Not all people go about making buildings the same way. Our approach is essentially open-ended, which means it's determined by the particular needs of each project. But here are some of the elements that are common to every project we work on.

Collaboration
Collaboration is essential to us. In our opinion, the buildings that work best are the buildings that work for everyone. So we use workshops and other techniques to generate lots of input from many people, and work closely with our client to digest that input. When a collaboration is really clicking, lines between architect and client start to blur and a partnership emerges that does better work than either one of us could do alone.

Detailed Schedules & Work Plans
Recognized as one of the best-managed architectural firms in the country, our 100-person office can pretty much meet any schedule. A key to meeting schedules and to maximizing collaboration is to develop a detailed work plan outlining the work, the extent of collaboration, the participants, milestones, key schedule dates and deliverables for each phase of the project. It's then regularly refined and published so everyone knows what's been done and what's happening next.

Measure Twice, Cut Once
Most schedule delays come from not enough planning and too much repetition of work. That's why we make extensive use of plans, models, renderings, and even 3D computer models to make sure everyone knows what they're getting and they get what they want. Spending extra time making the right decision is definitely the fastest way to work.

One Location, National Presence
We offer all the advantages of a full-service firm working together under one roof. This is a benefit no matter where the project takes place. At the same time, we've successfully collaborated on over 50 projects with architectural firms around the country. Sometimes we're the prime architects, sometimes we're a design consultant.

The key to success, in either case, is clearly defined roles and an intimate working relationship. We're quite comfortable with this level of collaboration because it's the essence of our approach to architecture in the first place.

Smart Programming
A building program influences what we build just as much as the design phase does. During programming, countless alternatives can be imagined and tested. This is why a smart, clear program is vital. It helps balance aspirations and budget, making sure everyone gets what they need, and as much of what they can afford as possible. Establishing a sound budget during programming and sticking to it is essential. More money is saved or spent during the programming phase of a project than during any of the later phases. Which is why we like to be involved in this phase on every project, if possible.

Strong Cost Controls
One of the ways we regularly come in on or under budget is by continuously monitoring costs. Detailed cost estimates are created at every phase of work, using estimating consultants who know the specific construction markets and building types. We've even committed a principal to work full-time ensuring all projects have high quality technical documents before they go out for bidding. This way, complex issues are resolved early on, which means fewer costly change orders during construction.

Buildings That Work
People are usually most interested in the parts of a building they can see, but the parts of a building you can't see are just as important when it comes to function and comfort. Our team is committed to making buildings that work. We use independent technical constructability reviews and create thorough, coordinated construction documents. And we have a dedicated principal who reviews the entire project for sound construction and documentation practices.