requires agreement on both.
- Construction Change Directive: owner + architect sign; directs work to proceed before pricing is agreed; contractor submits documentation.
- Minor Change in the Work: architect signature only; no cost or time impact; used for field adjustments.
- Architect evaluates: is the change extra to the contract? Is pricing reasonable? Is schedule extension justified?
- Document everything in writing - verbal change authorizations and informal agreements create disputes.
AREprep's CE construction administration content covers the complete change order process under AIA A201 - CO vs. CCD vs. Minor Change, contractor RFI and proposal request workflows, change order evaluation criteria, and close-out - giving ARE CE candidates the change management knowledge the exam tests in scenario-based questions about the architect's responsibilities during the construction phase.
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