Jones Day on Covid-19’s impact on construction projects and disputes

The lawyers at Jones Day have published a three-part white paper series analyzing potential impacts of the global pandemic on not just the construction industry itself, but also on the disputes that so often result from it. Here is an overview: Part I sets out an overview of some of the recurring issues facing construction … Continue reading Jones Day on Covid-19’s impact on construction projects and disputes →

Winter is coming: First decrease in construction costs in a decade

Construction Dive published an article recently highlighting the measurable decrease in construction costs. Based on the Turner Building Cost Index, it would appear that nonresidential building construction costs dropped 1.01% from the first quarter of 2020 compared to the second. This means that there are more companies than usual bidding on each available project, which … Continue reading Winter is coming: First decrease in construction costs in a decade →

The party with the best documentation in a construction dispute typically prevails

"The side with the best paper trail usually wins." This is a concept that my general contractor father tried to teach me when I was younger, and one that I've learned the hard way myself through direct experience. In my work as a forensic consultant on behalf of many different parties in all manner of … Continue reading The party with the best documentation in a construction dispute typically prevails →

How architects can better manage the risk associated with California’s increased code requirements

Although the pandemic has had the greatest impact on humanity in quite some time, in the building industry, we were already facing numerous challenges before the quarantine started. 2020 has also been a year for some rather stringent code changes in both residential and nonresidential construction, particularly in California. With new code requirements, including the … Continue reading How architects can better manage the risk associated with California’s increased code requirements →

What You See Is What You Get, even with balconies

Over at the Xpera Blog, you can find the latest of my articles on the required inspections for multifamily residential balcony inspections mandated by law in California as a result of the tragic and fatal balcony collapse in Berkeley about 5 years ago. In multi-family residential buildings, Exterior Elevated Elements (EEEs), such as balcony decks, … Continue reading What You See Is What You Get, even with balconies →