The architects of a Brighton Beach condo complex that collapsed — killing a worker — have a troubled history of flouting regulations, the Daily News has learned.
Douglas Pulaski and Henry Radusky were forced to surrender some privileges in the past because of problems with projects, city records show.
“They have been known by the Buildings Department for many years to operate on the fringe,” Assemblyman James Brennan (D-Park Slope) said Wednesday.
He said that in 2005 he demanded the Buildings Department review all projects submitted by their firm, Bricolage Architecture and Design.
And he said the agency should have had them in its “line of sight” before the five-story development on Brighton Fifth St. crumpled Tuesday as concrete was poured.
Officials said concrete is normally spread from the bottom floors up — but the contractor started with the third floor and was working down.
Jerry Gargano, who delivered 67 cubic yards of concrete to the site Tuesday, said the contractor may have been trying to save time.
When concrete is poured top down, the line pump needs to be primed with lubricant once. Working bottom up, pipes must be primed for each floor.
“If you’re starting from the bottom, it takes longer to set up,” Gargano said.
When the building collapsed, five workers were injured, and one of three men pulled out of the rubble later died. He was identified as Ivan Lendel, 54.
It’s unclear if Bricolage was on site when the concrete was laid, but a former Buildings Department official said architects or an engineer should have been there.
“Professionals would never have allowed pouring concrete in this way,” the ex-official said. “In fact, skilled union workers would not do it. Not ever.”
In 2009, Pulaski surrendered his self-certification — his right to certify that design and construction comply with codes, records show. Radusky, surrendered his self-certification privileges in 2002 for a year after inspectors found problems on 55 jobs.
It wasn’t clear if the duo had regained those privileges. Bricolage did not return a call, and the Buildings Department did not respond to questions about the architects.
The city issued nine violations to SP&K Construction after the collapse, but more are expected as the probe unfolds. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating.