Why Hire The Best? NEDC’s Approach to Project Managers & Architectural Design Build in Boston
A look into New England Design & Construction’s award-winning architectural design build process.
NEDC CEO David Muniz Supple founded NEDC in 2005 after graduating from Tufts Architectural, working on international design projects and then immersing himself in the trades to teach himself to actually build.
This is what David had to say recently on the value of Project Managers and how they function in the NEDC Architectural Design Build system and ethos:
“So, NEDC (New England Design & Construction) is hiring. We’re looking for some incredible PMs.
And this position is very dear to my heart. I was the original NEDC Project Manager, and I won’t say that I was the best project manager in our history. Probably far from it, but I was the first. When I started this company, it was really like a job. I was doing whatever handyman job I could get. It’s been a very gradual progression to the projects we do today. I came from a background of design, architecture and also management. I had some organizational skills. This was a strong suit of mine and I actually wanted to fill in the lack of craft and carpentry and building experience I knew I had. I was intent to do that like I was seeking that out because it was a void that I knew I had that I felt very insecure about and so my ability to manage individual trades I was looking to learn in that and get exposed to that. So I was so hungry and it was really amazing for me to do that. Everything was new.
Where I had come from it was large-scale commercial like civic projects. So we were doing schools and educational facilities. And so the project management tools I had been exposed to then were you know for large scale tens of millions of dollars of projects. So I was able to take that and use it on you know the projects I was doing which were so so much more smaller than that but still applicable and those are the tools that we still use and implement today.
I think having the integration being a single source of accountability back then I was the designer then I was the you know project manager right today we have individual positions for those roles but it is very much different than the typical project manager role for say a construction company where their specialty is construction. I think this is probably the biggest difference. Those project managers with construction companies maybe doing a similar high-end level of work that our firm does, their experience is different because they are representing a sole facet of the overall team. And so being in that silo, they need to represent that firm first and foremost. And I think that can be conflicted to the natural outcome that one seeks which is an amazing project to do the client right. And not to get into so much philosophical information but it is conflicted when you have a separate architect and you have a separate builder and you have a separate interior designer and all are sort of responsible for the end product but neither is fully responsible. It can lead to conflicts of interest. It can lead to problems.
One of the beautiful things about being at NEDC is that integration and just having it all together. So even though you are responsible, you’re not designing it. You are carrying out and executing that design. You are not alone. Okay? You are not on an island by yourself. You are part of a team that is a collective that has altogether the intention and purpose to do that project right.
We are not out for change orders–we’re very proud of the fact. The industry average has over 25% increase in cost, and I know in some companies that’s actually half of what it might be. That is a business practice and it’s not an indictment on those firms that have that intention per se. It’s actually accepted within the industry, that’s just the practice of it. They are not responsible for the design. Okay. It’s something that we are trying to set an example for changing–It’s something we’re very proud of. And I think as a project manager, you can carry that pride forward knowing you have the best interest and you’re really setting them up. They’re working within a system that looks out for them. Just that alone is a huge huge difference. You know, we’ve had project managers who have been exposed to that kind of more traditional system. It’s not traditional, it is actually, you know, has the apparency of being the norm.
I think that’s one of the most refreshing attributes of being at NEDC. There’s not a conflict of interest internally.
You know, it really is about just executing at the highest possible standard, not increasing cost. We do not want that. That is something we’re very proud of and that we promote and that we track and doing it, you know, on schedule because those changes and when you have firms that are targeting a 30 to 50% increase based on change orders, you know, it’s not just money, it’s time. So, I think that’s a differentiator that is easy to miss because oh, as a project manager, I’m a project manager. But when you come to this firm, it is different. You are in a different system.
Other thing I wanted to speak to was the PMs. I have so much admiration and respect and appreciation for our PMs because they are like the frontline troops. The designers have a lot of interaction and communication with clients, but most of the time it’s from, you know, an office from their home or from our office. But our PMs are in daily communication with our clients. They are front lines. They are on a job site for that client every single day making their projects go right. And it is a lot of problem solving. It is, you know, things don’t always go perfect. We always try to improve and have our projects lined up so that things have been thought through so it is as simple as possible to execute. But a big name of the game is just you know problem solving and making things go right. That ability to predict is really what makes a successful project manager based on the integration based on that we are a single source of accountability. It’s simpler because you have access to that entire team and you are part of that team.
When we start we’re not starting from scratch. We have a conceptual design that’s done. Through design, we get to and perfect the ideal project for our clients. So that is set in stone. Everything is specified so that we don’t have changes in construction and then it’s on our construction team, our project managers to execute. So typically or traditionally, a client is going to start with an architect and or an interior designer. They want great design and those are the individuals that provide that and then there is a builder and that person is hired separately. NEDC encompasses all of those in one. And so while we are licensed architects, it is a continual progression within one firm. And it simplifies a lot, particularly if you can do it all three of those things at a high level.
Typically those firms are set up to specialize in each individual one. And so all share a responsibility in the overall outcome or product but neither is fully responsible. So if there is an issue that’s one of the reasons why there is such a high rate of change is because that one who’s executing it the builder didn’t design it. So if there is a discrepancy or some maybe some a mistake was made or whatever they are not the responsible party right. So it’s going to go back, it is going to be a change order on you the client and you’re kind of stuck in the middle or underneath all of this. So anything that falls through the cracks of these three separate professionals, you know, falls on you. That’s one of the things we’re proudest of is not having that change because the only ones to point the finger at is us and we love that. It’s a beautiful thing.”
David Muniz Supple – CEO New England Design & Construction
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NEDC in the Media over the past few months:
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New England Design & Construction Client Reviews:
“NEDC is simply the best at what they do. Without question this is a 5-star organization. Quality people, quality workmanship and outstanding customer service. Trust your home and the improvements you want to make to NEDC.”
NEDC Client B.P. – Boston
“David and his team are professional and knowledgeable. David and his team did a great job renovating our kitchen. David communicated with us throughout the entire process – design, project planning, and renovation. He checked in frequently to make sure everything was meeting our expectations. NEDC came up with a design for our kitchen that matched our style and needs while staying within budget and completed on time. We are very satisfied with New England Design and Construction and highly recommend them to other homeowners.”
NEDC Client D.W. – Boston
“NEDC is a great choice for a busy working professional. They accommodated my schedule for design appointments and took the time to understand my goals. I felt very comfortable with the lead carpenter and subcontractors and appreciated their focus on minimizing disruption to my condo unit and building. Additionally, their focus on client satisfaction/feedback and continuous improvement is refreshing. Although renovating is not always fun, NEDC helps to make it worth the time, effort, and cost.”
NEDC Client L.M. – Boston
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