The LA Way Part 3: Develop with Precision
How we coordinate details and lead project teams to turn vision into reality
Step three of The LA Way is where our client’s vision is transformed into coordinated technical reality.
Developing with precision means refining concepts into detailed, buildable and compliant information through close collaboration with consultant and contractor teams. Having gathered accurate project information in step one of The LA Way and conceived a bold design in step two, we now collate and coordinate all relevant design information and other data to ensure that every drawing is consistent and every detail aligns.
This stage is where communication, coordination and technical excellence become critical.
Building the best team
As lead designer, LA London coordinates the work of every consultant on a project, from structural and services engineers to interior designers and specialist suppliers. We frequently act as project manager too, overseeing communication and collaboration across the whole team.
The success of any project depends on the people involved, and over several decades, we have built a trusted network of consultants, contractors and craftspeople. We are confident in recommending specialists to our clients to suit the requirements of each project. For exceptional features, such as the stone staircase at Camp End Manor (and other projects since) or a recent bespoke kitchen that featured intricate featherwork, we have established relationships with some of the world's finest artisans.
The Benefits of BIM
At LA London we have long used BIM (Building Information Modelling) software from ArchiCAD to develop our designs. From the point cloud model generated by LA Surveys in step two of the LA Way, we build an accurate and reliable existing BIM model, which we can share with or clients and collaborators.
BIM is invaluable at numerous stages of a project, from simple in-house project modelling to full design team collaborative BIM integration. It improves productivity and efficiency by reducing rework and minimises conflicts and changes during construction. Measurable models also allow us to analyse costs and energy consumption with a greater degree of certainty.
The information stored in BIM can be exchanged between stakeholders during the design and construction phases of the project as well as for the lifecycle of the building.
Seamless systems
We manage every project through our own fully customised system, built on the productivity platform Notion. Central to this system is a live Design Status Schedule, which is shared with the whole project team. This tracks every open task, along with who is responsible and when it is due. It acts as a single source of truth and a means of tracking design team progress, alongside face-to-face meetings.
Our system also encourages efficiency by holding team members accountable for their own tasks. Each team member can see how their work affects others, which incentivises all those working on a project to adopt a proactive approach and raise any issues at an early stage so that they can be resolved before they affect the programme or budget.
Meticulous record-keeping
Precision also depends on consistency, which is why we have invested heavily in our own Standard Details Library. Developed and maintained by Megan Burrows, LA Associate and Chartered Technologist, the library streamlines and standardises typical Stage 4 technical details that we produce across all our projects.
It includes an array of wall, floor, and ceiling build-ups, as well as windows, doors, shower tray and roof details to name just a few.
Megan keeps every detail up to date with the latest standards, regulations and manufacturer specifications, regularly reviews them and is always on hand to advise the team on specific technical details and queries.
Planning for the unpredictable
Even the best-planned projects encounter unforeseen challenges. At the start of each project, we bring the whole team together for a risk workshop. We brainstorm every foreseeable risk, from site conditions and planning to legal and health and safety matters, and record them in a Project Risks Schedule, again shared on Notion. Together, we agree strategies to mitigate or eliminate each one, then routinely review the register to track new and evolving risks.
“LA London’s leadership, clear communication and collaborative approach have been instrumental in driving both the design and construction teams.”
At the end of every project, we hold a 'lessons learned' debriefing session with the wider team, discussing what went well and how we can work together even more effectively next time. These informal debriefs allow us to refine and improve the way we approach future projects.
Expertise and Care
Developing with precision means that by the time construction begins, every detail has been considered and coordinated with the greatest expertise and care to give each project the firmest possible footing. This allows us to proceed with confidence to the final step of The LA Way, Deliver with Control.
