Wright & Dalbin Architects, Inc.

Methods

Integrated Project Delivery

Coordinated effort is the quickest and best solution to design problems. It takes a lot of specialized skill sets to erect a building. Civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers, landscape designers, general contractor, and a passel of subs. Wright & Dalbin synthesizes the various disciplines, acting as a coordinator, conductor, a conduit for information and occasionally a referee.

Integrated Project Delivery is a Best Practice endorsed by the American Institute of Architects. Integrated Project Delivery breaks down the silos that segregate the architects from the engineers, and the planners from the builders. Instead of tackling the project with discrete solitary efforts, Integrated Project Delivery bridges and unites the various required disciplines, making a team instead from a group of individual players.

Building Information Modeling

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a technology for creating a "virtual building" from plans for an actual building. At its simplest, BIM allows for a computer tour of the project before it's built. At its most sophisticated, BIM allows for building life cycle analysis, addressing issues such as Cost Management and Project Management. BIM is also a technology for streamlining decision making through integrating the design team's various schematics in a three dimensional computer model, thereby eliminating or reducing conflicts before they are realized during the actual construction process.

Design Charrettes

Generally, architectural projects are complex systems.  To decide which architectural solution best meets the client's needs, Wright & Dalbin often convenes a Design Charrette.  These charrettes bring together all the parties involved -- the owner, the project's users, the engineers, and anyone else who might have useful input -- to discuss the project's needs and priorities.  Whether the client needs a doctor's office or a master-planned community, a design charrette is a useful tool for achieving the optimal project.

Quality Control / Quality Assurance

On every project, individuals of our firm, not associated with its design, review the documents to be submitted at the milestones. A spirit of robust yet friendly competition in the office assures that any design shortcoming will be promptly addressed. Beyond assuring a high level of quality, internal review offers the added advantage of intellectual redundancy, preparing additional staff members should unfortunate circumstances remove a primary team member.

News

CDBG Week

As part of HUD Community Development Week, the City of El Paso Community and Human Development with TVP Non Profit had a ribbon cutting ceremony April 7th 2010 for 6 homes on Fillmore Ave. These units are part of Lower Dyer Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy program.

LEED vs. Green Globes

Green building certification programs are third party independent verification systems to assure that buildings meet stringent standards for sustainability and the environment. These standards guarantee that buildings represent little embodied energy expenses, and will consume less energy over their life span. Because green buildings are built with better envelopes, that is, the structural elements that keep the inside in and the outside out, green building certification programs also usually include provisions for indoor air quality.