Bruce Burt is Vice President of Engineering at Ruby+Associates, Inc., and Chair of CASE Contracts Committee.
As design-build continues to gain increasing use as a project delivery method, structural engineers should be aware of the added risk lurking in the design-build contract. Disproportionate risk allocation and an elevated standard of care are two primary culprits in expanding the engineer’s risk exposure. Much of this risk can be managed with fair and carefully worded contracts that cover the design-build project and any design services performed prior to contract award. Close attention to the provisions of the design-builder’s contract with the owner that flow down to the engineer’s contract is also essential in confining the engineer’s risk to a reasonable level.
…If you are a practicing structural engineer, you have no doubt come across various forms of contracts outlining the terms of your agreements. These contracts may be with parties that engaged your services or from whom you sought services. You may have your own contract composed by your legal counsel. More likely, your contract is based on a template created by an organization that develops and periodically updates standard contracts. This article provides a brief overview of the types of contracts you may encounter and contract offerings available from several respected sources.
…For the first time in nearly a year, my firm recently hosted an in-person employee gathering. It was a social event involving masks and social distancing. Everyone was quite happy and maybe a little relieved to be together again. I had the opportunity to talk at length with two recent hires, Shery and Jon. I had met Shery once, at her interview just before closing our physical office last March, and only knew Jon through his remote interview and videoconferences. Both were thrilled to meet their co-workers in person, and they shared their excitement at the prospect of one day soon joining them in an office environment. They were equally anxious to ask a nearby teammate the basic questions every new hire has. My experience at this company outing was the strongest confirmation possible that it was not a question of whether we should ever return to the office, but when and to what extent.
…Despite advances in artificial intelligence and the increased sophistication of modeling software, at least for the time being, the decision-making process at engineering firms remains the domain of people. To err is human, as they say, and the consequences of a mistake can be painful to an engineering firm. How should a firm deal with this inevitability? The first line of defense is effective quality control that involves a robust checking and review process. Avoiding the costly, reputation-damaging, and perhaps even deadly consequences of an error should be the top priority of every engineering firm. …
Erecting a 14-acre shade canopy, weighing more than 17,000 tons, over an existing NFL stadium in one offseason presented exceptional challenges to the Hard Rock Stadium project team. Hillsdale Fabricators of St. Louis, Missouri, assisted by erection engineers Ruby+Associates of Bingham Farms, Michigan, were up to the task. A complete transformation of the 30-year old stadium is highlighted by the beautiful new canopy, and the engineering behind its erection tells a unique story. …