The following are aspects of our practice that we know are a positive difference from others, they are not in order of importance:
1. We have noticed that there are generally three types of operating company accounts:
1.1 Customers – those that select on fee only, or,
1.2 Clients – those that select based on a combination of fee, services, schedule, personnel and, other factors they deem important, or,
1.3 Patrons – those that, many times – though not every time - select consultants based upon past service and provide repeat business on a consistent basis.
2. Our goal is to graduate all of our accounts into the patron category.
3. We strongly believe that the ultimate success of the project is solely based on the satisfaction of the account for whom the services were performed, and, that, alone, is the sole register of consultant performance. Some architects believe that awards issued by third parties are indicative of consultant performance, we do not.
4. Great accounts make great projects.
5. Our desire is a satisfied, happy account. To achieve this, we promise a successful project, completed within the project budget, and completed on schedule. Our desire is to continue providing services to each company we serve beyond the initial project, and to assist on future projects as well.
Our egos as "design professionals" are subordinated on behalf of the client, and are we are not looking for ego expression on your project. Our projects only make a statement of the account's goals, visions, and desires, not ours. This is always a challenge with creative people, such as architects. Our resolve is to make sure that our co-workers have this philosophy throughout our group.
6. We strongly recommend that you visit completed projects we have completed for accounts in similar, however not identical, circumstances. Accounts at startup and initial phases, mature businesses or manufacturing accounts, and accounts with laboratory or pharmacology needs - all will need to visit different facilities. Each of these projects has a unique solution for the client's particular needs. Each, also, represents a different level of amenities, budget, and expandability.
7. Douglas White has 30 years (1977 to date) of experience on projects for numerous accounts in a broad range of industries and technical sectors. This has occurred for projects in California, predominantly in the Bay Area, as well as throughout the United States
In combination with undergraduate and graduate education and degrees (for both, B.A. and M.Arch.), and, state architectural licensure (Calfornia No. C010969, granted 1980, along with 10 other states), finding a comparable resume may prove difficult. You are encouraged to call any of the account references and ask direct questions.
8. All of the projects contained in the attached website are/were the responsibility of Douglas. Prior to starting WHL, he was one of three vice presidents (working with four partners) managing a company of approximately 90 people. At its largest, the company was 135 people in one office. In 1978 when he started there were about 20 people.
9. Douglas will personally be involved on a daily basis as the "principal architect” for your project. He will be involved with the conceptualization and the creation of the project, through construction and occupancy. He
will bring his experience to your project in creating the project design, he participate in the preparation of the drawings and specifications, he will review all these documents, and sign them as the licensed architect of
record for the project.
Therefore you will have a principal in the firm closely involved, signing the drawings and personally "on the line" for your project.
10. The strength of the firm is in the experienced group of co-workers which we have recruited and trained.
11. Your project will be an important project for WHL and not simply one of hundreds. We are not an "assembly line" type firm where your project is not differentiated from others, or, could get lost in the shuffle.
Some firms have marketing staffs half the size of our office trying to get more and more projects to meet their revenue requirements, thus increasing overhead and subsequent costs to you the customer.
12. Our fee structure, based on hourly rates, is lower and our accounts will receive more work for a comparable fee spent on a more expensive firm. Firms with high hourly rates typically have more overhead and less people completely billable on actural project time, and therefore have inherently greater inefficiency to overcome. Firms with lower hourly rates typically have less overhead, more actual billable hours, and greater efficiency.
The math is pretty simple. Based on a comparable number of hours to perform the necessary services, with firms of roughly equal talent and experience, the firm with lower rates will cost less. Obviously, comparing firms with widely disparent capabilities or experience, this would not hold true.
13. WHL has no unnecessary internal bureaucracy: no groups, directors, vice- presidents, special interest groups, notable gurus, efficiency experts, or other unscheduled and unnecessary overhead. We are lean, efficient, and
quick to respond. We refrain from bestowing formal business project titles. Architects and engineers are creative individualists that when unnecessarily restrained by regimented titles cannot grow, and, do not feel empowered to do their best work.
14. Computers and their use are integrated and ingrained in our business - all co-workers work with AutoCad on networked computers at their own desks. We do not have a "CAD service bureau", and, we do not surcharge billings to you for low cost outsourced "computer time". All of our work is done in California by United States professionals.
15. WHL runs prints, plots, and copying one of two ways, either:
15.1 Through our own equipment - and the account is charged accordingly by the rate schedule, or,
15.2 By means of an independent printer operations, which makes prints and deliveries and charges us per their cost schedule.
15.3 WHL does not own, participate in, or make money by funneling reimbursable expenses through a captive internal print shop or delivery service. These entities generally cannot provide competitive rates with independent operations, not withstanding the possible conflict of interest.
16. Your project is different. No two projects are alike. We adapt, flex and respond to your project based on its needs. We do not categorize or try to mold your project to our way/expectations. We have learned that there is
no singular way to achieve a desired end.
17. We understand, and do not manipulate, the code.
18. We are not chemical engineers or chemical specialists - we are architects that understand hazardous materials and how to make your facility work in concert with them. We engage appropriate consultants when necessary,
and your project may require that service.
Use caution with firms providing hazardous materials consulting without proof of adequate professional liability insurance, and, experience with hazardous materials.
19. We have a significant updated library of user scientific equipment and laboratory furnishings and manufacturing items that we can place at your disposal.
20. We cannot assist you in making improvements to the scientific process of your work - we can design and assist in constructing a facility that will better accommodate your scientific needs.
21. We are capable of insuring the facility's compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice, and, providing documents (drawings and specifications) that will lead to validation through proper IQ and OQ of facilities systems. We have instructed other firms and their personnel in these techniques.
We cannot validate your scientific operations, and do not make claim in that regard. If you require assistance in validation of your processes, we can provide recommendations of professional and experienced consultants
to assist you with this vital internal operation.
Use caution with firms claiming process engineering expertise, and, the ability to make intricate and intrinsic product liability decisions and be responsible for their consequences.
22. WHL maintains no hidden allegiances, contractual obligations, or agreements with any General Contractors. We do however have a preferences for contractors with experience in technical projects, as well as preference for those we have worked with on previous technical projects. Contractors button.
23. WHL produces accurate and complete documentation to our own internal standards, to standards set by the account, and to the standards set by the industry. We customize, adjust, change, or hybridize for circumstances as required - however - we do not decrease, eliminate, or lessen the accuracy for different cities, jurisdictions, boards of review, or contractors, construction project delivery techniques, or clients.
24. The design for your facility will be derived from your requirements.
These requirements will be your desires, schedule, and budget limitations.
These circumstances will produce your design, and, it will not be
borrowed or derived from any other requirements.
As such, your design will be different from those done for others. Judging
our work versus others should be with these thoughts in mind:
25.1 Designs for projects are derived from their unique requirements.
25.2 Designs with which other accounts are completely satisfied, may or may not meet your satisfaction
25.3 A design for another company accounts is not reflective of the design we can perform for you, it will only reflect the design solution done for another company.
25.4 If you desire a "look", "feel", or "standard technique" duplicated or taken from another project to apply to yours, use caution, this isn't fair to your project, or, the design team trying to achieve a solution specifically for you.
26. WHL has a tangible, real-life, documented quality program. We would be happy to explain and expand upon this issue at length, if desired.
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