Posard Broek + associates is a Marin firm which provides peer review services and conducts forensic investigations of architectural and engineering work. Their review of the work of Mill Valley Architect Richardson Associates concluded that: Based on the review of the documents provided by the Owner, PB+A is of the opinion that the services provided by the Architect of the Record fell below the standard of care.
The full report can be found by clicking on PB+A
I hired Heidi to design new construction to connect with an old cabin, which I wished to retain. I chose her because of her familiarity with the work of William Turnbull. From the beginning, the design was to feature a dining room with aspects of one of his designs. There was to be a cathedral ceiling with open rafters, glass doors along the wall to the courtyard. To this, Heidi added a clerestory window at the Eastern peak. She said, and I concurred, that it would be an important architectural detail.
We went through numerous iterations of drawings and all the design elements were intact through the progress set dated 12/5/14. On 12/23/14 I received some new pages which, I was told, were minor roof elevation changes. In fact, all of the essential design details had been removed.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION GIVEN TO ME THAT THIS WAS A FUNDAMENTALLY. DIFFERENT DESIGN.
On June 20, 2015, a set of Building Permit drawings was provided to me. I was confused by the electrical plan, as it showed fixtures not compatible with open rafters. I tried multiple times to get an answer from Heidi but received only evasive answers, and ultimately my last email to her was not answered. It was at this point that I decided to terminate RA as my architect.
I now believe that the final progress drawing was due to RA realizing that the old and new construction would not connect and wasn’t buildable as drawn. Whether Heidi knew or didn’t know, I can’t know. If she did know, she never told me, even when I questioned the electrical plan.
It never occurred to me that Heidi, whom I had loved working with, had done this. In the end it cost me tens of thousands of dollars to correct it and restore the original design elements. I thought I might get some recompense through mediation. It was not until a knowledgeable lawyer explained to me that her insurance lawyer could drag it out until my legal fees were more than I could hope to recover in any legal process. Nor is the California Board of Architects of any assistance.
So Be Aware and Be Warned.