Building Sciences
Building Forensics
MZA's knowledge of architecture, engineering, building materials, and building science are invaluable in "recreating the scene" in building failures, older buildings, and diagnosing "sick" or contaminated buildings. Our analyses provide the basis for expert opinion in the analysis of construction defects and building system failures. These analyses also form the basis for due diligence audits in building/site purchase transactions. Our work in this area includes forensic architecture as well as forensic research.
Site Investigation
MZA performs site investigations using state of the art remote imaging, as well as photographic and video capabilities, to document building systems, assemblies and conditions. MZA performs on-site microscopy.
Materials Analysis
Materials often become the focus of our forensic investigations. MZA conducts microscopic investigations both in the field and in the lab. MZA's capabilities in materials evaluation and testing include items such as thermal insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing, coatings, encapsulants, drywall, joint compound, plaster, masonry products, and other materials used in building construction.
Investigative and
Historic Research
MZA investigates the historical uses, construction and condition of facilities and sites to determine the building, infrastructure, and environmental changes over time. This documentation provides the basis for expert opinion pertaining to changes in buildings and site conditions spanning years or even decades.
Literature and
Document Research
Our technical literature review capabilities are used in determining the suitability of a product for a certain application or the historical "state-of-the-art" of a product or design. This is especially useful in product liability or construction defect situations.
Forensic Library
Resources
MZA maintains a vast architectural and technical library used as a resource in forensic investigations. This library includes historic architectural and engineering handbooks, texts, specification manuals, practice handbooks, and materials handbooks, making it possible to replicate the decision-making process of former design and construction professionals.
MZA collaborates with other experts on projects where a more diverse multi-disciplinary team is required. MZA provides collaborative expert services in areas such as materials testing, laboratory analysis, toxicology, epidemiology, disaster response, and statistical analysis.
During the course of forensic investigations, MZA has performed a variety of complex analytical tasks involving feasibility analyses, detailed cost estimating, and recreation of project schedules. Examples of some of the services that MZA has provided include the following:
- Analysis of project cost documentation to determine the incremental increase in renovation project costs due to environmental remediation.
- Retrospective development of project schedules from documentation such as payment applications, schedules of values, project meetings, and historic and public documents.
- Retrospective development of unit costs to calculate construction costs at a point in the past, e.g., determination of asbestos removal costs in the World Trade Center towers had this work been performed in 1971 when asbestos first became an issue on the project.
- Research of historic records and other documentation to develop models to determine the number of buildings affected by a specific building material.
- Design of environmental remediation and demolition methods, and estimation of costs and schedules for remediation and demolition in complex situations such as that of a high-rise building damaged by the collapse of World Trade Tower 2.
Having conducted the forensic investigation, MZA applies the latest video and computer animation technology, along with large-scale display graphics, to create compelling presentations explaining our findings, which often include descriptions of complex phenomena such as airflow, stack effect, or moisture intrusion.
