Student Accommodation Block, UK

External wall cladding | Claim of around £5m | Adjudicator found in architect’s favour

Background

An architect faced claims arising from alleged defects within the external wall systems of a multi storey student accommodation development.

Following investigations and remediation works, allegations were made concerning:

• Cladding specification and cavity barriers.
• Building regulations compliance.
• Inspection duties during construction.

The dispute involved multiple parties, including a fire engineer, approved inspector, employer’s agent, a design and build contractor and specialist subcontractors, creating complex questions of responsibility, scope of appointment and causation.

A Ridge architecture expert witness was appointed by solicitors to review the architect’s role, design responsibility across the project team, compliance with the Building Regulations, and the significance of post completion fire safety reviews.

Through this analysis, the report demonstrated that responsibility for key aspects of the external wall design rested elsewhere within the project team and that the losses claimed were not attributable to the architect, resulting in the rejection of the claim.