The Right Approach to Fast Design: A Closer Look at RPM’s Manufacturing-Led-Design-Process®
Salinas Navigation Center project
The traditional architectural approach to fast design is broken. When it comes to building quickly, it’s clear that one construction methodology stands out above the rest: RPM Team’s manufacturing-led-design-process®. By partnering with manufacturers from the start, we can expedite projects with our knowledge of pre-engineered and prefabricated building products.
RPM Team Project Planning
Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center Project
The Traditional Approach
Traditional EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) firms approach modular projects by creating their architectural design first. Once the draft is ready, they take it to a manufacturer. After reviewing a design, manufacturers will tell architects what they have to change before proceeding with fabrication. Building with prefabricated structures has many benefits, but there is little flexibility regarding manufacturer constraints. With modular structures, there are limitations to where you can place doors, what height and width doors can be, where you can place structural diaphragms or sheer walls, where you can anchor walls, beams, and columns, how tall finished floor elevations can be depending on plumbing, etc. As a result, architects must return to the drawing board and revise their site and floor plans to work within the manufacturer’s limitations, which is time-consuming. Savvy architects will try to avoid these delays by learning the manufacturer’s rules in advance. However, manufacturing processes are complex, so traditional architects cannot instantly digest the nuanced specifications. The time it takes to educate and digest delays the project, and despite best efforts, architects usually still need to revise their designs. While traditional methodology works for many types of construction, it is inherently flawed when it comes to fast building.
Golden Gate Bridge
How RPM is Different
At RPM, we let the manufacturer lead our proprietary design process. Our team collaborates with manufacturers to help develop their engineering, so we possess in-depth knowledge about modular limitations. As a result, when we take on projects where we operate as the architect and program rep, we’re able to create plans that satisfy manufacturer requirements on the first attempt. We start from the outside and go in, first assessing the site’s size and identifying the property boundaries and setbacks. Once we determine how much space we can occupy on the site and whether the area is square or rectangular, we’ll know where the manufacturer will allow us to put doors. We analyze the structural envelope of the systems we’re working on first and then develop the floor plans last. This backward approach seems counterintuitive, but it is the fastest way to build and saves clients time and money.
Embarcadero SAFE Navigation Center Project
Let’s Work Together
We founded RPM because we recognized a need for a better approach to fast construction. Our firm partners alongside clients to find solutions to the issues they face - whether affordable housing, additional hospital units, military facilities, or heavy industry. If you’re looking to lower your budget and accelerate your project’s timeline without compromising quality, RPM would love to partner with you. Click the button below to learn more about our services or schedule a consultation.
