Orchiston Architects Ltd
An architecture firm with specific expertise in building disputes
Curriculum Vitae (January 2024)
Colin R. Orchiston:
B.Arch., FNZIA., FAMINZ(Arb/Med), Prof.Urb.Val.(NZIV), MNZPI..
Architect and Construction Disputes Consultant.
In Brief Overview:
1970’s: Gained registration as an Architect, worked overseas, qualified in Urban Valuation, joined my father as a partner in Orchiston & Associates (established 1947)
1980’s: With a staff of 4 or 5, “flat out” doing housing, townhousing, restaurants/bars, kindergartens, theatres and cinemas, and light commercial new buildings and fitouts.
1990’s: Qualified in arbitration/mediation. Part time teaching, building disputes, dispute resolution and risk management becomes a major part of workload. Contract roles in major architectural projects here and overseas.
2000’s: Senior architect and management role in multidisciplinary consultancy. Involvement in building disputes and risk management continues, plus appointment to leaky buildings mediation team.
2010 and 2020’s: Still active as a sole practice in architecture and dispute resolution. Completed 9 years service as a member of the Licensed Building Practitioners' Board.
1980’s: With a staff of 4 or 5, “flat out” doing housing, townhousing, restaurants/bars, kindergartens, theatres and cinemas, and light commercial new buildings and fitouts.
1990’s: Qualified in arbitration/mediation. Part time teaching, building disputes, dispute resolution and risk management becomes a major part of workload. Contract roles in major architectural projects here and overseas.
2000’s: Senior architect and management role in multidisciplinary consultancy. Involvement in building disputes and risk management continues, plus appointment to leaky buildings mediation team.
2010 and 2020’s: Still active as a sole practice in architecture and dispute resolution. Completed 9 years service as a member of the Licensed Building Practitioners' Board.
Education and Memberships
Auckland University '70 73 : B. Arch.; Wellington Polytechnic '77,78 : Prof.Urb.Val.Arbitrators Institute of NZ: Fellowship by exam & practical experience '93.Massey University Dip Bus Stud COP in Advanced Dispute Resolution '94Admitted to AMINZ Mediation and Arbitration Panels '95; Adjudication ‘04 Advanced to Fellow NZ Institute of Architects '97Honorary Member NZ Institute of Valuers '99; MNZPI 2002
Architecture: Orchiston Architects Ltd.
Since 1976 Colin Orchiston has been a principal this practice, formerly known as Orchiston & Associates, and established by his Father in 1947. The firm has undertaken over 3200 industrial, commercial, educational, institutional and domestic architectural projects, together with insurance valuations, property reports and dispute resolutions.
Since 1990 the practice has been predominantly involved in residential projects and light commercial work, and in dispute resolution and risk management in construction.
Architecture: Tse Group
Between 1985 and 2003 I held several short-term consultant engagements with Tse Group Ltd (now Calibre Consulting, and Tse Architects) engaged on commercial construction, BIA audits, property reports, and quality management for projects in China, NZ and Vietnam.
In 2003 a request to manage the Tse Group Wellington Building Division on a short-term basis resulted in a 4 year period as manager of 12 engineering, architectural and design staff, mentoring and handover to a permanent appointment, and then a further 3 years as senior project architect. Work included a wide range of commercial, industrial, retail and multi-unit housing. During this period the company transitioned to a multi-national multi-disciplinary consulting firm with over 3500 professional staff in 19 countries engaged in the delivery of buildings and infrastructure. In 2010 Tse Architects was split out as a stand-alone company, and I returned to private practice. Building Disputes
Since 1993 between 25% and 75% of my workload has been as an expert, mediator, arbitrator, adjudicator and/or adviser in the management of construction disputes, as a court appointed referee, and as a Claims Director of the Professional Indemnity scheme which covers about 70% of NZ architectural practices.
In 2002/2003 I acted as a Mediator appointed under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act. From 2010 to 2020 contracted to the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service to provide QA reviews of assessors’ reports and repair proposals, and for research into leaky homes issues.
Following the 2012 implementation of the Licenced Building Practitioners’ Scheme, I heard and decided about 200 appeals and 40 complaints under the scheme.
Teaching & Facilitation
From 1993 to 2006 I tutored (part time) in Practice Management, Project Management, Project Finance and Construction for the final 2 years of the 4–year Weltec Interior Design degree course.
I have been a tutor for the Massey University Dispute Resolution week-long practicums 5 times, and have frequently tutored at advanced seminars in arbitration and mediation run by the Arbitration and Mediation Institute NZ.
I have conducted facilitations for boards of governance, lectures for final year architecture students on risk management, and trade training courses on contract administration. In 2001 I undertook training in the teaching of small groups.
Management & Governance
Since 1993 I have been Claims Director and a Board Member of the NZ Architects Co-operative Society. The Society offers risk management services for architects, and arranges professional indemnity insurance through third parties.
From 1994 to 2013 I served as a Board Member of the Professionals Superannuation and Benefits Group. The Board acted as trustees for a superannuation scheme covering architects surveyors and engineers and was wound up in 2013.
From inception in 2005 and until late 2014, I served as a member of the Building Practitioner’s Board. This is a statutory board tasked with the governance and monitoring of standards for Licensed Building Practitioners. The Board assisted in the development and implementation of the Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme, and since 2012 has heard and determined appeals and complaints. In 2012/13 I had a close involvement in the development of the Ethics guidelines and the website.
Miscellaneous: I have presented several papers for various seminars and conferences, including on the Building Act, the Prediction and Resolution of Disputes, and several “Conferenze” Building Law conferences and workshops covering risk management, contract terms, and issues arising out of the Building Practitioners’ scheme.
I have contributed to the NZ Institute of Architects Practice Notes on the Arbitration Act, the Construction Contracts Act, and the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act; each review of the NZIA standard contract terms for over 20 years, and many NZIA submissions on proposed legislation.
My involvement in professional indemnity insurance involves the writing of articles and seminar presentations on risk management for architects; from 1993 to 2002 I was the Editor of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute NZ quarterly Newsletter.
In 2000/2001 I was on the Working Group consulted by government on the legislation for protection of payments to contractors, and then compiled and appeared for the joint NZIA/ACENZ submissions on the Construction Contracts Bill, and was later similarly involved in reviews of the Construction Contracts Act, the Building Act, and pending legislation.
In 2012/13 I was a member of the review committee for NZS 3910 “Conditions of contract for building and civil engineering construction”, and at the same time assisting in the review of the NZIA contract terms. That has continued on an informal basis for the 2023 reviews of both sets of documents.
Judge for the 2015 Master Builders House of the year competition.
Auckland University '70 73 : B. Arch.; Wellington Polytechnic '77,78 : Prof.Urb.Val.Arbitrators Institute of NZ: Fellowship by exam & practical experience '93.Massey University Dip Bus Stud COP in Advanced Dispute Resolution '94Admitted to AMINZ Mediation and Arbitration Panels '95; Adjudication ‘04 Advanced to Fellow NZ Institute of Architects '97Honorary Member NZ Institute of Valuers '99; MNZPI 2002
Architecture: Orchiston Architects Ltd.
Since 1976 Colin Orchiston has been a principal this practice, formerly known as Orchiston & Associates, and established by his Father in 1947. The firm has undertaken over 3200 industrial, commercial, educational, institutional and domestic architectural projects, together with insurance valuations, property reports and dispute resolutions.
Since 1990 the practice has been predominantly involved in residential projects and light commercial work, and in dispute resolution and risk management in construction.
Architecture: Tse Group
Between 1985 and 2003 I held several short-term consultant engagements with Tse Group Ltd (now Calibre Consulting, and Tse Architects) engaged on commercial construction, BIA audits, property reports, and quality management for projects in China, NZ and Vietnam.
In 2003 a request to manage the Tse Group Wellington Building Division on a short-term basis resulted in a 4 year period as manager of 12 engineering, architectural and design staff, mentoring and handover to a permanent appointment, and then a further 3 years as senior project architect. Work included a wide range of commercial, industrial, retail and multi-unit housing. During this period the company transitioned to a multi-national multi-disciplinary consulting firm with over 3500 professional staff in 19 countries engaged in the delivery of buildings and infrastructure. In 2010 Tse Architects was split out as a stand-alone company, and I returned to private practice. Building Disputes
Since 1993 between 25% and 75% of my workload has been as an expert, mediator, arbitrator, adjudicator and/or adviser in the management of construction disputes, as a court appointed referee, and as a Claims Director of the Professional Indemnity scheme which covers about 70% of NZ architectural practices.
In 2002/2003 I acted as a Mediator appointed under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act. From 2010 to 2020 contracted to the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service to provide QA reviews of assessors’ reports and repair proposals, and for research into leaky homes issues.
Following the 2012 implementation of the Licenced Building Practitioners’ Scheme, I heard and decided about 200 appeals and 40 complaints under the scheme.
Teaching & Facilitation
From 1993 to 2006 I tutored (part time) in Practice Management, Project Management, Project Finance and Construction for the final 2 years of the 4–year Weltec Interior Design degree course.
I have been a tutor for the Massey University Dispute Resolution week-long practicums 5 times, and have frequently tutored at advanced seminars in arbitration and mediation run by the Arbitration and Mediation Institute NZ.
I have conducted facilitations for boards of governance, lectures for final year architecture students on risk management, and trade training courses on contract administration. In 2001 I undertook training in the teaching of small groups.
Management & Governance
Since 1993 I have been Claims Director and a Board Member of the NZ Architects Co-operative Society. The Society offers risk management services for architects, and arranges professional indemnity insurance through third parties.
From 1994 to 2013 I served as a Board Member of the Professionals Superannuation and Benefits Group. The Board acted as trustees for a superannuation scheme covering architects surveyors and engineers and was wound up in 2013.
From inception in 2005 and until late 2014, I served as a member of the Building Practitioner’s Board. This is a statutory board tasked with the governance and monitoring of standards for Licensed Building Practitioners. The Board assisted in the development and implementation of the Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme, and since 2012 has heard and determined appeals and complaints. In 2012/13 I had a close involvement in the development of the Ethics guidelines and the website.
Miscellaneous: I have presented several papers for various seminars and conferences, including on the Building Act, the Prediction and Resolution of Disputes, and several “Conferenze” Building Law conferences and workshops covering risk management, contract terms, and issues arising out of the Building Practitioners’ scheme.
I have contributed to the NZ Institute of Architects Practice Notes on the Arbitration Act, the Construction Contracts Act, and the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act; each review of the NZIA standard contract terms for over 20 years, and many NZIA submissions on proposed legislation.
My involvement in professional indemnity insurance involves the writing of articles and seminar presentations on risk management for architects; from 1993 to 2002 I was the Editor of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute NZ quarterly Newsletter.
In 2000/2001 I was on the Working Group consulted by government on the legislation for protection of payments to contractors, and then compiled and appeared for the joint NZIA/ACENZ submissions on the Construction Contracts Bill, and was later similarly involved in reviews of the Construction Contracts Act, the Building Act, and pending legislation.
In 2012/13 I was a member of the review committee for NZS 3910 “Conditions of contract for building and civil engineering construction”, and at the same time assisting in the review of the NZIA contract terms. That has continued on an informal basis for the 2023 reviews of both sets of documents.
Judge for the 2015 Master Builders House of the year competition.
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Orchiston Architects LtdPO Box 41033EastbourneLower Hutt 5047New Zealandph 04 5627 438
email: orchiston@buildingdisputes.co.nz
email: orchiston@buildingdisputes.co.nz
This website provides general advice as at January 2024 and it is not to be construed as legal or specific advice. It is provided (a) in the prospect that my skills and experience in architecture can be used for your project; and/or (b) in the hope that it will help you avoid a building dispute, but if not, that you will seek my help sooner rather than later. The copyright on its content remains with Orchiston Architects Ltd.