Employment

Our experience with laboratories covers commercial clinical laboratories, academic laboratories, forensic laboratories, DNA sequencing and analysis laboratories, high throughput screening laboratories, robotics laboratories, photographic laboratories and photographic darkrooms, genomics laboratories, and research laboratories.

The research laboratories range in complexity from:

In these laboratories, extensive clinical analysis and testing equipment is used, including but not limited to NMR, xray crystallography, DNA synthesis and DNA sequencing, HPLC, Mass Spectrophotometry, and tissue culture analysis. These labs have included all manner and style of Laminar Flow Cabinets, BioSafety Cabinets, Fume Hoods and Floor Mounted Fume Hoods, and custom wet processing benches, hoods and capture apparatus, and custom enclosures.

Our laboratory programming and laboratory planning is extensive. It includes laboratories for public academic institutions, public government laboratories, private institutions, and private operating biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

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.

            7.         The strength of the firm is in the experienced group of co-workers

                         which we have recruited and trained.

8.            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.

9.            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.

10.        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.

            11.       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

11.        WHL runs prints, plots, and copying one of two ways, either:

11.1     Through our own equipment - and the account is charged          accordingly by the rate schedule, or,

11.2     By means of an independent printer operations, which makes prints       and deliveries and charges us per their cost schedule.

11.3     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..

            12.       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.

            13.       We understand, and do not manipulate, the code.

14.              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.

15.              We have a significant updated library of user scientific equipment and

            laboratory furnishings and manufacturing items that we can place at your

            disposal.

            16.       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.

16.              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.

17.              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.

18.              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.

19.              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:

            19.1     Designs for projects are derived from their unique

                        requirements

19.2          Designs with which other accounts are completely satisfied, may or may not meet your satisfaction

19.3          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.

19.4          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.

20.              WHL has a tangible, real-life, documented quality program.  We

            would be happy to explain and expand upon this issue at length, if

            desired.