A lot has changed in the 35 years since the founders of S/L/A/M Collaborative came together in Hartford.
The area’s largest architectural and engineering firm has opened offices in Atlanta, Boston and Syracuse. And the home office has moved to Glastonbury.
But the focus remains on the needs of the customer.
“SL/A/M is an Interdisciplinary group that’s turnkey;” says Board Chairman James McManus, “a single source design/build solution for client projects. We’ve taken the approach that our clients deserve comprehensive services that include planning, structural engineering, architects and construction management. That’s a continuum of services, from thinking of building through turning over the key when construction is complete.”
Most firms focus on a single market, but S/L/A/M has assembled the broad expertise to expand business into healthcare, education, science, and technology, he explains. They stay up-to-date with advanced technologies, social issues, and methodologies, then produce solutions to solve the problems.
“We feel very strongly that architects need to be responsible for controlling the cost of a project,” says McManus, who recently surrendered the titles of president and CEO. “Historically, architects did not do this. The client needs to know what funds they need to allocate to a budget, an appropriate investment for the building they want.”
In-house estimators work with architects, project engineers and designers to predict the cost impact with each design. That’s an unusual feature. Most architecture firms will be kept to a budget but go to a third party for cost estimates, he explains. S/L/A/M does it in house on a day-to-day basis.
“The bad economy has been difficult, but a lot of markets have been stronger than the general economy, specifically health and education,” he adds. “There has been a decline in construction, or delays, but less than in general construction. In the last 18 months, we’ve gained 20 new institutional clients, when most business is repeat, not new, clients.”
“We had, and have, as many challenges as other companies, but we still grew,” he says. “We are very broad based geographically with clients from the West to the Southwest and all up and down the East coast.”
Architects are generalist but want to follow from start to end of a project. Most firms transfer a project from department to department. S/L/A/M formed a studio setting where a team of design, engineering, architecture, and cost estimating people follow through to the end, engendering a sense of ownership of the project.
“We have 16-20 people who have left our firm to get different expertise, then returned to us,” he boasts. “That’s a testament to the growth we give people. “
S/L/A/M is redesigning the industry, McManus says. Traditionally, an architect and an engineer would design a building, then, a construction company would do the building. It takes hundreds of companies to build a structure: from concrete to lighting, from steel to plumbing. Each had a sliver of the pie. Coordination was difficult.
Now they try to include coordination early on in the development of the project, with a budget. Cost targets are set and everyone works to meet that budget.
As are both design and contractor, they deliver the entire project.
“The idea is ‘beginning to get legs’,” McManus continues. “The government now accepts this new way of doing things. It’s a change in thinking and process. Young people coming in can change our little part of the world.”
“It’s a very exciting time.”
Green is an automatic element of the business. The target is getting to a carbon footprint of net-zero by 2030, he explains, with each new building gradually reducing the energy consumption.
“As the largest company (in this field) in Connecticut, it behooves us as professionals to give back to our clients, industry and young people,” he concludes. “We use our techniques in pro bono work: we’ve designed a school in Rwanda; the whole firm is into Habitat for Humanity; we share our expertise; and we look out for our clients. We have a high degree of ethics and are in it for more than just the money. Architects want to leave their mark.”
