design–build approach. During the period in question, the ex-Superintendent of LAUSD, Ramon C. Cortines, working with the LAUSD Board of Education, whose president is Monica Garcia, actively tried to cut the Office of Inspector General by 75% (compromising on 25%) and subsequently removed the Inspector General Jerry Thornton after he produced critical audits that showed misuse of construction funds. Others have argued that architect-led design–build still does: Typical project management issues (establishing liability, writing contracts, scoping estimates and schedule) or Variation across different states' licensing laws or Conflict of interest and ethical issues It also imposes: Greater business and financial risks associated with architect taking on general contractor responsibilities Changes to the way architects do business, so they Establish a construction company as a separate corporation that signs a separate construction contract, so they are able to insure and simplify liability insurance coverage Either they have, or are able to acquire, the skills of a design–builder Recognize the parties' different incentives Modify how they prepare Contract Documents, relying more on performance specifications than they do currently, to facilitate substitutions for the benefit of the constructor. Project examples Examples of contractor-led design–build projects include: Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center, Anchorage, AK, Neeser Construction, Inc.: In 2010, it won the 2010 DBIA Design Build Merit Award for a public sector project over $50 million. Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication: Phoenix, AZ, Ehrlich Architects. In 2009, it won the 2009 DBIA National Design Build Award for a public sector project over $25 million. See also Architectural management Design–bid–build References Further reading "A New Solution For Public Construction Projects: Sequential Designer-Led Design-Build", by Mark Friedlander "Design-Build and Integrated Project Delivery: Narrowing the Gap" American Institute of Architects (AIA), issue 21, August 21, 2009 When Is Hiring Professionals Worth It? The Bottom Line: It Depends.; Architects vs. Contractors vs. Design-Build Firms . . . There Are Several Options and No Easy Answers, by Denise DiFulco, The Washington Post, July 17, 2008 'Design-Build' Trend Sweeps Redo Market; 2-Step Approach Unites Architects, Contractors by Ann Marie Moriarty, The Washington Post, March 27, 2002 External links The Design/Build Institute of America The Design/Build Institute of Canada Building engineering Design Construction management