Celebrating a Decade Together!

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

November 14, 2023

As the leaves change and the year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the journey of Berkley Design Professional. As you know, this year marks a significant milestone for us – our 10th Anniversary!

A decade ago, we embarked on a mission to provide outstanding service and expertise in the A&E professional liability insurance industry. Today, we’re proud to have achieved and surpassed many of our goals, thanks to your support and trust.

A Look Back

Over the past ten years, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated successes and forged lasting relationships. From our humble beginnings to becoming an industry leader, our growth story has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve introduced innovative solutions, expanded our reach and most importantly, served thousands of satisfied clients.

Our Gratitude

Our success would not have been possible without our dedicated team and you, our valued brokers. Your feedback, loyalty and partnership have been the cornerstone of our achievements. As we celebrate this milestone, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you. Your belief in our vision and services has propelled us to new heights.

(more…)

Design/Construction Standards and Building Codes Evolving to Address Climate Change

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Andrew Mendelson, FAIA
Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Management & CX Officer
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

October 23, 2023

Climate change is already having a significant impact on the design and construction industry and this impact is only going to grow in the years to come. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires and tornadoes are becoming more frequent and severe and buildings and infrastructure are increasingly being damaged or destroyed.

In response to these challenges, building codes and construction standards are changing to address climate and extreme weather concerns. Local, State and Federal agencies are also working to update design and building requirements, a meaningful factor in the evolution of the standard of care for professionals in the industry.

Changes to building codes and construction standards

One of the most significant changes is an increasing focus on resiliency. Resilient buildings are designed to withstand extreme weather events and quickly regain functionality when damaged.

Specific changes include:

  • Higher wind load requirements: Buildings in areas prone to hurricanes and other high-wind events are compelled to withstand higher wind speeds.
  • Flood-resistant design: Buildings in flood zones are required to be elevated above the floodplain and to have flood-resistant materials and construction methods.
  • Wildfire-resistant design: Buildings in areas prone to wildfires are required to utilize fire-resistant materials and to create site features such as defensible perimeters and flame-resistant plantings.
(more…)

Be a Good Neighbor: Strategies to Mitigate Risk of Damage to Adjacent Properties

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Andrew Mendelson, FAIA
Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Management and CX Officer
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

May 9, 2023

One of the emerging 21st Century perils for design professionals, particularly for structural and geotechnical/CMT engineers and architects, is the potential impact of new projects on the condition and even the integrity of adjacent properties.

An architect or engineer’s legal duty is to their client according to the scope and terms of the professional services agreement as well as the responsibilities embodied in state statutes for licensed professionals. However, consideration should be given to adjacent property owners during the planning stages and efforts should be undertaken to protect against claims that could be made by other “injured parties” on adjacent properties.

In states where the applicable law embodies the principle of “joint and several liability,” disproportionate responsibility and financial exposure can be allocated to the design professional—even if their actions had very little to do with the cause of damages to an adjacent structure.

Trends in design and construction claims and litigation indicate the casting of an ever-widening net with plaintiffs seeking defendants with deep pockets, such as the professional liability insurance policy and the assets of a firm. Therefore, it’s prudent for design professionals to be proactive in managing risk with respect to potential exposure for damages beyond the property line of the project, especially in dense urban or suburban areas.

(more…)

Berkley Design Professional’s 10th Anniversary – Cheers to 10 Years!

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Larry Moonan
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

April 17, 2023

April marks the ten-year anniversary of Berkley Design Professional and we couldn’t be more excited! Over the past decade, we have established ourselves as a leader in the A&E marketplace by providing outstanding service to our brokers as well as comprehensive coverage, risk management support and exceptional claims handling for design professionals across the country.

The past ten years have been filled with some challenges and many successes, but throughout it all, our brokers have consistently supported and encouraged us. Our brokers have enabled us to grow and thrive and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment to Berkley Design Professional.

When we first started out, our vision was to create a business that would meet the unique needs of design professionals. Our goal was to provide insurance coverage that was tailored specifically to the risks faced by architects, engineers and other design professionals. Over the years, we have been able to do just that, offering a range of innovative insurance products designed to meet their diverse needs.

(more…)

To Sub or Not to Sub

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

March 14, 2023

To sub or not to sub, that is the question.

Should a firm retain a subconsultant that flows through them on a project, or should a firm let the owner directly retain the other design professional?

It’s probably not the first time that an architect or engineer has seen this question posed, nor will it be the last.

I raise this question not because it is an exciting topic, but because it is a very relevant claim scenario that I have seen time and time again.

Here are some things to think about:

  • Has your client considered what it would do if its subconsultant stopped responding to phone calls or emails?
  • What would happen if the subconsultant simply shut its doors without notice to your client in the middle of a project?

I know that a firm would not think this scenario would happen to them, especially if the subconsultant is a firm that your client has worked with in the past and has a good relationship with. But it happens.

(more…)

BDP Risk® Delivers Mutually Assured Success

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Diane Mika
Vice President, Director of Risk Management Education
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

At its simplest, insurance can be described as “a piece of paper and a promise.” Customers buy a
piece of paper (an insurance policy) and the insurance company promises to pay in the event there
is a claim.

It’s no secret that professional liability claims against architects and engineers can be expensive—both to the insurance company (cost of resolving claims and paying damages) and to the policyholder (paying deductibles). In addition to the hard costs of resolving a claim, design firms must also absorb the soft costs: lost staff time, lost opportunities, diminished relationships and increased future insurance premiums.

Therefore, the key to mutually assured success is mitigating claims. That’s where BDP Risk® comes in!

Our risk management education program provides relevant learning from the practitioner’s perspective coupled with the wisdom of decades of experience in the insurance industry. Based on a solid understanding of what factors and situations lead to claims against architects and engineers, our BDP Risk® training resources, materials and courses are designed to teach effective practices and strategies that can be put to immediate use to help customers avoid risk and reduce the frequency and severity of claims.

(more…)

BDP Risk® Education That Makes a Difference

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Diane P. Mika, Vice President and Director of Risk Management Education,
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company | April 12, 2021

Education is a good thing, right? We at Berkley Design Professional certainly believe so. Our BDP Risk® courses and resources are intended to help our insured architects and engineers improve project management practices, enhance business performance and minimize risk.

But belief and proof are not the same. So we went to our data.

The Numbers Tell a Story

Our curious data scientists (otherwise known as actuaries) pored through the numbers—course participation, claim data and underwriting files—and the results were overwhelmingly positive. BDP Risk® education makes a difference in claim frequency, customer loyalty and broker success.

(more…)