Now semi-retired as we head into 2023, I still provide independent reviews of construction documents, mostly for public building projects in Massachusetts, where I maintain a professional license and have extensive experience.
I have worked as an independent consultant since 2006. Services have included Expert Witness work, design of building repairs and modifications, and technical review of construction documents developed by other architects. Expert Witness services have included investigation of design and construction issues, review of project records, development of Expert Reports, participation in mediation, and court testimony.
I am licensed as an architect in Massachusetts and Vermont. I hold an NCARB certification, LEED Accreditation, and MCPPO Certification for School Project Designers and Project Managers. I am a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
My experience in architecture and the construction industry covers nearly 50 years. I have worked as a drafter, designer, job captain, project manager, Clerk-of-the-Works, project architect, construction administrator, and manager of production. I first worked in an architect’s office during summer breaks in high school in the mid 1960’s. After an enlistment in the U.S. Navy, I worked for an architectural millwork subcontractor. I completed my undergraduate degree at M.I.T. in 1974. Then I worked for a home builder for 2 years. From 1977 until 2006, I worked as an employee in architecture firms in Seattle and Vermont.
My professional experience includes high-rise office buildings, a 2-level regional mall, 20+ public school projects (mostly in Massachusetts), several warehouse-office complexes, a steel fabrication facility, a high-tech defense training facility, government buildings, residential projects, and other building types.
Although I appreciate good design and enjoy design work, my early experience in construction gave me a strong interest in the connection between drawings (and specifications) and building construction, and it led to a focus on quality control, document coordination, and effective communication – all important factors in risk management for architects, owners of building projects, contractors, subcontractors, and others involved in building construction. I have a good working knowledge of design and construction Agreements, General Conditions, and other standard documents used in the construction industry. I have experience with different project delivery methods, including conventional Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and Construction Management. Weathering storms of unexpected change order claims and disputes has given me a keen interest in effective project organization and decision-making. I have been doing QC reviews of construction documents since the late 1970’s.
Managing production for a firm of about 50 architects heightened my interest in effective management, and I earned a Master’s degree in Administration and Management from Saint Michael’s College in 2006. I have completed mediation training courses through Woodbury College and Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. In 2015, I completed Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC®) training and received a certification from Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS).
Please give me a call if you have questions or would like to talk about a building issue or a building project.
Thanks.
Al
