Purdue is closing its construction inspection department in March. That means the elimination of 22 jobs. Instead, inspections will be the responsibility of the architects and engineers.
The university expects to save 10% to 15% – or about $75 million – over five years based on expected construction projects.
Other changes include aligning Purdue’s building specifications with current industry standards. Officials say that should lead to more competitive bids.
Those changes to Purdue's new construction specifications will include:
- Architectural and engineering contractors will include inspection and quality assurance in their services.
- Purdue will use performance specifications for equipment rather than brand names and model numbers, allowing contractors to choose more competitive suppliers without compromising capacity.
- Eliminating standards that exceed code and peer best practices but don't contribute to life-cycle gains.
- Establishing standards based on building type, such as laboratories, office and classroom buildings, and residence halls.
- Maintenance staff will be involved in reviewing design and construction specifications to help with trade-off decisions on life-cycle costs versus facility rehabilitation and repairs.