6.13.2011
6.06.2011
Observations from Japanese Earthquake Reconnaissance - Seminar 6.15.2011
Structural Engineers Association of Washington will present findings from Japan. Anyone interested in first-hand accounts of the earthquake’s devastation and lessons learned may attend. (see below for online registration)
Wed. 6.15.2011.
4PM -8PM
UW- Kane Hall
On Friday, March 11, 2011, the northeast coast of Japan was struck by a magnitude 9.0 (M9.0) subduction earthquake as the boundary between the Pacific and the North American plates ruptured. The rupture extended about 200 miles, resulting in approximately 100 feet of vertical slip and causing a series of devastating tsunamis. A similar event along the Cascadia Subduction Zone could extend from Vancouver Island to Northern California, affecting western Washington and Oregon communities. Wed. 6.15.2011.
4PM -8PM
UW- Kane Hall
Recognizing how an earthquake like this could impact the Pacific Northwest, a reconnaissance team of engineers went to Japan to evaluate the damage. The team traveled the metropolitan cities of Tokyo and Sendai; met with Japanese earthquake research organizations, design/construction professionals, and public officials to learn more about the extent of the damage and standard design practices in Japan.
The team will present their findings at this seminar intended for anyone interested in first-hand accounts of the earthquake’s devastation and lessons learned.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
4:00 - 8:00 PM (sign-in begins at 3:30 PM)
University of Washington Kane Hall, Room 120
SEMINAR COST (includes box lunch-style dinner at mid-presentation break)
AIA Members/SEAW/UW Faculty* $45.00
Non-Members $60.00
UW Student**/Unemployed Members* $15.00
Late Registration fee, additional $10.00
* SEAW/AIA 2011 Dues must be paid
** Students may attend for free without dinner
REGISTRATION
Please register no later than Noon, Friday, June 10th to avoid late charge.
Register online at seaw@seaw.org to reserve your spot.
Prepayment is required.
6.02.2011
AIA|WA Continues to Make Strides in Sustainable Development
AIA|WA is riding a wave of success in the promotion of more sustainable development practices. In 2005, Washington was the first state to pass a requirement that publicly funded buildings meet LEED Silver or equivalent standards.
In 2009, AIA|WA successfully helped pass the Efficiency First Law; which requires improvements to the Washington State Energy Code over the next 20 years. The goal of the law is to get to net zero carbon impact for energy consumption by buildings.
This session the AIA|WA stopped an effort to roll-back the 2009 Washington State Energy Code. Two bills, House Bill 1388 and Senate Bill 5751, were introduced with the aim of returning the state to 2006 energy code criteria. The AIA|WA worked hard to educate lawmakers about the importance of energy efficiency improvements. AIA|WA testified about how detrimental and expensive it would be to change the energy code because projects are already using the 2009 requirements.
The attempted roll-back of the energy code was one of several sustainability battles this session. Despite being in effect for six years, the Washington High Performance Public Buildings law continued to be attacked. As it was introduced, Senate Bill 5300 (SB 5300), would have removed LEED standards from state law. It also would’ve forced the use of wood in construction. AIA|WA successfully amended SB 5300 to mirror current law regarding the use of wood. With the AIA-backed amendments, the bill passed.
Later, another challenge to the state building code was presented with Senate Bill 5485 (SB 5485). This bill would have required the State Building Code Council (SBCC) to create a pro-wood bias in the building code. AIA|WA successfully argued that the state government should not dictate material selection through the building code. Architects select building materials based on safety, function, performance, client opinions and aesthetics. The choice of materials should be left to architects.
SB 5485 would also have required public buildings make an expensive analysis of their building materials based on “embodied energy” amounts. Embodied energy measurement is a worthy goal, but there is no standard metric for it. Without a standard metric, each project would be forced to develop its own standard; which leads to inconsistent results.
The AIA|WA worked with the wood industry and educators to successfully change the bill into a study. The study requires the University of Washington and Washington State University collaborate on the examination embodied energy. The universities will make recommendations to the Department of General Administration and the legislature about the implementation of metrics for measuring embodied energy. The study is due to be completed by September 2012.
In 2009, AIA|WA successfully helped pass the Efficiency First Law; which requires improvements to the Washington State Energy Code over the next 20 years. The goal of the law is to get to net zero carbon impact for energy consumption by buildings.
This session the AIA|WA stopped an effort to roll-back the 2009 Washington State Energy Code. Two bills, House Bill 1388 and Senate Bill 5751, were introduced with the aim of returning the state to 2006 energy code criteria. The AIA|WA worked hard to educate lawmakers about the importance of energy efficiency improvements. AIA|WA testified about how detrimental and expensive it would be to change the energy code because projects are already using the 2009 requirements.
The attempted roll-back of the energy code was one of several sustainability battles this session. Despite being in effect for six years, the Washington High Performance Public Buildings law continued to be attacked. As it was introduced, Senate Bill 5300 (SB 5300), would have removed LEED standards from state law. It also would’ve forced the use of wood in construction. AIA|WA successfully amended SB 5300 to mirror current law regarding the use of wood. With the AIA-backed amendments, the bill passed.
Later, another challenge to the state building code was presented with Senate Bill 5485 (SB 5485). This bill would have required the State Building Code Council (SBCC) to create a pro-wood bias in the building code. AIA|WA successfully argued that the state government should not dictate material selection through the building code. Architects select building materials based on safety, function, performance, client opinions and aesthetics. The choice of materials should be left to architects.
SB 5485 would also have required public buildings make an expensive analysis of their building materials based on “embodied energy” amounts. Embodied energy measurement is a worthy goal, but there is no standard metric for it. Without a standard metric, each project would be forced to develop its own standard; which leads to inconsistent results.
The AIA|WA worked with the wood industry and educators to successfully change the bill into a study. The study requires the University of Washington and Washington State University collaborate on the examination embodied energy. The universities will make recommendations to the Department of General Administration and the legislature about the implementation of metrics for measuring embodied energy. The study is due to be completed by September 2012.
6.01.2011
Session Efforts - AIA|WA Introduced Bill to Stop Unfair Contracts
In the past few years architects have been seeing onerous contract provisions from public clients. A common contract provision requires architects to indemnify and defend a client from any lawsuit related to a project. These provisions make the architect liable regardless of the reason for the lawsuit.
Recently, a Pierce County firm became a prime example of how indemnification provisions are damaging and costly. The firm was paid $8,000 to conduct a code review on a city project. The firm’s only involvement with the project was to confirm the building met code standards. A lawsuit was filed against the city three years later. The city forced the firm to pay for the cost its defense, even though the plaintiff never said the firm had done anything wrong. In the end, the firm spent over $300,000 on a legal defense in a suit that had nothing to do with them. None of the costs were covered by the firm’s insurance policy.
These indemnification provisions are unfair and uninsurable. Architect’s Errors and Omissions Insurance policies do not cover defense for the negligence or fault of others.
AIA|WA introduced a bill to stop these unfair contract clauses: Engrossed House Bill 1559 (EHB 1559). The bill would prohibit agencies from including excessively broad indemnification provisions in their contracts. EHB 1559 would limit liability for architects to damages “caused by the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the design professional.”
In short, design professionals will only be responsible for their errors and not held liable for mistakes made by contractors or others.
EHB 1559 passed the house unanimously, 98-0; but was ambushed by lawyers and lobbyists in the Senate. The first notice of any public agency opposition came just a few hours before the Senate hearing. After enduring a massive attack in the Senate public hearing, the AIA|WA and allies met with stakeholders to negotiate.
The AIA|WA brought three people to the meeting. Public agencies brought over 20 lawyers and lobbyists to browbeat supporters of EHB 1559; in order to protect their unfair actions they resorted to intimidation.
While EHB 1559 did not pass this year, the AIA|WA will push the bill again in 2012. During the next several months AIA|WA will meet with lawmakers and public agency lawyers to work through their resistance. Senators Adam Kline and Nick Harper have pledged to work with the AIA|WA during this process. In the House, Representatives Roger Goodman and Matt Shea are taking the lead to help AIA|WA find a resolution.
A top priority for AIA WA Council was to reform indemnification in public contracts. The AIA|WA did a good job getting a bill unanimously through the house. This bill is all about fairness and we need to continue to strategize its passage.”
Peter Rasmussen, FAIA, AIA|WA President
Recently, a Pierce County firm became a prime example of how indemnification provisions are damaging and costly. The firm was paid $8,000 to conduct a code review on a city project. The firm’s only involvement with the project was to confirm the building met code standards. A lawsuit was filed against the city three years later. The city forced the firm to pay for the cost its defense, even though the plaintiff never said the firm had done anything wrong. In the end, the firm spent over $300,000 on a legal defense in a suit that had nothing to do with them. None of the costs were covered by the firm’s insurance policy.
These indemnification provisions are unfair and uninsurable. Architect’s Errors and Omissions Insurance policies do not cover defense for the negligence or fault of others.
AIA|WA introduced a bill to stop these unfair contract clauses: Engrossed House Bill 1559 (EHB 1559). The bill would prohibit agencies from including excessively broad indemnification provisions in their contracts. EHB 1559 would limit liability for architects to damages “caused by the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the design professional.”
In short, design professionals will only be responsible for their errors and not held liable for mistakes made by contractors or others.
EHB 1559 passed the house unanimously, 98-0; but was ambushed by lawyers and lobbyists in the Senate. The first notice of any public agency opposition came just a few hours before the Senate hearing. After enduring a massive attack in the Senate public hearing, the AIA|WA and allies met with stakeholders to negotiate.
The AIA|WA brought three people to the meeting. Public agencies brought over 20 lawyers and lobbyists to browbeat supporters of EHB 1559; in order to protect their unfair actions they resorted to intimidation.
While EHB 1559 did not pass this year, the AIA|WA will push the bill again in 2012. During the next several months AIA|WA will meet with lawmakers and public agency lawyers to work through their resistance. Senators Adam Kline and Nick Harper have pledged to work with the AIA|WA during this process. In the House, Representatives Roger Goodman and Matt Shea are taking the lead to help AIA|WA find a resolution.
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