Koji Hirota Email & Phone Number

Houston, Texas, Us

Perform investigations and consultative reviews for property owners, roofing companies, general contractors, insurance companies, law firms, and developers involving building design and construction defects or failures, code compliance, contractual disputes, appraisals, and premises liability. Responsibilities in the field of building forensics include investigating, evaluating, and analysis of commercial, residential, institutional, agricultural, and industrial structures and properties. Determine the cause of building envelope, roofing, architectural design, ADA, building codes, and other construction-related problems. Develop design repair protocol for defective construction projects. Training of engineers and architects to ensure thoroughness of inspections and technical quality of reports. Training engineers and architects on roofing and building envelope materials, systems, and storm damage. Peer review national and international construction reports. Provide expert witness testimony.

Houston, Texas, Us

Provide reviews of construction claims and defects, contractual disputes, and architectural standard of care including descriptive experienced-based recommendations for resolution, design solutions, or expert consultation. Perform forensic analysis to determine the cause and origin of material or system failures. Perform trip/fall and slip/fall investigations and verify code compliance of facilities with respect to premises liability. Evaluation of public walkways, egress and stairs for slip/fall and trip/fall incidents. Training staff on rope access. Analyze facilities for compliance with federal, state, and local code requirements, as well as for safety and hazard identification and utilization studies. Familiar with review of historic structures, roofing and wall assemblies, and complex renovations.

Houston, Texas, Us

Responsibilities in the field of building forensics include analysis, cause and origin determinations. Perform coefficient of friction testing on materials and evaluate for slip resistance. Provide facility damage assessments and recommendations for remedial repair. Provide expert witness testimony.

Design-focused, team leader, flexible, responsible, organized, a rigorous thinker, committed to quality. Open minded and curious. Espouse a philosophy that Architecture necessitates continual learning.· Leverage years of field experience to resolve complex technical/ design issues. Work with the Owners and GC to arrive at a solution that considers cost, time implications, and the critical path schedule. · Strong technical competence. Ability to consistently execute and support design ideas through well-conceived, constructible, and coordinated detailing, drawing, and specifications. Focus on building envelope integrity and constructability.· Comprehension of materials and methods of construction. Use the base of knowledge to communicate effectively with contractors. · Thorough understanding of building codes and ADA to communicate effectively with AHJs, clients, and contractors.· Manage, organize and coordinate project teams and team assignments to distill complex tasks into workable solutions, establish goals, produce documents, coordinate budget issues and offer team guidance.· Effective experience in architectural practice with management experience in leading diverse project teams. · Responsible for ensuring construction documents reflect the design intent. Responsible for project schedules and budgets.· Knowledgeable in developing project specifications using MasterSpec format.· Review Contractor Bids, Proposed Change Orders, Applications for Payment and understand industry standards as well as the supporting AIA documents.· Review shop drawings and submittals, respond to RFIs, issue ASI’s, prepare site observation reports, and other construction administration tasks. · Solid experience in successful planning, designing and writing responses to RFP solicitations.· Coordinate the efforts of the production team to ensure that work conforms to project budget, schedule, and overall work planning.

Full time work/study student Intern Architect. Experience with a firm specializing in the design of hotel structures located in the United States and abroad.