Specialize Services

In today's intensely competitive environment, organizations are no longer retaining staff to perform specialized design and construction functions. The trend is now to outsource these tasks. In response to this demand, d'Escoto, Inc. can provide the services of senior management and technical staff to meet the short-term and intermittent needs of owners, architects, engineers and contractors for specialized technical and management services in areas such as:

  • Specification Writing
  • Constructability Reviews
  • Claims Analysis
  • Claim Preparation
  • Value Engineering Studies
  • Quantity Takeoffs
  • Cost Estimating
  • Change Order Pricing
  • CPM Schedule Preparation
  • Expert Opinion/Witness
  • Code Review and Permitting
  • Proposal & Grant Writing Services
  • Auditing
  • Peer Review
Collaboration with Owner

 











 
Permit Review

Reserve Study

d'Escoto, Inc. provided the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) with a Reserve Study on four (4) elementary schools that are leased from the Archdiocese of Chicago and a newly rehabbed elementary school which is owned by UNO. The schools covered were: Carlos Fuentes, Bartolome de la Casas, Octavio Paz Primary, Rufino Tamayo, and the newly rehabbed Officer Donald Marquez School. The Reserve Study was conducted in order to provide UNO with an accurate assessment of their facilities in regards to building code issues such as: general building code, life safety, fire, and accessibility.

The Code review included a review of the City of Chicago Building Code as well as any requirements mandated by the Chicago Public Schools. The Life Safety and Fire review looked at all aspects of the building in relation to preserving human life as well as review of all MEP systems. The Accessibility review included review of Federal, State and local ADA requirements.

Once all reviews were complete, d'Escoto, Inc. provided recommendations for upgrades to bring each school building up to code as well as providing cost estimates for all improvements. The Reserve Study helped UNO acquire $900,000 worth of grant money which was applied towards the recommended upgrades. d'Escoto, Inc. also provided final punch list services to UNO for the Officer Donald Marquez School.

Permit Review

d'Escoto, Inc. currently has contract with the City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) to provide professional Architectural and Engineering services for Building Code compliance review. Our duties include review of building design drawings and permit submittals on a task order basis for the City's Developer Services program. This program is utilized by DOB to expedite permit approval for larger projects, including high rise residential or office structures, hospitals, or schools.


Preliminary introductory meetings are held with DOB management staff, project architects/engineers, and owners/developers. Submittal drawings are then reviewed in the d'Escoto, Inc. office and in the offices of our sub-consultants. Review comments are entered into the DOB database system and follow up review meetings are held with architects and engineers to confirm code compliance. Following resolution of all code issues, d'Escoto, Inc. certifies that permits may be issued by the City.