Architecture Articles

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, Architecture expert Lee Martin provides insight into the complex nature of architectural copyright infringement disputes and provides 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, Architect and Construction Expert, Ronald P. Bertone FAIA, FACHA, NCARB provides an introduction to submittals and their importance in the construction process.

Lee E. Martin, AIA of Robson Forensic, who is the former State Architect of Ohio, testified on behalf of the TransAmerica (TA) Construction Corporation in this case. His opinion was that the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) failed to supply TA and other contractors on the project with complete, accurate and readily-understandable construction documents or obtain building and other permits as required by state statute.

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.

As a former hearing officer on the AIA National Ethics Council, and now a testifying expert in construction disputes, I have seen my share of Professional Ethics and Standard of Care claims. The complexity of these cases 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 provides some of the current design standards relevant to curb ramp safety and also highlights several common issues in curb ramp incidents.

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.