Leo Marmol, Marmol Radziner + Associates

Define design-build in terms of what it means to your practice.

Being a design-build firm is at the core of what we do. We are architects first and foremost, and we see construction as the work that supports our designs. When Ron and I started the firm, we wanted to bring the rigor that we used in designing a project and apply it to the construction process. We saw models throughout history where the idea of the master builder allowed for this type of holistic approach to creating places. In our practice, we view creating a project as one architectural process that accepts the burden, responsibilities, and challenges of actually constructing the ideas that we imagine in our designs.

Which shop work do you do yourselves and which is contracted out?

While we wish that we could perform all of the trades involved in construction ourselves, so far we have taken on between one-quarter and one-third of the work in the projects we build. We do this so that we can focus on the aspects of building that have the most rigorous detailing demands. That means we frequently work on custom casework, finished carpentry, metal doors and windows, specialized metal details, structural steel, and sheet-metal flashing. Our metal and cabinet shops create all types of customized pieces, ranging from outdoor teak tables to steel sash windows.

How does design-build benefit the client, and how does it benefit the designer?

Our belief in the benefits of design-build has only strengthened with each project. We are able to design buildings that are very suitable for construction, and at the same time, we understand how construction demands can strengthen our designs. By keeping both aspects under one roof, design-build gives us greater control of all aspects of a project. We are able to work in highly controlled and customized environments that make most builders run the other way. When we do it all in-house, the buck ultimately stops here, and the end result is always better for the rigor that it demands.