I'm currently debating a move from being a Project Manager at a small Construction Management firm to a role closer to the design world, particularly a design-build firm. I've worked for architects and designers and have a MArch, where I really fell in love with the tectonics of architecture. I think that's why working as a CM has gone well the past few years; I value the ability to learn how things come together and def don't want to lose touch with that, though I do miss being able to design/create/make and formalize architectural ideas, i don't want to lose that either!
Have any of you worked at a design-build firm or are familiar with their structure? What kind of roles do design build firms have? What are the responsibilities? I like project management but I'd love a role that incorporates real design work. Or are the two sides (designers/builders) mostly separate, so you would only work specifically on one side or the other, and they only come "together" to form legal entities to bid a job? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!
"Tectonics in architecture is defined as "the science or art of construction, both in relation to use and artistic design." It refers not just to the "activity of making the materially requisite construction that answers certain needs, but rather to the activity that raises this construction to an art form." "
(https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/...) Seems like a high falutin way to say that you like building stuff. Many of us do. I've always had one foot in both worlds, currently moving from design-only back to more design/build. It's not easy to do both, but some of us can't do just one or the other. What kinds of projects do you want to do? How hands-on do you want to be on either side? Just a manager? Do your own design but manage construction? Manage design by others but do hands-on construction? In the residential world you can set it up any way you want. The highest-value projects usually have specialists on both sides (design and construction) but many residential clients see the value in hiring a single entity to do both. There are also large design/build firms in the commercial world but that's not my game.
Feb 23, 18 12:01 pm ·
·
fabisco
i dont have significant work experience in an architects office, so i wouldn't want to just be drafting. CA sounds like a good fit but i'd want to be involved in the design process, but I guess that's everyone's struggle/desire in an architects office, right? I'm not quite interested in hands-on construction, at least not at the scale at which im currently working: 10-20 story boutique hotels, 200-500 rooms. I don't feel so comfortable making my own designs, so I'd look to manage someone else's design, but I'd like to get some more design experience for that reason exactly, possibly setting me up to be able to design-build myself in the future, at a smaller scale. Or perhaps being like a Project Architect at a DB firm, and being able to flip over between working on the design and also making important decisions about it's construction. thanks,
wood guy!
Most architects have an inate general interest in construction and how things go together. The roles of an architect and a general contractor are vastly different though...connected of course through the building process...but worlds apart otherwise.
Feb 25, 18 9:03 pm ·
·
fabisco
yea im starting to see that. back in Arch school, I could have never envisioned what my daily tasks and priorities would have been at a CM firm. I hardly even knew what a CM was or did. but I am still strongly drawn to being able to design and make important decisions about what and how a building will be and come together. that's something i definitely want to be doing, and was wondering if a design-build firm would be the best fit for that future, or a typical architects office. thanks ArchQuestion
Mar 1, 18 9:53 pm ·
·
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.
Roles at a Design-Build Firm
Hi all,
I'm currently debating a move from being a Project Manager at a small Construction Management firm to a role closer to the design world, particularly a design-build firm. I've worked for architects and designers and have a MArch, where I really fell in love with the tectonics of architecture. I think that's why working as a CM has gone well the past few years; I value the ability to learn how things come together and def don't want to lose touch with that, though I do miss being able to design/create/make and formalize architectural ideas, i don't want to lose that either!
Have any of you worked at a design-build firm or are familiar with their structure? What kind of roles do design build firms have? What are the responsibilities? I like project management but I'd love a role that incorporates real design work. Or are the two sides (designers/builders) mostly separate, so you would only work specifically on one side or the other, and they only come "together" to form legal entities to bid a job? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Wrong profession. Tectonics are large-scale geological processes affecting the structure of the earth's crust.
How about architectonics, stereotonic, gin and tonic? If my interests lie in gin and tonics, does that mean I'll make a great architecture employee?
"Tectonics in architecture is defined as "the science or art of construction, both in relation to use and artistic design." It refers not just to the "activity of making the materially requisite construction that answers certain needs, but rather to the activity that raises this construction to an art form." "
(https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/...) Seems like a high falutin way to say that you like building stuff. Many of us do. I've always had one foot in both worlds, currently moving from design-only back to more design/build. It's not easy to do both, but some of us can't do just one or the other. What kinds of projects do you want to do? How hands-on do you want to be on either side? Just a manager? Do your own design but manage construction? Manage design by others but do hands-on construction? In the residential world you can set it up any way you want. The highest-value projects usually have specialists on both sides (design and construction) but many residential clients see the value in hiring a single entity to do both. There are also large design/build firms in the commercial world but that's not my game.
i dont have significant work experience in an architects office, so i wouldn't want to just be drafting. CA sounds like a good fit but i'd want to be involved in the design process, but I guess that's everyone's struggle/desire in an architects office, right? I'm not quite interested in hands-on construction, at least not at the scale at which im currently working: 10-20 story boutique hotels, 200-500 rooms. I don't feel so comfortable making my own designs, so I'd look to manage someone else's design, but I'd like to get some more design experience for that reason exactly, possibly setting me up to be able to design-build myself in the future, at a smaller scale. Or perhaps being like a Project Architect at a DB firm, and being able to flip over between working on the design and also making important decisions about it's construction. thanks, wood guy!
Most architects have an inate general interest in construction and how things go together. The roles of an architect and a general contractor are vastly different though...connected of course through the building process...but worlds apart otherwise.
yea im starting to see that. back in Arch school, I could have never envisioned what my daily tasks and priorities would have been at a CM firm. I hardly even knew what a CM was or did. but I am still strongly drawn to being able to design and make important decisions about what and how a building will be and come together. that's something i definitely want to be doing, and was wondering if a design-build firm would be the best fit for that future, or a typical architects office. thanks ArchQuestion
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.