Conventional Design and Construction Methods Are More Applicable for Capitol Hill Construction Projects

摘要

Attempts by the Architect of the Capitol to use a phased construction method, under which construction is begun on some segments of a project while others are still being designed, have contributed to cost overruns, completion delays, and management problems on congressional building projects. GAO's reviews of recent projects show that phased construction does not work well for Capitol Hill construction projects due to the numerous reviews and approvals required at each phase, funding problems, complexity of design and quality of construction required on monumental buildings, and likelihood of numerous design changes. The Architect might be able to minimize or alleviate some of these problems by trying more conventional design and construction methods. GAO recommends other actions the Architect should take to improve the management of construction activities before undertaking the planned restoration of two Library of Congress buildings.