Which statement best describes the architect's observations and reporting to the owner?

• A. The architect must keep the owner informed of general progress, known deviations from the contract documents and schedules, and defects and deficiencies observed, and has no responsibilities over acts or omissions by the contractor or subcontractor.
• B. The architect should provide continuous daily reports.
• C. The architect should report only when requested by the owner.
• D. The architect is responsible for correcting contractor errors.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the architect’s role as the owner’s observer and communicator during construction. The architect must keep the owner informed about how things are progressing, any deviations from the contract documents or schedule that are known, and any defects or deficiencies observed on site. At the same time, the architect does not take on the contractor’s responsibilities or act as the guarantor of the contractor’s performance. The contractor is the one responsible for means, methods, safety, and making corrections for their own work, while the architect’s job is to observe, identify issues, and report them to the owner and require appropriate corrective action through the contract process.

Continuous daily reporting isn’t a mandated default; reporting is ongoing and appropriate to the project’s stage and needs. The architect should not wait to report only if the owner asks. And the architect is not responsible for correcting contractor errors themselves; they can identify and direct corrections, but the actual correction is the contractor’s duty.