Client Demands

Many architects will tell you that some of their greatest professional rewards come from their relationships with their clients, working as a team toward a common goal. But occasionally, these relationships break down, and what starts out as professional affection deteriorates into outright animosity. It’s a fine idea to make friends of clients, and even clients of friends, but remember: business and friendship can sometimes make poor allies.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Clients Lawsuits Podcast

Unchecked Qualifications

“Trust but verify” is a diplomatic term that applies just as well to architectural practice. Give your team members enough space to exercise their own skills, but always maintain a discreet watchful eye. Lack of professional oversight contributes to several problems, and those problems lead to claims.
Case Studies Podcast Podcast Qualifications Team Management

Poor Site Planning

In architectural practice, boundaries are critical. There are physical boundaries, professional boundaries and, what might best be called aspirational boundaries. In this episode, boundaries are badly defined, ignored, stretched and transgressed. Abysmal record keeping only makes matters worse.
Case Studies Podcast Documentation / Contracts Podcast site plan

Inaccurate Certificates

Under the various pressures of contract administration, architects can sometimes exercise too little care when issuing certificates. Inaccurate, false or misleading certificates are potential sources of claims.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Podcast

Season 1 of Architects’ Claims Stories

Season one is packaged up to include 4 full episodes and one bonus episode from Season 2. Each episode includes lessons learned and offers tips to help architects be more risk-aware in your practice.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Podcast

Relying on Consultants

Architects sometimes take on projects that require the skill and experience that only a specialist consultant can provide. And, it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking responsibility in areas where your knowledge, and your ability to control events, are limited.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Podcast

Exploring New Products

Episode 4 of Architects’ Claims Stories examines how architectural creativity often involves exploring new products, or in some cases, finding new uses for existing products. But be aware that the associated risks of experimenting with new products can be burdensome, and as the architects in these two stories discovered, the penalties can be severe.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Design Substitutions / Material Failure Podcast

Inattention to Detail

Episode 3 of Architects’ Claims Stories highlights two different situations where the clients’ desire for a grand architectural gesture results in a debacle for the architects involved. Physical and emotional injuries arise from Inattention to detail.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Delays Documentation / Contracts Podcast

Failure to Communicate

Episode 2 of Architects’ Claims Stories shares how a simple exchange of information, promptly delivered, duly recorded and correctly remembered, might have saved everyone a lot of grief.
Case Studies Podcast Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Delays Documentation / Contracts Podcast

Architects’ Claims Stories: Real and Unreal

Every insurance claim tells a story of human behaviour. There’s the factual side: what happened and why? And there’s the outcome: the physical, economic, emotional, social, relationship or professional consequences.  […]
News & Announcements Podcast Risk Management / Mitigation