B+A Core

Strong communication between builders and architects is the foundation upon which successful projects and long-lasting partnerships are built. "T H E CL I CH É I S t h at t he rel a- t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a r c h i t e c t s a nd bui lders is not good," says S t u a r t G a i n e s , G e n e r a l C o n t r a c t o r, C er t i f ied Gre en P rofe s sion a l w it h t he National Association of Home Builders and Owner/Operator of New Blue Construction, ba sed in Chat ta nooga , Ten nessee. " But competent collaboration is critica l if you wa nt you r projec t t o be a succes s , a nd establishing a sense of teamwork from the very beginning is absolutely essential." Collaboration poses certain challenges, however — builders may ignore details in architectura l plans or, instead of raising questions, move ahead with a quick fi x in lieu of communicating a problem to the architect. Conversely, architects may design spaces that, for various reasons, cannot be constructed as planned. Budgets are also common sources of confl ict, as architects may not consider the cost of transforming a blueprint into a structure and unwittingly shift a disproportionate share of the burden of cost management to builders. With open lines of communication, such problem s ca n be proa ct ively a dd ressed s o pr oj e c t s c ont i nu e on s c h e du le a n d on budget. "By reviewing drawings together and hav- ing conversations to defi ne the scope of the work, we can create a very productive and supportive team environment," says Josh C. Cooper, AIA, Principa l Architect with JCC Design Studio. "Success is a ll about relationships and attitudes on both sides." Attitude Adjustment The most e¥ ective builder-architect part- nerships are centered on mutual respect, with each party bringing valuable perspec- tive to a project. Identifying qualities you wa nt in a constr uction pa r tnership a nd selecting the right partner can lead to long- term success. "The best builders are the ones who take t he job ser iously a nd tr y to understa nd the bigger picture," says Cooper. "When a builder looks critically at the drawing, pays attention to the overall design and calls me to point out potential problems, that's the mark of a true professional." "A rch itect s who a l low bu i lders to be creat ive a re ref re s h i n g ," G a i ne s a dd s . "Someti mes, bui lders ma ke out-of-t he- box suggestions, and an architect who is receptive to that ca n be … productive to a project." ■ The Remodel Factor COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BUILDERS and architects is especially critical during remodeling projects, when the design is predicated upon an existing structure. In contrast to new construction, for which architects conceive and design the structure, builders must take a more proactive role. "When working on a remodel, the builder should be in the driver's seat, weighing in on what's feasible in terms of keeping things up to code," says Stuart Gaines, General Contractor, Certifi ed Green Professional with the National Association of Home Builders and Owner/Operator of New Blue Construction. "Early cooperation will defi ne the direction of the project." But neither professional should shoulder all the responsibility. When unexpected challenges arise, careful communication between builders and architects is essential. "Problems can jump up that you never could have foreseen," says Josh C. Cooper, AIA, Principal Architect with JCC Design Studio. "It's important to be able to address the situation and work through it as a team." A Critical Connection By Katy Mena-Berkley BUILDERARCHITECT.COM Builder+Architect |

• Cover