This article discusses the standard of care for exterior property maintenance as it relates to premises liability disputes. Adequate maintenance should account for both preventive and unplanned…
Albert Kerelis is an architect with over 25 years of experience in building design, construction administration, and property management. He applies his expertise to forensic casework involving construction claims, premises liability disputes, and matters involving architectural professional liability.
Albert's architectural experience includes building design, land planning, construction document preparation, and construction administration. As a Principal Architect, Albert's project experience includes health care facilities, medical offices, commercial and office spaces, warehouses and industrial facilities, and single and multi-family residences.
Mr. Kerelis has extensive experience in Property Management, from the perspectives of both owner and manager, involving residential and commercial properties. Albert developed, constructed, and managed multiple properties, seeing them from acquisition and zoning approvals to site improvements, general contracting, and ongoing maintenance. As a result, Albert has extensive experience in walkway and parking lot maintenance, building maintenance codes and compliance, building repairs and renovations, as well as lease agreements and collections.
Mr. Kerelis is a Registered Architect in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and is also a certified user of the English XL slip tester. He earned his B.S. in Architecture and M.Arch from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Associate
2019 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony for failure analysis, and toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving slip, trip and fall injuries, code compliance, accessibility, construction claims and disputes, construction materials and systems, property management practices, and professional liability. Areas of expertise include:
Facility Failure/Property Damage:
Premises Safety:
Accessibility:
Contracts:
Codes and Standards (building/site design and planning):
Architect 2016-present
Design firm providing architectural services for private sector residential, commercial and industrial projects. Responsibilities for new construction include: site analysis, code review, code compliance, ADA review, schematic design, structural design, mechanical, electrical and fire suppression designs, cost estimates, construction documents and construction administration/observation. Responsibilities for additions and renovations included: documentation of existing conditions including: structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; code review and compliance; design of new structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; construction documents and construction observation.
Consultant 2004-2016
Duties included review of construction documents, structural system design, wall section and detailing for constructability, construction observation/administration for industrial, commercial, institutional and residential projects. Provided expert witness services including: investigations, analysis, reports, depositions and testimony for residential projects.
President
2005 to 2015Ran the day to day operation of a property management company and expanded the business into real-estate development. Procured real estate, created Planned Unit Development working with Village Staff, presented to planning commission and village board to obtain zoning approval, annexation, and final plat of subdivision for an 11 unit townhouse development. Was the Construction Manager for site improvement including: site grading, storm sewers, site utilities and roadway as well as for the construction of three buildings containing a total of 11 units.
Responsibilities included: bidding and negotiating, construction phasing and timelines, contract performance, change order analysis, enforcement of contract provisions, site safety, closeout procedures, warranties and repairs.
Facilities Manager 2000-2015
Managed residential and commercial properties. inspected site and building conditions and investigated site and building defects. Repaired or contracted and directed maintenance personnel and contractors including roofers, HVAC, landscaping and snow management. Contracted, managed and directed the remodeling of bathrooms, kitchens, and door/ window replacement projects. Created budget and long-term maintenance plan for buildings and their sites.
Additional Facilities/Property Management Experience:
Principal Architect 1995-2004
Design firm providing architectural services for public sector institutional projects and private sector commercial, industrial and residential projects including prison security doors, space planning, retail, medical offices, high hazard warehouse and chemical processing facility
Intern Architect 1993-1995
Responsible for construction documents including wall sections and details. Coordinated consultants work. On-site representative for public and private sector projects including institutional, commercial, residential and industrial projects.
Additional Architectural / Design Services:
Staff Architect
1992 to 1993Responsibilities included the schematic design of assisted living facilities, creation of presentation drawings for client and zoning appeal meetings.
Intern Architect
1986 to 1992Design firm providing architectural services for public sector institutional projects including schools and a prison’s multi-purpose building, as well as private sector commercial, industrial and residential projects; assisted with building surveys, field measurements and construction documents including wall sections and details; provided on-site representation on public sector projects.
M.Arch., University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1993
B.S., Architecture, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 1990
v. 08/13/23
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