Enzo Balla, OAA*, received a notice of claim that he was responsible for the collapse of a concrete panel at a factory that he designed and that was under construction.
He did not, nor did the engineer and the contractor, check that the prefab concrete panels were to be properly tied during construction, to precisely avoid what happened.
Here are 3 lessons he learned over the months-long mediation he had to go through:
Lesson No. 1: The architect is the "captain of the ship" and as such, has the ultimate responsibility for the safety of his buildings.
Lesson No. 2: All parties (Architect, Engineers, Contractors, etc.) would be found liable in a court of law, and should all be proactive in finding and addressing issues, especially where safety is concerned.
Lesson No. 3: Shop drawings should be taken seriously and inspected carefully as they often contain critical information.
To hear the full story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, find "The Claims-Free Architect" where you get your podcasts.
*Enzo is a fictional character.
Credits:
Original stories - David Croft, adapted for audio by Gordon Grice.
Performance - Liam Gadsby (the man with the mellifluous voice).
Producer - yours truly (RVLTR).
Audio recording and Engineering - Audio Process.
Publisher and executive producer - ProDemnity Insurance Company