WHAT DO WE DO?

…and a bit about our Philosophy.

Datum [Line] Design/Build was started by Josh Collins to reflect over a decade of experience in a wide range of fields.  Starting with a Bachelors of Environemntal Design Studies in 2008 and Masters in Architecture in 2011, Josh then diversified his practice to include construction, lighting, public art, environmental assessments, education and project management.

In all of these fields we look to create a strong environment for Advocacy and Fostering a Constructive Mentality.

A word on advocacy: All projects exist within a context; whether this is environmental, social, or even the personal aspirations of a client. Design looks to bring all these values to the forefront and create a space for them to thrive in a constructive dialogue. The wonder of design is how it can facilitate a balance between all these values; bringing the client and their context closer together; and by doing so advocating for the agency and integrity of each.

Design fosters Capacity.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

We offer alot.  That said, there are some Services that we specialize in.  Check out the link below for more itemized information.  

At our best we offer a process-based, collaborative approach, where the client is an active participant in realizing a project.  Compared to some other turn-key opperations, we focus on providing the best quality and most ambitious scope for the fairest price.  We tend to work with small crews, but we can scale our crew based on the timeline and scope of the project.

In a nutshell, we do:

• Full new buildings

• Renovations and additions

• Custom made windows

• Lighting design, including Custom Light Fixtures.

• Mentor and facilitate client participation

• Coordinate subcontractors

• Ecosystem assessment/advocacy

• Holistic feasibility studies

• Community consultation, workshops, work parties, etc.

• Cost management

• Art

• Complex stairs

• Public and private projects

If you want to engage out services, also check out our New Client Package for information on Philosophy, Value Management, Estimate, Scope of Involvement, Billing, Testimonials, etc.

WHAT WE DON’T OFFER:

Mainly, we don’t do much handyman work (although a beautiful shelving unit or even closet renovation is certainly not out of the question). If there are skill sets that we are unfamiliar with or that require certification we will coordinate with those skilled trades.

We tend to take on a few select projects a year. Because our focus is on quality and integrity we don’t necessary guarantee the fastest results depending on your expectations, but to be fair it is hard to compare our work with a bottom-line driven, “churn-em-out” construction crew. We can of course, with planning, coordinate consolidated pushes and provide fairly accurate timelines.

WHAT IS DESIGN/BUILD?

Practically speaking, design/build is the full package. It starts with the very early stages of an idea; with sketches on napkins and conversations over tea; and proceeds to get its hands dirty with all the technical realities of construction.

It takes both the roles of the architect and the builder, and imagines them as a single service; each informing the other constantly. There are several advantages to this joint service.

1. First, we only design something that we know we can build. This helps us keep a tab on things like expenses, avoid miscommunications and ensure quality control.

2. Second, not all the design decisions have to be made before breaking ground. For example, the space can be framed up so that you can walk through it before finalizing a detail which you may have a hard time visualizing or simply couldn’t settle on in advance.

3. Third, you save alot of expense when you don’t have to put together an extensive architectural drawing set, but you get all the benefits of a creative process.

4. Forth, if we keep a focus on building, we can really invest in crasftmanship.

5. Fifth, there is a real equitable opportunity for collaboration with all parties involved. Communication is a continuous goal and everyone is privy to the decision making process.

WHO ARE WE?

While Josh is always right at the centre of facilitating this process, he makes use of a rotating roster of cohorts on a project-by-project basis depending on need.  This can include other builders, specific skilled trades, subcontractors, interns and often the owners themselves as integral team members.

There is alot that can be said about this.

In brief, a Datum Line (which can also be referred to simply as a Datum) is a point of reference in construction drawings that helps to organize and coordinate work.

The most fundamental datum lines can be found in nature around bodies of water. Examples of this would be the concept of a high or low tide line, or the horizon itself. In construction, these lines, taking a lesson from nature, tend also to be horizontal reference planes that run through out the project.

What is most fascinating about datums, is not just their usefulness as a tool for communication and coordination, but also the activity which happens around them. These activities begin to tell a story about the environments where we live. To use the ocean metaphor again; what does it mean for a species to live above versus below the high tide line? Ask the critters living in this intertidal zone which undergo extreme drought and flooding twice daily and you begin to get a sense of what a datum can mean!

With this in mind, Datum Lines can be used to express not just where we live but also how we live. To draw a parallel back to houses, what would it mean to live on the first versus second floor? above or below this datum?

Do we value privacy, even within an immediate family, and would passing to a second floor allow a sense of reprieve? Is the break between floors a way to create an acoustic barrier. Do you want to hear socializing below or the sound of children planing upstairs? Does heat from a wood stove rise up the stairs and how does this relate to passive solar gains from large windows? Does the first floor look out into the landscape and the second floor look up to the sky? Perhaps providing a view of the horizon above the trees? Is the second floor a place for sunsets? How thick is the floor? What is it made of? Is the ceiling a highly polished surface reflecting bright patches of sunlight below as you look up at it? What is the stair like between the floors? Is it tucked in behind a piece of furniture with twists and turns or is it out in the middle of the room; an invitation to ascend? Does it sit above another descent into the basement and is this second stair open? Is it cool? How is it lit at night when people need to navigate to the kitchen? And so on…

This is the nature of a Datum Line.

Datum Lines are as much about the logistics of building as they are about celebrating our relationships. Datum Lines articulate values.

Finally, the idea of a Datum Line is particularly important with a Design/Build approach because they provide a constant point of reference to make decisions as you go. They allow you to articulate what is important and then track this through the duration and decision making processes of a project.