Design and construction firm expanding despite industry's ...

John and Heather White completely remodeled their house in The Fan District. Both have experience in architecture and construction.

When John and Heather White moved to Richmond, they wanted to remodel a house on Hanover Avenue in Richmond?s Fan District and then start a company that combined architectural and building projects.

The couple wanted the new business to handle design-build residential remodeling and construction projects, meaning they would complete the architectural plans then handle all of the construction work. Standard practice is for an architect to be hired to do the plans, then for a separate company to handle the building.

In September 2008, with the house only partially finished and a new baby just home from the hospital, the pair suddenly had to confront the cratering construction industry. Bad timing to start that new business, right? Not according to Heather.

?I think that in a way it?s a blessing we started during a bad economy,? she said. ?It taught us to go after every lead because you don?t know when you?ll have another job.?

John adds that companies can learn ?bad habits on billing or wasted materials? when times are flush.

Today the two technically run a pair of companies: 510_architects and 510_builders. The latter also includes a wood- and metal-working shop ? 510_Fabricators ? in Scott?s Addition that produces custom furniture for the company?s building projects as well as for other customers. They have three full-time employees ? one in their home office and two in the shop ? as well as an array of people who work on a contract basis.

John has worked for a general contractor as a project manager and grew up in a family that owned a construction business. But his academic work centered on architecture. Heather got an engineering degree worked for construction companies before joining an architecture firm. The two met while earning masters degrees in architecture at Virginia Tech. Heather handles the architecture and John oversees the construction side of the business.

The slowdown in residential work has led the pair to pursue (and win) a variety of commercial projects. John said that having the two business lines, which can operate separately if needed, has been a saving grace during these turbulent economic times.

?Sometimes the architecture practice is strong, and other times the shop is strong,? he said. ?If we had just one horse in the race, I think we?d be a casualty of the economy like a lot of other companies.?

John has also helped supplement the companies? business by serving as a consultant to other contractors.

But the key to the business?s long-term success will likely be the unification of architecture and construction. On commercial projects, John said, they are piling up repeat business. Builders like knowing that the architect (Heather) understands the challenges on a job site and has spent plenty of time living those challenges herself.

?We have become part of their business plan and outlook, so they go out and show the work they?ve done with us,? John said. ?That puts everyone on the same team from the start.?

And that teamwork translates to a more efficient bid, as well as one less likely to need expensive and unforeseen changes midway through the process.

Though the commercial work has provided stability and success, the couple hopes to eventually refocus on the home remodeling business.

And though they both admit it might be simpler to work for a contractor or large architecture firm, they love the flexible hours and being one room away from their two small children.

?It hasn?t gone how we thought it would go, but that?s not a bad thing,? Heather said. ?It?s just ad adjustment, and we?re always thinking of what?s next. We like all the aspects of what the company does.?

Source: http://workitrichmond.com/2012/02/06/design-construction-firm-expanding-industrys-challenges/

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