Bigger more complex projects call for, and indeed benefit from, pairing of the distinct roles of architect and contractor—establishing a true design-build partnership.  A hybrid model can be very effective as long as the team is truly integrated. Success in both the design and construction of any building hinges on finding the right combination of these two expertise worlds.

In the case of Bridge – 205 Race, when the project was bid in the traditional way, cost exceeded the budget. As architects, we were invested in preserving the design features of the project—its façade, its materiality, its detailing—but as architects who build, we had the tools and knowledge to keep quality while bringing the numbers down.

We took on the responsibility of bidding and selecting the trades, amending the construction documents whenever required. We also did onsite supervision, answering all the questions posed by subcontractors in a more accurate, direct and timely manner. On their part, the General Contractor site team provided logistics, operation, site management, bonding and labor relationships.  In this way, everyone’s strength was used to its fullest, maximizing the capacities of all the team members, ultimately saving an otherwise unfeasible project.