Construction Industry Events - 2008

► March 1, 2008. The AIA Miami Design Technology Exposition 2008. Miami, Florida. Bill Dexter presents: "Managing the Minefield: Identifying and Avoiding the Top Legal Risks from Standard Architectural Practices.

Architecture is often considered a “high risk, low margin” profession that is riddled with unforeseen legal consequences surrounding standard architectural practices. With the increasing occurrence of construction litigation, every practitioner needs to be informed regarding the best methods of avoiding and transferring risks. In spite of carefully crafted contractual language available on standard forms, which attempt to limit the architects exposure to unnecessary risks, design professionals are being sued in increasing numbers. Architects, developers, contractors and product manufacturers find themselves intertwined in a lawsuit where every party is simultaneously suing every other party. The presenter will examine the most prevalent issues being raised by plaintiff attorneys for defective design, breach of contract and violation of standard of care practices. Additionally, this program will explore key methods of transferring risks away from the design firm.
Areas of “employee moonlighting,” project documentation, alterations in the design by the contractor, and current methods of Alternate Dispute Resolution will be discussed in detail. High on the list of liabilities of design professionals are construction phase services. Long after the construction documents have been published and approved, the architect enters the minefield of construction phase services which include review of shop drawings, job-site visits, payment certifications, construction observation and change order management. Mr. Dexter will take the seminar participants down the path of legal obstacles impeding project completion.

This program will also look at the heart of transferring the liabilities that architects face in the most litigious period in the history of the construction industry. This comprehensive approach to risk transfer and avoidance outlines an effective plan to create proactive risk reduction policies within the firm.

Project owners are requesting services during the design and construction phases that are placing the architect in a position of responsibility for the owner’s and contractor’s duties. Compounding this increase in exposure is the owner’s reliance on representations made concerning cost estimates and suitability of the contractors’ work. “Job site communications” pose substantial risks to the firm for inadvertently assuming liability for the work performed by contractors and fabricators. This program presents solid guidelines on reducing the risk of frequently encountered situations by transferring them back to the client or others who are often quite eager to let the architect be responsible. The program is accompanied by an informative handout with checklists and examples of contract modifications that should be viewed with great scrutiny and skepticism.

► December 10 through 12, 2008. El Segundo Congreso Hispano Cubano de Arquitectura y Urbanismo will be held at the History Center of the City of Havana, Cuba. This international conference will be attended by historians and architects from all over the world. The participants will discuss and explore the current efforts to restore the architectural treasure of Habana Vieja and other World Heritage sites on the Island. Information on the conference can be obtained by contacting eventos@eventos.ohc.cu and hispanocubano@dap.ohc.cu.