Are you getting what you expect from your engineering firm?

Often, what is expected by architects and clients and what is delivered by consulting engineering firms differ. Are you getting genuinely understandable, workable solutions to your ever-changing and increasingly complex problems created within today’s built environment? 

Common areas where projects derail include:

    • Conflicting codes

    • Existing condition conflicts

    • Budget concerns and delays

    • Misunderstandings regarding mechanical, electrical, fire protection, and plumbing, as well as other essential systems

    • And a myriad of other possible issues… 

This summary explains how Millies Engineering Group (MEG) approaches each project and partnership to avoid these pitfalls and perform to expectations.

It starts with a “People Connections” Culture.

All good business relationships start with a compatible culture. At Millies, we don’t have a “me” or “we” culture, but one that focuses on people and their connections. Whether the connections are amongst individuals, amongst groups, or even connections of people with their built environment, certain needs emerge.

We strive to never lose focus of the reasons we provide engineering services. While public welfare and safety are paramount to our Engineering Ethics, these mandates are closely followed by a third imperative: 

Do our engineering solutions provide value to the lives of the people who will ultimately be utilizing a new, renovated, or existing facility?

Avoid problems with More Th(ink).

No one likes unpleasant surprises. We thrive on working hand-in-hand with our clients to turn messy projects into elegant building solutions that exceed expectations. It starts with stellar MEP/FP services coupled with value-added offerings, such as: lighting design, low voltage design, and commissioning services. We make the difficult understandable as we work to create a comfortable, intuitive, and fully integrated built environment.

Next, we take advantage of the newest technologies in the design and Construction Administration (CA) process to keep our procedures efficient and cost effective. To avoid costly communication errors, our plans are designed to ensure that construction teams fully understand their design intent. We call this More Th(ink): to err on the side of providing too much information rather than too little so the process can run more smoothly from start to finish. More ink on the page = less guesswork.

Are you being heard?

Good communication is critical for successful project outcomes. Our experienced team of engineers includes Experienced Generalists (EGs) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who are trained to listen rather than simply hear. From initial contact for a proposal through the design and construction process to post-construction occupancy, our team is listening to the clients and end users in order to fully understand the needs and desires of all of the stakeholders.

With our size, we are able to personalize the experience and adjust our process to whatever is most effective with each of our clients. Each project and business sector exhibits unique characteristics: our team searches out the Inspired Design that is specific to your application.  

Maintain continuity throughout your project.

Being different is sometimes okay. Yes, we have licensed engineers (in 45 states!) that have ASHRAE, LEED, AEE, and other certifications. Yes, they spend much of their time designing sustainable solutions as well as LEED projects. Yes, we recommend technologies similar to those other engineering firms may use. Yes, on paper we may look very similar, but our processes are what set us apart from our competition.  

With low employee turnover and many repeat clients, these long-standing relationships are a benchmark of our success. At Millies, you will collaborate with the same individuals from start-to-finish. The same staff members who work on the programming of your facility follow through on field observations and punch lists to maintain project continuity. This is how our “People Connections” are maintained.  

For example, there’s no need to “Bring up to Speed” separate Construction Administrators who aren’t familiar with discussions from the design development phase.  Furthermore, our team prefers to be connected and is typically within arm’s length of their cellular phones, laptops, tablets and iPads in order to be available to discuss your projects.

The secret to making engineering projects run smoothly. 

While we’ve shared some of our philosophy and approach, our process is the component of our services that make projects run smoothly. By mixing our SMEs and our EGs, we start with a depth and breadth that ensures our building system designs are robust and deliver on the shareholders’ goals, construction budgets, and ultimately an easy user experience. 

Our non-negotiables:

    • Meeting building codes 

    • Following appropriate standards of care

    • Meeting and exceeding our commitments 

Furthermore, we work toward making each space as inviting as possible by taking into consideration:

    • Appropriate temperatures

    • Humidity

    • Lighting 

    • Integration

    • Functionality

    • Comfort

How do we gauge success?

    • Did we provide a great experience for the shareholders during design, carefully listening to needs and concerns?

    • The final test is user experiences once the project is complete: are people genuinely happy with the comfort and utility of the space?

When we approach each project with these parameters in mind, we find our clients get what they expect and more. 

Explore your options.

Remember, you have choices when it comes to the consultants you hire. We’d love to show you how our process stands out from what you may have experienced with engineering consulting firms in the past. Whatever your project scope, we adapt to what you need. 

Is your project…

… a few hundred square feet or a few million square feet?

… a new build or renovation?

… a school, university, hospital, fire station, or a project type or business sector in between?

We are ready to help you and your client’s next project succeed.  Please contact us and let us know how we can help you.