The following examples will illustrate some of the many successful consulting tasks we have undertaken:

• A research and educational institution based in Pasadena was trying to go forward with a renovation of an historic building on their campus, the center of which is a library. The library has a collection of important historical books and documents, as well as some of lesser value. We were asked to work with their librarian and a committee of researchers to inventory the existing catalogs and shelves, to document users and uses in the library, and put together a set of questions that the researchers would address as the basis of a master plan for the library. Although shelf space was virtually used up with a growing number of journals and books, and more were being requested, two forces were at work to aid in our recommendations. The first was the increasing use of computers as the search tool for research, journal publishing on the web, and researchers’ preference for documentation in digital form. The second was the vastly increasing value of the historic documents in the collection. Recommendations for the future of the library included transfer of the finest historic documents to the neighboring Huntington Library that specializes in document conservation, sale of other documents sought after by historic book collectors, the proceeds of which went into digitizing the card catalogs. The library remains the central and dominant feature for the building.
   
• A non-profit organization in Marin County had raised enough money to build a much needed clinic and offices for their work. The Board had raised the funds from various sources over years of effort. The Board selected an architect, gave the architect the budget, and began the process of designing the building. The Board got the entitlements to build; the architect did the schematics necessary to get Design Review approval. However, the first construction estimates began to exceed the budget. The Board met with the architect to let him know that the budget was firm and that changes were required. As the design process went forward the requested reductions in scope of the building did not occur and we were asked by the Board to review the project to date, including the budget, drawings and specifications and to meet with the architect to discuss the budget issue and come up with ways for the project to go forward. The challenge was met and the necessary reduction in scope made as painless as possible to allow a much needed community resource to be completed.
   
• A Condominium Homeowners Association (HOA) went through the process of construction defect litigation against the developer and others connected to the design and construction of their condos. The attorney for the HOA asked that I meet with the Board of Directors to discuss managing the reconstruction of 142 units based on the outcome of the litigation. After reviewing litigation documents and discussion with the designers of the repairs, we recommended and the Board accepted that for they retain fulltime site observers for the project to assure success.
   
• A prominent bank in San Francisco with a Private Client Services Division requested a proposal to help qualify general contractors to do seismic upgrades and tenant improvements to an historic building on lower Jackson Street in San Francisco. He wanted to have the seismic upgrade and the other work have expert oversight to assure that work was as specified and the process documented for his client. The banker who managed the property also had a large number of other properties to manage and depended on us for proper site observation for success.
   
• A couple with three boys ages 4 to 7 is building a home in Sonoma County, their first building. They are both working professionals and this is the largest investment they expect to make. They requested a proposal for project oversight, architect selection, contractor selection, coordination where necessary, and guidance through the design and construction process.