From the Classroom to the Construction Site

I have loved construction since I was a kid (see Roots post “Would You Let This Little Guy ‘Fix’ Your Toaster?” dated March 10, 2023 and Ruminations post “Born to Build” dated March 27, 2024).  That love has made me a lifelong “student” of buildings.  I still like to look at them and think about what they’re made of and how they’re constructed.  My architectural education taught me the fundamental theories and general techniques used to design and build structures.  But it was in my professional career that I learned how these designs were brought from concept drawings to the built environment through the efforts of the construction “trades”.  I have learned so much from all of the people who put in the sweat and blood required to bring a building out of the ground and into use.  I am thankful for every one of them who has patiently answered my questions, shown me a unique technique that they have developed, given me the gift of their hard earned knowledge and worked with me to bring my own designs to life.

I spent most of my career working in offices that had mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers on staff.  I wanted to learn as much as possible from these engineering co-workers.  I wanted to understand more about how all the systems required to make a building function were designed and integrated with each other.  I wanted to know more about these systems so I could ensure that the spaces in buildings were workable and comfortable for the people who used them.  Many people have accused me of having more of an engineering mindset than an architectural one.  I think they are referring to my interests in a building as a complex puzzle rather than the more mainstream architectural focus on its design and aesthetic.

As I learned more and more from these co-workers, and my career progressed, I took on more project management responsibilities with many of my contracts.  This led to more time spent in the field monitoring construction and running project progress meetings at the job site.  I worked closely with the Owner of the projects (my client), and the General Contractors working on the jobs, to assure that the project was moving along smoothly, was on schedule, and within budget.  I prided myself in the quality of the services I provided to the Owner, but also the extent to which my interactions with the General Contractors (and all of their respective Sub-Contractors) was a respectful, professional, collaborative one.  It was proven time and time again that my interest in understanding the building process, respect for the roles that everyone had to play in the process and my ability to broker mutually beneficial solutions to inevitable problems was key to the successful completion of my projects.

During my time in the field, I always appreciated the complex coordination of materials, manpower and sequencing that the General Contractors were required to manage.  As part of my construction monitoring role, I was able to observe and learn from all the various trades:  earthwork subcontractors moving dirt around for foundations, roadways, and parking lots; concrete and masonry subcontractors laying slabs and building masonry walls;  plumbers running their pipes for water and sewer; electricians running all their cables and connecting their panels; the HVAC contractor routing their ductwork to minimize conflict with other trades; finish sub-contractors framing their walls, drywalling, laying tile, painting and installing cabinetry.  And throughout the project, all of these people had to work around and with each other in timing sequences sometimes affected by weather, material availability or manpower scheduling.  I was always trying to understand how and why they did certain things.  I asked questions and observed their skills and made mental notes for myself.  I tried to use all that I had learned to make myself a better team player on the next project, and the next, and the next.

I have been able to take all these experiences and things I have learned and apply them to our projects at Runaway Ridge.  Starting with the building designs and details from my architectural education and career to the material acquisition and construction sequencing learned from the General Contractors to how things get built and put together learned from all the various trades people, all have been put into practice as we have approached every project (big and small) on The Ridge.