Q2 2014 Flywheel

Summer ‘14: Learn how we integrate Architecture at RQ.

issue no. 22 | 14

Official newsletter of RQ Construction, LLC.

Flywheelthe

One of the ways of

describing RQ’s mission

of being the first choice

of all stakeholders is that

we strive to maximize

value. Why do I bring

us the concept of value

in this edition of the

Flywheel? Because we

are focused on design.

Did you know that design has the ability to create value?

Yes, design is a value creating activity. It is the activity

that we should take on with incredible seriousness and

respect.

It is because design is (or at least has the ability to be) a

value creating activity that RQ decided it had to be in the

design business. There is a great book called Blue Ocean

Strategy. Construction, by itself, is an activity that largely

lives in the red oceans, where it is full of the blood from

sharks feeding upon each other. However, design/build,

as an integrated activity, allows us to bask in the blue

oceans where no one else is swimming, and life is good.

At RQ we are responsible for projects. It is the reason

that we feel that design and construction go together

like a hand in a glove. Design, without attention to

cost and schedule, wanders into areas that the owner

cannot afford, and is full of negative iteration and waste.

Construction, without the ability to create value that

design does, starts looking like a commodity.

At RQ we have taken the lid off the box. For years that box

has constrained design and construction as independent

activities from being able to achieve the ultimate goal of

delivering projects of better quality, faster, and for less

money. The design department at RQ is incredible, not

just because they design creatively, but because they are

actively designing hand-in-hand with construction.

MESSAGE FROM GEORGE:

MESSAGE FROM GEORGE

INITIATIVES Architects and Mongoose65 2

Friends of MARSOC 3

PEOPLE Steve Noel 4-5

Stacy Strand 5-6

John Hoglen 6-7

Ashley Labarre 7-8

Sherri Haviken 8-9

FAMILY NEWS

IN THIS EDITION: Learn How We Integrate Architecture At RQ

1

The future of project delivery is in integrated teams driving

out waste in projects, as defined by the people paying

for the project. Our integrated teams of designers and

builders are achieving great things. If I was a competitor

of RQ, I would not be happy with what is happening at

RQ. That makes me happy!

George H. Rogers, III PRESIDENT & CEO

10

Exciting News > Project Award> RQ Construction, partnered with Bergelectric, is

pleased to announce that we have been awarded the

design and construction of the Repair and Relocation

of Airfield Lighting at Marine Corps Base Camp

Pendleton. The purpose of this project is to repair by

replacement the existing Airfield Lighting System and

construct a new lighting vault. The contract value is

$4,598,560 and will be completed in June of 2015.


ARCHITECTS AND MONGOOSE65INITIATIVES

ERIC TAYLORWe have an awesome design team here at RQ. Probably because they are so awesome we find ourselves in a position where we want to take further advantage of the awesomeness and therefore need to grow the team. Kathy has been working hard to find candidates that live up to our standards and has come across some common resistance that I want to address. Namely, there are still a lot of architects out there that are skeptical of “working for a general contractor” (as they put it). Their phraseology all by itself shows their cards. They believe RQ is a general contractor that design works for. They are wrong. Technically they are right, but everyone at RQ knows saying it that way isn’t really right. Build works for Design just as much as the other way around. We all work for each other because we are all RQ.

I understand why many outside architects think the way they do. I recently googled “general contractor stereotypes” to see what I could find. Stereotypes, after all, are stereotypes for a reason. There is an element of truth behind them, generally, most of the time. It’s most likely some of these “general contractor stereotypes” that affect how outside architects view the prospect of joining a company like RQ. In none of the stories or descriptions in the long list of google outputs did I read descriptors like “integrity” or “innovation” as stereotypes of general contractors. The stereotypes don’t even suggest a group of people with a passion or pride in their trade. One story I read seems to sum up the actual stereotypes you and I have both heard and watched and read about (and experienced). The author called himself Mongoose65. I don’t know what that means, but hear his story:

Just venting, but I did a recent remodel (almost finished). Every, and I mean every one of the contractors involved (many), from the GC, his many subs, to the painters and railing guy that I hired personally have at times a) done shoddy work, b) nickel and dimed me over their mistakes, c) not shown up as planned, d) not called as planned or did not call to explain not showing up, e) did not know what the other guy was doing i.e. “that’s not my job so I just left it unfinished...was I supposed to tell you? gee, sorry?

It amazes me that there is such a lack of professionalism. Don’t they realize they have the reputation of being crooks? Don’t they care. Aren’t they interested in referrals or repeat business? I am truly speechless at how this has gone and am numb.

Ouch. While this stereotype might act as a deterrent to outside architects considering RQ to be a great place to practice their highly technical craft, that stereotype is the reason I am in construction. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know our CEO and I are on the same page on this that we want to change a stereotypically negative industry. How awesome would that be? The bar isn’t very high if it means simply doing non-shoddy work, not nickel and diming clients, showing up as planned, or even just calling to say we weren’t going to be able to show up. A single phone call would raise the bar for Mongoose65.

I’ve written before that I work for RQ because of our mission to be the first choice of all stakeholders. That is true. And it is consistent with wanting to change a stereotypically negative industry. To be the first choice of Mongoose65 might mean just a phone call, but I doubt that would really do it. At the end of the day, Mongoose65 wants what we all want when we are the customer: we want a great price. We want great quality. We want great service and a great experience. We want convenience and confidence and consistency. Whether we’re buying a pair of shoes or a 60-story skyscraper, that’s what we all want. RQ wants to give that to our clients, and to our subs and sub-consultants, and to each other (those of us that work here).

I took a stab at this article and that first stab is in my waste basket. In it I tried to explain how RQ is not so much a general contractor as we are a design-builder. I went into detail about the history of design-bid-build up to the recent growing trend towards design-build, asking and answering the question why the division between the Design Team and Build Team caused by the old design-bid-build delivery method hasn’t advanced with the times to form more Design AND Build Teams. It is so obvious that having a GC and Architecture fully married up and living under the same roof is so advantageous to design-build delivery that it struck me I was writing about the wrong thing. Architects and everyone else out there associated with our line of work already know such a relationship in Kum-ba-ya-land would be advantageous, and they certainly don’t need a tutorial on the history of project delivery methods. Writing about knowledge was the wrong thing to write about. What keeps architects away from actively pursuing GCs to fully marry up on their own has everything to do with Mongoose65 and those stereotypes we have all experienced.

To those of us at RQ, let’s continue to raise the bar for Mongoose65 and work towards the fulfillment of our mission by going pro in our profession. Let’s work towards becoming the Michael Jordan of superintending; or the Jerry Rice of estimating; or the Michelle Akers of project accounting. Let’s become first choice by truly caring for people and each other and by executing our work smarter than anyone else with nothing but the utmost character. To those of you not in RQ (or at least not yet), do some homework. Test us and see if we live up to our values. Perhaps RQ will be the quake that sparks a tidal wave that changes the negative stereotypes of an industry. And perhaps you will either be a part of that quake yourself, or part of the tidal wave by heralding that RQ is a different kind of place. I’ll be keeping tabs on you, Mongoose65. Our desire for you and our stakeholders is to see ranting turn into raving!

For examples and testimonials of “how” RQ works to break stereotypes through the integration of Design AND Build, please just keep reading and hear from several of our own people. None of them started their careers at RQ. All of them have experienced the difference (and quite frankly are a part of making that difference).


FRIENDS OF MARSOC DAYINITIATIVES

Several RQers received the collective thank you given RQ from the MARSOC Foundation by attending MARSOC Day. The pictures tell the story of the kind of fun had. What the pictures also suggest is that RQ, as an integrated firm of designers and estimators and superintendents and officers and project managers... we have fun together. We work together and can play together. That’s awesome!

Jason Felton

Shooting Instruction

The Group Prepares for Shooting Aaron Espinoza

Tyler Labelle

Stacy Strand and Josh Osborne


... continued on page 5

that it wouldn’t come easy, but it would be worth it.

Everyone contributed to paving the way to implement the vision and shape what RQ Design looks like today. We had the convenience of design, cost estimating and superintendents (the guys who build the buildings) around the bid room table making decisions together. We made mutually agreed upon project decisions that everyone of the team played a part in defining.

The first year at RQ, it was just me helping secure a few project awards. Then I added design staff; 2 at first, then 4, then 6. At one point I believe we were doubling our staff size every few months. Imagine 6 people in a makeshift office about the size of Mitch’s office today. That is all we were for the first few years. We took calculated risks, we tried new things, we even stepped up one day, bought REVIT (3D modeling software), opened the box and said, “Ok, this is the project we will complete in 3D modeling.” It was a good idea, just not well planned. We learned a lot, which forced us to innovate at a higher level.

The vision for design was taking shape and RQ design was settling in. We sat together and shaped RQ’s mission and vision statements, formalized Design Quality Control (thank you Shawn Sharareh), prepared the first Goals and Controls and Department Plans. Learned how to capitalize on our strengths and build up our weaknesses. Most of all we taught our builders how to design and taught them the design process. Our builders responded by teaching me and my design team how to build and really who was the boss! They were.

As the co-founder of RQ Design (along with George and Mitch) I have seen great evolution in people, process and what both RQ and what the RQ Design department has become. We continuously grew, changed and innovated for the purposes swimming in the blue waters and ahead of our competition. I look forward to seeing what RQ will grow into in the next 10 years and beyond.

What surprised you about working for a design/build firm vs. a design house (arch. Firm)?

Nothing. What surprised me more was the traditional firms I worked for did not have the design/build mindset that I had.

How has working with the “evil” contractor, given you appreciation for the design/build process from soup to nuts (concept to completion)?

You know evil is just live spelled backwards. Seriously, the evil contractor is part of the business. You always are working for them. The appreciation I have comes from the people I get to work with and being on a team that represents the true “Masterbuilder” and is all inclusive. Imagine how much better Architects could be at their profession if they understood estimating and actual costs or subcontractor management, procurement, scheduling and job site safety. Ultimately, my appreciation comes from the opportunity to learn all those aspects of construction from great people at RQ.

PEOPLE

STEVE NOEL

In the beginning there was only darkness, then George Rogers said, “Let there be light” or “at least an Architect that understands design/build and who their client is” and there was Noel. Then George said, “This was good.” I am not proclaiming that George is divine, but many thanks to him for what RQ Design has evolved into today. Thanks George!

In the years leading up to the genesis of RQ design, the government was weary of Architects and Contractors disagreeing over what was being designed and what the contracts required. George recognized that the government needed a solution provider and was tired of contractors having to manage out-of-house designers that repeatedly designed outside of the RFP and were more concerned with what those designers deemed as “good design” versus fully recognizing the true contractor/client relationship and the design/build delivery system.

It all started at a lunch meeting back in 2005 – George, Mitch and I discussed business, culture and past experiences and realized we shared interests and common views. Views of what “should be” and “could be” for both design and construction and creating an in-house design department at RQ. We discussed Telka vs. Revit, structural vs. interiors, shop drawings as design submittals and streamlining design process and management.

All big ideas and a big vision back then, but long story short, I was challenged with establishing the in-house design department here at RQ. Simple right? Land a few contracts, hire a few people, manage traditional hard-nosed superintendents, make a profit and make it sustainable. Easy right? Not so fast….

Think of a time in your life when you walked into opposition. A little unsure, a little unwelcoming and perhaps a little bit of apprehension. Maybe it was when you paddled out into a group of locals at Upper Trestles, or the time you met “her dad” for the first time, or better yet the time you dared to show up at a Chargers game wearing your Raiders jersey.

Are you feeling a bit of what it was like for me as an Architect showing up at a General Contractor’s (RQ’s) office for the first day of work? It was that and more. Only kidding. Everyone at RQ was great from the beginning and oh what a beginning it was. We took collaboration to a new level. RQ was very different back then. It needed to be defined, shaped, refined and reshaped over and over. Everyone seemed to know we had something special and

DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE

Summer ‘14: Learn how we integrate Architecture at RQ. 5

What attracted you to design/build?

Back in the late 80’s, early 90’s (before design/build was even a trade name and when I had an full head of hair), I worked for a large east coast General Contractor in their “design department.” We had Civil and Architectural design in-house as we did a lot of land development and large build-to-suit and lease-lease-back development. We also owned all of the earthmoving equipment, owned the prime electrical and mechanical subs (and designers) and performed a good amount of subtrade work in-house (steel fabrication, doors/frames, hardware, walls and carpentry). This early career experience provided me with a deep understanding of a truly integrated team sharing full exposure, risk and opportunity to design and construct. No fancy titles, no egos, no lines in the sand. We were just a team of professionals with like minds for the fine balance of design and construction and what was possible when you worked together to deliver each project as a team.

Do you ever get tired of designing BEQ’s and Hangars? If not, why not?

Personally, I don’t get hung up on the word “design.” Each project is unique and represents challenges and opportunities that outweigh the aspect of what most people think “design” represents to an Architect. An Architect might say, “the detailing of those façade elements fit contextually with the monumental material that serves to anchor the overall theme and creates a terminus for the entire campus.”

Wow, too many words! If we unpack all of the supporting attributes in that statement and apply them to BEQ’s, Hangars, and Vehicle Maintenance Facilities we begin to understand that there are myriad interwoven decisions on each project. Those decisions all serve to formulate a statement like the one above are the reason why I don’t get tired of designing those types of buildings. Most importantly, I get to design facilities for the men and women who serve this great county to live, work, train and play. They give us their best, I want to give them RQ’s best.

Why did you get into architecture in the first place? What makes you stay in architecture?

I just kind of stumbled into it. I started out noodling in high school, won a few awards in local design competitions (art work, houses, etc) and thought this is pretty neat, but I would rather play music. Muddled around in various jobs, concrete, roofing/siding, framing and lugging boxes at the local truck dock. All the meanwhile, I taught myself drafting, AutoCad (v2.6 at the time) and finally decided to focus on a career in design, engineering or some sort of construction. From there I went through school, training, work, education, degrees, licenses and finally paid my Architectural dues. I probably would not have been so dedicated to architecture if it hadn’t been for my early influences and experience with construction and the “build-side” of the master builder concept. For whatever reason, I seemed to have an eye for design, and an ability to visualize all the pieces of the puzzle and articulate it in

a way that makes sense.

The diversity of the experience and the passion for design and construction. It’s not about the Architecture for me, it is about the orchestration from start to finish of each project, the people I get to meet and work with and the unique challenges each project offers.

Give us truths and fib and make us guess which one is the fib (people need to find you to learn the answers).

• Turned down an invitation to play guitar in a famous alternative band.

• Was Valedictorian in college.• Have been cage diving with Great White Sharks.

PEOPLE

STACY STRAND


I was surprised learning the sequence and timing of decisions that are involved to award the subcontractor work. In a typical design office I assumed the subcontracts are in place when the construction bid is awarded. I assumed all design decisions could be executed without considering all other parameters. Design build affords designers the opportunity to assess schedule, trade input, labor availability and manufacturers products. This input gives us a huge opportunity to offer the best value for the construction bid/budget.


When a process is perfected to ensure the best possible result it gives me satisfaction that I was a part of it. When a project is announced, the strategy requires input from the entire team to analyze all objectives. When the proposal is executed a quick thinking team is essential. As the documents are prepared attention to the essential details is paramount. And finally, during the construction, being flexible to alternate opportunities and providing unique solutions with the team is rewarding. It is not working with the contractor it is contributing to the process for success.


Early in my career I realized that every building requires a concept and ingenuity/know-how to execute construction. Only in the design/build arena could I be involved in both, drawing insight from the tradesperson and applying my knowledge of building codes to achieve

DESIGN PROJECT MANAGER

NOEL CONTINUED >


Summer ‘14: Learn how we integrate Architecture at RQ. 6

the program and needs of the occupant. Knowing we have the ability to provide a welcoming and pleasant environment in a holistic atmosphere is more pleasing to me (than a singular goal or objective).


Every project has its own DNA. There are very few buildings that are identical so how could it be boring? The journey is the project not the physical result. The journey is dependent on the cast of actors or probably better defined as characters. What makes every project unique is the characters you work with and the team input that steers the process to the physical result. You just can’t get tired of that especially when you have the opportunity to work alongside different ‘characters’ in the RQC culture!


If you think of a project as a Rubik’s cube, I wanted to solve the puzzle. It keeps me awake at night and drives my passion for solutions. I stay in Architecture because I strive to make my next puzzle solution better than the last.

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that you’d want to share with others.

I find building something very therapeutic. I have built room additions, furniture, and everything in-between.


• I lived in Greece. • I did the ironman in Hawaii.• I threw out my back stacking hay bales.


STRAND CONTINUED >

JOHN HOGLENPEOPLE

dream homes, amusement parks, and luxury yachts. In retrospect, I must have imagined an amazingly lucrative future. Architecture is a very diverse and broad profession that involves balanced capabilities in problem solving, technical knowledge, and artistic capability. You have to balance the way something looks, how the space feels, what the user needs, while also creating safe, nurturing, and inspiring environments. I think being able to tie all of those skills into a single project is a fascinating and unique challenge each time. Architecture is an incredibly challenging profession, but also incredibly rewarding, especially when you can see the users amazement at a new space created just for them.


I had worked with similar integrated project delivery models before that created more collaborative relationships between designers and builders, and it’s clear that when all the experts have a seat at the table, and each is given space to do what they do best, the process is smoother and our clients benefit. The designers and builders also learn more from each other as decisions are discussed and debated, so the collaboration is making us both better with each project.


I think I was most surprised by how similar the design department is to any outside design firm. I expected to have to learn a lot of processes unique to construction, and while there have been many learning opportunities, it has been very easy to jump right in and contribute as an architect and designer. Also - surprisingly - my table tennis skills have improved dramatically.

How has working with the “evil” contractor, given you appreciation for the design/build process from soup to nuts (concept to completion)? What does RQ do differently with d/b?

RQ must have chased most of the evil contractors out of the company before I started here, and even Aaron Espinoza is more mischievous than evil. Really the design build collaborative environment that we have developed here is truly something special, and I think it transcends the traditional rivalry. For example, in D/B we have the opportunity to work out specific products or details of how something will go together (sequencing) in the field. If we know from the PM or Super when a trade is coming in to the building and our detail can reflect that relationship, then you get a tighter coordination. The more thought you put into it up front, the better the end result.

Here at RQ, we can design with specific ideas in mind. Traditional design doesn’t get the opportunity to understand the process in the same way, because they usually don’t have the opportunity to design with sequencing, schedule, and specific material choices in mind. As soon as you’re given insight from the Ops side, you can draw it the right way with that purpose in mind. It’s like allowing both people (design and construction)

SR. DESIGN JOB CAPTAIN


Probably the typical curiosity boys have of what makes things work… I was always taking things apart, or trying to figure out what went on behind the walls. I think that evolved to coming up with my own drawings of


to row in the same direction and we both end up going much faster! This is accomplished each and every day while sitting down in meetings, talking over the phone, or walking down hall to ask a question. You can experience this coordination multiple times a week and the end result is excellent!


The building types that we come across in DOD construction really are more diverse and unique than most architects come across in their careers. Just in the last couple years I have worked on a school, a BEQ, two armories, an headquarters building, an indoor simulated marksmanship training facility, and several others. When you keep in mind the people you are designing these facilities for, it’s really an honor to be a small part of crafting safe, effective, and well-designed facilities for our nations’ true heroes and heroines.


I can boil minute rice in 48 seconds…


• Once upon a time I could swim 100 yards in 57 seconds.

• In my wilder youth I once collected 4 speeding tickets within a year and my insurance premium actually went down.

• I was kicked out of the second grade for defiantly breaking the teacher’s watch, a week later cooler heads prevailed and I was allowed back.

• While driving a campus bus during college, I earned the radio nickname “sleeping beauty” for repeatedly sleeping in and arriving late for an early morning route.

HOGLEN CONTINUED >


ASHLEY VILLORIAPEOPLE


It all started when I was 11 years old. I would draw floor plans during class at school, drawings of my dream homes (at least 11-yr old dream homes). One day a teacher caught me and said, “So you want to be an Architect?” And it just stuck. When I went to college, that’s what I knew I was going to do. And because I put in so much hard work to become an architect, that’s one of the main reasons I will stay in architecture! It’s just the right calling for me and makes

DESIGN JOB CAPTAIN

sense, since I thoroughly enjoy it. There’s not just one item that I enjoy about architecture. I enjoy it because it changes and you’re rarely doing the same thing every day. I love the phases a project can take - design for a while, then develop design, and then see it built. There are multiple aspects within architecture and it’s a great career for me.


Nothing attracted me to design/build when I was school or even right after school. I had no intention to ever be a part of the design/build approach. Ever. I was referred by someone at RQ, and let me tell you, nothing sounded good about design/build when I was first approached to join the RQ team. But then, my colleague and I talked further about the approach and slowly but surely, it sounded better and better. Plus, add to the fact that RQ had a good atmosphere and I enjoyed the people that I met. It certainly took some convincing for me to join RQ. Never in a million years would I have thought my architectural career would lead me to the D/B approach, but it has a been a great journey.


Asking me today, I can’t imagine going back to a traditional architecture firm. When I worked in just design firm, it was not collaborative. It was all about design process. You would find out what the designer wanted and what the user wanted, but you didn’t get feedback from construction side. And then during construction, there was always frustration because there was no communication beforehand. That’s when the finger pointing started and someone else had to be wrong for the issues that were being experienced. It was not enjoyable process. You’d go through all that work, have design you love, and then see it built a different way. It wasn’t quite as satisfying.

So not that I’m a part of a design/build firm, having the construction and design teams all-in-one make the process so much more satisfying. You can talk from the beginning of the project to alleviate that stress of miscommunication down the road.


Following up to what I said above, having everyone on the same team is huge. It’s interesting, too, because now my husband works for design firm who does out-sourced design/build work. But to see how things work here at RQ with daily integration between design and build works so much differently than working with outside design to accomplish the same goal. At my husband’s firm, they still deal with traditional design firm mentality vs. contractor mentality and it sure can cause some stress. So here at RQ, having everyone in house from get-go and being able to walk 10 ft to ask someone a question is so valuable. It doesn’t matter where in the process you are, start or close to the finish line, that direct line of


VILLORIA CONTINUED >


communication is awesome.


I personally don’t get tired of designing BEQ’s or Hangars or other DoD structures. For someone who wants to do design-type buildings, RQ isn’t for them. But for those who are interested in the design/build process, then RQ is a great place to be, nor matter what you’re building. In my 5 years with RQ, I’ve worked on child development center, elementary school, several BEQs, hotels, and so many more types of buildings. There are very few firms where you can get that type of building typology to work on in your career.

Anywhere you work on the design side will pigeonhole you at another firm. Even if I’ve done 3 BEQS in the same year, they’re all different; the process is all different. Doing the same building type over and over allows it to be easier, but the experience is still great. It’s not boring. It’s never really the same building. Even when I tell people what I do and they see that I do CMU buildings, I reiterate to them that the process is so different. I mean who gets to design top secret wings of buildings? You don’t get to do that at every firm.


I teach at a studio and perform trapeze, Chinese poles, hand balancing, and other aerial acrobatics as a side hobby.


• I was the only girl on our high school boys’ varsity wrestling team for 3 years.

• I am a certified airbrush makeup artist.• I’m only 5 foot 4.

SHERRI HAVIKEN


From a young age, I’ve loved spaces, volume and art. Also, with my Dad being a contractor, I grew up working in construction. I began working in the field for my Dad at 14, swinging a hammer. Given my background in construction and my love of art, use of space and volume, architecture seemed to be the logical combination for me. It was just natural and I never seriously considered doing anything else. I knew I eventually wanted to pursue large commercial work with my architecture career. Over the years I’ve worked on a

PEOPLE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE

wide variety of large commercial and residential projects from beginning to end. It was fascinating to experience how everything linked together – project conception and financing, programming and design, construction documentation, problem solving, construction – the expression from concept to the final building completed.

Now that I’ve been in the industry for more than 20 years, I still love architecture, especially the complexity and integration of design-build. There is never a limit to what we can learn or expose ourselves to. It’s just fascinating -- from design, to constructability reviews, and then to building something. There is so much teamwork and synergy that goes with it; it’s why I stay.


My first design-build project was a high rise tower with a design-build company. The design-build contractor used us, a separate architectural firm, to work with their construction team. It was an extremely rewarding experience – and with such team synergy! …I also saw how efficient the process can be when you team well between design and construction. We worked seamlessly together while obtaining a greater understanding of each other’s area of expertise. About 10 years later, I had the chance to work for this same integrated design-build company (with internal real estate, design and construction), but this time in-house on their team. I thought the experience would be similar to how I worked with them while in an outside architecture firm, but it was ten times better than what I expected once I got into it. The synergy, process, speed, efficiency, and fun with which we delivered projects was amazing. It was fun! And from that point, I’ve never looked back.


My desire to pursue large commercial work took me to a new integrated design-build company where we had real estate development, design, and construction all in-house. What struck me when I first joined the company was the level of respect and integration within the group. Not only did people understand their own areas of expertise, but they also had a greater understanding and respect for the expertise of others. That allowed for in-depth discussions, great design charrettes, quick pricing and financial evaluations, high quality project execution/construction, and more. All-in-all, the level of effectiveness meant it took a fraction of the time it would take to complete the same work in a traditional contractor/architecture relationship. With integrated design-build, you find best value by having all the key players at the table and no contractual lines (or competing goals) separating you from transparency or success. We shared our competitive advantage internally amongst disciplines/groups, which allowed us to have the same vision across the whole team, and ultimately, the whole company.

Now, having been a part of RQ for almost 5 years, I try to infuse that vision into everything I do on a daily basis in


HAVIKEN CONTINUED >my own work, and in leading the design department. But that all begins with breaking down any walls between disciplines/departments/field first, then developing transparency, a deeper understanding and mutual respect. Integration follows. Once the walls have are down, it allows real learning to occur.

The best way to promote this idea of integration is through increasing our department expertise through education and training. Education to know what the expectations are in design-build, understand what other departments do and how they contribute to the whole, and learn whatever you can from the construction/field teams. There is so much expertise that comes from the construction/subcontractor/field teams that we try to capitalize on that knowledge. We formally share lessons learned in our monthly design department meetings – it’s really great to see that the team is willing to openly share the “bumps” in the road so that we may all get better together…increasing transparency.

Here at RQ, our project sizes have steadily grown in their size and complexity. By taking the existing group of designers with smaller project experience and bringing in more seasoned architects, we’ve been able to tackle the large projects and form a wonderfully maturing, collaborative group. With that maturity, we’re able to provide a higher level of delivery to all stakeholders. Education should never stop, and to continue that trajectory, team members with a humble attitude foster respect and transparency through the entire design-build process. Reward comes from looking at the larger goal of the design-build process.

How has working with the “evil” contractor, given you appreciation for the design/build process from soup to nuts (concept to completion)? What does RQ do differently with d/b?

Because I’ve grown up in construction, I guess I’ve always had a great deal of respect for the “evil” contractor. There are so many overlapping trades that require scheduling, direction, attention, coordination and clarification – all “RIGHT NOW!”, that the orchestration of the build portion of the project is no easy feat. I’ve continued to grow in my appreciation for our field teams that construct what we design. We don’t just hand-off the documents when we’re done designing, but provide support to our field team members. As an integrated team, working together, we can accomplish complex, high quality projects that everyone benefits from.

On a day-to-day basis, I seek integration and growth no matter what I’m doing. I strive to learn what someone else is doing outside my discipline of design and that means learning more about the whole process of d/b. Practically speaking, this means learning more about RQ’s buyout process, scheduling, sequencing, bidding, estimating, scopes, teaming, what responsibilities the Construction Quality Control Manager has in the field, how to emphasize safety, how constructability review and lessons learned inform future projects, small

business requirements, and much more! RQ is very unique in the opportunity it gives to learn about all of these things - and this is encouraged at all levels so that it’s never boring. The more I know, the more I can set our department processes to be more effective. It takes meshing with everyone and understanding how to close the gaps I might have.

And for the future, one way I hope to continue growing our appreciation for our field teams is by bridging the relationship of design with the construction QCM and Superintendents on-site. The vision for further integration also involves understanding more effectively how Design PM’s and Construction PM’s work together to develop a single goal and then swim in their lanes side-by-side toward that singular goal. We also want to continue growing our “lessons learned” library. We are all going to make mistakes, but again, education helps us by not covering them up, but rather, exposing them, learning from mistakes, and applying them on the next project. As our understanding grows, we get better as an integrated d/b team.


Many of the projects we do at RQ are not “high” design projects (with some exceptions). Each project is so technically and functionally unique, that they are fascinating! We have the unique opportunity to develop these buildings while understanding how the spaces and systems function in the training and support of our Military. Also, the technical expertise required and the complexity of codes, regulations, requirements for DoD projects seems endless. Between that and the rigor of the government’s process, I never get bored! It keeps you on toes and forces you to peel away the onion to find still more layers that you may have never seen before. We’re always in different project phases and the government sector moves faster to get into the ground than other sectors from my past and that’s been very good for me. Since joining RQ, there’s not been one boring day with the projects we design and build!


I love power tools. In fact, for Christmas my husband gave me a compound miter saw. My Dad was a contractor, so I grew up with them and still have a love for them…and the smell of sawdust.

When I was 12, I used to chart commodities for my Dad, like pork bellies and grains. It was like tracking the stock market, but I did it by hand in those days.


• I was the first off the Cessna plane when skydiving.• I was first off the 1000 ft. high platform when zip-

lining.• I was first launched out of the raft while class IV white

water rafting.


FAMILY NEWS:

> Suzanne Parish’s son Russel and his wife Allie were married on May 10, 2014 in Florida. Congratulations to the new couple!

> Dominic Asa Hamman was born January 11, 2014 in Oceanside, CA to Debby Dragoo and Dan Hamman. He weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. and was 19 ¾ inches long. He is a pretty cute little guy!

Documents

Q2 2014 Flywheel