Thomas J. Lodge, AIA, NCARB Architecture, Construction & Premises Safety Expert

Professional Experience

Provide 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, code compliance issues, construction claims, design-build, adaptive re-use, and professional liability. Areas of expertise include:

Premises Safety: Walkway construction and safety; conspicuousness of hazards, effectiveness of warnings, illumination levels, delineation of hazards in parking lots, stairs, ramps, corridors; platforms and level changes, vertical misalignments; walk-off mats; automatic doors; lighting and security; life safety.

Building Design and Planning: Building codes and standards; life safety; means of egress; unprotected floor openings, guardrails, stairs and handrails, glazing and storefronts, material selection, construction waste management, lightning protection; fire safety.

Site Design and Planning: Site planning; submittals for zoning; site grading and drainage; control of storm water; parking lot design, traffic control.

Accessibility: Barrier-free standards; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); accessible routes; accessible building components, ramps, entrances, toilet rooms, protruding objects, walking surfaces, curb ramps, signage, and detectable warnings.

Construction Materials Failures: Water intrusion issues; brick, stone, and precast concrete, cast stone, steel lintels; gutter and flashing system failures; roofing system failures; expansion joint failures; sealant and caulk system failures, window system failures, glass and glazing; mitigation of construction defects; roof and wall collapses.

Athletic Facilities: Gymnasium; physical education equipment & supplies, health fitness equipment and sport facilities equipment, baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, track and field, bleachers, grandstands, athletic flooring, athletic carpeting, sound absorbing wall units, abuse resistant wall panels, impact resistant glazing.

Playgrounds: Fall zone ground surface materials; playground equipment use area clearances; playground equipment protrusions, pinch points, clothing entanglement, head entrapment; playground equipment impact injuries; appropriateness for age groups; composite playground equipment.

Laboratory: Fume hoods, epoxy countertops and sinks, biological safety cabinets and laminar airflow work stations, solution warming cabinets, washing and sterilizing equipment, manufactured casework; autoclaves, animal cages, nebulizers, centrifuges and burners, hematology systems and analyzers, blood collection and sedimentation tubes, pipettes, lancet devices, diagnostics for diabetes, and coagulation testing.

Medical Facilities: Renal Dialysis Clinic, biological isolation rooms, patient lifts, nursing stations, medical gases, dialysis systems, specialty mechanical, plumbing, electrical, biomedical and psychiatric spaces including isolation rooms, chemical and biological containment.

Military Facilities: Barracks, dining facilities, munitions storage, burn buildings, guard towers, tactical shooting ranges, blast protection, force protection, ammunition storage, defensive barriers, bunkers, detention and interrogation facilities.

Performing Arts: Auditorium and stage; orchestra, balcony, proscenium, lecture hall; lighting and sound equipment, fly tower, fly space, catwalks and metal grating, acoustics modeling, background noise, reverberation time, sound absorption of materials, audience comfort, sight lines, stadium seating, speech intelligibility.

Retail Store Safety: Falling merchandise, shelving and product display, improper material stacking and storage, display base hazards.

Road and Streetscape: Retail kiosks, building storefronts, street cafes, site and street lighting, street furniture, bicycle racks, planters, traffic control, parking lots, cashier booths, pedestrian crosswalks, pedestrian traffic coatings, tactile markings, curbs, gutters, fencing, stone and brick paving, banners and awnings, storm-water control.

Security: Site planning and design; site and building exterior lighting; facility planning; CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design); perimeter security fencing, traffic calming & control, entry and service gates, sally ports, detention doors, sliding metal fire doors, access flooring, kennel enclosures.

Supply, Maintenance and Distribution Facilities: Loading docks, dock levelers, work platforms, forklifts, scissor lifts, ship ladders, overhead doors, truck and vehicle turning radii, wire mesh partitions, demountable metal partitions.

Sustainable Design: Mineral fiber acoustical ceiling panels, pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content, waterless urinals, rainwater harvesting, reclaimed lumber, Core-10 steel, vegetated roofs, sunshades, daylight harvesting, dimmable lighting, swamp cooler, evaporative cooling.

Project Delivery Methods: Design-Bid-Build, Construction Management Multi-Prime, Construction Management-at-Risk, Construction Management as Owner’s Agent, Design-Build, Fast-Track, partnering, contractual obligations and disputes.

Architectural Practice: Standard of Care, Owner-Architect Agreements, General Conditions, errors and omissions, change order analysis, interpret construction documents, construction phasing, punch lists, and interpreting contract performance.

Provide specialized architectural services for the evaluation and analysis of architectural condition assessments of existing buildings, including, but not limited to, architectural design, building commissioning, building envelope performance, façade inspection and documentation, codes and standards compliance, and accessibility & facility safety.

• Senior Architect and Project Manager; Manager of Architectural Services for Charleston area office specializing in A/E design services for Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
• Architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work for renal dialysis, police and security deficiencies, bio-medical, outpatient clinics, abatement for asbestos and lead based paint, mechanical, electrical, and life safety upgrades.
• Representative Projects include:
  • Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
  • Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, South Carolina
  • Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin, Georgia
  • Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, Virginia
  • Fayetteville VA Medical Center, Fayetteville, North Carolina

Performed drafting and editing of client agreements, financial worksheets, and affidavits; implemented and managed IT infrastructure and software, business system set-up, billing and archiving systems, and marketing.

• Community and Facility Architect with responsibility for coordinating Afghan National Police facilities including master planning and fielding projections, acquisition schedules, and cost estimates to serve new and expanded units.
• Conducted Master Planning, facility programming, site facility studies, design and bid document development for site and building construction, and managed Afghan and U.S. engineering teams for projects and clients.
• Representative Projects include:
  • Afghan National Police and Fire Training Academies, Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Ministry of Interiors HQ Compound, Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Ministry of Defense Headquarters Building, Kabul, Afghanistan
  • National and Regional Logistic Centers, Maydan Shahar, Afghanistan
  • Afghan National Police Surgical and Medical Clinics, Kabul, Afghanistan

• Partnered with Owner/Client to establish and advocate project goals, managed current and projected real property assets and developed site/building costs.
• Negotiated and prepared contracts. Managed bidding process, administered construction contracts and provided construction administration services.
• Representative Projects include:
  • David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Los Altos, California
  • International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina
  • Naples Botanical Garden, Naples, Florida

• Established, staffed, and managed operations for in-house architectural design and production office for design-build developer. Managed construction administration and oversight including Design Review Board, construction documents review, and cost evaluations for new construction and renovations.
  • Neo-Traditional Planned Communities with Single-Family Residences; Covenants and restrictions, easements, vegetative buffers, common areas; community amenities, clock tower, gates, picket fencing, club house, pools, tennis and basketball courts; walking trails and service alleyways.
  • Materials: roof shingles; asphalt and slate, batten seam sheet metal roofing, wood windows, gypsum plastering, Portland cement plastering, ceramic tile, wood doors, Ipe decking, preservative-treated wood framing and decking, decay-resistant wood subflooring, autoclave aerated concrete blocks, cementitious wood fiber decks, fiber cement clapboard siding and trim.

• Directed and coordinated outside consultants and internal teams. Designed and organized project documents including drawings, specifications, and reports.
• Negotiated and prepared contracts. Managed bidding process, administered construction contracts and provided construction administration services.
• Representative Projects include:
  • New Dormitory, Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois. Retail display casework, food service equipment, walk-in coolers and freezers, nonslip flooring, acoustical ceilings, rolling security grilles, unit kitchens, traction and hydraulic elevators, laundry chutes, trash compactors, fire-suppression, standpipes, glazed curtain walls, aluminum windows.
  • Yale University Bookstore, New Haven, Connecticut. Renovation and restoration for tenant fit-out; thermal and acoustic insulation, aluminum storefront, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), fluid-applied membrane air barriers, overhead coiling doors and grilles.
  • Troup Pre-K-Grade 8 Public Magnet School, New/Renovation – New Haven, Connecticut

• Directed and coordinated consultants and internal teams for projects including: master planning, higher education, medical clinics, laboratories and science buildings, high-end residential, business, life safety, and sustainable design.
• Negotiated and prepared Contracts. Managed bidding process, administered construction contracts and provided construction administration services.
• Representative Projects include:
  • Laboratory Plant-Genetics Research Center, Cold Spring Harbor, New York.
  • NOLS: National Outdoor Leadership School, Noble Hotel Renovation and New International Headquarters Administration Building, Lander, Wyoming.
  • Sports Center, Div-1 Hockey and Basketball Arenas, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut

• Directed and coordinated consultants and internal teams for projects. Designed and organized project documents including drawings, reports, and specifications.
• Representative Projects include:
  • Richard’s Department Store, Greenwich, Connecticut.
  • Broadway District Rehabilitation, New Haven, Connecticut.
  • Greenwich Academy, Greenwich, Connecticut.
  • New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum, American Hockey League, New Haven, Connecticut

Professional Credentials

• Registered Architect: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
  Inactive status: Connecticut
• Certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Professional (CPD), National Institute of Crime Prevention
• Green Globe Professional (GGP)
• OSHA-10 Certified
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Quality Management Certified (CQM)
• Certified Operator of the English XL Variable Incidence Tribometer (CXLT slipmeter)
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), National Playground Safety Institute & National Recreation and Park Association

Education

• Masters of Business Administration, Barney School, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut, 2006
• Bachelor of Architecture (5-year professional degree), Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, 1989
• Syracuse University International Study Programs:
  • Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Faculti di Architettura a Firenze, Florence, Italy

Representative Continuing Education

• “Benefits of Ultra Low Permeability Concrete in the Building Envelope,” American Training Solutions, 2021
• “A Design Professionals Guide to Sound Isolation,” American Training Solutions, 2021
• “Building Facade Glazing,” American Training Solutions, 2021
• “The Benefits of Graphics in the Built Environment,” American Training Solutions, 2021
• “Privacy Partitions in Today’s Commercial Restroom,” American Training Solutions, 2021
• “How Large Openings Contribute to Improve Mental Health,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Enhancing Security with Laminated Glass,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Metal Roofing 101,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Mass Timber Construction: Products, Performance and Design,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Designing Safe Healthcare Environments: The New Security Standards,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Advanced Florida Building Code (FBC): The Role of the Architect in Slip, Trip, and Fall Accidents: Design Defects or User Error?” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Utilizing Energy Efficient Details for Specifying Masonry Wall Systems,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) System Design and Construction,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Design and Detail of Reinforced Hollow Core Masonry,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Wind Mitigation,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Virtual World of Glass,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “Advanced Florida Building Code (FBC): Fair Housing vs. Florida Accessibility Code Accessibility, Who, What, When, Where & How,” AIA Florida, 2020
• “STEP UP Campaign for Pedestrian Safety,” Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and Federal Highway Administration, 2020
• “Developing and Delivering Pedestrian Safety Projects,” Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and Federal Highway Administration, 2020
• “Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Sustainability of Pavements,” HalfMoon Education Inc., 2020
• “Principals of Pavement Design,” HalfMoon Education Inc., 2020
• “The Creation of Experiential Building Environments,” Hanley Wood University, 2020
• “Healthy and Happy - Design Measures for Valuing Human Capital,” Hanley Wood University, 2020
• “Design as Medicine - Upstream Drivers of Health,” Hanley Wood University, 2020
• “Biophilic Urban Acupuncture,” Hanley Wood University, 2020
• “The Psychology of Human Health and the Built Environment,” Hanley Wood University, 2020
• “On Good Behavior: Human Factors + Building Performance,” Hanley Wood University, 2020
• “The Restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Precast Concrete Stair Treads and Landings,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Specifying Automatic Pedestrian Doors,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Entrance Flooring Systems,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Thermal Bridging Solutions for Balconies and Masonry Support,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Terrazzo Flooring Systems,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “High Performance Floor Coatings,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Accessibility & Detectable Warning Systems - Complying with Current Government Guidelines,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Outdoor Fitness Courses,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Monitored Entrapment Protection Requirement,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Exterior Perimeter Steel Pedestrian Security Gates,” AEC Daily Corporation, 2020
• “Why Buildings Fail - Errors During the Design Phase: Material Selection and Detailing,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2019
• “Epic Failure: The Problem of Moisture and Flooring,” Interiors & Sources, 2019
• “Indoor Environment: The Role of the Architect in New and Existing Buildings,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2019
• “Barrier-Free Design and the 2010 ADA Standards,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2019
• “Building Envelopes: History & Types,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2019
• “Move It! Active Design in Educational Environments, Physical Activity Design Guidelines for School Architecture,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2019
• “Innovations in Parking Garages,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2019
• “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – 24-Hr Advanced,” National Institute of Crime Prevention, 2019
• “You Signed What??? (Risk Management for Design Professionals),” Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP, 2019
• “Best Practices for Building Envelope Transitions: How Building Enclosure Audits Can Reduce Complications During Construction,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2019
• “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – 40-Hr Basic,” National Institute of Crime Prevention, 2019
• “New and Beautiful Construction Materials: What Can Possibly Go Wrong,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Webinar - Construction Community, 2019
• “A Second Look: Update on Visual Literacy," Campbell Institute and the National Safety Council, 2019
• “The Rise of Temporary and Pop-Up Architecture,” Architectural Record and Vectorworks, 2019
• “Refresher Ethics: Steering Clear of Witness Minefields,” ABA Webinar, 2018
• “Formal Floor Inspections - Are They Worth It,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Webinar - Retail, Restaurant, & Hospitality Community, 2018
• “2017 Advanced Florida Building Code - Building Changes Overview,” Architects Parti, 2018
• “2017 Advanced Florida Building Code - Residential Changes Overview,” Architects Parti, 2018
• “Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention: Perspectives and Practices,” Campbell Institute and the National Safety Council, 2018
• “Visual Literacy for Safety," Toledo Museum of Art, Campbell Institute, and the National Safety Council, 2018
• "Designing Safe, Code-Compliant, Residential Stairways," Stairbuilders and Manufacturing Association, 2018
• “Residential Balustrade Design and Specification Utilizing Common Stair Parts,” Stairbuilders and Manufacturing Association, 2018
• "Elements of Resilient Stair and Handrail Systems," Stairbuilders and Manufacturing Association, 2018
• “Hazard Recognition,” National Safety Council and the Health and Safety Institute, 2018
• “One the Level: Walking and Working Surface Safety,” National Safety Council and the Health and Safety Institute, 2018
• “Slips Trips and Falls: Step up to Safety,” National Safety Council and the Health and Safety Institute, 2018
• “Slips, Trips, & Falls,” National Safety Council and the Health and Safety Institute, 2018
• “Why Buildings Fail - Errors During the Construction Phase,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2018
• “Understanding the Architect's Standard of Care,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2018
• “Bathroom Design - The Differentiating Factor,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2018
• “ADA, Building Codes, and Standards Relating to Handrails and Guards,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2018
• “Flooring Design with Acoustics in Mind,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2018
• “Defining Performance in Flooring - Acoustics, Ergonomics, and Safety,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2018
• “Design by Law,” Architects Parti, 2018
• “ADA Accessibility Routes,” Architects Parti, 2018
• “Risk Management for Design Professionals,” Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP, 2017
• “Designing for Accessibility under ADA Standards and IBC,” HalfMoon Education, 2017
• “Extreme Building Solutions,” Garland University, 2017
• “2014 Advanced Florida Building Code,” Architects Parti, 2016
• Workshop on the Multifactorial Analysis of Slip and Fall Events - Implications for Forensic & Safety Professionals, ASTM F13 Pedestrian-Walkway Safety and Footwear Committee, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 2016
• “Shopping for Trouble - Detecting and Mitigating Pedestrian Accident Risks in Retail Parking Lots,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Webinar - Retail, Restaurant, and Hospitality Community, 2016
• ABA Forum on Construction Law - Conference, 2016
• “Designing with Continuous Insulation for Thermal and Moisture,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “The Benefits of a Performance-Based Design Process,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Risk Management for Design Professionals,” Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP, 2016
• “The Evolution of North American Playgrounds,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “How to Design Playgrounds for Optimal Sensory Development,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Level Playing Field - A group of recent projects demonstrates that true universal design goes beyond mere accessibility,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Safety in the Gym - Specifying Equipment to Protect Users and Spectators,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Creating Safer Spaces in Healthcare,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Universal Design and Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “The Intersection of Universal Design and Sustainable Living,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “The Leading Edge on Safety is Engineered from the Ground Up,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Construction Quality and Safety- Reducing Rework While Achieving Zero Incidents and Accidents,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2016
• “Code-Compliance Conflicts in the Exterior Wall Assembly,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center
• “Controlling Moisture in Masonry,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center
• “Best Value Practices for the Building Envelopes,” Garland University, 2016
• “How to Work with an Expert in Mediation: Practice Tips from the Mediator, Expert, and Lawyer,” ABA Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2015
• “Prevention Through Design: Promising or Perilous?” ABA Forum on Construction Law, T. Michael Toole, 2015 ABA Forum on Construction Law - Construction ADR (Alt Dispute Resolution) Summit, 2015
• “Understanding Construction Claims,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Hurricane Damage: Wind vs. Water Determination,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Countermeasure Strategies for Pedestrian Safety,” USDOT Federal Highway Administration, 2015
• “Floodplain Design: Construction and Impacts on Flood Insurance,” ICC-ES for Smart Vent Products, 2015
• “The Hidden Risk of Green Buildings: Avoiding Moisture and Mold Problems,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2015
• “Building and Designing for Security,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2015
• “Accommodations for Seniors,” NCARB Professional Development Program, 2015
• “Security Features in Revolving Doors," Hanley Wood University, Architectural Record, 2015
• “Toxic Mold: Managing the Legal & Insurance Risks,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Tort Liability & Risk Management - Bicycle and Pedestrian Design,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Contractor Lawsuits Against Design Professionals,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Design & Construction Claims,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Professional Standard of Care - Proof & Defense,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2015
• “Sleuthing the Mundane and the Catastrophic,” Architectural Record Continuing Education Center, 2015
• “Seismic Activity in South Carolina,” College of Charleston, 2014
• “Hurricane Mitigation: Design and Construction Lessons,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “Green Globe Professional”, Green Building Initiative, 2014,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “LEED v4 for Healthcare Facilities,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “Coastal Engineering: Tsunami,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “Impacts of the 2010 ADA Guidelines,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “Fair Housing Accessibility V2,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “ADA Guidelines 2010: Recreational Facilities,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “ADA Guidelines 2010: Accessible Routes,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “ADA Guidelines 2010: General Site and Building Elements,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “ADA Guidelines 2010: Building Blocks,” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “ADA Guidelines: Achievable Barrier Removal and Accessibility (B),” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014
• “OSHA 10-Hour Construction Program [V14.1],” RedVector Continuing Education, 2014

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Forum on Construction Law
    Litigation Section
    Construction Litigation Committee
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)
• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
  • Committee F13: Pedestrian Walkway Safety and Footwear
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) of America Carolinas AGC
• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Construction Committee
• National Safety Council – Robson Forensic corporate membership
• Stairbuilders and Manufacturing Association (SMA)

Government, Task Force, and Academic Participation and Employment

• South Carolina State Guard, Assessment Officer, Engineering Detachment – Captain
• Atkins Global, Berkeley County, South Carolina
  • Disaster Relief monitoring and FEMA documentation
• Brickyard Plantation, Property-Owners’ Association – Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and The I’On Village, Property-Owners’ Association – Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
  • Architect for the Design Review Board; review and processing of design and construction applications, policies, procedures, and systems.
• Historic District Commission – Guilford, Connecticut
  • Architect Commissioner for the Design Review Commission; review and processing of design and construction applications. Managed development of design standards and guidelines.
• Paier College of Art, Inc., Adjunct Professor; lecturer in building design, architectural planning, and computer drafting.

v. 06/1/21