Expert Details
Forensic & Diagnostic Architecture: Construction Defects, Design Error & Omission, Condition Assessment & Performance Testing
ID: 731175
Tennessee, USA
His professional experience includes working for Architecture/Engineering firms, Texas state agencies, and public and private clients. He is currently independently employed as a building forensic and diagnostic consulting Architect, providing analysis of building envelope design and construction, condition assessments, commissioning, construction quality assurance inspections, damage and defect analysis, peer reviews of building design and construction documents and expert witness consulting services for a wide variety of building types. His clients include building owners, other Architects, Attorneys, general & sub-contractors, and government agencies.
He is an expert witness and consultant, providing opinions on building design and construction defects and disputes, and the cause, origin, and extent of building damage or defects from a variety of causes and weather events, & Personal Injury cases. This can include investigating property damage due to wind (hurricanes, tornados, and straight line), hail, flood, soil movement, and fire. He's also worked on personal injury cases related slip and trip and fall accidents, deferred maintenance, and building codes compliance.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2004 | Degree: Master of Architecture | Subject: Architecture | Institution: Tulane University |
| Year: 1968 | Degree: Bachelor of Architecture | Subject: Architecture | Institution: Tulane University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2015 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Owner & President | Department: |
Responsibilities:Provides consulting on building science issues related to the performance of building enclosure systems and elements for design and installation, commissioning (Cx), property condition assessments, and damage analysis, as well as personal injury related to building conditions and construction accidents. Projects include new building construction, restoration of historic buildings, damage analysis, rehabilitation, remediation, and adaptive reuse, providing design consulting, and project management.Practice includes Architectural forensic expert witness and consulting services for lawsuits, providing opinions on building design and construction defects and disputes, and the cause, origin, and extent of building damage or defects from a variety of causes and weather events, & Personal Injury cases. Clients are other Architects, Attorneys, Real Estate Developers, Government Agencies, General Contractors, Property Owners, Facility Managers, Insurance Companies and property Claims Adjusters, and construction and mortgage lenders. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2015 | Employer: Construction Consulting International | Title: General Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:Focus of work was on building enclosure science and performance, providing design consulting, condition analysis, commissioning (Cx), and failure and damage investigations for cause & origin and extent of damage or personal injury.▪ QA/QC testing the building enclosure for water penetration, air infiltration, and thermal performance and quality assurance construction inspections. ▪ Building defect and damage investigation and analysis. ▪ Review of architectural drawings and specifications, product submittals, and shop drawing of all components for the building envelope. ▪ Whole building blower door air barrier leak testing. ▪ Condition surveys of building enclosure systems for due diligence, maintenance, and damage assessment purposes. ▪ Report writing and providing depositions and testimony for arbitration hearings and trial. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2000 | Employer: Terracon | Title: Senior Project Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:▪ Conducted property condition and environmental site assessment surveys on a wide variety of properties and building types for due diligence purposes.▪ Provided construction monitoring inspections for construction pay requests for financial institutions, to verify contractor's compliance with the Contract Documents, building code requirements, and work completed. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1992 to 1998 | Employer: Kunde, Sprecher & Associates | Title: Senior Resident Architect | Department: |
Responsibilities:▪ Involved with building damage assessment and restoration projects for numerous public and private buildings in the South Florida, Miami area that resulted from Hurricane Andrew (1992).▪ Provided the management and marketing of design services, negotiating A/E contracts and was directly involved with the analysis of damages to public and private buildings and marine structures that resulted of Hurricanes Marilyn, and Bertha in the US Virgin Islands. This work included management of restoration and mitigation design for 120 mph wind/exposure D & Seismic Zone 4, construction inspections to certify compliance with building codes, and estimating the costs of repair, restoration, and mitigation work. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1986 to 1992 | Employer: S. T. Hudson International | Title: Associate | Department: Construction and Insurance Claims |
Responsibilities:▪ Provided building damage assessment reviews to determine the cause and origin and extent of damage from a variety of events including fire, tornadoes, hurricanes, soil movement, and snow loads.▪ Involved with Large Surety Bond Claims related to contractor bankruptcies, and Fidelity Bond Claims related to fraud on State of New Mexico construction projects. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1982 to 1986 | Employer: Self | Title: Principal Consulting Architect | Department: |
Responsibilities:▪ Provided design and construction management for small commercial buildings and residential projects.▪ Consulted with property owners and the Austin Redevelopment Authority for the remodeling, rehabilitation, and restoration of residential and commercial buildings, including historic structures. ▪ Provided construction dispute resolution through the National Academy of Conciliators for the Homeowners Warranty Corporation. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1978 to 1981 | Employer: State of Texas | Title: Chief Architect | Department: Human Services / Health, Nursing & Convalescent Home Division |
Responsibilities:▪ Involved with the acquisition, space planning, and program development in the areas of safety, energy conservation, and aesthetics, for the 600+ department offices throughout the state.▪ Also initiated the project programming and planning for the department’s present $40 million headquarters office complex in Austin, Texas. ▪ Conducted Life Safety Code surveys for Nursing Homes throughout the state, and consulted on procedures and methods for the correction of deficiencies found. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1975 to 1978 | Employer: Goleman & Rolfe, Architects | Title: Architect | Department: |
Responsibilities:Involved with the production of the construction drawings and specifications for a seven-building addition to Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University) in San Marcos Texas. Also bid the contract and moved to San Marcos to provide the Construction Contract Administration during the construction. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1972 to 1974 | Employer: Self | Title: Architect | Department: |
Responsibilities:Providing building design and construction management for a variety of projects in resort areas that included single family homes, town homes and club facilities. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2008 to 2008 | Agency: Dallas Area Rapid Transit | Role: Consultant Defect Investigation | Description: Conducted full condition survey of marble clad headquarters office building, developed marble repair protocols and provided remediation contract documents, contract administration, and quality assurance inspections during remediation work. |
| Years: 2007 to 2007 | Agency: City of Dallas, Texas | Role: Quality Assurance | Description: Conducted field water penetration testing of newly installed curtain wall and window systems. |
| Years: 2005 to 2005 | Agency: City of Austin, Texas | Role: Defect Investigation | Description: Investigated cause and source of water penetration of exterior wall system and designed repair methods and procedures. |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1995 to 1998 | Country / Region: US Virgin Islands | Summary: Assessing Hurricane Damage & Restoration Design |
| Years: 1966 to 1977 | Country / Region: England | Summary: Involved with the production of construction documents for the University of Birmingham Hospital. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| ▪ American Institute of Architects (AIA) ▪ Texas Society of Architects (TSA) ▪ Building Commissioning Association (BCxA) ▪ Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) ▪ Building Enclosure Technology & Environment Council (Board Member) (BETEC) ▪ National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), ▪ International Code Council (ICC) ▪ Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA) ▪ EIFS Industry Members Association ▪ University of Texas at Arlington Construction Research Council ▪ North Central Texas Council of Governments |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| ▪ Registered Architect, Texas (since 1974) ▪ Registered Architect, Florida (1994-2004) ▪ Registered Architect, US Virgin Islands (1995-2004) ▪ NCARB Certificate ▪ Asbestos Inspector Certification, The University of Texas at Arlington |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| ▪ Center for Building Science & Performance Knowledge Community Advisory Group, AIA ▪ AIA liaison to the National Institute of Building Sciences - Building Enclosure Technology & Environmental Council and the National Building Enclosure Council, National Research Coordinating Committee ▪ Building Enclosure Council – Dallas (Executive Committee) ▪ University of Texas at Arlington Construction Research Advisory Committee ▪ Regional Codes Coordinating Committee - Building and Energy Advisory Board |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| ▪ Tulane University School of Architecture Henry Labouise Memorial Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Understanding of Louisiana Architecture |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Publications: 7 Lectures & Presentations: 14 |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Providing expert opinions since 1975 for architectural and construction conditions related to design errors & omissions, construction defects, building enclosure failures & maintenance, and personal injury cases. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Lectures for American Institute of Architect Conventions and Programs, Association of Energy Engineers, and the National Institute of Building Sciences. He has also completed FEMA/ICBO Courses on Design for Windstorm & Earthquake, and AIA Continuing Education System courses required annually for state licensing and AIA Membership. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Consults with the manufactures of products in the building enclosure facade and roof systems regarding performance. Consults with building owners and architects on performance and use of materials, including wall cladding, fenestrations and glazing systems, air, thermal, and water barriers, and roof systems. |
Fields of Expertise
architectural science, architectural service, building architecture, building construction, building fabric defect, building safety, building technology, construction, construction accident, construction claim, construction defect, construction deficiency, construction design deficiency, construction failure, construction inspection, construction insurance claim, construction material, defective construction, door, facade, fenestration (architecture), forensic architecture, forensic construction, masonry, roofing, roofing system, building code, building design, building failure, building inspection, building insulation material, building materials testing, building paper, building roof, building roof failure, building science, building thermal envelope, building wall, built-up roof, commercial construction, construction material deficiency, construction material siding, failure analysis, residential building construction, roof construction, roofing material, wall stud, window forensics, client/server architecture, architectural configuration, architectural code, building fire, construction malpractice, architectural standard, architectural design, header beam, building construction regulation, architectural glass troubleshooting, glazing system architectural specification, architectural glass, construction cost estimation, building (object), ballast, construction cost, bitumen