R D Projects Telephone Seminars - Training Resources

Understanding LEED for Sustainable Building BenefitsThis teleconference will help you better understand the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, as it was significantly revised in 2009. The comprehensive introductory materials will prepare you for additional training to receive your LEED credential as an accredited professional or LEED AP. In January 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council  more...

Opportunities for Recycling Construction Waste and Demolition Debris BenefitsNationally and internationally, sustainable building is taking hold. One part of sustainable building is reusing and recycling materials during construction and demolition. More and more projects are requiring the recycling of materials during construction and demolition, and contractors and others will need to know how to potentially meet this requirement. This 90-minute teleconference  more...

Workout Strategies for Troubled Condominium Projects BenefitsThe present economic downturn has affected real estate projects of all types but perhaps none as significantly as condominium projects. To further complicate matters, strategies to cope with failing and failed condominium developments must address multiple overlays of statutory and other legal requirements and limitations, as well as the often conflicting rights and concerns of the many  more...

Access Management Design and Development BenefitsAccess management is a critical element of every private and public roadway or site development project. As a transportation engineer and/or planner, understanding the basics of access design and access development is crucial in delivering a successful project to your client. Driveway access to a site can have positive or negative consequences on the amount of potential business a retail  more...

Construction Joint Ventures: Benefits and Pitfalls BenefitsConstruction joint ventures, properly conceived and implemented, enhance the marketing opportunities and organizational assets of the individual joint venturers, thereby enabling the joint venture to obtain and successfully complete larger, more complex projects than those the joint venturers could undertake individually. Construction joint ventures are excellent vehicles for combining  more...

The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act: Application to Condominiums and Single Family Homes BenefitsIn today's environment, many purchasers of condominium units and homesites are trying to back out of their purchases. Learn how to keep your hard-earned condominium unit sales and single-family home sales from slipping away. Many condominium developers and home builders who are subject to the federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act do not understand how to comply, or perhaps  more...

Efficiency Estimations and Payback Periods for New Equipment BenefitsEnergy savings is possible for nearly every electric motor application but there are obstacles to buying and installing a higher efficiency motor. Practical considerations of the real world such as initial purchase, accounting system roadblocks, and installation and operating cost, must be part of the decision process. This teleconference will explain basic principles of electric motor  more...

Water Supply and Groundwater Well Design BenefitsThe demand for reliable clean water continues to grow across the country and one of the most common sources is ground water. The most important component in a ground water based supply system is the wells used to extract water from underground aquifers. Maintaining the long term performance of wells requires an understanding of the factors that effect well performance. Problems with well  more...

Determining the Best Service Delivery Options for Public Works and Utility Projects: In-House or Contract? BenefitsIn this teleconference, you will learn principles and techniques for determining when a project or activity is best delivered by in-house staff, through a contract with a neighboring government or a private contractor, or a combined approach with some tasks performed in-house and others by a contractor. The teleconference will present a practical, nuts-and-bolts approach with examples to  more...

Basic Principles of Construction Insurance BenefitsThis popular teleconference offers an overview of basic insurance coverage used for construction projects. The presenters are experienced construction and insurance coverage attorneys who will discuss how to secure appropriate insurance coverage at a project's inception and what to do when claims arise during construction or after project completion. Builder's risk, CGL and other common  more...

Integrated Project Delivery Principles and Building Information Modeling BenefitsMany in the facilities community, including designers, builders and owners, need a hand understanding IPD and BIM. What does it all mean? Who benefits and how? Some that have heard about IPD and BIM may be wondering how to either ask for it in their projects or implement these principles in their firms. There are some basic concepts in IPD and BIM that can be used in every project large or  more...

Documenting and Organizing LEED Projects: Lessons Learned for Better LEED Submissions BenefitsLEED certification is becoming a more common requirement for designs in this environmentally sensitive and energy-conscious world. Design teams are being asked to integrate steps for LEED certification into already established design processes. Even though a designer might understand the principles of sustainable design and are familiar with LEED certification, until they have managed a  more...

Current Issues in CEQA BenefitsWhile others chose to fight over the reality of climate change, those of us who work on new development or projects in California only have time to fight to keep up with the enormous changes in California law and jurisprudence concerning climate change. This teleconference will provide an update on the proposed changes to the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines for mitigation  more...

Practical Transportation Design and Solutions: Concepts and Implementation BenefitsDue to the increasing age of our nation's transportation infrastructure, in conjunction with the increasing demand for travel, the need for ongoing road preservation, safety and mobility projects has continually increased. However, the long term availability of funds for such improvements continues to diminish. Typical planning and design approaches may prioritize projects at the planning  more...

Shop Drawings and Other Construction Submittals - Legal and Architectural Perspectives BenefitsThere is perhaps no aspect of construction which is more misunderstood, and which is more fraught with the potential for confusion, than the shop drawing submittal process. When the process breaks down, the result can be deficient work, economic loss and even disastrous collapse. This teleconference will help you understand your responsibility and risks in the shop drawings submittal  more...

Collective Bargaining and Construction Labor Contracts BenefitsThe construction industry is rife with contractors who sign collective bargaining agreements and later find out that the agreements do not accurately represent the verbal understandings they had reached with the union. Many of these contractors soon learn they are bound to the collective bargaining agreements for longer periods of time than expected and that the agreements cover all  more...

The Dilemma of Dealing With Bad Plans and Specs: Key Legal Concepts and Tips for Pro-actively Managing Design Errors, Omissions BenefitsPlans and specifications are, without question, critical to the success of any construction project. When the plans and specifications are clear and without significant errors or omissions, the project is much more likely to be on time and within budget. But what happens when plans are riddled with errors, conflicts or omissions? This teleconference will provide you with valuable tips for  more...

Multifamily Project Finance and Development BenefitsAlthough generally performing better than single family, the multifamily credit markets continue to be in turmoil, and raising necessary debt and equity for acquisition, refinancing and development continues to be a challenge, even for well-capitalized owner/developers with good track records and performing or well conceived new projects. The looming 'refinance crisis' for multifamily  more...

Not in My Backyard (NIMBY): Overcoming Development Resistance BenefitsNIMBY resistance to land use proposals can add millions to the cost of the development project and add months to the permitting process. This teleconference will provide practical, actionable tools to anticipate and avoid community resistance to controversial land use projects and to actively build community enthusiasm for the proposal. We'll begin with an in-depth look at managing hostile  more...

Building Green Without Losing Green: Managing Risk in Sustainable Design and Construction Contracts BenefitsRising energy costs, government mandates and market forces are combining to produce a surge of interest in sustainable development. The introduction of new green practices and processes requires a fresh review of old design and construction template agreements. In this teleconference, you will learn to identify areas of contractual risk in the green development context. You will also learn  more...

Effective Job Rotation Programs: Development and Implementation BenefitsThere is little argument that job rotations, stretch assignments and on-the-job development projects are some of the most effective development tools in the talent management arsenal today. However, the design of many programs currently in operation date back to a time when the speed of organizational change was much slower than it is today, when the pressures of global competition were  more...

Understanding the Complexities of OCIPs and CCIPs Insurance Programs BenefitsOwner-controlled insurance programs and contractor-controlled insurance programs, sometimes referred to as wrap-ups, are becoming more popular, as they can result in significant savings if properly structured and managed. While historically available only on the largest of projects, more recently these programs have been used on projects as small as $25 million in construction costs.  more...

Taxation Issues When Conducting Business With Native American Tribes BenefitsThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included a number of provisions designed to encourage economic development on Native American reservations, including expanded authority for American Indian tribes to issue tax-exempt bonds for projects on American Indian lands and a $500 million investment of funds for infrastructure, renewable energy, tribal detention facilities and  more...

Construction Project Management in Remote Locations: Site Considerations and Unique Challenges BenefitsClients that are developing projects in remote locations are increasingly demanding comprehensive design-build solutions for projects where the defined scope is often little more than a half-page concept of the desired output or regulatory result. The client expectations: technical and commercial analysis, scope of work development, a detailed execution plan, a detailed CPM schedule with  more...

Pervious Concrete - The Pavement That Drinks! BenefitsPervious concrete is an innovative building material with many environmental, economic and structural advantages. The proper use of pervious concrete is a recognized best management practice by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for providing first-flush pollution control and storm water management. Property owners and developers can also reduce fees and enhance the bottom line by  more...

Who Should Bear the Risk? Top 10 Things Developers Need to Know About Loan Documents BenefitsWith the tightening in the commercial lending market, developers are under increased pressure to provide lenders with projects that present no more than a responsible risk. After an equity requirement, loan documentation is the primary vehicle for allocating risk between the parties. This teleconference will help you understand lenders' requirements and the variety of loan documentation  more...

5 Principles for Successful Design-Build Projects BenefitsYou will learn how design-build project delivery systems differ from the traditional design-bid-build system, how to evaluate whether design-build may be advantageous for your particular situation and project, how to structure a design-build approach to maximize the probability of a successful project in either the private or the public sector and how to select an appropriate contract  more...

Dynamic Tips for Effective E-Discovery BenefitsElectronic discovery is one of the most important and prominent issues confronting the legal industry today. E-Discovery is the buzzword in litigation and it certainly has earned this status, but its notoriety can at times belie the legal community's tender grasp of its many complexities and implications. Paralegals and legal assistants - the 'case managers' during discovery - are perhaps  more...

Show Me the Money: Determining Return on Investment for People, Projects and Programs Benefits'Show me the money!' is the mantra of the day. Senior leaders in private sector, public sector, and social sector organizations want to see value for investments made in people, projects and programs. This value, more than ever before, is defined in terms of return on investment. Until you can produce solid, verifiable numbers that prove the worth of investments, you may never gain the  more...

Storm Water Best Management Practice (BMP) Inspection and Maintenance BenefitsAvoid costly permit violations and problems meeting storm water discharge benchmark criteria with proper inspection and maintenance of BMPs. Storm water best management practices require regular inspections and maintenance to ensure long-term proper function. Inspections are the most effective way to detect and avoid potential problems before they become a liability. This teleconference  more...

How To Prevent Construction Projects From Going Bad nIn today's economy, the construction process may have become more risky than ever. This teleconference focuses on actions you can take to keep your project pointed toward success. It addresses the steps that can and should be taken to help anticipate, identify and manage the problems inherent in the construction process. n nThis teleconference is intended to benefit attendees who want to have a  more...

Navigating the Troubled Construction Project: Recognizing, Analyzing and Handling the Risks nThe current economic downturn has given rise to a massive increase in the number of troubled construction projects. Whether trouble arises from the withdraw or lack of funding or a failure in performance of the contractors, subcontractors and suppliers to perform, the reality is that each project represents unique challenges that must be met head on. This teleconference presents the issues  more...

Brownfield Redevelopment and LEED. in 2009 - What Happens When You Mix Green and Brown? nThis teleconference will help you understand the contributing factors to ROI of the maturing green building practices on brownfields. Many professionals in the real estate investment business have witnessed how the redevelopment of brownfields has increased over time due to the market realizing the ability to make a return on investment on contaminated properties. In effect, the value of a  more...

Community Benefit Agreements nCommunity benefits agreements can increase public participation in the planning process, promote smart growth and environmental justice goals, and bring neighborhoods, local governments, and private interests together to make development projects more sustainable, transparent and accountable. Negotiating a CBA can be a win-win solution for community groups and developers. The community receives  more...

Utilizing Congestion Pricing to Reduce Traffic Congestion and Generate Infrastructure Revenue nMany states and metropolitan areas are faced with increasing traffic congestion along with inadequate sources of transportation revenue to address transportation investment needs. After completing this teleconference, you will improve your understanding of the ability of congestion pricing to address both congestion reduction and revenue generation objectives. You will be able to describe some of  more...

Cumulative Impact Claims nCumulative impact claims may be one of the more common occurrences on projects with multiple changes over the course of the project. However, cumulative impact claims may be one of the most difficult claims to present and prove at trial or in arbitration. Evidentiary issues, logistics of proving what the cumulative impact was and proving damages can prove to be very difficult. Defenses to  more...

Differing Site Conditions nThe advent of and increasing use of 3-D building information modeling is taking much of the guess work out of a variety of different types of construction. For example, through BIM, the structural steel, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fire sprinkler and communications subtrades can all determine whether the new and existing utilities, beams, piping and conduits are going to run into each other or  more...

Real Estate Market Studies: Critical Decision Tool or Superfluous Information? nMost significant real estate projects are required to pass the market study hurdle during due diligence. What factors impact the applicability, reliability and timeliness of these market studies? This teleconference will help real estate professionals identify the best providers of market studies, formulate a scope of work to suit the needs of the assignment, assist the consultant without  more...

Key Provisions of Two New EJCDC Contract Documents nThe EJCDC documents are widely used in the construction industry for design and construction of public and private infrastructure projects, including bridge, highway and other transportation projects, water and wastewater treatment facilities, utilities, processing facilities, pipelines, landfills, and other engineer-designed facilities. This teleconference will provide a focused discussion of  more...

Mitigating the Impact of Construction Projects: Hurdles to Project Success nAll construction projects have impacts on their surroundings, including neighbors, businesses, communities and the physical environment. These impacts frequently are the center of controversy surrounding a project and can lead to unnecessary delays, lost productivity, added project costs and bad public relations. This teleconference will provide you with practical strategies for identifying and  more...

Roundabouts: Planning, Design Principles and Current Practices nAlthough roundabouts have proven safety and operational benefits, proper planning and engineering design is essential for roundabouts to function correctly. This brief, yet practical, teleconference is your opportunity to better understand modern roundabouts and their installation, learn specific design skills and current practices, and apply roundabout design principles to projects in your  more...

Strategies for Successful Mixed Use Development nThe ideals and realty of mixed use as the preferred urban form are still in their relative infancy as part of the 21st century development vocabulary. Ironically, the ideals behind the tremendous push for this development form harken back to the urban fabric of our oldest cities. The driving factors behind the attraction to the mixed use model include current trends and attitudes toward a more  more...

Multistate Sales Tax Issues for Contractors nAttendance at this teleconference will assist you in understanding who and what is subject to sales and use taxes, including who is responsible for collecting the sales tax or paying the use tax, e.g., who is the ultimate consumer, the differences between real and personal property, the taxation of repairs and repair services, and the taxation of intangibles such as warranties. Without an  more...

Maximizing Innovation and Design Process Credits for LEED. Certification nThis teleconference will help you understand how to gain credits for advanced green building practices, including both system technologies and design innovations, which may qualify under the Innovation and Design Process section. The IDP section and qualifications policy has been reworked under the 2009 revisions to the LEED® program. n nThe information in this teleconference is important to  more...

Pros and Cons of Cost-Plus vs. Fixed Price Contracts nLump sum and cost-plus contracts for construction projects offer different protections and incentives for both owners and contractors. With today's economic pressures, it is important that project participants know the factors to consider in choosing between these pricing approaches and to understand the advantages and disadvantages to each. n nThe current economic situation has imposed great  more...

How to Get Your Prospect to Move From "I ll Think It Over" to Yes! nDoes it drive you crazy when you hear the following responses from customers: "I'll think it over" or "Get back with me" or "Let me get back with you on this?" n nOften these phrases can be the kiss of death to your deal or project. Let's face the truth - when you hear someone give those replies, most of the time they're not moving in a positive direction. This teleconference will tell you  more...

Problems and Risks Associated With Green Construction nThe benefits of pursuing green design and construction continue to expand, causing many diverse owner/developer groups and project types to embrace these technologies, design elements and operation models. Moving in the green direction without proper preparation may cause a development to see red in the form of red tape, interruptions and negative bottom-line impacts. In this teleconference, we  more...

On-Site Power Generation: Challenges, Opportunities and New Developments nMission critical operations include electronic trading operations; semiconductor manufacturing (clean rooms); pharmaceutical plants; hazardous biological or chemical labs; military, defense and government facilities; certain security or public safety related projects, including 911 call centers, emergency or disaster response centers; airport air traffic control towers; and other critical  more...

Challenges and Contractual Issues With Sub-Subcontractors nA subcontractor in today's construction industry faces unique challenges and concerns - from dealing with a bid process that can lock in a bidding subcontractor without any written agreement, to subcontractor form contracts that are written largely, if not entirely, in favor of the general contractor. In addition to concerns in bidding and contract formation, a subcontractor must constantly  more...

Aging Building Management: Best Practices in Development Long-Term Capital Plans nUp to 30% of the average organization's annual capital outlay is spent on facilities and related infrastructure. How can an organization ensure it is most effectively leveraging this investment to support operations today and meet the needs of the future? n nOptimally managing capital assets requires detailed information about the condition of an organization's facilities and major building  more...