The engineers are (should be) there from day one. Whether its THE engineers who drafted the project or engineer consultants is a different story, but they're engineers nonetheless... and if they fuck up something major, its their asses on the line.
Most larger projects I've worked on, me and my guys have been on site from the time the steel starts going up to the time the painters are leaving the building and occupancy permits are being issued. Every step along the way we have consulting engineers breathing down our necks making sure the work is being done per spec. Numerous times we've had to take down work already done in order to satisfy their demands.
Maybe its different where you work, who knows. But up here at least, important things are done as per spec... and there are always engineers on the site at LEAST once or twice a week to check up on the work. Its their job and their name on the line. I can only assume that giants like SOM and Turner aren't going to ever risk a project as large as the Burj Dubai failing in any significant way due to poor design or construction.
step away from the thread and go watch some HGTV. Nobody gives a shit if Joe the architect's house falls down, we're talking about skyscrapers here.
