Sylvia B. Deye, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP Architecture, Construction & Premises Safety Expert

Areas of Expertise

Professional Practice: Standard of Care, Owner-Architect Agreements, General Conditions, errors and omissions, change order analysis, construction phasing, punch lists, and interpreting contract performance and closeout procedures as it relates to code compliance, quality control review, specifications, construction administration, submittal review, unforeseen and changed conditions, betterment, construction documents. Types of projects; fast track project planning, design and build planning, multiple prime construction planning, prevailing wage, project management and administration for commercial, institutional, industrial, medical clinics, educational, assembly, and financial institutions, hotels, multi-family housing and single-family housing.

Site Design and Planning: Land development, campus planning, zoning, building orientation, grading, drainage, storm water management, parking lot design, snow and ice management systems, snow stock piling plans, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian bridges, playgrounds, parking garages and loading docks.
Building Design and Planning: Building codes and standards, energy efficient design and construction, accessibility requirements, federal housing requirements, multiple occupancies and separations, means of egress components, explosion prevention and relief systems, material research and implementation, rain screens, curtain walls, stone veneers, glass floors, slender wall construction, multi-story steel construction, pre-cast concrete plank ceiling / flooring, cast-in-place and post-tension concrete, and multi-story wood framed construction.

Building and Construction Failures: Site drainage, waterproof barriers, foundation, settlement, insect damage, water intrusion, rainwater diversion systems, vapor barriers, flashing systems, parapets, roofing system, expansion joints, sealant and caulk systems, high wind zone construction, stair and deck collapse, doors, windows, storefront and curtain wall systems.

Building Systems: Elevators, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, utilities and utility connections, fire separations, spray proofing, fire protection and sprinkler systems.

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E): Commercial kitchen equipment and custom millwork.

Building and Site Safety: Elements of human factors relating to the built environment, conspicuous hazards, delineation of hazards, guards, warnings, maintenance, unprotected horizontal and vertical openings, slip resistance, lighting levels and uniformity, instructional and directional signage, security systems, snow and ice, as it relates to; parking lots, walkways, stairways, doors and hardware, openings, windows and glazing, retail displays, food services, guard rails, platforms, single risers, walk-off mats, flooring materials, sloped areas, marinas and piers, sidewalk hardware, fences, gates, wheel stops, ceiling systems, and playgrounds.

Accessibility: Universal design and barrier-free standards and ADA compliance for means of egress, areas of refuge, overhead clearance, signage, playgrounds, marinas, site design and parking.

Professional Experience

Provides technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving: workplace safety, maintenance, premises liability, construction defects in progress and completed, workmanship, construction materials and component failures, code compliance, slip, trip and fall injuries and professional liability.

Providing architectural services for all phases from zoning and planning, master planning, facilities and building assessment maintenance reports, leading into design, permits and construction. Projects have ranged from retail centers, tenant fit out, school buildings with multiple primes, theaters, modular construction, single family homes and urban residential renovations, industrial facilities, bakeries, residential, restaurants, office renovations and facilities planning, private school campus wide renovations from the dormitories to the gymnasium, pharmacy, daycare centers, playground surface renovations, hair salons, and camp ground restrooms with showers. QCit – providing quality control review of construction documents for constructability and coordination.

The review and team management of large scale multi-family housing in New Jersey and single family development projects in New York and Pennsylvania with club houses, gathering rooms, and offices. Work also encompassed restaurants and stand-alone fast food establishments on building out-lot pads.

Automotive inspection and repair shop. Responsible for property maintenance and managing a three-bay garage and residential rental apartment unit.

Lead Architect Designer and manager for the Reading Office. Responsible for all phases from zoning and planning, master planning, facilities and building assessment maintenance reports, feasibility studies including inspection and documentation of electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems creating complete as-built of the ADA compliance and security systems, leading into design, coordination of all engineering disciplines permits and construction. Projects have ranged from retail centers, tenant fit out, school buildings, banks, corporate facilities renovations, Elderly and skilled nursing centers, industrial and explosion outbuildings, housing authority renovations and code upgrades for elderly centers and multi-family housing, lift installations, indoor multi-sports complex, gym facilities for both managed and 24 hours non-managed use centers, public utility service centers, car rental centers, doctor offices, high rise housing renovations and code compliant upgrades. Onsite inspections for; facilities, including flat and pitched roofs, lightning rod installations, sidewalk and curb cuts for housing authority complexes, and providing scope and directives for short term and long-term maintenance plans.

Design and management of high end large custom homes, developer houses and 4-story multi-family housing complexes.

Lead Project Manager for large teams and fast track projects. Responsible for the implementation of the schematic design into design development, construction documentation design and coordination of all engineering disciplines and construction for ski resorts in Colorado and California including the site and master planning development of the exterior facility from parking to ski lifts, slope water and drainage run off and pedestrian/bicycling paths and circulation of the entire site. Low high-rise condominiums included below grade parking garages, retail, club rooms, hot tub areas indoor and outdoor, locker rooms, storage areas, restaurants and pedestrian bridges. Construction detailing of a New York state park educational center. Responsible for the schematic design into design development for a vacation condominium resort with a multi floor parking garage, located in Florida.

Lead architectural design and coordination of all engineering disciplines for large retail centers. Projects located in California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Kansas and Colorado. Involvement included site and master planning design, storm water mitigation and detention systems, out lot building pads and parking lot configurations. Schematic building design to construction documents and construction of core and shell and tenant fit outs for a variety of large retail establishments including small tenant fit outs from clothing stores, loading docks, trash removal systems, restaurants, offices and banks. Corporate facilities upgrades and renovations, extended stay hotel franchise, Multi complex movie theater. Responsible for office files, library and cad standard implementation.

Responsible for the design and drafting of housing authority projects, juvenile detention center, women’s detention center, auditorium renovations, Farm labor worker housing renovations in existing urban row homes renovations to meet code compliance.

Construction of two story homes with attached garage, decks, steps and railings. Framing and standing walls, nailing floor substrates, setting stairs, joist bridging installation, hangers and hurricane straps, rim boards, floor joists, added blocking where needed. Some finish work such as moldings and trim.

Retail sales clerk, pool maintenance, restroom and locker room maintenance, boat fuel service for sailing boats and motor boats. Maintenance and rental of large sail boats while living on a sail boat.

Professional Credentials

• Registered Architect: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
• LEED AP
• Certified Safety Assessor
• ASCA-C Professional
• Certified XL Tribometrist
• TRIAXTouch Surface Impact Tester

Professional Memberships

• American Institute of Architects (AIA) since 1987
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) since 1987
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• Past AIA Eastern PA President
• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
  • E-06 Performance of Buildings Committee
  • F-12 Security Systems and Equipment
  • F-13 Pedestrian Walkway Safety and Footwear
• HOA Strawberry Village Colorado board member (past experience)
• Daniel Boone School Board Member (Past experience)

Certifications

• Certified Playground Safety Inspector
• NICA Certified Level 3 Mountain Bike Coach
• High School and Middle School Mountain Biking Team Director since 2016

Education

Master of Architecture with Honors, University of Illinois, Urban/Champagne, 1992

B.S. Architecture, Spring Garden College, Philadelphia, PA, 1990

Continuing Education

• “Structural Behavior of Wood Diaphragms: From Rigid to Flexible”, Wood Products Council, December 2025
• “Understanding Mass Timber and Cold-Formed Steel Hybrid”, Construction Wood Products Council, July 2025
• “Short Flight Stairs”, DA, July 2025.
• “Landscape Architecture on Structures”, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc., May 2025
• “Curb Ramps”’ DA, April 2025
• “Wheel Stops”, DA, March 2025
• “Designing Schools For Accessibility”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “The Basics of the Design of University Labs”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “An Overview of Sustainable Design”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Reviving Minimalism”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Florida Building Code 8th Edition: Advanced Course”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Lean On Me - Choosing Railings Carefully”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Designing Schools for Accessibility”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “The Basics of the Design of University Labs”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “An Overview of Sustainable Design”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Reviving Minimalism”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Florida Building Code 8th Edition: Advanced Course”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Lean On Me - Choosing Railings Carefully”, PDH Academy, February 2025
• “Series 1 of 5: Construction Failures that Affected Legal Documents”, DA, November 2024
• “ASTM International F2508 Participant of the Super ILS (Independent Laboratory Study) for Slip Resistance Measurements”, 2024
• “Fall Protection for Authorized Persons”, Med-Tex Services, Inc. September 2023
• “Designing Walls for Control of Air, Water, Thermal, and Vapor”, BNP Media, August 2023
• “3 Keys to Commercial Restroom Design: Safety, Sustainability, and Savings”, BNP Media, July 2023
• “The Foundation of Durability”, BNP Media, July 2023
• “Optimizing Snow-Melting Systems”, BNP Media, June 2022
• “Floodplain Design, Construction, & Impacts on Flood Insurance”, BNP Media, June 2022
• “That Dangerous Damp: Dealing With Water Inside”, PDH Academy, June 2022
• “Antimicrobials in the Built Environment”, BNP Media, June 2022
• “ADA Signage: Mastering the Compliance Basics”, BNP Media, June 2022
• “3D printed houses”, BNP Media, June 2022
• “Aging in Place”, PDH Academy, June 2022
• “Review of Structural Materials & Methods for Home Building in The U.S.,” PDH Academy, December 2021
• “IBC Code Mapping for Architects,” PDH Academy, December 2021
• “Phenolic Panels for Durable Wall Coverings and Cladding,” BNP Media, December 2021
• “Improving Concrete Durability with Crystalline Technology,” BNP Media, December 2021
• “Moisture Management Fundamentals,” BNP Media, December 2021
• “Back to the Office: Making the Workspace Healthy and Appealing,” BNP Media, December 2021
• “Making Passive House Standard,” AIAU, December 2021
• “Stucco: Rainscreen, Codes and Standards,” BNP Media, December 2021
• “Zinc as a Building Envelope,” BNP Media, December 2021
• "Controlling Moisture Movement in Buildings: The Complete Approach", AEC Daily Corporation, December 2020
• "Inclusive Playgrounds: Designing Spaces to Bring Children & Communities Together," AEC Daily Corporation, December 2020
• “Making the ADA Accessible," AIA CES, April 2020
• “Preparing Code Compliant Construction Documents,” AIA Florida, April 2020
• “Floodplain Design, Construction and Impacts on Flood Insurance,” AIA Florida, April 2020
• “Life Safety Plans: Graphics and Codes,” AIA Florida, April 2020
• “How Artificial Intelligence can Enhance Life and Safety,” AIA, December 2019
• “The Evolution of Mid‐Rise Design: Increasing Opportunities with Wood,” Woodworks, 2019
• “Design Considerations for Multi-Story Podium Projects,” Woodworks, April 2019
• “Roofing and Waterproofing Forensics,” BNP Media, February 2019
• “Advanced FBC, the 6th Edition (2017) Florida Building Code-Building (ADV) (HSW),” Pace PDH, December 2018
• “Under-Slab Vapor Retarders / Barriers: Restricting Moisture Infiltration,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Structural Design of ICP for Municipal Streets and Roadways,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Aluminum Composite Material (ACM): Sustainable Materials and Processes,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Polyiso CI for Code-Compliant Walls in Type V and Residential Construction,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Zinc Building Envelopes: Sustainable Architectural Metal,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Entrance Flooring Systems: Design with the Elements in Mind,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Green Building Entrances: Mats and Gratings that Perform,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Accessibility and Detectable Warning Systems: Complying with Current Government Guidelines,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2018
• “Managing the Legal and Practice Issues of BIM,” Berkley Design Professional, April 2018
• “Synergy of Glass and Building Envelope,” Kolbe and Kolbe Millwork Co. Inc., February 2018
• “Sustainable Waterproofing Solutions/DE-A,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Performance Benefits of Insulated Metal Panels,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Cellulose Insulation: The Versatile and Sustainable Solution,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Acrylic Foam Tape for Structural Glazing and Architectural Panel Applications,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Commercial Restroom Design: Sanitary, Accessible, Durable, and Water-Efficient,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Elevated Outdoor Flooring Systems for Stone and Tile,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Color in Healthcare Environments: Evidence-Based Design Strategies,” AEC Daily Corporation, December 2017
• “Advanced Florida Building Code 5th Edition (2014) Accessibility,” The Media Factory, December 2016
• “Glass Performance for Today’s Building Codes and Designs,” Kolbe and Kolbe Millwork Co, Inc., August 2016
• “Tour of the Cardinal Float Glass Plant in Portage, Wisconsin,” Kolbe and Kolbe Millwork Co, Inc., August 2016
• “Universal Design in a New Normal,” Kohler Co., August 2015
• “Hollow – Core Plank,” Oldcastle Precast, Inc., July 2015
• “Acoustics in Architecture,” InfoComm International, July 2015
• “Black or White Membrane. What is the Sustainable and Energy Efficient Choice?” Carlisle Construction Materials, June 2015
• “Crack Control in Concrete Masonry Walls,” National Concrete Masonry Association, July 2015
• “Architectural Anchoring Solutions,” Halfen USA Inc., May 2015
• “Prepainted Architectural/Structural Metal Roofing,” Englert, Inc., May 2015
• “ICC/IBC 2012 & A117.1-2009: Requirements for Type A and Type B Dwelling Units and Fair Housing Requirements,” AIA Philadelphia, March 2015
• “Fire Joint Framing and Protection,” ClarkDietrich Building Systems, March 2015
• “Designing for Residential and Light Commercial Project with Insulated Siding Technology,” Hughes and Associates, February 2015
• “Reinforced Brick Masonry,” Brick Industry Association, February 2015
• “Fiberglass Composite Windows in Multi-Family Housing,” Marvin Windows and Doors, January 2015
• “Florida Building Code 2010: Highlights and Changes,” PDH Academy, December 2014
• “Understanding and Evaluating Performance Characteristics of Wood, Fiberglass and Steel Entry Door Systems,” Hughes and Associates, November 2014
• “Aluminum Composite Material – Modern Architectural Cladding,” 3A Composites, November 2014
• “Landscape and the Development Process – Site Preservation Sustainment,” Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., November 2014
• “Continuous Insulation, New Model Energy Codes,” Parex USA, Inc., October 2014
• “Sustainable Site Development and Regenerative Design: The Role of the Site/Civil Engineer,” Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., October 2014
• “Continuous Wall Bracing by the 2009-2012 Code,” Weyehaeuser, October 2014
• “Residential Framing for Green Building Certification,” Weyehaeuser, October 2014
• “1-hr/Sliding Doors in a Means of Egress: Recent Changes,” Won-Door Corporation, September 2014
• “Accessibility Code Changes for Pennsylvania,” CSI Pennsylvania/Central Section, March 2013
• “Advanced FBC Water Intrusion Issues,” AIA Florida, February 2013
• “2012 IBC Significant Changes,” International Code Council (ICC), March 2012
• “Preventing Water Penetration,” Brick Industry Association, November 2011
• “Advancements in Modular Construction,” Modular Building Institute, June 2007
• “IBC 2006 Code Review Seminar,” AIA Eastern Pennsylvania, May 2007

v. 06/18/26