Resource Type: Article

Small Firm Programs & Resources

The AIA Trust develops tools, resources, and programs designed to help small firms. Small firm owners can learn about free practice resources and special small firm member benefit programs designed for them and their firms by the AIA member Trustees who help to identify, evaluate, and design these small firm programs and resources. Read more.…

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Drone: Bird, Plane, Predator or Liability?

Unmanned aerial systems (more commonly known as drones) are soon to be an integral part of the design and construction industry. The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) is moving forward on setting up general requirements and granting permits so that commercial entities can tap into the potential of drones for a broad range of observation…

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Myths About How to Protect Yourself

Days are busy and the last thing on one’s mind is life insurance. Life insurance is protection against the unexpected to give you peace of mind that your family is taken care of if you’re no longer there. It is important because it protects what matters most to you. However, there are some common myths…

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Rectification Coverage Facilitates Design-Build Leadership for Architects

As the market for the creation of capital assets moves increasingly toward design-build, many architecture firms have found themselves in the difficult position of being a subcontractor to a design-builder who often is a construction contractor. Serving their client—the design-build entity—and not the ultimate project client can create communication and ethical problems for the architecture…

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Why Would You Need Disability Insurance If You Have It at Work?

If you have disability insurance at work, you may think there isn’t any reason to buy a policy on your own; however, employer disability coverage may not be enough to address your needs. Having disability insurance at work is a great start since the policy can help financially if you become sick or injured and…

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Risk Management on International Projects

For every project that an architectural firm undertakes, the greatest probability of an unfavorable outcome is that the firm will not be properly compensated for the services performed and the value it added to the project for the client. On international projects, there is also the risk that the firm will not be able to…

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How to Digitally Archive Your Home

Most people accumulate many possessions over the years. In the case of a loss or theft, this makes having a home inventory essential. You never know when disaster might strike—within minutes, cherished or valuable goods could be ruined. Keeping an archive of your belongings will accelerate the process of replacing damaged property. It will also…

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Bodily Injury Claims: More Shock than Severity

When a claim is brought against an architectural firm alleging that an injury or death was caused by the firm’s negligence, the firm suffers its own kind of trauma. Bodily injury cases invariably cause internal strife and force the firm to question its services. Often, a firm feels singled out for punishment, abused by the…

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Planning to Have an Accident?

Of course not. No one plans an accident and while it is not plausible to presume one can escape an accident, it is entirely possible to prepare for it. Most people don’t understand the importance of having accident insurance. While auto insurance helps in the event of an accident, it may not cover all the…

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Recovering Litigation Costs by the Prevailing Party

Clients of architecture firms are increasingly mandating “prevailing party” contractual provisions that allow the successful party in a dispute between the client and the firm to recover legal costs as well as any damages. Often, architecture firms find such provisions acceptable because they assume that if they have to sue a client for a fee,…

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