- PERSONAL SERVICE
The success of our business is built around "client satisfaction". Experience has taught us that the satisfied client is the greatest source, not only of repeat work, but of work through referral. We truly care about the work we do, and the impact we make, on the built environment.
From our inception in 1984, through to our work today, we have always offered our clients a personal service structured on direct client contact with the principals. The principals initiate the concepts, develop the design, and carry the project to completion, including field services during construction. This continuous involvement ensures the integrity of the design, and the design process between the client and the Architect.
- RESEARCH
The first step in the building process is to clearly define an end goal. To establish that goal Gowling and Gibb Architects, following research to clearly define the problem, and in consultation with the client, prepares and / or analyses a program. The research stage is an analytical process of functional, psychological, social and environmental factors which in defining the problem can act as a counter balance to preconceptions and a tendency to over emphasize past experience. Without this careful attention to analysis and detail, mistakes can inadvertently repeat themselves. We have found that though time consuming and at times frustrating, research is always rewarding. The pay off for research is a better informed Architect, a satisfied client, and a product that is well suited to the user group.
- DESIGN and SUSTAINABILITY
Design refers to more than just building cosmetics just as sustainability is more than high technology gadgetry. The pursuit of good design is a complex process of problem solving, communication skills and graphic presentation. Good design requires an accurate understanding of the client program and user group needs, the training and experience of the Architect, an imaginative and flexible attitude, and proper research and development. Sustainability is inherent to good design and is practiced throughout the design process at Gowling and Gibb. We utilize a number of tools and concepts in our process:
Macro Level: Programming refinement, research, context, collective memory, and the nature of the building typology.
Project Level: Architecture of place, contrast or context, passive integration through scale, orientation, connection and human interaction.
Micro Level: Proportions, layering of materials, attention to detail, choice of building products, technological integration, building science, and buildability.
Presentation Model, Country Hills Golf Club, Calgary, Alberta
- COST CONTROLS and SCHEDULES
The viability of most projects is directly related to costs and in turn to the project schedule. Gowling and Gibb Architects provides effective and meaningful cost control through sound fiscal management, which allows us to offer extremely competitive consulting services to our clients. Secondly, cost control with respect to project budgets is of primary importance, and the accumulated experience of the principals ensures that cost parameters are reflected in the design process and the final solutions. When advantageous the services of professional quantity surveyors are engaged to further enhance the experience of the team in preparing as accurate an estimate of costs as possible.
Each project based on its complexity, necessary approval processes, decision making, and performance by varying members of the design team (client, architect, and consultant), requires a detailed time schedule. All projects within our office are important, and each is treated with the same degree of concern and due diligence. Our ability to meet extremely rigid time constraints has been demonstrated repeatedly throughout our twenty five plus years of service.
