Unsafe condition prior to repair: Severely cracked terra cotta cornice identified during the 9th Cycle inspection. As Cycle 10 of the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) begins, it’s important to remember why this law exists. It wasn’t created as a…
RAND Building News & Insights, January 2025 Staying on top of NYC’s building compliance deadlines is more important than ever. This year is a critical one for compliance, with major Local Law 97 and 88 deadlines driving significant changes in…
As the summer of 2024 comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible interns who spent the past few months with us. Their energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm have truly enriched…
Congratulations to RAND Project Engineer Jefferson Zamora, PE, CEM, LEED Green Associate on earning his professional license! This outstanding achievement reflects his exceptional qualifications, expertise, and knowledge in the field of engineering, and is a testament to his dedication to…
RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC was ranked #16 nationally among the Best Places to Work in Engineering by Best Companies Group, reflecting employee feedback and workplace culture.
New Parapet Inspection Requirement Starting January 1, 2024, annual parapet inspections are now required by building owners in New York City. Reports must be kept on file for at least six years. The first compliance deadline is December 31, 2024.…
As state and city regulations continually adapt to maintain the safety and integrity of our buildings, residents, and the public at large, staying up to date with upcoming deadlines and the latest periodic safety inspection requirements can seem like a…
The insightful case summary of 432 Park Avenue Condominium’s recent litigation, authored by Thomas P. Higgins, Partner at Higgins & Trippett and originally published in Habitat Magazine, underscores the significance of comprehensive building condition surveys for new construction projects. These assessments play a critical role in verifying that the unit owner or shareholder received what was purchased and also safeguarding the comfort and safety of residents.
In 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams introduced new rules that expand the permitted uses of drones for various services, including building inspections and infrastructure assessments. These changes represent a significant step forward in enhancing building envelope inspection services,…
In this Q&A, we sat down with RAND Senior Structural Engineer and Qualified Parking Structure Inspector Jason Damiano, PE, who shares his expertise on how to maintain parking structures at safety standards and comply with the DOB’s Periodic Inspection of…
Stay compliant and safe: Essential guidance on Local Law 126’s parking structure inspection requirements. As of 2022, New York City now requires parking structures to be inspected by a licensed engineer every six years per its Periodic Inspection of Parking…
The recent parking garage collapse at 57 Ann Street in Lower Manhattan has underscored the urgent need for regular inspections and maintenance of parking structures. In response, the City is rapidly conducting inspections across the city, especially those with open…
During this month’s high avian migration period, approximately 400 million birds are currently on the move in the US. As architects, we cannot think of the built environment without recognizing its impact on the numerous bird species or the importance…
The No. 4 Oil Ban Has Been Moved Up No. 4 heating oil must be phased out of all New York City buildings sooner than expected, and property owners who fail to comply with the new regulations could face hefty…
Hot Water Without the Wait Waiting over 10 minutes for hot water in an apartment is not only frustrating, but a waste of time, water, and money. RAND Principal and Vice President Peter Varsalona, PE, CEM, CBCP joins Habitat Magazine’s…
The New York State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (NY State SHRM), Best Companies Group, and Rochester Business Journal have named RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC as one of the Best Companies to Work for in New…
#GivingTuesday is here! Each year, on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, RAND celebrates this day of global of giving and generosity and reflects on the work our RAND Gives Back volunteers have accomplished in the past…
Happy National Intern Day to our fantastic summer interns! In recognition of their hard work and contributions to RAND, we are celebrating with a luncheon today and spotlighting three of our RAND Class of 2022 interns. Thank you to all…
New York City’s energy benchmarking compliance deadline for the 2021 calendar year has been extended to May 31, 2022 per a service notice from the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). Owners of properties on the DOB’s 2022 Covered Buildings…
New York City is finally catching up with the rest of the State regarding mandatory periodic parking garage inspections. As of January 1, 2022, parking structures in New York City are required to be inspected periodically per Local Law 126…
As of January 1, 2022, potential homebuyers may be finding it tougher to finance the purchase of units in cooperatives and condominiums. In response to last June’s tragic Surfside, Florida condo collapse, mortgage giant Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE),…
Less than two months after the tragic Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in South Florida, Jersey City’s City Council has passed an ordinance requiring cyclical facade and structural inspections as a direct response to the collapse, which killed nearly 100 people. The…
Our employees have spoken! RAND has been named a Best Place to Work in New York City for the tenth time. RAND is proud to announce that it has been included on the list of “100 Best Places to Work…
Dangerous conditions may have been created in buildings affected by yesterday’s record-breaking rainfall and unprecedented flooding from Hurricane Ida. The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has released a list of advisories that building owners and property managers should…