Behind the Blueprints: How Architects and Engineers Team Up for Renovation Success 

Take a moment to think about the many buildings you’ve been in recently. These places may include where you shop, eat out, work, go to school, send your kids to school, and meet with medical providers. The design of many of these spaces was often the vision of architects and engineers responding to the client’s needs and budget.

Optimizing the visions of these professionals requires technical compatibility, plus an active, collaborative approach to the project.

The Three Cs of how Architects and Engineers Work Together

Building projects are often supported by architects and a team of engineers, including conventional civil/site, structural, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) engineers, as well as engineering specialists in fire protection, refrigeration, technology, security, and cost estimating.

Achieving the vision for the building is more than confirming structural integrity, synchronizing the building’s systems, and meeting code requirements. The entirety of bringing the project to completion relies on the engineers and the architect performing the three Cs: collaboration, coordination, and communication.

Collaboration: Setting the Intent in Design Development

The ideal start to any project design includes engineers and architects working together in the early stages. Initial and recurring meetings with the stakeholders, the architect, and the engineers set the stage for a flow of ideas that will best suit the finished project. Everyone at the table has the client’s goals in mind.

The MEP systems are defined at this stage, and working with MEP engineering firms experienced in the application of a wide variety of building systems can greatly improve the process. A firm’s expertise should be in both the systems they design around and in their capability to leverage design technologies such as building information modeling (BIM).

BIM can be a valuable tool in modernizing an older building, which may require re-envisioning an outdated design to meet the building owner’s current objectives or to comply with current codes. Better understanding of the current conditions in a building lacking existing documentation can be accomplished by laser scanning and integration into BIM (scan-to-BIM). This integration allows the team to run simulations of potential upgrades and to compare the cost-benefit of multiple alternatives. The results are smarter, more energy- and water-efficient MEP systems that will bring the building up to current code and can simplify the operation and maintenance of the building.

Coordination: Executing the Design and Filling in the Details

Bringing a modern, energy-conscious, and sustainable design to life may mean a complete gut renovation of an existing building, or construction of an entirely new building. A significant amount of effort goes into handling the logistical aspects of the work and managing shared documentation.

There are myriad decisions relating to the MEP systems that need to be made throughout the project, from initially determining space requirements for MEP system equipment to coordinating lighting layouts that bring about an aesthetically pleasing and appropriately lit space. As the project design progresses, a more detailed coordination of MEP systems is required to complete bid set documentation.

Coordination involves engaging the building’s users and facility managers. While an architect typically leads this process, an experienced engineer can take the lead with facility maintenance personnel with whom they speak a common “MEP system language.” Here the engineer can play a valuable role in support of the architect by interfacing with the building’s users and operators and help stakeholders understand how decisions about the MEP systems will affect the outcome of the space or building. The engineer can also help building users understand how design decisions will affect human comfort and functionality.

Coordination doesn’t end with the final design drawings. It continues through construction as the contractors’ work takes place, and it includes developing a good rapport with the installing contractors. MEP engineers play an important role in this phase by remaining engaged and responsive as field conditions evolve during construction. An engineer’s ability to clarify design intent, address unforeseen conflicts, and support timely decision-making helps keep the project moving forward.

Communication: A Constant between Architects and Engineers

Keeping a project on schedule and on budget requires constant communication. The larger the project, the greater the communication needs.

The MEP engineer is an important team member in the project development process because s/he has a good understanding of the architect’s vision, brings a natural problem-solving ability to the team, and can play a central role in facilitating dialogue across disciplines. When engineers are involved throughout the process, they can work to resolve issues as they arise. Specifically, having an engineer on-site at a regular cadence throughout the construction phase can help the entire design team get in front of issues before they affect a project’s budget or schedule.

Communication and information exchange will take many forms during a project, and a strong MEP engineering partner can help clarify issues, enabling the design team to respond proactively to challenges as they arise and develop solutions that keep a project moving forward.

How can Erdman Anthony help you?

One example of how we teamed up with an architect for renovation success is the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex’s Forum Building project.

Erdman Anthony worked with architectural firm Murphy & Dittenhafer to deliver a successful project through many challenges. The project design took place from 2018 to 2019, and construction began in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. That presented a dynamic that nobody had previous experience navigating. Collaboration, coordination, and communication were more critical than ever.

The result of the team’s work is a purpose-designed space for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that transformed aged, disconnected, and unused office space into an open-space plan to serve the Department of Education.

Delivering on the overall vision of the commonwealth and the architect, the Forum Building is now poised for another 90 years of service. Not only are the users enjoying a state-of-the-art office space, but the commonwealth has recaptured the inherent value of an historic asset by realigning how it functions for the important work that occurs there.

Learn more about the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex’s Forum Building project here.

Doug A. Stouffer is based at Erdman Anthony’s Harrisburg, PA, office.

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