Perfection in Partnership: A stunning kitchen brought to life through seamless collaboration between design and build.
By Glenn M. Travis
When a homeowner looks for a design/build firm for a rebuild or remodel, typically that means they want to hire one company that can bring together the design and construction phases of a project. They expect that this will give them better collaboration, communication, and coordination between the designers and the builders.
So if a general contractor doesn't have designers or architects on staff, are they just out of luck on design/build projects?
Happily the answer is a clear "nope!"
GCs have three basic ways to do design/build (and we'll say up front, we have a point of view on which one works best):
Hire individual freelancers for each contract: The GC can hire freelance designers on a project basis. This allows the GC to access design expertise, without having to take on permanent employees.
Subcontract to design and architecture firms: This approach also allows the GC to offer design/build services without hiring designers on a permanent basis, while taking advantage of additional support that an architectural design firm can offer.
Build partnerships: The GC can partner with a design firm to offer design/build services.
Every project is different, and there isn't one right answer for all jobs. However, we have experience working as the architectural designer in each of these three modes. Based on that experience, let us explain why partnerships are the model we strongly prefer.
The pros and cons of working with freelance home designers
Hiring a freelance designer can be an attractive option for GCs, especially for smaller or simpler projects. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of working with a freelance designer:
Advantages:
- Individuals obviously have less overhead compared with hiring a firm, so they may be the less expensive option
- In the right circumstances this contributor can make your project their only focus
- This can be a way to tap into really skilled individuals who aren't able to work for a firm full-time, because of caregiving responsibilities for example
Disadvantages:
- You have to vet the individual's qualifications, skills, knowledge of local requirements etc
- A freelancer may be stronger at one type of project or one aspect of design, so you have to build a pool of contributors to handle different jobs
- Freelancer has no project management support, except what you can provide them
- Freelancer has no communication support — and communication is the heart of design/build
- Typically only works for simpler projects, for all the preceding reasons
- If they are working on multiple projects, yours may not be top priority
The pros and cons of subcontracting to a home design firm
Hiring a company as a subcontractor is quite different from hiring an individual. Again, there are pros and cons to this approach.
Advantages:
- As the GC, you are clearly 'driving the bus', the company in charge of the total project, with final say on practical decisions.
- A firm has more shared resources and support than a single freelancer.
- Collectively, a firm often has more breadth of experience and architectural styles than a single contributor. This may lead to faster problem-solving.
Disadvantages:
- As the GC, you are clearly 'driving the bus'! Yes, this is both a strength and a weakness. Any design issues may be routed through you, the GC, taking up more of your time and energy.
- In a subcontracting role, a design firm may not feel the same degree of investment in the final overall outcome of the project. Every professional firm takes their work seriously, of course, but subcontractors tend to focus on their own defined area of responsibility — that's how the contracts and financial incentives work in a subcontractor relationship.
Use of architectural space planning and strategic use of light - this kitchen's impeccable design showcases how attention to detail can elevate the overall aesthetic and functionality of a space.
Partnership has the most important advantages for GCs
Design/build is hard to do if you're plugging in a different design team for every project. That's one thing that makes long-term partnerships with a strong architectural design firm so valuable.
- Both companies bring their experience to the table with equal investment in delivering a great final outcome.
- The GC becomes familiar with the design firm's range of styles and capabilities.
- The design firm knows what information the GC will need, and can be more proactive and collaborative.
- The GC doesn't have to continually vet new team members or fill in skills gaps — the design firm handles it.
- The GC and design firm learn how to communicate in the most effective and efficient way, for both teams' preferences and work styles. Since communication and close cooperation are essential for true design/build work, the importance of this point can't be overstated!
As we've noted, working with a strong architectural design firm may add some cost to the project compared with just hiring a lone freelancer. And again, it's also worth stating that design/build projects can take many different forms, and the level of collaboration between the design and construction teams can vary depending on the project's scope and complexity, and the specific needs of the client. Some design/build projects may involve a more hands-on approach from the design team, while others may focus more on the construction side.
Ultimately, the goal of a design/build project is to deliver a high-quality project that meets the client's needs and expectations. More often than not, we find partnerships are the best way to reach that goal.
About the author: GMT Home Designs founder Glenn M. Travis has lived and worked in New England all his life, with 30+ years' experience creating exceptional buildable home designs and working with General Contractor partners. Contact us for more information about working with GMT.
Design Build Partner for this project:
BB&R Design Build
Jane Barnes Interiors