Case study — project 02
A focused project built around practical decisions and constraints.
The office needed a way to manage the influx of facade and steel-frame requests that arrive every spring. Previously, each inquiry was tracked in a shared spreadsheet, and the handoff between the design team and the fabrication coordinator depended on email threads. That worked for a handful of projects, but once the volume crossed a certain point, details started slipping between the cracks.
The goal was straightforward: build a workflow that could handle the seasonal spike without adding overhead. We wanted to keep the existing tools where they made sense, but introduce a clear sequence for how a request moves from first contact to a documented structural concept.
Instead of building a custom system from scratch, we mapped the existing process and identified the bottlenecks. The main change was introducing a shared project template that both the design and fabrication teams could use. It standardises the initial brief, the profile calculations, and the connection details, so nothing gets lost when a project moves between stages.
We also set up a simple status system: inquiry, concept, detailing, and handoff. Each stage has a clear owner and a checklist. This gives everyone a shared view of where a project stands, without requiring daily status meetings.
The workflow is now in place for the current season. The most noticeable difference is that fewer projects stall between the initial inquiry and the first structural sketch. Because the handoff form captures the key parameters early, the design team can start working without chasing missing information.
It's not a dramatic overhaul, but it removed the friction that was causing delays. The team has a clearer sense of what's coming next, and the fabrication coordinator gets the details they need earlier in the process.
Handoff form
Standardised brief for transferring a project from inquiry to design.
Status checklist
Stage-by-stage list of what needs to be completed before moving on.
Section template
Fixed layout for capturing connection details and profile specs.
Project workflow — 5 stages
A focused project built around practical decisions and constraints. The sequence below maps how a request moves from first sketch to site-ready documentation, with the tradeoffs we weigh at each step.
We start with the building program, plot dimensions, and local zoning limits. For this project, the main constraint was a narrow urban plot with a protected tree line on the north side.
Using a parametric model, we tested three column grids against the facade module. The chosen layout reduces steel tonnage by 12% while keeping the cantilevered canopy within deflection limits.
We detailed all moment connections with preloaded bolts and shim plates to accommodate on-site adjustments. The workshop drawings include torque specs and a tightening sequence for each joint.
For the ventilated facade, we inserted thermal breaks at every bracket. The section drawings show the exact cavity depth and the vapour barrier continuity around the steel uprights.
After erection, we documented the actual bolt patterns and measured the frame alignment. The final report includes a deflection check under dead load and a photographic log of every connection.
The client receives a full package: structural calculations, shop drawings, and a maintenance schedule for the steel finish. We also include a checklist for annual facade inspections.
Every project follows this sequence, but the time at each stage varies. For this workflow, the parametric sketch took longer than usual because of the irregular plot geometry. The tradeoff was a simpler bolting schedule during erection.