CSI advances construction technology through education

The Construction Specifications Insti-tute is a national organization formed in 1948 for the purpose of standardizing commercial construction specifications, and it has done so over the last half-century.

CSI has further defined its mission to advance construction technology through communication, education, re-search and service. Nationwide, CSI has grown to over 18,000 members in 143 chapters.

Shortly after its inception, CSI developed a 16-division format for commercial construction specifications. This CSI standard format is the most widely recognized specification format in America today.

Certification program

Over the years, CSI has expanded its mission to include, through an examination process, a standardized certification program for construction specification writing, contract administration, construction document technology and product representation.

Five years ago, with the American In-stitute of Architects and the National In-stitute of Building Sciences, the Con-struction Specifications Institute began work on the task of creating a common building design CAD (computer-aided drafting) data standard. In 1999, the U.S. National CAD Standard was released.

Since that time, more and more professional design firms, corporations and government agencies have recognized that the adoption of NCS streamlines the exchange of information between the owner and the design/construction team. Just recently, version 2 of the National CAD Standard, including an eight-module uniform drawing system, was introduced.

Local chapter

The Southwest Missouri Chapter of CSI was chartered by the national organization in March of 1995. At that time, there were 33 local members. Since then our membership has grown to nearly 90 members. The local CSI chapter provides a unique opportunity for all disciplines of the construction community to meet and benefit from the diversity of local construction knowledge and experience.

Officers of the Southwest Missouri Chapter are president V.R. Smith, sales manager of Prestressed Casting Co.; vice president Jerry Compton, Farnsworth Group; past president Melissa Higbie, Esterly Schneider & Associates; sec-retary T. Scott Stowell, American Roofing Technologies; and treasurer William Nesbitt, Nesbitt Construction Inc. Board members are Jennifer Luce, Scott Murphee-Roberts, Mike Russell, Ed Textor, Eddie Tims and Buddy Webb.

To learn more about CSI, call any of the officers or board members.

(V.R. Smith is sales manager for Pre-stressed Casting Co. and president of the Southwest Missouri Chapter of CSI.)