The Wharf's General Contractor Sues Project's Architect For $5M

The Wharf The Wharf from a water taxi
Bisnow/Jon Banister
The Wharf From A Water Taxi

Clark Construction has filed a lawsuit against Perkins Eastman over services performed during the first phase of construction at The Wharf, D.C.'s $2.5B Southwest Waterfront development.

The project's general contractor is seeking $5M in damages, claiming the Wharf's lead architecture firm made significant errors and omissions in its design documents that cost Clark millions of dollars during the project.

The lawsuit, first reported by Washington City Paper reporter Andrew Giambrone on Twitter, was filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Clark and Perkins Eastman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Clark claims Perkins Eastman breached the contracts the parties entered into in April 2014 before construction began. The three-count lawsuit also claims professional negligence and negligent misrepresentation.

The suit alleges that Perkins' work contained errors related to the project's structural columns, exterior retail doors, concrete beams, built-up slab, structural beams, terrace doors, stormwater cisterns, structural rebar requirements, pier embeds, foundation piles, stairs, loading docks, windows, curtainwalls and the acoustical design of The Anthem. It claims these errors led Clark to incur increased costs for engineering, equipment, labor and other services totaling at least $5M.

The suit claims these errors could not have been discovered before construction began, and says there could be additional problems down the road.

"It remains possible and likely that errors and omissions will continue to arise and become known, discovered, and appreciated in the future as discovery in this matter proceeds," the lawsuit states.

The Wharf's first phase opened Oct. 12. It includes two office buildings, three multifamily buildings, three hotels, several restaurants, retailers and music venues, plus waterfront piers and public space. The Hoffman-Madison Waterfront development team is currently going through the approval process for The Wharf's second phase. Perkins Eastman is also serving as the lead architect for the 1.2M SF Phase 2, which the team hopes to break ground on later this year.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Washington, D.C. Newsletters
Related Stories

Tishman Misses Payment Deadline On $450M International Square Loan

Real Estate Firm Debuts With $126M Purchase Of Historic D.C. Building

Surging Costs Force Alexandria Developers To Shift Plans

Buyer Of BXP's Sumner Square Revealed: The D.C. Deal Sheet

Feds Raid North Texas-Based Contractor As Part Of HUD Investigation

Brooklyn's The Hall Complex To Get Hundreds Of Units, Synagogue And Office In New Plans

A Mindful Approach To Building In Specialized Environments

Developers Get Approval To Turn Mall Into NHL Arena. Now All They Need Is A Team

Meridian Group-Led Venture Pays $67M For 5 Virginia Office Buildings

HB Reavis Pivots To Beds In Massive Waterloo Retrofit Plans

MG Developer Faces 6 Lawsuits Alleging Millions In Overdue Debt

Developer Sues JLL For $12M, Claiming It Fudged Numbers On D.C. Project