Construction Defect & Standard of Care

Secretariat’s experts utilize their vast industry experience and specialized technical expertise to provide project advisory and dispute resolution services for the built world. Our professionals perform investigations and analysis for new construction or existing buildings and structures, including design peer review, commissioning, failure investigation/root cause, repair design, performance evaluations and modeling, and construction monitoring and administration. Leveraging our extensive experience, knowledge, and expertise in the construction industry, Secretariat’s experts provide project advisory consulting to mitigate or avoid problems in a proactive manner, as well as project dispute consulting to evaluate the design and construction to support resolution.

Architectural

Secretariat’s architectural experts leverage a unique blend of analytical insight, creative problem-solving, and meticulous attention to detail in evaluating buildings of all types, sizes, and occupancies. With extensive experience across design, construction, operation, and building assessments, they expertly identify design deficiencies and construction defects. Their evaluations determine conformance with industry standards, building and accessibility codes, and contract documents.  Well-versed in a broad range of claims – from premises liability to architectural standard of care – Secretariat’s architectural experts provide trusted, comprehensive analysis for every phase of the built environment. 

Key Experts

Building Envelope & Building Science

Secretariat’s building envelope and building science experts provide technical knowledge and industry expertise for the evaluation of the building exterior and related performance. As building envelope performance, including its integration with the mechanical systems, is a critical aspect for human comfort and long-term building stability, Secretariat’s expertise can ensure the proper design, evaluation, and repairs to meet the owners’ requirements. Where problems arise, Secretariat experts can perform associated evaluations of the design and construction compliance to meet the standard of care and project requirements to support resolution of the issues and related disputes.

Key Experts

Civil Engineering

Secretariat’s civil engineering experts draw on years of practical engineering design and construction experience to analyze civil issues related to site development, grading and drainage, foundation subgrade preparation, earth retaining structures, roadway, and utilities issues. Secretariat’s work on such matters commonly includes an analysis of both the engineering design and construction execution to address claims of design and/or construction defects. Regarding engineering design, Secretariat’s experts perform design reviews to determine whether the engineering design complies with applicable building codes and standards. We also commonly develop opinions related to the engineer’s standard of care, as well as analyze the installation of the work and opine on whether the field work complies with the engineering drawings and specifications and meets a reasonable standard of care. In instances of defective design or construction requiring remediation, Secretariat provides recommendations on remedial work and estimates for repair costs and other associated damages.

Key Experts

Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing

Leveraging their technical expertise and extensive industry experience, Secretariat’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering professionals investigate and analyze complex issues involving HVAC, refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection/suppression systems across a wide range of facility types. Their work includes evaluating system design, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance to identify deficiencies or failures. Drawing on their backgrounds in design, construction, and forensic analysis, they determine whether systems conform to applicable codes, standards of care, life-safety requirements, and contractual obligations.

Key Experts

Structural Engineering

Secretariat’s structural engineering experts provide technical knowledge and industry expertise for the evaluation of structural related problems for buildings and structures. Secretariat’s expertise extends to projects in the commercial, educational, medical, sports and entertainment, infrastructure, multi-family residential, oil and gas, and power and processing industries. Secretariat’s work in this area includes design review, structural monitoring, failure investigation, and construction execution to address claims of design and/or construction defects and to perform root-cause analyses of structural failures. Secretariat’s experts are experienced in the design of various structure types (e.g., foundations/underground structures, buildings, parking structures, bridges, industrial facilities) employing various construction materials (e.g., structural steel, conventional and post-tensioned concrete, wood, masonry). In instances of defective design/construction requiring remediation, Secretariat provides recommendations on remedial work and estimates for repair costs and other associated damages.

Key Experts