College students study sustainable architecture overseas
In the current landscape, sustainability and green architecture and building are key. Just as important is learning from others across the globe who are facing similar challenges to those we have in the United States.
Reported by The Argonaut, University of Idaho College of Art and Architecture students went overseas to study sustainable architecture in Scotland, Glasgow, Wales and London, learning about how to integrate sustainable living practices with architectural design.
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Increased skyscraper stability in Seattle using concrete
As reported by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a professor of engineering's solution for streamlining the construction of skyscrapers is being used in a 1.5 million square foot mixed use development in a suburb of Seattle, the Lincoln Square Expansion.
"Traditionally, coupling beams are reinforced with a labyrinth of rebar, adding a great deal of time, cost and complexity to the construction process."
The coupling beams used in the Lincoln Square Expansion, however, are built with fiber reinforced concrete, helping to reinforce the building against possible earthquake damage.
(Image credit: Cary Kopczynski & Co.)
Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]Flood protection design and construction since Katrina
In the wake of the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina earlier this year, Engineering News-Record reported on the current state of the flood protection system in place, and the changes that have been made since the storm.
"The fact that floodwalls around New Orleans were designed to be overtopped but remain standing says much about the post-Katrina hurricane-protection system that rings the city—and about the risks that those who live within that system still face.
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Importance of a safety culture on job sites
A culture of safety does more than just protect your firm from law suits and protect your employees from injuries. A recent article from Engineering News-Record states that it actually helps productivity, job quality and increased return on investment.
Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]A San Francisco hospital is using a unique substance to prepare for earthquakes
As reported by CityLab last week, a San Francisco hospital is the first to use a unique substance to protect itself from possible future earthquake damage. The 7-foot wide wall panels made of "goo" are embedded throughout the structure to act like a shock absorber for the building.
"It has the consistency of chewing gum, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, and could keep the 15-story California Pacific Medical Center standing and fully operational during an event as big as the 1906 earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.8. The hospital, located about 7 miles from the San Andreas fault line, is the first building in the U.S. to use such technology.
Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]Liability Limitations on the Construction Manager's Role
When considering the use of a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), it is critical that an owner understands the limitations of liability that a CMAR has in regards to their design review services. As PretiFlaherty reported on September 3rd, the Massachusetts Supreme Court recently clarified the construction manager’s role.
Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]New Jersey Fire Officials Demand Tougher Code
On August 24th, The Journal of Light Construction reported on New Jersey fire officials are looking for change - and are concerned that policymakers are dragging their feet seven months after a runaway apartment building fire.
"At issue in New Jersey is the question of whether stick-frame construction — what firefighters are calling "lightweight wood construction" — should be allowed in multifamily dwellings at all. Two identical bills under consideration in the state Assembly and the Senate would impose a two-year moratorium on permitting and building of stick-framed apartments or condominiums while officials study the question."
Read more about the situation here: http://www.jlconline.com/coastal-contractor-news/new-jersey-fire-officials-demand-tougher-code_o
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Construction Defect Litigation: Engaging Your Expert Witness
About this blog series:
An expert witness can make or break your construction defect case. Unlike many other types of litigation, construction cases (of all types) are often “expert driven” in determining ultimate liability and damages. The ability of the expert not only to qualify but to work and communicate clearly and objectively with counsel and client is key.
Having served as an expert witness in hundreds of cases over the past twenty years, I believe that the expert witness who can distill complex processes into plain and simple language leaves an indelible impression on judges, juries, arbitrators, and other triers of fact.
In this series of blog posts, I offer insight gained from my experience as a forensic expert, as well as in managing and working with other experts on cases both big and small. My experiences include working as a litigation consultant to assist carriers, counsel, and corporate clients in construction defect, breach of contract, E&O, and property claims litigation in a multitude of venues throughout the United States My hope is that those of you who retain expert witnesses will find value in understanding the perspective from the other side when vetting an expert you may not have worked with before. Even if you know the expert, these steps may provide you with insights that will enhance your dialogue with the expert and maximize the relationship and the outcome of any retention.
Whether you are engaging an expert on behalf of a litigant party or as a non-testifying consultant, these tips may provide insights that will help to ensure that the engagement meets your needs and expectations.
Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"]On-Call Disaster and Catastrophe Response
Putting Lives and Businesses Back on Track
When disaster strikes, the first thing most people do is to dial 911 resulting in the dispatch of police, fire, and EMT personnel. Soon after life-threatening emergencies are taken care of, homeowners, property landlords, and public officials turn their attention to issues of restoring properties and getting commerce going. Business and property owners and their insurance companies want to know: How bad is it, can it be repaired, when can repairs be made, and how much will they cost? CCA’s team has vast experience answering these questions whether the disaster is a single property or a wide-spread catastrophe such as hurricanes and earthquakes. CCA is used to responding quickly to our client’s needs.
Ice Arenas: Indoor Air Quality
In December 2014, 81 spectators and players suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning after attending a minor league hockey game between the Dells Ducks and the Ice Hawks. They were hospitalized and treated for a range of symptoms including dizziness, nausea, headaches, vomiting and fainting. The cause? Local fire department officials linked the leak to the rink’s ice resurfacing machine.
The importance of proper ventilation
The situation in Wisconsin is not the first time that ice resurfacing vehicles were to blame for illnesses. In 2011, a number of New Hampshire hockey players at an indoor hockey rink were showing signs of acute respiratory symptoms. These included cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain and tightness – all symptoms that are consistent with exposure to nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2). Of the 43 people exposed, 31 had symptoms consistent with NO2 exposure.
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