For retail service businesses with hundreds of locations, hiring dozens of local architects knowledgeable about local codes to deliver projects may seem like the obvious thing to do. This can be for several reasons – geography, convenience, or budget, to name a few. But what we have seen time and time again at CVG is that the more a business can streamline project work through one competent and knowledgeable architect, the better the outcomes will be for the overall business.
Engaging with a single on-call architect can produce countless time- and money-saving efficiencies. There is no better example to illustrate this than CVG’s work with Gerber Collision & Glass.
Gerber Collision & Glass, an auto repair business, is well-known across the U.S., and stands to become an even more recognizable brand as the company continues to expand its footprint nationwide. They needed an architect who could handle challenging projects through all phases so they could continue to focus on their pipeline of new locations. We are currently working on 20 projects for Gerber, and the roster continues to grow.
Here are some of the ways CVG’s services have enhanced Gerber’s operations and even improved their bottom line as they continue to expand:
Free up staff time: Gerber’s own staff project managers were overwhelmed with work. Part of the problem was that they weren’t receiving enough assistance with the upfront planning of each new location. Other architects they had worked with hadn’t done the necessary due diligence regarding zoning, permitting, test fits, and other tasks that must be completed properly to put the project on the right path. Without this upfront planning in place, projects were getting delayed, problems were materializing as late as construction, and too much of the work was landing on Gerber’s plate.
Because CVG is experienced in all phases of bringing a building to life – from the earliest due diligence and permitting stages all the way through design and construction – we were able to easily take on planning tasks for new locations. This has allowed the locations we’ve worked on to go through design and construction smoothly. Most importantly, Gerber’s PMs have been able to get back to their main focus: ensuring the successful and strategic delivery of the company’s expansion.
Save time and money through standardization: With multiple architects working on multiple projects, Gerber was lacking design and construction standardization across locations that would ensure quality control. For example, there was no coordination or documentation of what GCs were being given to install versus what they were actually installing. By simply creating a responsibility matrix, CVG implemented a new procedure that tracked this piece of the construction process, drastically reducing change orders, mitigating surprise costs, and minimizing wasted time. We also work closely with Gerber’s selected vendors to coordinate equipment procurement and installation, ensuring this piece of the process stays aligned and on schedule for every project.
As Gerber’s go-to architect for their most challenging projects, we have standing weekly touchpoints to review the pipeline of projects. In these meetings, we review a range of “living documents” we maintain to track stages of projects as well as prototypical drawing standards. Keeping in constant contact with the client allows us to update these standards in real time as necessary, contributing to quality control across all projects.
Improve retail operations with knowledgeable design: Leveraging our expertise in the Automotive sector, CVG brought Gerber a better understanding of requirements for efficient repair bays, shop circulation, adjacencies, and specialty equipment specs, allowing for more seamless operations and space reduction that saves money.
Our diverse design experience across multiple industries has also benefitted Gerber. The company was facing local opposition to the opening of a new shop along a retail corridor. The city felt the shop’s look could potentially be too industrial for the area. In response, CVG helped Gerber design a collision center that looked more like a café, achieving local approval and establishing a potential prototype for similar settings in other municipalities.
A resource available whenever needed: Through several years of work with Gerber on some of their most complex projects, we have developed a rapport and a level of trust that grows naturally from being reliable and accountable on all projects. When your client knows they can pick up the phone anytime to ask for advice, even on projects your own firm is not involved in, it’s an indicator of the value you bring as a service provider.
Our teams not only work together, but also socialize, have dinner, talk about our families, and know each other as people - not just colleagues. Having an easy working relationship simply makes it more enjoyable to continue working together and to deliver a greater number of projects over time. It also saves the client the time and expense of having to go out and hire a new architect.
On-Call Architects Deliver Value
An on-call architect is more than a service provider – they are a trusted adviser and partner that a client can rely on to deliver the same high standard of service across a broad number of projects. The savings in time and money directly benefit your staff and your bottom line. For any business, finding the right architect to manage and execute a roll-out of new locations isn’t just a win for design, it’s a win for your operations and profitability for years to come.
