Three Reasons to Have a Signed Contract
The absence of a properly executed agreement documenting the expectations of all parties is a risky proposition. Sal Knafo shares why architects will benefit from having a signed contract.
Claims History and Your Insurance Premiums: What You Need to Know
Claims experience is now reflected in the premium calculation formula. Firms will receive their Experience Rating Factor with their renewals, on or after April 1, 2025.
O Captain! My Captain!
An interior decorator serves as the prime consultant for a very disorganized building project. Although he referred to himself as the “Captain of the Ship,” he abandoned ship and blamed the disaster on his “crew”—including, of course, the Architect. Even Walt Whitman would be amused.
When Water Flows Uphill
In architecture, the downhill flow of water forms the basis for the design of plumbing and drainage systems. It’s such a universal rule that it’s more than a little surprising when it’s been ignored.
Too Wood To Be True
How can a simple typographical error in a millwork order lead to a financial and logistical nightmare, not to mention the heartbreak of trashing 180 custom-made cabinets?
A Spot of Mould
When experts with questionable incentives make a simple problem worse by recommending drastic solutions, who is responsible for picking up the tab?
Fallen Wall
When a major building component, such as an external wall, fails during construction, who was supposed to check the shop drawings?
I Want What I Want
If an Architect provides better quality cladding materials than those the client requested, can the Client order those materials to be replaced at the Architect’s expense?
It Takes a Spark
Fire experts may have trouble pinpointing the cause of a fire, but if the architects are contracted to perform site reviews, they will be in the “line of fire,” regardless of the actual source of the original spark.
Undercurrent
Get the best advice, not the quickest advice. Avoid embracing hasty solutions to complex problems, even when there is enormous pressure to solve them as quickly as possible.