Patrick Finn is an architect and construction professional with over 30 years of diverse professional experience. His career, prior to joining Robson Forensic, included a wide spectrum of projects from large scale retail properties to small, one of a kind commercial and residential projects. Patrick applies his expertise to forensic casework involving building construction, project management, and premises liability disputes.
As a registered architect, Patrick is uniquely qualified to address all of the practical aspects of building design, construction, and life safety within the widely varied and sometimes complex building environment. His diverse project experience is a broad range of facility types, police and fire stations, large scale retail developments, light commercial, healthcare, education, and residential. His expertise includes site and building design.
As a general contractor, Patrick is uniquely qualified to address all of the practical aspects of building construction, exterior concrete and flatwork, small to medium sized excavating equipment, wood and light gage metal framing, elevator and stair construction, doors and hardware, and exterior siding and roofing. In addition to his traditional architecture and construction practice, Patrick has the experience of conducting dozens of existing building and site surveys for a large national restaurant chain; the scope of these surveys included ADA compliance and broader premises safety concerns.
Patrick conducts forensic casework throughout the Northeast. He is a registered architect in CT, MA, NH, RI, and VT; a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and he holds certification by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Patrick earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA. in 1989.
Associate
2018 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony for failure analysis, and towards the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving slip, trip, and fall injuries; construction materials failures; code compliance issues; construction claims; and professional liability.
Building Safety: Application of building codes and safety standards, stairs and ramps, loading docks and levelers, means of egress, unprotected openings in floors, walls and roofs; guard rails and safety paint/striping, standard glass and fire/safety glazing, doors and windows; floor finishes, transitions and thresholds, vestibules and floor mats, hazards from falling or drifting snow, retail displays, food services.
Construction Safety: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Guidelines, staging and scaffolds, ladders and lifts, temporary fencing and guards, trenching and shoring, overhead and underground utilities, personal and site safety equipment, cranes and lifts, delivery and storage of materials, concrete and reinforcing steel, construction machines and equipment, temporary roads and walks, roof parapets and penetrations, temporary stairs and elevators.
Slip Accidents: Slips occurring on stairs, ramps, parking lots, sidewalks, dance floors, slips in supermarkets and restaurants/bars, sidewalk slips on ice, site and building analysis related to the accumulation of snow and ice that contributes to slip and fall accidents, snow removal hazards.
Trip Accidents: Trip events involving; stair geometry (rise and run) of steps, short run stairs and curbing, door thresholds and stair landings, handrails, guards, misaligned walking surfaces, floor/wall and ceiling grates and access panels, sidewalks, parking lots, walkways with low overhead obstructions, Delineated areas of flooring materials and finishes, unmarked sloped areas, wheel stops.
Accessibility: Analyzing; ADA compliance for ramps, stairs and means of egress, applications of Barrier-Free standards and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, special requirements for accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Building System Failures: Concrete slab and foundation cracking, differential settlement, waterproof barriers and stops, atmospheric and weather resistive barriers; roof, wall and stair collapse.
Architectural Practice and Standard of Care: AIA contract documents, construction contract documents and contract administration, analysis of the minimum standard of care.
Construction Materials Failures: Drainage and flashing systems, expansion and isolation joints, sealant and caulk systems, water intrusion related issues, exterior insulating and finishing systems (EIFS), exterior and interior masonry, cracked and spalling concrete, window and door systems.
Building Design and Planning: Horizontal and vertical egress pathways, building codes and standards, area of safety within means of egress, adaptive re-use, accessibility for persons with disabilities, occupant safety during weather or phased construction events, industrial equipment and utilities, commercial fixtures and material storage, minimum separation and safety clearances.
Signage Systems: Instructional and directional signage, tactile and verbal warning systems, caution and hazardous area delineation; pedestrian and vehicular zone separation, vehicular speed control systems.
Design Expertise: Large scale retail shopping centers, educational facilities, national restaurant chains, Police and fire stations, grocery stores, free standing retail shops, residential multi and single family homes, historic adaptive re-use, veterinary hospitals and offices, urgent care facilities, dental and oral surgery offices, large furniture stores and office buildings.
Project Manager
2017 to 2018Senior Project Architect
1989 to 2017General Contractor/Owner
1983 to 1989Bachelor of Architecture, Wentworth Institute of Technology, 1989
A Low Carbon Built Environment; LEED Can Energize a Low Carbon Built Environment; Deep Energy Retrofits Using Performance Contracting, Everything is Food - Nutrient Systems for Cities and Buildings; Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF’s) Today - the Essential Update; The Case for Residential Water Filtration and Treatment; Building Materials Matter – Life Cycle View Supports Informed Choices, Contributes to Sustainable Design; Manufacturing Windows and Doors; What Qualifies as Sustainable?; Building Resilience - Expanding the Concept of Sustainability; Structural Wood Building Systems – Choosing the Right Material for a Sustainable, Safe and Resilient Project; Pultruded Fiberglass Windows and Doors; Off the Grid Solar Lighting Solutions; Savings and Sustainability; An Introduction to Water Stops; High Performance Building Envelope Designs with Insulating Concrete Forms; Proper Installation of Below Slab Vapor Retarders/Barriers - Walk Through of ASTM 1643-11; Towel Warmers -Versatility in Design and Function; Slate Roofing - Stone Design; Introduction to Tankless Water Heater Heating Solutions; Emerging Top Daylighting Strategies; The Art of Easy Organization; Understanding the Benefits of Cellular PVC Rails, Pergolas and Gutters; Designing with Humans in Mind; How Electronic Sensor Faucets Improve Hygiene and Conserve Water in Commercial Restrooms; Benefits of Daylight and Fresh Air in Residential Design; What is Quartz; Energy Performance with Modern Glazing; Welded Wire Reinforcement Use in Concrete Structures; The Energy Efficiency Challenge, Understanding New Codes and Standards; Understanding Stone Wool Insulation in Exterior Wall and Rainscreen Applications; Propane Gas Solutions, Considerations for Residential Construction; Rethinking Wood as a Material of Choice - Costs Less, Delivers More; PVC 101 - the Benefits and Uses of Cellular PVC; Building Innovation and Performance in Schools – High Performance Systems Improve the Learning Environment; Understanding Mortarless Stone Veneer and Other Stone Veneer Products; Daylighting High Performance Schools; Using Unit Skylights to Daylight Commercial Buildings; The Trend Towards Composite Masonry - A Greener Solution; Sustainable Fiberglass Window Installation Systems for Commercial Buildings; Designing with Innovative Architectural Blocks for Buildings; Resinous Floors and Walls; Biophilic Design - Understanding Poly-ash Trim; Ceramic Glazed Brick & Structural Glazed Tile Technical Overview; Innovative Water Conservation Fixture Systems; Integrated Metal Roof Retrofit with Multiple Energy Saving Technologies; Optimizing Performance in Commercial Fenestration; Translucent Panel Daylighting Systems; Sustainable Building - From Concept to Design; High Gloss and Illuminated Surfaces for Sustainable Designs; K-12 School Design; Siphonic Roof Drain Systems; Designing Sustainable Restrooms; Design Solutions for Multi-family Projects; Glazing Systems - Balancing Aesthetics, Performance and Cost; Commercial Wood Window Installation Systems; How to Get Your Work Published in Architectural Magazines and Other Tips from an Insider; Cellular PVC and the Changing Face of Trim Products; World of Curves - Radius Design; Surfaces Get Stronger Swanstone 2011; Sustainable Fiberglass Window Installation Systems for Commercial Buildings; The Evolution of Decking - Wood to Composites to PVC.
v. 09/22/22