Construction coordination & quality control: ensuring excellence in construction

Designing a great building is only part of the process—ensuring it is built with the same rigour that went into the design is just as important. Our team provides comprehensive during-construction oversight, including on-site reviews and in-office project coordination, to ensure that construction aligns with design intent, approvals, energy performance goals, and material quality. We work closely with the contractor and client as an integrated team, actively fielding questions, reviewing samples and shop drawings, and resolving construction challenges as they arise.

Need expert oversight during construction? We ensure your project is built with the quality, precision, and performance it was designed for. Let’s discuss your needs.

Construction progress on a high-performance building with rigid insulation installed for thermal efficiency. Poiesis Architecture oversees quality control, ensuring alignment with Passive House standards.

West Don Ravine Passive House, construction oversight by Poiesis Architecture.

Photography by Poiesis.

What we provide

Site visits & progress reports

We conduct regular site visits to monitor construction progress, ensuring adherence to the schedule, budget, and design. We engage with contractors and trades to maintain clear communication and circulate detailed reports summarizing status, milestones, and compliance with architectural standards.

Material & finish verification

Reviewing material samples, shop drawings, and mock-ups to confirm compliance with design specifications.

Energy performance monitoring

Overseeing air-tightness and Passive House standards, including pre-construction blower door tests to assess existing conditions and evaluate the impact of new work on energy performance and comfort.

Contract administration

Providing construction-phase contract administration, ensuring work meets permit requirements, architectural drawings, and engineering coordination to avoid costly errors or rework.

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes. Regular site visits help catch errors early, preventing costly delays and ensuring compliance with design and permit requirements.

  • Site Visits: We schedule a minimum number of site visits based on project needs and building code requirements. These visits serve key purposes:

    • Project Milestones: We provide required responses to authorities and prepare completion letters at critical progress points.

    • Payment Verification: We confirm that completed work matches the contractor’s payment requests.

    • Quality Control: We review mock-ups and inspect high-performance details to ensure design integrity and craftsmanship.

    Before construction begins: We obtain a detailed construction schedule and budget from the builder, outlining stages of work, involved trades, and cost breakdowns. These schedules are essential for tracking progress and verifying that invoiced fees match the agreed-upon work.

  • We act as your advocate, coordinating between builders, consultants, and city officials to maintain quality, design integrity, and budget control.

  • For commercial projects, on-site coordination is charged as a percentage of construction costs, following the guidelines of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. For residential and multi-unit projects, construction administration is billed on a time-and-material basis with a set number of site visits included. Additional visits and reviews are charged separately based on project complexity.