This requirement is poorly understood by many owners who prefer to save the architects fees and under-design their projects. This false economy is responsible for the vast number of construction projects that get into trouble. Stewart Consulting has spent most of its ten years of existence cleaning up troubled projects. In its first decade of operation, Stewart Consulting has developed an impressive clientele comprising contractors, sub-contractors, developers, owners, architects and virtually all other parties involved in the construction process. The roles that Stewart Consulting fulfills can be broadly categorized into the following; Construction Defect Consulting, Expert Witness Services, Construction Claim Preparation, Construction Claim Analysis, Owners Representative Services, Project Management.
The construction industry comprises a very sophisticated process. The thirteenth edition of the Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice published by the American Institute of Architects states the following; "all architects practicing in the Unites States today are State-licensed participants in a building delivery process so closely regulated by Government that their formal participation is typically mandated by law an serves as the primary regulatory device by which Government ensures the safe keep of building projects. As a result virtually all clients in the United States today are either directly required or carefully advised by their attorneys and liability insurers to hire an architect whenever they wish to do anything with or to a building or other structure."