Structural and Foundation Failures: A Casebook for Architects, Engineers and Lawyers [Hardcover]

Barry Lepatner (Author), S. Johnson (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 249 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill (Tx) (July 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070325847
• ISBN-13: 978-0070325845
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Barry B. LePatner is the founder of the New York City-based law firm LePatner & Associates LLP. For three decades, he has been prominent as an advisor on business and legal issues affecting the real estate, design, and construction industries. He is head of the law firm that has grown to become widely recognized as one of the nation's leading advisors to corporate and institutional clients, real estate owners, and design professionals.

Mr. LePatner is nationally acclaimed as a thought leader in the construction industry. A November 2007 Governing Magazine article stated, "If there's a guru of construction industry reform, it's LePatner." In an article entitled "Building a New WPA," appearing in the November 24, 2008, issue of New York magazine, he was referred to as "a Cassandra of infrastructure." And an article on Infrastructurist.com entitled "Trillion Dollar Barry: One Man's Quest to Keep America Solvent" states that Mr. LePatner has been hailed as "a leading expert on the construction industry."

His latest book, Too Big to Fall: America's Failing Infrastructure and the Way Forward, details the perilous state of the nation's roads and bridges and how misguided policies, funding and improper maintenance has led us to many more tragic failures to follow upon the catastrophe that befell the I-35W Bridge which collapsed in Minneapolis killing 13 and injuring 145 others. The book provides insightful recommendations on how to finance and re-build this critical part of America's backbone.

Mr. LePatner's previous book, Broken Buildings, Busted Budgets: How to Fix America's Trillion-Dollar Construction Industry (The University of Chicago Press), which was reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, triggered a national debate among owners, designers, and other key stakeholders. Mr. LePatner has been featured in BusinessWeek, the Boston Globe, the New York Times, Reuters, the Associated Press, Crain's New York Business, the Chicago Tribune, and other prestigious publications. Mr. LePatner's articles and speeches on the perilous state of our nation's infrastructure have garnered him widespread attention. He has appeared on many television and radio broadcasts, including a CNBC appearance and several National Public Radio segments.

A nationally recognized speaker, Mr. LePatner has addressed audiences on topics on key real estate and construction industry trends at events throughout the country for audiences including policymakers, construction executives, architects, engineers, construction technology experts, economic experts and other construction industry thought leaders.

Mr. LePatner has written extensively and is widely quoted in the media on the subject of construction law. He previously co-authored the legal sections of the Interior Design Handbook, McGraw Hill 2001, and Structural & Foundation Failures: A Casebook for Architects, Engineers & Lawyers, McGraw Hill1982, co-authored with Sidney M. Johnson, P.E.

In 2002, Mr. LePatner received an Honorary AIA Membership. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA). He has also served on numerous advisory committees including: the Advisory Board, Society for Marketing Professional Services; the board of the New York Building Congress; Board of Advisors, Legal Briefs for the Construction Industry; American Institute of Architects Advisory Committee; and the National Academy of Sciences.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory reading for structural and geotechnical engineers, January 16, 2010

By 

Irfan A. Alvi (Towson, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Structural and Foundation Failures: A Casebook for Architects, Engineers and Lawyers (Hardcover)

I read this valuable book two decades ago and recently decided to revisit it.

In short chapters, it presents 32 case studies of structural and foundation failures involving buildings, parking garages, bridges, and a few other types of structures. What makes the book really shine is that the technical analyses are accompanied by legal analyses which illuminate the business and professional ramifications of these failures.

Though the book was published in 1982 (and is out of print), nearly all of the information and insight it provides will remain relevant for decades to come, and you can simply apply an inflation factor to adjust the noted costs.

I consider reading this book to be a mandatory component in the training of practicing structural and geotechnical engineers, so I strongly recommend trying to find a used copy. And of course a second edition would be most welcome!