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 →

It ain’t any easier being green, especially at enterprise scale

Since the pandemic began wreaking havoc on the global economy, sustainability and concerns over global climate change have understandably taken a back seat. I mean if humanity gets wiped out by some virus, presumably over time the planet will recover... In the meantime, how do we align the still very real needs for addressing climate … Continue reading It ain’t any easier being green, especially at enterprise scale →

Another new building trend to watch: Tall Wood

For a long time in our nation's history, buildings were primarily framed with and often clad with wood harvested from the trees found in once plentiful forests. Except for a brief renaissance during the Craftsman era, as the country prospered, building aesthetics moved away from exposed timber. But, as I noted in a recent article … Continue reading Another new building trend to watch: Tall Wood →

California passes balcony inspection law

Ever since the horrible tragedy involving the fatal collapse of a balcony at an apartment complex in Berkeley, CA in 2015, my team and I have been following news related to the aftermath. On September 17, 2018, Jerry Brown signed California Senate Bill 721 into law, thereby mandating the inspection of hundreds of thousands of … Continue reading California passes balcony inspection law →

Why haven’t there been more green building lawsuits? (Hint: Mandatory Arbitration)

Stuart Kaplow is still, in my humble opinion, one of the true thought leaders on the topic of green building legal issues. A recent post of his at Green Building Law Update sets out to answer the question of why there is so little litigation in green building. In essence, Kaplow opines that the reason … Continue reading Why haven’t there been more green building lawsuits? (Hint: Mandatory Arbitration) →