Keith Olsen

Background

About Keith Olsen

Keith has provided Expert Witness testimony in numerous depositions, arbitrations and jury trials in matters involving construction defects, professional standard of care, and premises liability. He provides services to the insurance industry including forensic inspections and evaluations for both residential and commercial property loss claims. He performs loss-control review of construction documents and specifications for large scale commercial and residential developments, specifically focusing on roofing, drainage, building envelope and waterproofing systems. He also performs real estate due diligence services including Property Condition Assessments (PCAs) for high-rise, office, residential, retail and industrial properties, specializing in detailed evaluations of exterior envelope and curtain wall systems.Prior to joining Vertex, Keith’s experience included running his own architectural practice and serving as Director of Commercial Projects for a New Jersey architecture & design firm. Throughout his career, Keith has performed the planning, design, technical detailing, and construction coordination on a wide range of project types including commercial, institutional, religious, education, healthcare, mixed-use, retail, restaurant, and both single-family + multi-family residential developments. Projects have included renovations, additions, historic preservation and new construction.Keith has extensive experience in building code analysis (IBC, IRC, IEBC, IPMC, New Jersey Rehabilitation Subcode, and local building and life safety codes) and Tier I and Tier II Accessibility Surveys (ADA, ANSI 117.1 and local barrier-free codes). As a LEED Accredited Professional, Keith has prepared applications to the USGBC for LEED certification of sustainable commercial buildings. In addition to being a licensed architect in 15 states, he holds a certificate from NCARB, allowing reciprocal registration in most other US states.Outside of work, Keith enjoys kayaking, live music, rooting for the NY Mets, building Lego, going on family adventures with his wife and three children, and hiking with his dog, Biscuit.