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| Who Are We? A Summary Presentation |
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In
2009, C. B. Goldsmith & Associates, Inc. (CBG&A)
celebrated it’s 50th anniversary of providing excellent
service. We are very proud of this outstanding accomplishment and remain committed to grow even stronger in the years to
come.
CBG&A is a professional organization combining both architecture,
roofing and building envelope design and consulting, and adding a
unique and highly specialized dimension: a firm providing technical
consulting related to Forensic Architecture – the professional
analysis of buildings, spaces and other built environments with
regard to design, code, construction or material deficiencies to be
used in a court of law or similar forums. Although a large
percentage of our work relates to the analysis and correction of
problems with existing construction, we are still an architectural
firm and we frequently take on new construction projects. We have a
broad scope of expertise related to roofing, painting,
waterproofing, and building envelope systems.
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Beginning in
1971, a unique aspect of our firm's practice has been in
the forensic investigation of construction defects. Building owners,
architects, contractors, subcontractors and attorneys have retained CBG&A for our expertise. We consider ourselves to be a highly
specialized firm, specifically dealing with the technical aspects of
problems in construction. The result is the generation of
information reports, expert testimony, construction documents,
implementation plans and details, peer review of construction
documents, diagnosis, and prevention of significant malfunctions,
defects, and failures for all aspects of construction planning,
design, execution, and usage. Generally, we limit our architectural
services to specialized work such as building restoration,
remediation, and renovations.
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Our organization is
one of registered architects and building
renovation experts who hold memberships in the American Institute of
Architects (AIA), The American Association for Wind Engineering
(AAWE), American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM International), Construction
Specifications Institute (CSI), The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing,
and Building Envelope Professionals (RCI), and various
other professional groups.
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We have been accepted
by federal and circuit court systems as experts in the field of
building, waterproofing and roofing technology and have served as consultants to
leading architectural firms, general contractors, law firms, insurance companies and
municipalities throughout the United States. Additionally, we have
done extensive architectural and forensic investigative work for the
U.S. Air Force, County governments and local school boards.
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We provide numerous
architectural services including:
- Architecture
- Sustainable design (LEED® consulting)
- Roofing and waterproofing consulting
- Exterior envelope consulting
- Coatings consulting
- Peer review of
Construction Documents
- Forensic
investigation & analysis of construction defects
- Infrared thermography
- Wind design load analysis (ASCE-7)
- Leak
- moisture infiltration investigation
- Construction
Document preparation and specifications*
- Quality assurance
- Construction contract
administration
- Failure and
disaster investigation
- Investigation of
accidents and disputes related to construction, materials and
technologies
- Expert testimony
* Including preparation of master specifications for public
school boards to be used throughout their district.
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Surveys:
CBG&A's
skilled professionals are adept at surveying all types of
building components and systems. We can incorporate this
information into a comprehensive asset management program,
complete with life cycle cost analysis, or treat each as
stand-alone assets.
Roofing and exterior envelope surveys are essential
planning and budgeting tools for all building owners. Our
team of professionals can readily determine the condition of a
client's roof(s) and other building envelope components, and
estimate the remaining useful life. Life cycle cost analysis,
(life expectancy modeling before and after repairs) along with
budget cost for repair or replacement enables us to analyze the
situation and assist our client in making the best decisions.
Due diligence surveys for property owners wishing to purchase a
building or refinance a project are also within our scope of
services.
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Forensic
Investigation and Analysis:
CBG&A excels in
finding the cause of leaks, building code violations and
defect/failures in all types
of construction projects. Our team of forensic experts and field
technicians are trained and licensed in the use of
non-destructive nuclear moisture detection gauges,
electrical conductance (resistance) and dielectric-type meters, and infrared
cameras. We perform
water infiltration testing for all types of roofs, windows, walls, storefronts, below grade leaks, plaza decks, and
other building envelope components. We provide expert witness
testimony in court cases arising from building systems failures,
define culpability, remedial solutions, provide budget cost
estimates, and assist with negotiating settlements.
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Infrared
Thermography:
CBG&A utilizes the latest in infrared technology to perform a
variety of situational non-destructive testing (NDT). Our
application of infrared (IR) thermographic inspection techniques
is valued by building owners and property managers alike as a
powerful and noninvasive means of monitoring, detecting and
diagnosing the condition of buildings before they become much
larger issues. We can provide infrared surveys of roofs and wall
system to identify water-damaged components quickly and
accurately to help extend the life of your building. We can
provide immediate documentation of as-built, pre- and
post-restoration conditions, post-casualty Cause and Origin
data, and building envelope water leakage, including post-flood
and fire water-damaged material assessment.
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Leak
Investigation:
CBG&A's
professional and technical staff has extensive experience in
roofing, waterproofing, and all types of building envelope
systems. Our staff can identify leak sources and determine the
cause of leaks, assist in temporary leak repairs as well as
permanent remedial measures. For detection of leaks, we use the
latest technology in equipment available today
including, non-destructive nuclear moisture detection gauges,
electrical conductance and dielectric-type meters and infrared
cameras, based on
standard testing methods as well as procedures and analysis
developed in-house for locating sources of leaks.
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Construction
Documents:
CBG&A's team of
architects, intern architects, draftsmen, estimators and field
technicians specialize in preparing construction documents that
are "clear, correct, complete and concise." Our team approach allows us to take
advantage of our staff's varied background to assure that the
documents represent the best design approach to every project,
meets client's budgets and long term needs and can be built in
time. Drawings are generally prepared in industry standard
AutoCAD software formats, enabling us to exchange files with other
Architects, and our project specifications are prepared in Construction
Specifications Institute (CSI) format by accredited
specification writers.
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Quality
Assurance:
CBG&A has reviewed
and analyzed 100's of millions of dollars worth of construction
failures as both forensic experts and as remedial design
experts. We find that most construction defects are often due to
"construction errors" as opposed to "design errors".
Consequently, construction quality errors and design defects
reduce the average effective life expectancy of roofing systems,
sealants and waterproofing systems by 50 to 75 percent of their
optimum life expectancy. Annually, billions of dollars worth of
roofing and waterproofing systems are wastefully torn off and
redone due to lack of quality control during the original
construction (e.g. the average life expectancy of roofing
systems may be less than 12 years as opposed to 20+ years, and
the average life expectancy of sealants may be 7 years or less
as opposed to 15+ years). If properly applied and designed, the
same roofing and waterproofing systems will not only be more
reliable, they can last twice as long.
Quality Assurance (construction observation) has the potential
to make the most significant difference in the life expectancy
of roofing or waterproofing systems. CBG&A provides both
full-time as well as part-time quality assurance monitoring
tailored to suit the needs of each project. Our personnel are
highly trained in all aspects of building envelope construction
including roofing, cement plaster, sealants, EIFS and coating
systems.
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Contract
Administration:
CBG&A can provide
complete on-site Contract Administration services during the
entire construction phase of the project. These services include:
- Preparing Contracts: We assist Owners by preparing
complete construction contracts as part of our bidding package.
The proper type of contract and contract language enables us to
fully execute the construction documents to the Owner’s
requirements.
- Construction Observation Services: We observe the
construction project using periodic inspection, review of
project schedules, pre-construction and progress meetings,
providing design clarifications, review submittals and shop
drawings, progress payments, punch-list inspection and assist in
the closeout procedure.
- Construction
Assurance Services: For the most critical roofing
and waterproofing applications, we recommend full-time quality
assurance inspections. We offer full-time as well as part-time observation
to monitor design adherence and quality application. In roofing,
cement plaster (stucco) application, waterproofing of traffic bearing
surfaces, below grade waterproofing, window and storefront
application, installation of mechanical equipment or other
critical trades, quality assurance inspection is the most
significant factor in reducing application errors.
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Our many clients
respect our commitment to high quality and professional service. We
have a strong reputation for our expertise in institutional,
commercial, and industrial facilities, as well as in insurance,
forensic engineering, and product liability investigations.
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As a standard
practice, CBG&A follows guidelines endorsed by the ICED/ASFE and
American Institute of Architects for the "Recommended Practices for
Design Professionals Engaged as Experts in the Resolution of
Construction Industry Disputes." Our reports are structured to
present the problem, the solution, and responsibility. Our analysis
is methodical and logical with a focus on the client's need to
understand the risks associated with various issues.
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Forensic architecture
and engineering is distinctive in that it requires a look into the
past to see not only what the design professional designed years
ago, but also what Codes were in effect, what the effective edition
of the Code required as to issues in contention, and how products
were generally used and installed at the time of the building's
construction. Our analysis typically includes a survey of the
physical conditions of the building, document review, Code, industry
standard and product research.
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Subsequent to our
analysis, we draw conclusions to problem issues and explain the
reasoning behind the conclusion. We prepare documentation which
provides a numeric breakdown of various problems in a distressed
building, the party or parties responsible for the deficiency, and
our opinion of the required repair efforts associated with the
problem.
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| CBG&A also has a
reputation for distinctive and practical design solutions. Our
construction documents are customized for both renovations,
restorations and new installations; our extensive knowledge of
roofing and building envelope technology, including our
participation in leading industry organizations, affords CBG&A
unsurpassed expertise in the area of forensic and retrofit design;
and our commitment to high quality, professional service, and
standard of care is a trait our clients have come to expect on each
and every project. |
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