The Architect Reviews the Schedule - But Does Not Approve It or Guarantee It
One of the least understood aspects of construction administration is the distinction between reviewing the contractor's construction schedule and approving it. Under AIA A201 and typical construction contract language, the contractor is responsible for preparing and updating the construction schedule and for completing the work within the contract time. The architect reviews the schedule for general conformance with the contract requirements - principally, that the proposed sequence is plausible and that the substantial completion date falls within the contract time - but does not supervise, endorse, or guarantee the schedule. This distinction matters enormously for liability: if the contractor uses an unrealistic schedule and falls behind, the architect's review of that schedule does not make the architect responsible for the contractor's scheduling failures.
What Is in a Baseline Construction Schedule
Modern construction schedules for significant projects use the Critical Path Method (CPM) - a network-based scheduling technique that identifies the sequence of activities that determines the project's minimum completion time. A CPM schedule shows: all significant construction activities (typically organized by specification section or work area); their durations; predecessor and successor relationships (dependencies - what must be complete before each activity can start); the critical path (the chain of activities with zero float, whose delay directly extends the project completion date); and activities with float (time buffer that allows those activities to be delayed without delaying project completion). The critical path and its activities receive the most attention from both the contractor's project manager and the architect during schedule reviews.
What the Architect Reviews For
When the architect receives the contractor's schedule, the review is focused on: whether the schedule's proposed substantial completion date falls within the contract time (compliance with the contract); whether the schedule shows submittal preparation and review periods that are adequate and consistent with what the architect needs (the architect is part of the submittal process and needs enough time to review); whether the schedule's overall logic is plausible for the scope of work (obviously unrealistic schedules - completing complex structural work in a fraction of the time required - should be noted); and whether the schedule includes appropriate milestone dates for phased occupancy, inspections, or other contractually required events.
What the Architect Does Not Do
The architect does not guarantee that the schedule is achievable; does not supervise the contractor's scheduling practice; does not direct the contractor to sequence activities in any particular way (means and methods are the contractor's domain); and does not approve the schedule in the sense of accepting responsibility for its outcomes. If the contractor's schedule has errors in its logic or unrealistic durations for individual activities, the architect may note these concerns in the schedule review comment letter, but the contractor retains responsibility for the schedule.
Key Exam Points
- Architect reviews schedule for conformance with contract requirements - does not approve or guarantee it.
- CPM schedule: network-based; shows activities, durations, dependencies, critical path, and float.
- Critical path: chain of activities with zero float; delay to any critical path activity delays project completion.
- Architect's schedule review checks: substantial completion within contract time; adequate submittal review periods; overall plausibility.
- Contractor remains solely responsible for means, methods, and schedule achievement.
Study CE on AREprep
AREprep’s CE flashcards cover every concept on this exam with spaced repetition, and the practice exams mirror the real question formats so the actual test feels familiar.