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AIA Continuing Education

Hall & Company is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems.  Credit earned based on the completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA Members.  Please send your AIA member number to kbernal@hallandcompany.com after the presentation for reporting.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing  professional education.  As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement for the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling ,using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.  Questions related to the specific materials, methods, and services will addressed at the conclusion of this presentation. 

Liability Liability for for “Delegated Design” “Delegated Design” -- Understanding Understanding

and Avoiding Risks to Design and Avoiding Risks to Design ProfessionalsProfessionals

Presented byPresented byWilliam S. Thomas, Esq.William S. Thomas, Esq.

Pitzer Snodgrass, PC thomas@pspclaw.comSt. Louis, Missouri pspclaw.com

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One World Trade Center One World Trade Center –– Freedom TowerFreedom TowerArchitectArchitect: : Skidmore, Owings & MerrillSkidmore, Owings & Merrill

Heydar Aliyev Cultural Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre Centre -- Baku, Baku, AzerbaijanAzerbaijanArchitectArchitect: Zaha Hadid : Zaha Hadid ArchitectsArchitects

DELEGATION FAILS

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#1 Delegation Fail

• “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” Mickey

#1 Delegation Fail

• “Hired” a Subconsultant

#1 Delegation Fail

• Things get all fouled up

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#1 Delegation Fail

• Sorcerer has to roll back the stone

DELEGATED DESIGN

Delegated Design

•A well established practice

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Project Delivery Systems

•Design-Bid-BuildD i B ild•Design-Build

• Integrated Project Delivery

Delegated Design

•Design Professional LeadS i lt D i•Specialty Designer

Types of Specifications

•ProprietaryR f•Reference

•Prescriptive•Performance

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Contract Documents

•ContractsD i•Drawings

•Specifications•Addenda

•Shop Drawings?

INDUSTRY REACTION TO DELEGATED DESIGN

Shared/Delegated Designin Action

IPD d BIM i th i• IPD and BIM is on the rise•Building product manufacturers embrace shared design

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Rea

ctio

n

28%28% 49%49% 71%71%

2007 2009 2012

Indu

stry

R

Levels of BIM Adoption in North America

*The Business Value of BIM in North America SmartMarket Report

CASE STUDY #1

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STATE REGULATORS REACT TO DELEGATED DESIGN

Missouri

20 CSR 2030-21.020“Engineer of Record and Specialty Engineers”

• Definitions• Communication• Performance• Responsibility

California

Title 21, Division 1 – 21 CCR § 16“Designation of Responsibilities”

• Public School Standards• Definitions• Delegation Allowed• Responsibility

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New York

Title 8, § 29.3“General Provisions for Design Professions”

• Definitions• Delegation Not

“Unprofessional Conduct”• Responsibility

BUILDING CODES REACT TO DELEGATED DESIGN

International Building Code

Section 107.3.4.1“Examination of Documents – Deferred Submittals”

• Definitions• Review and Approval

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INDUSTRY FORM DOCUMENTS REACT TO

DELEGATED DESIGN

AIA Form Document Series

AIA A201-2007, § 3.12.10“General Conditions”

• “If professional design services … are specifically required of the Contractor by the Contract Documents, the Owner and the Architect will specify all performance and design criteria that such services must satisfy.”

AIA Form Document Series

Section 013300, Article 2.2“MasterSpec”

• Contractor is to provide the design professional lead with a submittal “signed and sealed by the responsible design professional, for each product and system specifically assigned to Contractor to be designed or certified by a design professional.”

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Consensus DOCS 300

Section 12.6 Design Build Work“Standard Tri-Party Agreement for Integrated Project Delivery”

• Contractor is to provide the design professional lead with a submittal “signed and sealed by the responsible design professional, for each product and system specifically assigned to Contractor to be designed or certified by a design professional.”

CASE STUDY #2

TenantTenant LenderLender

DesignDesign‐‐BuilderBuilder

Owner/DeveloperOwner/Developer

Special Special InspectorInspector

Steel FabricatorSteel Fabricator

Panel ManufacturerPanel Manufacturer

Panel ErectorPanel Erector

Steel ErectorSteel Erector

Structural Structural SubconsultantSubconsultant

Design Design Professional Professional 

LeadLeadDesign Design 

ConsultantConsultant

Design Design ConsultantConsultant

Sub

cont

ract

s

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Lessons

• Clear lines of responsibility in the contract documents

• Clarity and specificity of information in the design documentsdesign documents

• Coordination and follow-through during submittals

• Otherwise, leave it to someone else to assign that responsibility – usually points to designer

CASE LAW RESPONSE TO DELEGATED DESIGN

Restatement of Torts(3d):

• Component Parts• “Substantial Participation”

R M t i l S liaw • Raw Material Supplier Defense

• Sophisticated Purchaser Rule

Cas

eLa

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aw

Restatement of Torts(3d):

• “Substantial Participation”• By invitation or playing a

b t ti l l i

Cas

eLa substantial role in

decision making

aw

Missouri

Duncan v. Mo. Board for Architects744 S.W.2d 524 (Mo. App. 1988)

• Contract required EOR to perform “all”

Cas

eLa

structural engineering services• Regulations require professional

responsibility by the EOR• Custom and practice overridden by the clear

requirements of the statutes• “Statute imposes liability for design whether

designed them or not…non-delegable…”

aw

Missouri

BMA v. Graham891 S.W.2d 438 (Mo. App. 1994)

• Marble panels began to fall off building

Cas

eLa

• Owner sued architect, in part claiming negligent approval of shop drawings “without determining if it complied with the Kansas City building code”

• Alleged failure made part of a claim for punitive damages

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aw

Oklahoma

Waggoner v. W&W Steel Co.657 P.2d 147 (Ok. 1982)

• Hospital project where failure occurred

Cas

eLa

during construction due to lack of temporary bracing

• Standard set of AIA documents for the project – periodic observation and shop drawing approval

• Court held contractor responsibility

aw

Rhode Island

Lutz En’g. v. Industrial Louvers, Inc.585 A.2d 631 (RI. 1991)

• First round of shop drawings rejected due to

Cas

eLa

failure to meet requirements• Resubmittal also failed to meet

requirements, but was approved by engineer and contractor

• Verdict against engineer reversed – found no duty of care existed

aw

Texas

Great American Ins. v. North Austin902 S.W.2d 488 (Ct. App. TX 1995)

• EOR had “performance specification”

Cas

eLa

• Contractor hires specialty subcontractor to install well – submit shop drawings to EOR

• Court held the design responsibility was delegated to contractor in plans

• Shop drawing review not enough to relieve contractor of responsibility

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aw

U.S. Court App. – D.C.

Fabi Construction Co. v. Secretary508 F.3d 1077 (Ct. App. D.C. 2007)

• EOR not the “designer”

Cas

eLa

• Contractor shared in design• Contractor should have known better• Should have asked questions of the EOR

• Consult the local licensing statutes and regulations• Consider contractual relationships and lines of

responsibility• Carefully review specifications for all delegated• Carefully review specifications for all delegated

design elements• Understand the submittal and review process and

level of detail• Have the data that your product meets the spec• Coordinate if it is your responsibility• Verify insurance policies and coverages

QUESTIONS & ANSWERSQUESTIONS & ANSWERSQUESTIONS & ANSWERSQUESTIONS & ANSWERSTo request a certificate of completion visit To request a certificate of completion visit http://delegateddesign.eventbrite.comhttp://delegateddesign.eventbrite.com

If you would like us to report your attendance to AIA, please email your request to If you would like us to report your attendance to AIA, please email your request to kbernal@hallandcompany.comkbernal@hallandcompany.com

Presented byPresented byWilliam S. Thomas, Esq.William S. Thomas, Esq.

Pitzer Snodgrass, PC thomas@pspclaw.comSt. Louis, Missouri pspclaw.com

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