pisaIn high-stakes professions like Architecture or Engineering, mistakes can be devastating. This is why professional liability insurance is so important! But to keep today’s post on the lighter side, we’ll point you to something happier in this vein. a/e ProNet member Professional Design Insurance Management Corporation recently shared this post, 5 Mistakes in Architecture with a Silver Lining, on their company blog:

Mistakes are part of life. Mistakes in architecture are part of many lives. However, failures lead to learning – and sometimes it leads to great discoveries.

Improvements in Design

Much of what we know today about technology, architecture, and almost every other subject imaginable comes from past failures. Some were discovered in a lab, but many others were discovered in the field. Any time a failure happens, professionals in that industry make concerted efforts to learn what caused it in order to improve future works.

Fidenae Amphitheater is one example of a structure that collapsed due to inadequate design. As people piled in to watch gladiator fights, the building collapsed due to the collective weight, teaching future engineers to account for the weight that a structure can accommodate.

Thinking Long-Term

Durability is very difficult to determine without experience. Developers can conduct numerous tests to determine whether a design will hold up for months, even years, but what about decades? Over time, we’ve all learned that certain materials aren’t ideal for a building’s design, for instance, and we’ve had to tear down multiple buildings and reconstruct them with materials that have proven durable over time.

Before an earthquake destroyed it in 1303, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A more recent example is the John Hancock Tower, which had structural problems that led to windows falling and extreme swaying. This helped engineers learn the unique needs of extremely large buildings like skyscrapers.

Considering External Factors

Testing is almost always conducted in a closed environment, without factoring in things like weather conditions and user error. Once a product or design leaves the lab, though, those conditions become all too clear. Often it is only by actually letting the world see your handiwork that you can find its flaws and fix them.

The world learned this lesson through projects like the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which didn’t survive a windstorm, going down in history as one of the biggest bridge design failures.

Out of Sight Shouldn’t Be Out of Mind

Often the most important elements in a design are those that can’t be seen. This is clear in the fact that the supporting foundation of a building must be carefully checked for structural integrity. Failure to be extremely cautious during the development phase could become a public safety issue later.

One of the best examples of this is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which shifted due to being built on marshy land, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a structure’s foundation is reliable. In 1928, the collapse of the St. Francis Dam highlighted the importance of continual inspections of dams and similar structures to keep the public safe.

Consider Other Disciplines

One of the most important lessons that can be learned from history is that there is no limit to learning. One industry can learn from the mistakes of those in another industry. Even basic building design concepts can provide valuable physics insight that can be used in a wide variety of applications.

Many of the successes we have today are thanks to our past failures. Through a process of trial and error, we find out what works and what doesn’t. If we can simply learn to see small setbacks for exactly what they are, we’ll find the courage to keep moving forward despite our mistakes.

PDI has lots of other great blog posts. We suggest you pop over there and read up today.

Wortham_logoJust as nobody wants to think about insurance until they need it, nobody wants to spend their time thinking about things like Crisis Management Plans. But, as with insurance, the only way a Crisis Management Plan can be useful to you is if you have established one before the crisis comes.

One of our members, Wortham Insurance & Risk Management, recently published a Risk Management Bulletin on OSHA Inspections, and it’s relevant to this precise consideration.

Who are you going to call? When the OSHA inspector shows up or a serious accident occurs at your worksite… who are you going to call? If you answered Ghostbusters… you may be in trouble. May I suggest having a system in place that outlines the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency or OSHA inspection?

Based on the nature of the risk for construction operations it is very important for every organization to have a Crisis Management Plan which includes how to deal with governmental agencies.

What is a crisis? An explosion, a worker fatality, a bad truck accident, a hurricane? All of these can potentially be a crisis. So, when is a crisis reached? When questions arise that can’t be answered. (Kapuscinski 1932) The key to crisis management is to know the answer to the questions before they happen.

When it comes to an OSHA inspection the process should be no different.

Develop policies and procedures so all parties know the law and their individual responsibilities. The goal is to make the inspection process go as smooth as possible while maintaining control of the environment as much as possible. If you are prepared this will create a positive impression for the compliance officer and result in fewer citations for the organization.

To continue reading this valuable bulletin, including sections on knowing your rights and making a reliable plan for OSHA inspections, download the full PDF of the newsletter here.

An expansive glass wall on the ground floor of the recently renovated TAT House opens onto a chic and spare outdoor living room. The third-floor of the house is wrapped in “an Ipe wood–framed rainscreen,” allowing “interior and exterior glass walls carry the sense of the outdoors throughout the interior.” We want to congratulate Santa Monica architecture firm fleetwood/fernandez on their beautiful design, as well as their clearly deserving win of Architect Magazine‘s top 2014 Annual Design Review Award.

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Visit Architect Magazine‘s original post for more photos, elevations, and renderings of this beautiful project.

Shout-out Credit:

Alicia K. Igram, AAI, VP & Branch Rep
Design & Consulting Liability Specialist
IOA Insurance Services – Aliso Viejo, CA
Email: Alicia.Igram@ioausa.com / Phone: 949-680-1789

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Dozens of a/e ProNet members from across the country are gathering in Chicago this week for the annual fall meeting. They will be joined by representatives from several top tier professional liability insurance companies and a few major design industry organizations, including the AIA, NSPE, and ACEC.

Over the course of three days, members will receive presentations from the following insurance carriers: Beazley, Ironshore, HCC, Victor O. Schinnerer, Axis, Catlin, Hanover, RLI, All Risks, Liberty, Travelers, Navigators and Arch. These presentations will help inform the specialist brokers of a/e ProNet about industry trends, policy language changes, new coverage opportunities, and the like. It will also give our members a chance to ask questions and make suggestions pertinent to their own clients.

Along with insurer presentations, there will also be ample opportunity for the brokers to network with one another, alerting the group to trends around the country and problem solving in the collective.

To open the week, the Board of Directors will meet, and to close, Kent Holland of Construction Risk will present to the membership on the second edition of a/e ProNet’s Risk Management and Contract Guide for Design Professionals.

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We’re proud to announce that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) panel–which includes a/e ProNet member Tom Coghlan of Design Insurance Agency, Inc.–has selected Kevin Fletcher and Nathan Blair to receive the 2014 a/e ProNet AIA David W. Lakamp Scholarship.

The scholarship program was initiated by a/e ProNet in 1990, and includes an annual award of $5,000 to two architecture students who demonstrate a particular interest in the principles of management in architecture practice.

You can read more about our scholarship and how to apply next year at our website. But here, let’s learn a little more about the next generation of leaders in the architecture community.

Kevin Fletcher

Kevin Fletcher grew up in Miami, FL and will be completing his Bachelors of Science in Architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2015 with plans of attending graduate school in the fall of 2015. During his time as an undergraduate student, Fletcher, a Dean’s List Scholar, has remained an active member of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS).

In the summers throughout his college education, Fletcher has gained experience working as an Intern at BC Architects AIA, Inc. Prior to graduation, he has applied his talents in areas of marketing presentations, conceptual design, design development, and construction documents. All of which have contributed to his understanding of building systems, codes, and construction methods. Following graduate school, Fletcher plans on pursuing his NCARB registration along with his LEED accreditation.

Apart from his academic and professional involvement within the field of architecture, Fletcher has spent time developing skills in other areas of graphic design, photography, and videography. All the while, maintaining an active lifestyle along with a passion for travel.

Nathan Blair

Mr. Blair graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Utah in 2014. He will be returning to the U of U in the fall to complete work on a Masters of Architecture with an expected graduation in 2016. Mr. Blair is currently employed with Epic Engineering located in Heber City, UT. He has immensely enjoyed his time there helping to grow a newly established architecture department. Upon completion of the Master’s degree program, it is Mr. Blair’s intention to seek fulfillment of IDP credit hours with Epic Engineering.

Mr. Blair’s design interests center around identifying and isolating the spirit of our time with an affinity for communicating these visions through contemporary materials and methods. Mr. Blair was recently able to implement these ideologies by competing in the CTBUH Student Tall Building Design Competition, receiving positive remarks. He is also looking forward to participating in the University of Utah’s DesignBuildBLUFF program.

During his free time, Mr. Blair will most likely be found fly fishing. He also enjoys playing tennis, golf, billiards, and getting sushi on the weekends. Mr. Blair is constantly striving to improve himself personally and professionally, and concludes in his own words, “My name is Nathan Blair. I’m a lifelong student, an aspiring architect, and I’m a Mormon.”

Congratulations, Kevin & Nathan! We wish you both the best of luck in your academic and professional careers.

We hope you’ve all been having a hot, sporty summer! In that vein, we’d like to congratulate an a/e ProNet client, Keisker & Wiggle Architects, Inc. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) recently named the Indian Wells Tennis Garden as its 2014 Featured Facility Award winner. Keisker & Wiggle, a Capistrano Beach, California firm, did the master plan and layout of the renovation for Stadiums One and Two.

Indian Wells Tennis Garden

In addition, Indian Wells Tennis Garden has been recognized as one of 12 winners of the USTA’s 33rd annual Outstanding Facility Awards Program, recognizing excellence in the construction and/or renovation of tennis facilities throughout the country.

Opened in March of 2000, Indian Wells Tennis Garden is home to the second-largest tennis stadium in the world, with the main stadium seating 16,100 fans and includes 44 stadium suites, broadcast and media facilities and an 8,000 square foot food commissary.

Representatives will be honored during the upcoming US Open at the USTA Awards Breakfast on Sept. 1, during the association’s Semi-annual Meeting. The award recognizes one facility from among all those that meet the criteria for an outstanding facility award. The “featured facility” exemplifies the highest level of excellence in facility design; court construction; court amenities; and other related components such as strong programming and implementation of 10 and Under Tennis.

“The Indian Wells Tennis Garden has embraced many of our initiatives, including youth tennis utilizing 36- and 60-foot courts, introducing thousands of new players to the sport each year,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “It is outstanding tennis facilities like the Indian Wells Tennis Garden that help us grow the game at the grass-roots level, and for that reason and so much more, we are proud to recognize the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for its ongoing impact and contribution to the sport of tennis.”

Shout-out Credit:

Alicia K. Igram, AAI, VP & Branch Rep
Design & Consulting Liability Specialist
IOA Insurance Services – Aliso Viejo, CA
Email: Alicia.Igram@ioausa.com / Phone: 949-680-1789

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We’re especially proud of our partnership with the Society for Design Administration (SDA). Our members are well aware of the important role office administrators play in design firms, particularly when it comes to insurance matters. Today, we want to congratulate Penny Nelson, Director of Finance for Douglas Pancake Architects in Irvine, California, on passing the SDA Certified Design Firm Administrators exam! Ms. Nelson is the Orange County SDA’s Chapter President.

What is CDFA?

The SDA, the recognized leader in education for best practices in the A/E/C industry, offers a credential that recognizes your achieved administrative and management expertise, the Certified Design Firm Administrator (CDFA) designation. The CDFA credential is a voluntary certification designed to elevate the professional standards in design firm management and administration and contribute to the firm’s organizational growth and maturity through better practices in firm management. The credential comprised by the SDA’s Certification Program distinguishes and supports the roles performed by the spectrum of administrators and managers in the A/E/C firm. Furthermore, enhanced marketability and increased earning potential are just two of the many benefits CDFA certification provides.

CDFA certification recognizes an individual who has met a rigorous standard of experience and expertise in design firm management and administration and who has demonstrated their knowledge of the practice and related disciplines through a thorough examination of management and administrative competencies. This individual further adheres to the ethics and responsibilities of the profession as outlined in the SDA Code of Ethics.

Read more about the CDFA at the SDA’s website…

Last year,  we announced that a/e ProNet will pay one half of a new SDA member’s dues if that member’s insurance broker belongs to a/e ProNet… Chapters can partner with the local broker and reach out to principals and managers in their network. How about that for a good deal! Contact your local a/e ProNet broker today…

Shout-out Credit:

Alicia K. Igram, AAI, VP & Branch Rep
Design & Consulting Liability Specialist
IOA Insurance Services – Aliso Viejo, CA
Email: Alicia.Igram@ioausa.com / Phone: 949-680-1789

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We were excited to see that AIA Florida picked up this timely article by Mark Jackson of Jackson Collinsworth Johnson, an a/e ProNet member. Hope you find it helpful, too!

There are two important contract clauses that design professionals should include with every client contract. The first clause provides protection to individuals and the second limits the firm’s liability.

Individual Protection

The first clause we recommend gives individual protection for your licensed professionals. In 2013, the State of Florida signed a law relating to design professionals known as the Fairness in Liability legislation. Beginning July 1, 2013, design firms are now able to negotiate contracts that protect their professional employees from being sued individually by their clients.

The new law grants design professional employees immunity from liability for economic damages resulting from negligence occurring during the course and scope of a professional services contact. The law does require that the design firm maintain professional liability insurance as required under the contract.

The new law also extends to individuals the protection of contractual limitation of liability clauses. This comes four years after the courts ruled that individual professional employees were not protected by limitation of liability clauses in a contract. (Florida appellate court case Witt v. La Gorce Country Club, Inc., 34 Fla.L., Weekly D1161a)

Design professionals should take advantage of the benefits of this new law. Your contracts should be amended to include language that an individual employee cannot be held liable for negligence. The law has five conditions for this protection to apply:

1. The contract is made between the design firm and the client.
2. Individual employees are not to be named as a party to the contract. All professional services contracts need to be made between the client and the business entity.
3. The design firm must maintain Professional Liability insurance, as required by contract.
4. The contract contains a prominent statement, in uppercase font that is at least five point sizes larger than the rest of the text, that an individual employee or agent may not be individually liable for negligence.
5. Any damages are solely economic in nature and the damages do not extend to personal injuries or property not subject to the contract.

To continue reading, download the PDF here…

Ghost town architecture is rarely lauded for its form, style, efficiency, and grace. Enter Lone Mountain Ranch House, located on the turquoise trail between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Lone Mountain Ranch House by Rick Joy - Photo Credit Peter OgilvieThe design by Rick Joy Architects has been called “a light-filled twist on the low-slung form” by the Architectural Record blog.

The American West merges with the Far East on a 27,000-acre Wagyu-cattle ranch in a ghost town called Golden, New Mexico. Tucson-based architect Rick Joy designed a six-bedroom house for a couple who inherited the land. ‘They went to Japan, learned all about [Wagyu], got the stock, and put together this company selling beef around the country,’ says Joy. ‘Interestingly, the house turned out to be very Japanese in feel.’ — excerpted from Laura Raskin’s article for Architectural Record Continue reading “Lone Mountain Ranch House by Rick Joy”