This is one of the very few episodes where viewers do not see the murder being committed.
Peter Falk pressured producers, Richard Levinson and William Link, to allow him to direct an episode, as it was in his contract - then a rare phenomenon for a series star and virtually unheard of for a series in its first season. The producers resisted until Falk walked off the set. Levinson and Link decided to give Falk this script to direct as it required the complicated use of location shots. The star-director grew frustrated as the ever-changing construction site location made reshoots nearly impossible. Falk never directed another episode (though he did co-direct, without credit, Étude in Black (1972)).
The Columbo TV movies made very economical use of sets and vehicles. The high-end cars and sets are recycled in several different movies. In this instance, a Mercedes coupe also was used in Murder by the Book (1971). Additionally, the architect's office set was re-dressed, with only minor changes, from Short Fuse (1972), making use of exactly the same desk and chair.
The blue Mercedes convertible driven by Patrick O'Neal is the same one (license number XSM 494) as driven by Jack Cassidy in Murder by the Book (1971). In both instances, the killer uses the car to transport the victim in the trunk.
To prep for directing his first episode, Peter Falk consulted with his friends (and previous directors) Steven Spielberg and John Cassavetes.