Relationships – From Guest Blogger Steve Studenmund

Relationships….

How many times have you hired a design professional without knowing who they are or what they represent? Are they creative, productive, receptive, and open to changes? Do they know the project’s deadlines, and will they be fiscally responsible?

The list of questions could go on and on. I call the process of deciding to trust a design professional “taking a leap of faith.” According to Dr. Google, faith is “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” For a public agency, trust is at the forefront of our business. The public’s trust is something Metro Parks doesn’t take for granted; trust that we will make good decisions in choosing who designs and builds our parks while being fiscally responsible. Every ten years the voters of Franklin County go the polls and hopefully vote “yes,” deciding that they trust Metro Parks. That’s a huge leap of faith.

For over twenty years, Metro Parks and Triad Architects have nurtured a relationship that has maximized trust rather than minimized risk. This has developed over comic books, lunches, site visits, through mutual friends, and a common desire for creating great spaces.

In any healthy relationship, responsiveness is key. As a public agency, our responsiveness is crucial. Not only with the public who we represent, but also in project planning, design, and construction. Triad’s staff is very responsive to the many challenge’s projects endure. Brent would also tell you that public agencies like Metro Parks are not your typical clients. We are stubborn and economical. We like to make decisions and then change those decisions and directions, sometimes daily. Working with public agencies is an art which Triad has perfected.

The Triad team have worked on a range of projects with varying complexity. From creating spaces to learn about wind and solar at Glacier Ridge, to viewing bison at Battelle Darby Creek, and evaluating structures at Clear Creek, the staff understands the nuances of each project.

Quarry Trails is our most recent challenging project. This former quarry is being transformed into a public park. Creating spaces with different rock elevations, unknown water elevation, former landfill conditions, all while there is an ongoing adjacent development, is the type of project where Triad thrives. This project includes a public restroom with a rooftop plaza, which will soon be under construction. A maintenance facility and event center are also currently being bid.

Over the years, Metro Parks and Triad Architects have developed a relationship that is based on trust while maximizing the creativity of the staff. The product is great design which provides outstanding spaces for the central Ohio community.

WRITTEN BY STEVE STUDENMUND – COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS