What does an integrated approach mean to us?

An integrated approach means fully merging all important parties for your project into one cohesive team from an early stage of the design and planning process. By establishing a team that’s on board early, we can ensure that everyone feels a part of a whole and will deliver their best work. 

Selecting the team early allows each member to plan to be able to be accountable to an overall schedule for the project, rather than being brought in at the last minute. For example, if a structural engineer is required, they often won’t need to be involved until the construction drawings are ready. If they are selected at that point, they won’t be able to quickly and efficiently move your project into their workflow. Instead, if they were selected early on and told to plan to begin their portion by “X” date and complete it by “Y” then they can build that out in their schedule and deliver on time.

Who do you need on your team? 

Architect/home designer

The architect or home designer is key to capturing your vision and pushing your boundaries to arrive at a design that’s uniquely yours and completely functional for your family. They are the ones that pull your ideas and theirs together to create a place that will resonate with you. For some projects you will need an architect, for some, you can pursue a less expensive option of a home designer.

Builder

The builder is the quarterback for your team on the field. They are the ones calling the plays and coordinating between all the stakeholders. They set the schedule, develop the budgets and execute the project. The earlier you involve your builder the better. While you’re working through the initial design process, your builder is the best resource for keeping your project on budget. You can have important conversations along the way “if we do that will we still be inside our budget?” The worst scenario is to have fully designed your project, only to realize in the end that significant revisions need to be made to maintain budget constraints. 

The relationship with your builder needs to be built on trust, if you don’t trust them enough to bring them into the fold early on, maybe you need a different option.

Interior Designer 

If you’re going to invest the amount required to complete your project you really need to consider putting an interior designer in the lineup. Completing a large renovation or new custom build is not inexpensive and you want to get the full value out of it. An interior designer can bring new ideas to the table and ensure a cohesive vernacular throughout. When you walk into your new home you want to say “Wow, I can’t believe we live here”.

Engineer

When an engineer’s work is completed properly you never know. They are a critical part of the team developing the design. You want to make sure they’re on-boarded early and engaged to be able to streamline the flow of the design phase, as well as be a sound board for ideas that could lead to cost savings through different construction practices.

HVAC Designer

People don’t really think about HVAC design until they’re staring at a bulkhead they don’t like the look of. To have your home function and be comfortable during all seasons and have the proper look, the HVAC designer should be engaged early. During the design phase the architect or home designer can make accommodations for supply and return air ducting that will present in a pleasing instead of intrusive way.

Civil Engineer

Water has to flow somewhere, that somewhere can’t be into your house or your neighbour’s house, that’s where a civil engineer comes in. They make sure your property functions as it should. 

Key Subtrades

If certain subtrades are part of the roster from the early stages they can provide insight into options for value engineering to get the most from your project. It also ensures they are fully integrated into the process to mitigate potential delays during construction. Problems can be solved before the construction starts, not during, and schedules can be amalgamated to ensure a smooth flow.

Why is an integrated process better?

First and foremost, an integrated process will save money over the lifecycle of a project. First, by having key team members on board early, you’re going to save time and money in the preconstruction process, having full alignment and integration removes friction or the need to play catch up later on; scopes are defined, deliverables are clear and ambiguity (which is expensive) is eliminated. 

Once the project is underway there is far less risk to the budget when the project was developed with an integrated approach. Because everyone was fully engaged from early on, there are no excuses, no “I didn’t know about that” that would add friction and cost. You also compress your project schedule to the greatest extent possible, which reduces the soft costs incurred.

You’re also going to save a lot of headaches and requirements for decisions to be made on the fly. By integrating the team at the start, you set yourself up for a smooth, efficient, well executed project.