Design + Engineering
Active Planning. Sound Design. Detailed Engineering. Creative Innovation.
The Harris Design Studio is a team of in-house professional engineers, designers and modeling specialists. We combine expertise with creative problem-solving to optimize the quality of every design project. Whether our role is for design-build, design-assist or standalone BIM/VDC services, our collaborative approach bridges the gap often seen between design and construction. We embrace cutting-edge creativity while applying rigid science using the latest best practices and specialist software to deliver and optimize solutions.
The Design Studio’s team is ready to help ensure your systems are efficient, functional and sustainable using smart integrated innovation. Our deep knowledge of developing designs that use less energy or water helps our customers meet or exceed industry benchmarks, such as LEED. Recognizing the cost and safety benefits of prefabrication, we always look for ways to incorporate prefabricated assemblies early in design.
Contact UsHolistic Mindset
COLLABORATION: For optimal success, we believe prioritizing collaboration between the whole project team, including program and project managers, architects, engineers, construction managers and builders, is a crucial part of the process.
EXAMINATION: We identify how climate and the external environment will impact a building, analyze our system sizing, and develop and refine layouts.
ADAPTATION: We constantly update the budget, from inception through execution and perform estimates showing how individual design decisions will affect budget, timelines, building performance and occupants’ experience.
OPTIMIZATION: We are determined to meet the team’s intent while optimizing the system’s functionality and operational impacts.
Prefabrication
Harris is strongly focused on maximizing prefabrication during design and preconstruction. We identify scope requiring an extensive amount of labor, whether in condensed spaces such as mechanical rooms, risers and overhead hallway rough-ins, or in other areas which are less labor-intensive but repetitive or maybe modularized.
Using a traditional installation approach, work required to build out these spaces results in a lot of field labor hours. However, with increased focus on prefabrication, we can move work offsite to our fabrication facilities – requiring less field labor, improving safety, decreasing onsite clutter, avoiding trade stacking and offering the potential for schedule and cost savings.
Energy Modeling + Analysis
Simulations allow us to analyze the building in a virtual environment before construction. The Design Studio follows an evidence-based design using simulation and energy modeling tools.
The Design Studio at Harris has a dedicated building science team comprised of experts in advanced whole-building energy modeling, climate analysis, system loads calculations, building data analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We always strive to exceed the energy code minimum requirements using innovative and low-cost strategies which benefit our customers.
Delivering Success
The Design Studio uses the most suitable tool for the job to gain vital insight as to how our designs will perform and work together. Tools used are:
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Building Load + Energy Analysis
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Comfort Analysis
Fluid Flow Analysis in Pips + Ducts
Pressurization Studies
Code Compliance
DIGITAL DESIGN
Revit
AutoCAD
Autodesk Construction Cloud
Navisworks
Virtual Reality
PRECONSTRUCTION + DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Sustainability/Resilience
Cost Analysis
Trend Logs
Constructability Reviews
Long Lead Items + Procurement
Schedule Analysis
Safety, Quality Control, Risk Management
Trusted Partner
Our disciplined approach to timelines, budget and quality has helped us build trusted relationships with building owners, architects, engineers and general contractors. Whatever the scope of our involvement, our business and industry partners know they can count on Harris to act with integrity and professionalism.
