Source: http://www.natlawreview.com, http://www.natlawreview.com, April 6, 2016 Within the past two years California courts have recognized negligence claims against professional engineers and architects in the absence of privity. First, in Beacon Residential Community Assn. v. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, 59 Cal.4th 563; 173 Cal.Rptr.3d 372; 327 P.3d 850 (2014), where the court found residential design […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, April 1, 2016 By: Scott R. Murphy, Barnes & Thornburg LLP Note: This article appears in the April 2016 edition of Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Construction Law Update e-newsletter. Within the past two years California courts have recognized negligence claims against professional engineers and architects in the absence of privity. First, in Beacon […]

Source: http://www.lexology.com, March 23, 2016 By: Carly Miller, Bradly Arant Boult Cummings LLP A recent Pennsylvania case, Gongloff Contracting, LLC v. L. Robert Kimball & Assocs., Architects and Engineers, Inc., sheds light on circumstances in which design errors can lead to damages in tort as courts recognize exceptions to the economic loss doctrine for such […]

Source: https://suffolktimes.timesreview.com, March 19, 2016 By: Tim Gannon The Village of Greenport has filed a lawsuit against the engineering firm that designed its $5.8 million power plant upgrade. The lawsuit filed Feb. 2 seeks more than $10 million in damages from Genesys Engineering and claims the Pelham-based company was negligent, breached agreements and didn’t provide certain services. Village officials […]

Source: http://lancasteronline.com, March 21, 2016 By: Tim Stuhldreher Seeking compensation for “multi-million dollar losses and damages,” Manheim Central School District has filed a lawsuit against the architecture firm that designed the now-razed Doe Run Elementary School. Foreman Architects-Engineers’ design was faulty and the firm failed to disclose the problem in a follow-up investigation, the lawsuit […]

Source: Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. From 2001 to 2010, approximately 20% of claims involving buildings included allegations of mechanical and electrical issues. Many of these involved mold (which is more of an issue for mechanical engineers than electrical engineers). For the same time period, the average indemnity payment on claims filed against mechanical […]

Source: Sun Herald (Biloxi, MS), March 9, 2016 Posted on: http://www.advisen.com OSHA has cited two companies for unsafe wood floor designs that led to its collapse in 2015 and the death of Bary Berthelot, 54. He and three other workers were rebuilding the Jourdan River Steamer restaurant in Kiln, which had been damaged by Hurricane […]

Source: http://www.slate.com, April 17, 2014 By: Joel Werner and 99% Invisible Roman Mars’ podcast 99% Invisible covers design questions large and small, from his fascination with rebar to the history of slot machines to the great Los Angeles Red Car conspiracy. Here at The Eye, we cross-post new episodes and host excerpts from the 99% […]

Source: http://listosaur.com, May 15, 2012 We’ve all seen famous examples of “failed” engineering, from collapsed bridges and buildings to $300 million satellite launches that crash into the ocean. What seemed like a good idea during the design phase didn’t work as expected under stress or even normal conditions. In most cases, someone cleans up the […]

Source: http://www.livingstoneconstruction.com In part from “Patterns of Home” by Max Jacobson, Murray Silverstein and Barbara Winslow, with eye of adjustment towards resale. Ignoring Site Characteristics (trying to force preconceived ideas or plans) Insufficient programming (thinking/talking it through) Over building (too much square footage can weaken design integrity) Poor Circulation (function of space and relationship to […]

Source: http://listverse.com, June 26, 2014 By: Larry Jimenez No human artifact is perfect. While we may marvel at the beauty and creativity of many of our historic structures, they contain defects hidden underneath the familiar and iconic forms. Some flaws are cosmetic and may be forgiven or overlooked, while others are more serious and pose […]

Source: http://gothamist.com, January 22, 2016 By: Jen Carlson In 2013, the Squibb Park Pedestrian Bridge was opened, connecting Brooklyn Heights to Brooklyn Bridge Park and DUMBO. The Park has been vastly developed in the preceding years, with more visitors and foot traffic throughout—while the bridge didn’t save much time, it was a nicer way to […]