Christopher F. OBrien, AIA, ACHA, CCCA, CHID, NCARB

Multi State Architect Certified in Healthcare

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

FORENSIC ARCHITECT: Chris has an accomplished background in interpreting the Architect’s Standard of Care and the Architect’s statutory responsibilities. Having actively practiced for over 40 years, he understands the requirements and responsibilities the Architect must meet to produce a quality set of Construction Documents and provide proper Construction Administration Services. Chris can render authoritative opinions on what a “reasonably prudent architect would do in the same general locale, in the same time frame, given the same or similar facts and circumstances”. Prior to joining CASE, Chris performed third-party forensic architectural services for single- and multi-family residences, condominiums, warehouses, and ambulatory surgical centers, addressing issues ranging from moisture intrusion and latent defects to contractual dispute resolution. Chris has provided project reports for both plaintiffs and defendants. PROFESSIONAL: Mr. O’Brien has a broad range of project-specific experience across the design, construction document, and construction administration phases for projects of various sizes and building types. Including Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Medical Office Buildings, Laboratory Research Laboratories, Higher and K-12 Education, Performing Art Centers, Municipal, Data Centers, Industrial, Multi-Family, Airport, Military, and Retail. Chris has actively worked on over 200 projects, 75 of those as the Architect of Record (AOR), spanning over 7 states. As project manager and AOR, on his projects, Chris was actively responsible for the design, construction documents, specifications, and construction administration services. Chris is still actively practicing and has recently specialized in healthcare-related projects, but not exclusively. TESTIMONY: Chris has testified as an expert witness, a third-party fact witness on a construction project, and as a condo board president. ARCHITECTURAL LICENCES: (11) Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. CERTIFICATIONS: American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA), Certified Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID), Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA), Certified Construction Document Technologist (CDT), Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC). PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: American Institute of Architects (AIA), American College of Healthcare Architects (ACHA), American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID), Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) POSITIONS HELD IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: American Institute of Architects: AIA Orlando Chapter Board Member 2010-2012, Orlando Chapter Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) Committee Program Chairperson 2004-2010, AAH Committee Chair 2010-13, 2015-17, AAH Regional Initiative Committee 2017-2018. Construction Specifications Institute: Chicago Chapter President 1999-2000, North Central Regional Chapter Director 2000-02 Chicago Chapter Board Member 1996- 2001, CSI Uniform Drawing System (UDS), Team member, later implemented into National CAD Standard Review Committee 1996-98, National Cad Standard UDS Project Task Team 2003-2007. PUBLICATIONS/AWARDS: “Building for the Technological Future” American Schools and University October 1993. “Colleges Co-locate” Urban Land Institute December 2004. Assisted author in writing article. CHA Design Competition: First Place Award for 4041 Lake Parc Place Submittal. AIA Chicago Chapter: Interior Architecture Award 1999 for Arie Crown Theater. STUDENT AWARDS/ HONORS: University of Florida Andrew Ferindino Traveling Fellowship recipient, 1986. Outstanding Student in the “Design Option” University of Florida 1987.