DECEMBER 2023 THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE AMERICA - EAST was to always get into larger and more complex projects – with the complexity being more important than the size. Today, about two-thirds of Palette’s work is residential, and the other third is commercial. Most of their projects take place in New York City. Almost all of their work is performed on behalf of repeat clients. John credits Palette’s history of customer loyalty to their office’s ability to put themselves in their clients’ shoes – “we really try to understand where they are coming from and what their larger goals are,” he says. “We definitely have our own deep beliefs in terms of what constitutes good design and what’s going to contribute to a neighborhood, or street, or community,” he explains, “but that doesn’t mean we are at odds with the owner’s goals. We use the owners’ priorities and values as touchstones throughout the development of any design.” “I think that attitude has helped us foster really strong relationships,” he adds. “We can be excited by the design and the architecture that we’re doing, but the owners also have to see that their goals are being attended to. That’s always been very important to us. That’s been one of our key values from the start.” “I think a lot of architects aren’t as responsive to owners because it can be challenging to get out of your fixed design process,” he says. “Being flexible can be difficult. That’s something we’ve gotten used to, however, because we’ve done it from the outset.” According to Jeff, their customers also appreciate that Palette can stay involved in projects from start-to-finish, and can offer their expert assistance every step of the way. For example, they can help with the permitting process – in New York City, that can often take a long time, but the team at Palette is familiar with the common pitfalls, they have good relationships with local regulators, and they can help make the process go smoother. Palettecanalsoget very involved in construction administration, and they have built some trusted relationships with industry-leading contractors. That involvement – and those relationships – can be extremely helpful to Palette’s clients. “I think that ability maybe sets us apart from some other firms,” Jeff says. “Construction is such a complicated endeavor, but having an architect that can stay involved, that can help interpret documents, and that can find solutions to problems that come up in the field – I think that’s really critical to the success of a project. When you have that, projects tend to come in on time and on budget. I think our clients recognize that, and they come back to us for that experience.”
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