A Good Collaboration in an Architectural Practice

The time when I joined Lead 8 was during its start-up phase when the size of the practice was relatively small. It uses a flat structure management strategy where all staff members play a key role. Collaboration in order to improve the quality of the project or achieve different aspects of the project as a team is evident when compared to other practices of a similar size. "Collaboration can enable architects to generate better solutions collaboratively than they can by themselves." (Walter Gropius, 2013) At Lead 8, we all separate into several small teams, each directed by one of the eight directors and one senior associate.

Each team is allocated a number of projects which are distributed to each of us based on the experience we have and the scale of the project. For example, a part 1 student like me has an opportunity to become a project leader for smaller scale projects and get involved in all project phases while the other team members, act as assistants on this specific project. Thus, the more senior and experienced a member is, the more complex the project they get. In the design process, I had to define and prioritize the tasks that needed to be completed and consult with either Simon or Wisely. A team meeting then took place every Monday morning to divide the workload and finalize a work schedule as a team. As a project leader, I also had to deal directly with the client and wider design/construction team and collaborate more with companies with specialized skills to understand their requirements and strategies. The knowledge acquired through collaboration allows me to think from various angles, stimulating creativity and building confidence.

While working on China Merchant, we appointed WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff to work on façade lighting strategy and canopy structure. I had to collaborate with their team to develop a lighting strategy plan and discuss any structural issue that appeared in the design process. Furthermore, as we hire an external company for rendering, I also had to give feedback on drafts to ensure it matched our desired quality. I believe this management strategy tasks the directors and associates to identify and mentor all future board members, ensuring readiness when called upon to take the reins. This framework that the office is based around not only encourages every team member to become a creator and designer, but also allowed me to approach different styles of problem-solving through communication, maintain a good team relationship, and learn from others. During my time at Lead 8, I learned that communication is essential for good collaboration in architectural practice. Due to the large number of direct stakeholders working on a project and the constant development of ideas, communication is crucial to minimize mistakes during the design process and maximize work efficiency. There are four other key aspects of maintaining an effective collaborative team and it can be counterintuitive if members don't work well together.

Transparency: Internal and external transparency is vital to every team. The design processes and thinking need to be clear to every stakeholder. A clearly understood ethos of collaboration, respect, and fairness exists, and this is a place where successes are shared equally among each team member. Trust: I believe that the composition of a team and the mix of personalities are critical to the success of a project. No one can do a project alone and we all rely on a united and committed team to create the best design. Common Goal: A design studio is a team affair where like-minded people come together and work towards a common goal – to design and create. It is this same mindset that builds the strength into the team, fueling team spirit and bonding. This pushes each team member to improve, communicate, and learn from others. Unity: We are all working together towards the same goals and understanding the sacrifices that need to be made. Every single person adds value to what they do; it’s only by combining our skills that we can truly make a difference. A design studio is a team affair and an environment where we have job winners, designers, deliverers of outcomes, and a support team. We all work together for mutual benefit, with all individuals doing their utmost to create design and advance the company forward.

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