SEAoNY Programs Committee Presents:
Navigating the Standard of Care:
Design Brief, Statutory Codes, and their Conflicts
DATE: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
TIME: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Zoom Webinar
This course examines the legal and technical boundaries between statutory minimum building codes and the legal Standard of Care for engineers. A broad understanding of the Standard of Care - the legal benchmark used to evaluate professional skill, performance, and negligence and the requirements of the Building Code will be identified. Through comparative analysis and real-world case scenarios, participants will explore the critical intersections and misalignments between statutory building codes and professional legal expectations. The session discusses the merits of design briefs as a critical risk-management tool to align client expectations, define technical thresholds beyond basic code, and protect design professionals from professional negligence claims.
1 Ethics PDH Pending
Registration Fees:
SEAoNY Student Members* - Free
SEAoNY Members* - $10
Non-Members - $25
*Members must log in to their SEAoNY accounts to receive membership discount on registration. (Students, did you know student membership is free?! Inquire about free student membership at admin@seaony.org)
Sustaining Members & Corporate Sponsors interested in using their free event registration should email admin@seaony.org for the registration code.
Registration Ends Monday, October 5, 2026
Timothy Lynch joined Thornton Tomasetti in 2022. He brings more than 35 years of experience with 17 years spent at the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB). Prior to serving as the Chief Engineer for the Enforcement Bureau at the DOB, Tim was Assistant Commissioner for Investigative Engineering Services, where he led teams for forensic engineering, excavation, concrete, façade, and emergency response, among others. He is a recognized expert in building forensics and was involved in the development and implementation of the 2008, 2014, and 2022 New York City International Code Council (ICC) building codes, laws, and rules. His background also includes the restoration of many landmark buildings, including Carnegie Hall and New York City Hall in Manhattan and Brooklyn’s Park Slope Armory as well as the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Event, Cancellation & Photo Policies:
SEAoNY will accept refund requests made in writing no later than Friday, October 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Registration fees are not refundable after this date.
By registering for this SEAoNY event, I give consent for my photograph to be taken or presence recorded and possibly used on the organization’s intranet, internet, newsletters, board reports, and other organizational materials as needed. I understand that I am not eligible for compensation for use of my photo and I may not be informed in advance of the specific use of those images.
