Beck Highlights Design-Build Approach At Facades Conference

The Beck Group, the integrated architecture and construction firm, highlighted the benefits of its design-build approach at the Buckhead Rising panel at the Facades Conference in January.

Ryan Woods, architecture associate at Beck, and esteemed Atlanta architects, Mack Scogin and Merrill Elam, sat on the panel. The group represents the Phipps Plaza (Beck) and Three Alliance (MSME Architects) projects in Buckhead, the financial hub and affluent urban center of Atlanta. Pierluca Maffey of John Portman & Associates moderated.

Panelists discussed strategies, performance, material and execution complexities, with a focus on facade design and technology. Speaking to an audience of design and civic leaders like Tim Keane, Atlanta’s Commissioner of City planning, Woods also shared why Beck’s design-build process on the renovation at Phipps Plaza is successful.

“We work with our client, Simon Properties, and our partners as a collective team. By using tools like DProfiler^TM, laser scanning, scheduling, and 3D coordination, we solve problems early in the design process. Design-build helps us deliver the project on budget despite the challenging timeline,” he said.

Beck’s architecture and construction model has no peer in the industry. It delivers world-class design and building expertise, providing the smoothest and highest-quality project delivery for clients.

When asked about the benefits of design-build over conventional delivery methods and how it affects designers, Woods explained, “I am better in my role because of great relationships with preconstruction, construction, and trades partners. Our approach gives us a better understanding of cost as it relates to design decisions and ensures clients get the best, most cost-efficient design.”

The renovation at Phipps Plaza is the mixed-use hub of the future. A department store and parking garage at the mall are being demolished, making room for a new anchor. Once complete, it will feature a Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, 13-story office tower, a multi-level Life Time Athletic living and entertainment destination, and four-stories of parking.