Source: http://www.latimes.com, April 17, 2017 By: Ralph Vartabedian Design flaws, construction shortcomings and maintenance errors caused the Oroville Dam spillway to break apart in February, according to an independent analysis by Robert Bea for the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management at UC Berkeley. Bea, a co-founder of the center and retired civil engineering professor, found […]

Source: https://therealdeal.com, April 17, 2017 By: Francisco Alvarado An Aventura-based architecture firm allegedly left McKafka Development Group hanging, delaying construction on its 90-unit high-rise called the Crimson in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, according to a lawsuit. McKafka, through its limited liability company Alpine Estates, accuses International Design Engineering and Architecture, or I.D.E.A. for short, of breaching […]

Single prime design delivery system for construction of a new dental school facility associated with a University. University made claim against the architect alleging design errors relating to structural steel; Life Safety Code violations; non-insulated pipe failures;  failure to properly staff project; failure to perform contract administration duties; lost value engineering opportunities; and project delay. […]

Multiple prime design delivery system for construction of new elementary and middle school buildings. The building foundations experienced cracking due to expansive soils beneath the slab-on-grade foundation design. School district conducted review and determined that the pre-design subsurface investigation by the geotechnical engineer was insufficient and should have discovered the expansive soils and recommended against […]

Single prime design delivery on the renovation of ductwork in a University building which houses both a geo-chemistry lab and student dormitory rooms. Exhaust hood fan speeds were insufficient to properly vent chemical fumes through auxiliary roof duct and instead, fumes entered general building ductwork and student dormitory area leading to health complaints from students. […]

Single prime design delivery system for the construction of a new school gymnasium facility and a classroom building at an existing elementary school. Due to an elevation error in the civil engineering plans, the new buildings were constructed 2 feet below the existing FEMA flood plain. Error was not discovered until after construction was completed. […]

Multiple prime delivery system plus construction manager at agency (no subcontracts) on a new elementary school construction project. School District alleged design and construction defects on project related to masonry walls and roof structure which led to water infiltration and mold. Alleged claim value exceeded available design professional insurance.  

Multiple prime delivery system on a University chemistry lab and science bldg renovation and addition. During the pre-design phase, University communicated chemical use and exhaust requirements for 2 cutting edge research professors. The HVAC ductwork designed by the MEP engineer does not contain stainless steel coating and smooth connection joints, which lead to premature corrosion […]