Written by Mike Foley

Chicago has recently witnessed the merging of key city departments, e.g. Zoning & Planning and Licensing & Consumer Affairs. The change was prompted primarily by the desire to avoid costly replication of efforts.

Norma Reyes, Commissioner of the newly formed Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection describes rationale in depth at her recent appearance at the City Club of Chicago.

I suppose time will tell regarding the advisability of such mergers, but the highly effective manner in which the Department of Business Affairs processed expediter licensing makes me think the merger will be a great success.

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Written by Mike Foley

Friends of Downtown has very interesting and informative free lectures on a variety of topics. With the centennial of the Burnham Plan, it is quite appropriate that their next event is “the Legacy fo the Chicago Plan.” The speaker is Dennis McCleandon, a noted expert on Daniel Burnham and the Chicago Plan.

Burnham Plan enthusiasts may also want to visit the official Burnham Centennial website, which includes a blog by Patrick T. Reardon.

When: Thursday, July 2nd, 12:15
Where: Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Room

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Written by Tom Walsh

They NYC – Department of Building has released details of a partnership with the cities of Chicago and Philadelphia to share data on the cranes that are erected in their cities in a press release.

The new central database will track ten specific items in each jurisdiction including: number of active cranes, the make, model year, maximun height and serial number of each tower crane. NYC – Department of Buildings Commissioner LiMandri states, “Sharing this information can save lives.”

The collaboration between these 3 cities is a historic event that will benefit the safety of all construction workers and the general public. Hopefully, more cities will join this coalition and it will improve the safety fo the construction industry not just with crane usage but other high hazard areas of construction. This is a giant leap in the right direction.

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Written by Demetrius James

Changes in procedure in the New York Department of Buildings seem to be working. Folders for individual projects no longer need to be requested for appointments that are scheduled to begin prior to 11am and are no longer required to be submitted with the Request for Letter of Completion application to sign a job off. Prior to the new NYCDOB project procedure, project folders were literally shuffled between departments and caused delay in expedition. With the new procedure in place, these same folders are handled in a much more organized manner allowing all parties involved to save time. Online access to project objections have helped tremendously by saving time in recognizing required corrections and action that requires immediate response. This access allows written objections on the application to be acknowledged in “real time” and the correction process to go much more smoothly.

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Chris Chwedyk, Director, Code Consulting, will address issues surrounding the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

Tuesday, June 16, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL.

Click here to register http://www.neocon.com/show_info/seminars.cfm

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Written by Bradd Hout

The NYC Department of Buildings has instituted new drawing requirements for the approval of all projects filed after March 23, 2009. These requirements mandate that all plans submitted adhere to strict title block plan designations, sheet numbering and other formatting. The new system is part of an ambitious move aimed at making approved drawings accessible (via scanning) to department employees and other internal agencies. By creating a standardized page numbering and labeling system, the department hopes to create a uniform format by which drawings can be reviewed electronically.

The move was met with some confusion and frustration initially but has seemed to grab hold within the NYC design community. As this process matures the NYC Department of Buildings should succeed in improving the accessibility and archiving of drawings filed with their agency.

New to these requirements? Click for a link to the departments guide to drawings requirements.

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Written by Arelis Batista

Many professionals are wondering what is/isn’t permitted (from the 1968 Building Code of the City of New York) with the onset of the new NYC Building Code which was effective July 1, 2008 and will be fully implemented July 1, 2009.

New building application filed before July 1, 2009 may use the pre 1968, 1968 or 2008 Construction code. Any application filed utilizing this code must comply with 2008 Codes requirements for administration*, enforcement* and safety*. The application cannot be filed to “lock in” the older code and then abandoned, rather, the work must commence within 12 months of the issuance of a permit and diligently carried out to completion.

New building applications filed after July 1, 2009 must comply with the 2008 Construction Code. Alteration applications may use the pre-1968, 1968 or 2008 Construction Code. These applications are precluded from using the 2008 Building Codes where the provisions applied to the specific building would result in a reduction of fire safety or structural safety. In these situations, the entire bulding may be made compliant with the 2008 Building Code in order to apply the standards.

Alteration filed using the pre-1968 or 1968 Code must comply with the 2008 Codes requirements for administration*, enforcement*, safety* operations during construction, plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical, fire protection, elevators, handicap accessibility in the event of renovations encompassing over 50% of the structure or changing the dominant use or occupancy of a structure and encroachments. As previously established, the application must be filed and diligently pursued through approval, permit and sign off.

The NYC Department of Buildings has a code compass fact sheet regarding details fo the filing requirements.

• *administration – fees, construction document approval, permit issuance, certificate of occupancy, special inspections, use of materials.
• *enforcement – violations, fines and penalties.
• *safety – 2008 building code, chapter 33.

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