--- title: Insurance Blog | DESIGNPRO Insurance Group (A Wichert Insurance Agency) in Westerville, Ohio description: Read the DESIGNPRO Insurance Group blog for local, interesting and up-to-date insurance news. --- # INDUSTRY RESOURCES FOR ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS ## from DESIGNPRO Insurance Group [Building Blocks](/blog) [Continiuing Ed](/continuing-education) [Industry Events](/events) [Videos](/videos) ## Building Blocks: DESIGNPRO Insurance Group Blog Building Blocks is our comprehensive resource library designed specifically for architects, engineers, and design professionals navigating today's complex practice environment. Each article addresses critical aspects of professional practice—from contract negotiation and risk management to client relationships and project delivery—providing actionable insights that help protect your practice while enhancing your professional success. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner looking to stay current with industry best practices or an emerging professional building your knowledge foundation, these posts offer practical guidance on the business and legal considerations that impact every design project. Written by our Risk Manager, Eric Pempus Esq. FAIA, NCARB, each article draws from extensive experience in both legal practice and architectural profession to address topics ranging from leadership strategies and professional associations to technical documentation and moral rights—all with the real-world challenges of design practice in mind. [**“Measured Drawings” vs. “Laser Scanning”** — In the old days, architects and engineers (A/Es) created “measured drawings” to document existing buildings in order to renovate or remodel a structure. Measured Drawings became the base documents from which a new set of plans, such as for a repurposed project. Design professionals would utilize an… — Jun 1, 2024](/blog/2024/measured-drawings-vs-laser-scanning) [**Advising Project Owners on the Pros & Cons of Green Roofs** — Design professionals should inform their clients of both the benefits and the negative aspects before they decide to design and install a green roof. A green roof, also known as a living roof, is a roof that is covered in whole or in part in vegetation. It offers a number of benefits, but there are… — May 1, 2024](/blog/2024/advising-project-owners-on-the-pros-cons-of-green-roofs) [**Purchase Orders are Inappropriate for Engaging Professional Design Services** — A purchase order (PO) is a legally binding document created by a buyer and presented to a seller, or vice versa. It lays out the order details, including quantity and types of products the buyer needs, as well as payment terms and delivery details. But that is for goods (pencils, chairs,… — Apr 1, 2024](/blog/2024/purchase-orders-are-inappropriate-for-engaging-professional-design-services) [**May Architects & Engineers Ethically Advertise Their Professional Services?** — It depends. Generally speaking, as long as the advertisement does not mislead, deceive or confuse the public, and it is done in good taste, yes. Other professionals do advertise as well. Lawyers and doctors do, but again, as long as it does not mislead the public, and it is done in good taste.… — Mar 1, 2024](/blog/2024/may-architects-engineers-ethically-advertise-their-professional-services) [**Conflicts of Interest in the Design Profession: What You Need to Know** — “Rule of Thumb” regarding conflicts of interest—in any place in our world, including the design and construction industry, avoid even the appearance of impropriety. This rule is probably the best and most universal rule. A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal interests, such as… — Feb 1, 2024](/blog/2024/conflicts-of-interest-in-the-design-profession-what-you-need-to-know) [**EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY** — Exigent circumstances have been defined as something that requires immediate attention—for instance, preventing the destruction of evidence, or preventing the escape of a fleeing felon, or preventing harm to somebody. In the design and construction industry, it could mean a wide range of… — Jan 1, 2024](/blog/2024/exigent-circumstances-in-the-design-and-construction-industry) [**Client’s Decision to Change Project Design During Construction, Contrary to their A/E’s Professional Judgement** — **THE FOX GUARDING THE CHICKEN COOP CASE STUDY** — An architect’s daughter was going to get married in Italy, and her father was over-joyed with the opportunity to attend the ceremony. The architect, a sole practitioner who employed a recent graduate of an architectural school to “mind-the-store,” had… — Dec 1, 2023](/blog/2023/clients-decision-to-change-project-design-during-construction-contrary-to-their-a-es-professional-judgement) [**Legalese in Professional Construction Industry Agreements** — Legalese contains long, wordy, complicated sentence structures utilizing passive voice and obsolete formalisms, and the usage of Latin, archaic or unnecessarily long words when simpler and clearer language exists. (_Even the prior sentence could be considered too long, and looks a bit “legalese.”)…_ — Nov 1, 2023](/blog/2023/legalese-in-professional-construction-industry-agreements) [**Should an Architect or Professional Engineer Retain a Surveyor & Geotechnical Consultant for their Projects?** — No. The project owner should engage these two professional services directly. It would be very poor risk management if the architect or engineer would agree to their client’s request for this scope of services for their project. Understandability, their client’s motivation would be to seek a single… — Oct 1, 2023](/blog/2023/should-an-architect-or-professional-engineer-retain-a-surveyor-geotechnical-consultant-for-their-projects) * * * - [1](/blog.md) - [2](/blog.md/page-2) - [3](/blog.md/page-3) - [4](/blog.md/page-4) - [5](/blog.md/page-5) - [6](/blog.md/page-6) - [7](/blog.md/page-7)