Ten-Year Anniversary Series: The Design-Build Approach

2019 marks the 10th year of Craig O’Connell Architecture.  We will celebrate this milestone over the next three months with a special blog post each month. Read our previous post here. In this post, we share all about Craig’s design-build approach to all of his projects.

Craig at one of his many site visits to this 3,000-square-foot fire rebuild project in Calistoga.

"Being able to feel the construction materials like wooden beans and framing and have experiences like pouring concrete and putting in a steel beam and hardwood flooring are super powerful." - Craig

It’s one thing to design an incredible building, and it’s another to actually be in the field building it. Oftentimes, the struggles that architects and contractors experience is that designs can be tricky to implement when varying field and site conditions are at play. While not a formal “design-build” outfit, Craig takes a unique design-build approach to his projects, which help ensure his designs are translated into a well-built reality.

It’s especially rare to find architects who have had any sort of construction experience, but Craig opted to work in construction early on in his career. During his college summers, he worked at a timber frame company in Montana, and for a framing contractor in Atlanta where he learned how to frame buildings, pour concrete, etc. Early on in his architecture career in San Francisco, he spent over a year working for a specialized design-build firm with in-house architects and contractors, where he had the opportunity to help build projects in the field he helped design in the office. He also worked “bags-on” alongside hired carpenters for his own home remodel and in building his new deck this summer. 

“I’ve talked to a lot of architects about this, and the tendency is to study theory and do a lot of book learning,” says Craig.  “But being able to feel the construction materials like wooden beans and framing and have experiences like pouring concrete and putting in a steel beam and hardwood flooring are super powerful. I think most architects across the board would agree, and we don’t do enough of that.”

While not a seasoned carpenter, Craig stresses how powerful his early-on experience was, and how he takes extra considerations when designing anything.

“A lot of my projects are based in more reality build-ability, and contractors express relief when I add in extra notes regarding what’s needed for my specific design.”

Craig at a work meeting regarding custom cabinets with Cemil Hope of Hopebuilt.

His design approach differs from others in that he looks at dimensioning from a different perspective. He takes into consideration the design process and uses Autodesk Revit so that contractors don’t have to be left with all the math.   

“There’s a tremendous amount of activity that goes into a building: like waterproofing, how the finished materials go in and the casework—things that are beyond the drawings. I love being closely involved in the fabrication and assembly of the designed projects and love to see how everything comes together.” 

Two of Craig’s favorite early projects that truly emphasized the design-build approach were both San Francisco Victorian remodels. 

Noe Valley Restoration 

Noe Valley facade restoration in San Francisco.

Noe Valley Victorian remodel.

This Victorian project restored the exterior of a 1900s San Francisco home that was covered with stucco from the 1950s. Craig kept the classic charm with much-needed updates by redesigning the entryway and adding new siding, a staircase and a porch with fresh new paint color. On the inside, a new open floor plan was created out of two existing front rooms, plus a hallway. He also designed custom built-in cabinetry, replaced the windows and updated the lighting design. The general contractor on this project was Vonnegut Thoreau Construction. 

San Francisco Victorian Remodel

San Francisco Victorian remodel with open floor plan.

San Francisco Victorian remodel with open floor plan.


Drawing from the Scandinavian tradition of craftsmanship, simplicity, and functionalism, Craig enjoyed plenty of site visits and a heavy design-to-build approach working closely with the contractor, Hawke Building for this San Francisco remodel. He transformed three separate rooms: the kitchen, living room and sunroom, all into one open space that was better suited to the client’s lifestyle.

Why the Design-Build Approach is Important

 In addition to making life easier for contractors, having a design-build approach makes things more realistic and seamless from initial vision to finished product. Craig also emphasizes the importance of architects being in the field often, so they are better able to solve problems as they arise. “No matter how much time you have before construction, and how many drawings you’re able to produce, things come down to ‘field conditions’ and must be resolved-on site.”

There’s also importance in providing mockups onsite so clients, contractors and architects can work together in real-time on things like a fireplace mantle, kitchen islands, siding details, and more. 

 “Design-build can be owner-led, builder-led, or architect-led, but as long as everybody’s on the same page, and things can be more accurately improved upon, resolved or built, it’s always a better approach to me.” 

 Thanks to his early experience with construction, Craig has always held a lifelong passion (since he was a little boy making forts with twigs and leaves) for the building process, and it’s one of the things that clients truly enjoy about working with him.