Public Works Projects vs Private: 12 Key Differences

Public works projects and private construction projects follow completely different rules. From procurement and contracts to decision-making and change orders, the type of client you work for changes everything about how you practice architecture. In this episode, we break down 12 key differences between public and private projects. We cover the RFQ vs RFP process, design bid build requirements, low bid selection, prevailing wage laws, and why government projects require a completely different skill set than private work. 📝 Key Topics Covered: - Government contracts vs private contract flexibility - RFQ vs RFP: how architects get selected for public projects - Design bid build and why public projects are locked into it - Low bid selection and how it impacts construction documents - Change order approval on public projects (including getting on TV) - Prevailing wage laws and union labor requirements ⏱️ Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 2:30 - What Defines Public vs Private Projects 4:15 - Contracts: Key Differences 6:45 - Procurement Process Breakdown 9:20 - Project Delivery Methods 12:00 - Client Decision Making Process 14:30 - Level of Detail in Construction Documents 16:45 - Sustainability and Energy Requirements 18:00 - Budget and Funding Stability 19:30 - Change Orders and Flexibility 21:00 - Stakeholder Involvement 23:15 - Liability and Legal Exposure 24:45 - Union and Labor Requirements 26:30 - How This Impacts the ARE Exam 📖 Read the full blog post: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/public-vs-private-architecture-clients/ 🎯 ARE 101 Membership (all ARE study materials): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-study-materials/ 🎯 ARE Boot Camp (10-week coaching program): https://youngarchitect.com/arebootcamp/ 📚 Individual ARE Exam Courses: - PcM 101 (Practice Management): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-practice-management/ - PjM 101 (Project Management): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-project-management/ - CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-construction-and-evaluation/ - AIA Contracts 101: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-aia-contracts-101/ - PA 101 (Programming and Analysis): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/programming-analysis-101-are-5-0-exam-prep/ - PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-project-planning-and-design/ - PDD 101 (Project Development and Documentation): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-project-development-and-documentation/ - Building Codes 101: https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/are-building-codes-101/ - CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist): https://academy2.youngarchitect.com/cdt-exam-prep/ 👍 If this helped, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more ARE and CDT exam prep content!