Architecture Articles

Architects are tasked with providing a solution to their client’s unique building requirements. This demands an open and transparent interaction between the client and architect, particularly given the various influences that come to bear and the large amounts of capital at risk. Misunderstandings, miscommunication, and/or confusion over the responsibilities of all involved parties can lead to failures during the design phase of a project, resulting in costly and disputed consequences.

In this article, Architect and Construction Expert, Scott Klimek details the phases of project design, the responsibilities of the involved parties, and questions to consider when investigating a dispute.

When cabinets, shelving units, and other storage units inadvertently detach from walls, the force of the unit and its contents falling to the ground can cause significant injury and property damage.

In this article, Architect & Premises Safety Expert, Ronald Fermano details the requirements for the safe installation and anchoring of wall-mounted units, and discusses the most common failure mode.

This webinar introduces attendees to the technical issues frequently reviewed in forensic casework involving injuries in the built environment. Experts specializing in Property Management and Premises Safety discuss the incidents most frequently investigated, the conditions associated with causation, and the standards of care followed by architects, property managers, and facility operators in order to provide safe environments.

Many swing doors are equipped with mechanical devices that either assist in closing the door when open (closers) or to both close and open the door (operators). When closers or operators malfunction or are not properly adjusted, they can be a hazard to door users.

In this article, Architect & Premises Safety Expert, Anthony Fenton details the use of swing door equipment, and the standards for proper maintenance and operation to prevent injuries.

Previously, our premises safety experts addressed parking lot design and the use of wheel stops as they relate to slip, trip, and fall injuries, and pedestrian strikes. This article discusses the surface of the typical parking lot, common forms of asphalt deterioration, and the resulting hazards that can be present.

Parking lot safety can best be reliably established through proper design, construction, maintenance, and operations. This article discusses parking lot trip hazards, including a description of what constitutes a trip, relevant safety concepts, and links to other articles for more information.

In this article, premises safety expert Sylvia Deye discusses window safety and the leading causes of fall from window incidents. Her discussion includes design, maintenance, and operational aspects that affect premises safety. The experts at Robson Forensic investigate a broad range of premises liability disputes on behalf of counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Determination of architectural copyright infringement is a complex process requiring skilled attorneys in the Intellectual Property (IP) field. Over the years, courts have identified methodologies for evaluating architectural works and technical drawings, enabling architectural experts to assist attorneys and finders of fact in determining whether contested projects or designs are “substantially similar.” While architectural styles are iterative, collaborative, and evolve over time, there are limitations on how closely one project can resemble another, in detail or in total appearance.

In this article, the Architecture experts provide insight into the complex nature of architectural copyright infringement disputes and share an example from previous cases.

Registered Architect and Certified Safety Assessor Sylvia Deye, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP has extensive knowledge and experience designing schools and institutional buildings which meet rigorous standards for safety compliance. In this article, Sylvia discusses the importance of meeting not some, but all of the recommended safety features through protective infrastructure design. In the wake of recent school shootings, districts find themselves under increased pressure to make each building a safe learning and working environment.

In this article, architect Sylvia Deye, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP explores the complexities of designing resort environments that are both safe and functional for the wide range of activities that they accommodate. Designing a single facility that serves a broad variety of uses requires careful planning and quality architecture that is mindful of the materials and systems necessary to handle a multi-use environment.

In this article, architect and construction administration expert, Anthony Shinsky discusses the purpose and importance of the submittal process. Tony and the other construction experts at Robson Forensic are frequently retained to provide expert witness investigations relevant to a broad range of construction claims.

In this article, architect and construction expert, Will Martin discusses the role of “transitions” in the investigation of construction claims. Will explains how shortcomings at the physical transitions as well as transitions across construction teams within the jobsite are frequently the cause of failures.

In this article, experts from the architectural practice at Robson Forensic provide an overview of error and omissions change orders. The discussion includes an explanation of change orders, the difference between errors and omissions, as well as what is reasonable to expect from architects and project owners.

This article provides an introductory lesson on building enclosures, including the components of the enclosure, common defects, and how forensic experts investigate these issues.

In this article, architect and construction expert, Bruce Corke, AIA provides an introduction to BIM and discusses how this relatively new technology is likely to affect the landscape of construction litigation in years to come.

In this article, the Architecture and Construction Experts at Robson Forensic provide an introduction to submittals and their importance in the construction process.

In this article, structural engineer, Mark Duckett, P.E. discusses roof failures associated with snow loads. Topics of discussion include reasonable loads that roofs are designed to support and the role of a forensic expert in determining the cause of failure.

This article provides an introduction into the basics of exterior property maintenance, the implications on premises safety, and some information on relevant standards to get your investigation started.

This article addresses some of the relevant standards and safety features used to improve the safety of short flight stairs and single step transitions.

The complexity of Professional Ethics and Standard of Care claims typically grows as additional parties are named in a lawsuit and when the nature of the relationships between named parties is increasingly intertwined. In determining liability and causation, it is important to first understand fundamental concepts from the world of architecture and construction; when armed with this knowledge, it is possible to systematically evaluate the performance of each party against relevant contract requirements, construction documents, building codes, industry standards, and the Standard of Care.

This article discusses design standards relevant to curb ramp safety, specifically highlighting those design elements that are commonly associated with slip, trip, and fall incidents. The premises safety experts at Robson Forensic have investigated hundreds of incidents involving these common landscape features.

The this article, the architectural team at Robson Forensic provides introductory information on the history of life safety in buildings as well as the modern building and life safety codes.

Conceptually, rainscreen systems are an evolution of long tested techniques like shingles and lap siding, but with the addition of a drainage plane between the siding and an inner waterproof membrane.

In this case, a patron at a nightclub climbed up on top of a 3 foot high speaker box platform and danced off the edge. Many people were sued. Robson Forensic was engaged after it was claimed that the developer’s architect, who reviewed the tenant drawings for the club, should have required guard rails around the top of the platform.