Complimentary Webinar: Understanding AIA Document A201™ – 2017 General Conditions

Posted by & filed under Events.

Presented by:
Jeremy S. Baker, Partner, Construction Law Group, Schiff Hardin LLP
Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

Thursday, June 13, 2019
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Pacific Daylight Time
1.5 AIA CES LUs
Berkley DP policyholders who participate in this program can qualify for a 15% Risk Management Education credit. Contact your agent for further information*

This webinar has been recorded and is available on demand for Berkley Design Professional policyholders and our appointed agents and brokers on the BDP Risk® Learning Management System.

bdp Risk® lms login Read more »

Berkley Design Pro Design Build

5 issues to consider on design/build projects

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog, Published Articles.

During National Building Safety Month, keep these tips in mind when planning your design/build projects.

By Lawrence Moonan and Laila Santana

Property Casualty 360
May 20, 2019

It’s inevitable. Every project is bound to have a glitch or two. Big or small, there are far too many moving parts on virtually any job site to cover every issue.

These challenges have become even more glaring in an environment that increasingly employs design/build as a project delivery vehicle. Historically, when design/bid/build was the pre-eminent project delivery method, the roles of the design team and the contracting teams were clearly defined. Everyone knew where their responsibilities began and ended and there was little overlap. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case as the lines between design and construction continue to blur. In addition, expediency is now a key expectation of the project owner, which increases the potential for professional liability claims to occur.

Read more »

Public-private partnerships and the design firm

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog, Published Articles.

By Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

April 11, 2019

Adapted from an article authored by Suzanne H. Harness, J.D., AIA for Berkley Design Professional

Recognizing that traditional public funding will not always be available, governmental agencies are using innovative public-private partnership (P3) models to incentivize their private-sector partners to deliver much needed local projects. For many engineers, P3 is already a familiar method of project delivery for infrastructure such as roads, bridges, tunnels, and transit. Architects are now finding that local communities are also considering P3 for other types of building projects, including athletic facilities, museums, convention centers, parking garages, courthouses, libraries, and affordable housing.

Simply stated, a P3 exists when a public entity retains a private entity to finance, design, and build a project that will deliver a benefit to the public. Often, the P3 consortium will be responsible for maintenance and operations over an extended period of time, up to 30 years. One thing is certain: private entities—and their investors and lenders—will only support P3 projects when they have confidence that the revenue stream will deliver an acceptable return on investment. The developer is then under tremendous pressure to deliver the promised financial return to investors.

Read more »

Andrew Mendelson of Berkley Design Professional to Address BIM Issues and Best Practices at American Council of Engineering Companies 2019 Annual Convention

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog, Featured, News Releases.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA (April 15, 2019) – Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, senior vice president, chief risk management officer at Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, will address Building Information Modeling (BIM) issues and best practices at the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2019 Annual Convention & Legislative Summit to be held May 5 – 8, at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C.

“When used properly, BIM can improve a design firm’s productivity, quality and project team relationships, as well as increase operational efficiencies from project inception through post-construction facility management,” says Mendelson. “However, users must be aware of the potential legal implications and professional liability risks emanating from unintended use of this emerging technology.”

Read more »

Purchase Orders as Contracts – What is the Design Professional to Do?

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Diane Mika | February 19, 2019

Contracts are in virtually all parts of our business.  They take many styles and most often in the form of purchase orders, proposals, consulting services agreements, etc. 

Read more »

Strategically preparing for construction professional liability risk

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog, Published Articles.

by Walter J. Adams, Jr.

All contractors and subcontractors should be involved in mitigating risk.

Risk is inherent with any commercial building project. From design and specification through construction, there are many moving parts capable of creating any number of problems.

In the past, roles were clearly defined under the design/bid/build project delivery methodology. Responsibilities had a beginning and end. There was little guesswork – if any at all.

Read more »

Complimentary Webinar: From Scope Creep to Profitability

Posted by & filed under Events, Featured.

Presented by: Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, Senior Vice President & Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional and Diane P. Mika, Vice President & Director of Risk Management Education, Berkley Design Professional 

Thursday, March 7, 2019 11:00 am Pacific Standard Time

1.5 AIA CES LUs/1.5 PDHs  HSW Qualified
Berkley DP policyholders who participate in this program can qualify for a 15% Risk Management Education credit. Contact your agent for further information* 

This webinar has been recorded and is available on demand for Berkley Design Professional policyholders and our appointed agents and brokers on the BDP Risk® Learning Management System.

bdp Risk® lms login Read more »

Complimentary Webinar: Ethical Challenges & Enigmas for the Architects and Engineers World

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog, Events.

Presented by: David A. Ericksen, Esq., Executive Committee, Construction Practice Leader, Severson & Werson and Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Management Officer

Thursday, December 6, 2018, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific
1.5 AIA CES LUs / 1.5 PDHs

This webinar has been recorded and is available on demand for Berkley Design Professional policyholders and our appointed agents and brokers on the BDP Risk® Learning Management System.

bdp Risk® lms login Read more »

Andrew Mendelson of Berkley Design Professional to Address Design Project Scope Creep & Profitability at ACEC 2018 Fall Conference

Posted by & filed under News Releases.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA (August 21, 2018) – Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, senior vice president, chief risk management officer at Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, will explore the methods for identifying and managing design project scope creep at the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) 2018 Fall Conference to be held October 28 – 31, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The session titled “From Scope Creep to Profitability: Managing Change, Risk, and Your Client’s Expectations” will highlight the triggers of change and the means for preventing process claims, maintaining client relationships and staying profitable. This includes managing scope creep, which occurs when professional design services expand without corresponding fee increases or the realization of additional risk and exposure. The presentation is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 29, 2018 at 3:45 p.m. pacific time.

Read more »