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Load Sharing & Latching onto Additional Expertise
Dave: We were contacted by an old client, who’s responsible for letting contracts to architects for large corporation. She asked for our help to prepare construction documents for a small clubhouse building for a tennis club she belongs to. We were swamped with other work and this is not our area of practice. Only we didn’t want to pass this up given the potential for other work for client’s employer. We contacted Triglyph Associate, Earth & Sky Architecture for assistance.
Paul: I got a call from Mike asking if I was available to help. I had a slot available so we discussed the parameters and I emailed out a quick proposal.
Mike: We reviewed Paul’s proposal and it fit with the parameters we discussed. I emailed him the background drawings and snail mailed a copy of some idea sketches from the client.
Paul: I wrapped up some loose ends on some other jobs so I was prepared to focus on the new project and set up the ArchiCAD template for the job. When the sketches arrived in the mail I hit the ground running.
Mike: Paul emailed me PDF drawings of the proposed design, including some preliminary 3D views. I printed those up to meet with the client for feedback.
Paul: Mike and I discussed the client’s comments on the phone and I immediately adjusted the design as needed. When the client was satisfied, I moved directly into the bidding & permit documents.
Dave: We limited our role to code review, addressing local submittal issues, checking design development and construction documents, client interface and construction administration. Project went to bid sooner then it could have been done by Interwork in-house staff. Plus we got the work into the hands of architects more familiar with the issues associated with this sort of building.
| Interwork Architects, Inc., Northbrook, IL |
Earth and Sky Architecture, LLC, Denver, CO |
Paul: I was on vacation, but I stay in touch with my office through web and voice mail. Kimon had emailed me asking for a proposal to provide a LEED rating on a project he was pursuing with the U.S. government client. I emailed him with some questions about the job and let him know I was not sitting at my usual post.
Kimon: I emailed Paul a number of web links relating to the RFP along with some direct answers to his questions.
Paul: I was able to stop at the local library to remotely check my email and print out Kimon’s response. I worked out a proposal and emailed that response to his satisfaction. He was able to complete the RFP with a LEED Certified Professional on the team.
| Onuma Architects, South Pasadena, CA |
Earth and Sky Architecture, LLC, Denver, CO |
Paul: Finith called one afternoon to ask if I could work on a restaurant project in Boulder, CO. Since Boulder is only 30 miles away, I could readily help so he forwarded my name and contact information to the owner who lives in Salisbury, MD. He also put me in touch with the client’s marketing guy who had been already brainstorming on concepts.
Finith (Design Atlantic): This project was too far away for me, so I basically arranged for Paul and the client to meet and come to terms.
Paul: The client had two sons in Boulder attending the University; the goal was to locate a site to lease and design a tenant finish for a “designer donut” franchise prototype. I visited several locations that the client’s local realtor had spotted to perform the due diligence. After some months, we located a good location at a fair price and began the design process. The owner had assembled a team that included the realtor, a lawyer, a local contractor who knew the inside of the Boulder building & health departments, a Washington DC kitchen equipment specialist.
Client: I wanted to have “ringers” in each area to deal with the regulatory hurdles of working in Boulder which is notorious for delays.
Paul: The challenge was to keep all of the players in the various locations (Denver, Boulder, Salisbury, Washington DC) informed as work on the job progressed. Emailed photos, conference calls and faxed drawings kept everybody focused on their tasks with a minimum of driving time.
Client: Boulder gave us a reality check at every turn. We uncovered problems with the site that neither the lawyer nor the building owner had uncovered during the study phase. Despite having to file a minor site revision with Boulder, developing a new landscape plan (the style of the existing healthy landscape had simply fallen from favor), removing (2) underground fuel tanks (we discovered that the building used to be a gas station 20 years ago) and troubles with the local utilities and parking on a tight urban site our donut shop is open and serving to the public.
Paul: This is a story of how, despite everybody doing their homework, a project can sometimes veer into unexpected territory. Even with the rather extraordinary city issues, the process of working with a far flung building team went well. I think it proves that the right team can cope with any circumstance that comes along.
| Design Atlantic, Salisbury, MD |
Earth and Sky Architecture, LLC, Denver, CO |
Paul: I had a number of projects hit all at the same time and needed some help getting a set of drawings for a house prepared for bidding. I gave Kevin a call to see if he had anybody free to help.
Kevin: Paul and I discussed the deadline and scope of work. One of my employees was between projects, so we came to an agreement and Paul emailed her the ArchiCAD model.
Paul: Michele at Connolly Associates had been dabbling with GDL (a programming language in ArchiCAD) and had developed some nifty electrical symbols. These symbols automatically provided a switch plate on interior elevations at the same time that the 2D electrical symbol was located on the plan. Not only did I get my drawings out to bid on time, I now have some custom building parts that I continue to use on new projects.
| Connolly Architects, Milwaukee, WI |
Earth and Sky Architecture, LLC, Denver, CO |
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