Written by: Business Technology Partners
For interior designers, construction companies, contractors, and many other vendor firms, developing strong relationships with architects is going to be essential to the project’s success. As an IT design firm, BTP has a longstanding record of success with some of the best architectural firms in the business. Here’s what we’ve learned from our experience about how to maximize productivity for you, your architectural firm partners , and the design team as a whole.
1. Be responsive and flexible.
Things don’t always go smoothly every time. Show your architectural partners that you’re willing to do what it takes to make them look good in the eyes of their client by meeting deadlines and responding quickly when the unexpected happens. Doing so will ensure timely completion of not only your and their part but also the project as a whole.
2. Put forth maximum credibility.
There’s nothing worse than when the client feels they need to take control of the project due to lack of confidence in the design team. So that the architect’s design packages can get approved easily by the client, make extra effort to show you are knowledgeable and that your solution leverages a deep level of expertise.
3. Be agreeable.
It makes life difficult for the architect when their partners suggest something that makes them go in a different direction, contradicting them or leading the project astray. Architects want their vendor partners to support their lead, while not changing the vision. A great way to ensure that you are in total collaboration with the architect is to invite the architect to be onsite during construction. Not only does show support for their plans, it may also help detect anything running astray.
4. Don’t make assumptions.
Be a clear communicator. Mistakes are easily avoided by taking the extra time to clarify any underlying details and make sure you check on any possible ambiguities. Architecture is as much an art as a science, and the wrong assumption can throw the whole project off kilter.
For example, be sure to take a good look at the preliminary round of sketches that the architect draws up and ask any clarifying questions early on. Nipping problems in the bud now is going to be way more efficient than having to address these challenges at a later point once the architect has drawn up the final, concrete plans. Their plans can often be hard to interpret to the untrained eye, so don’t be shy about asking questions.