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FROM DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION
Baysinger 3
Starting in the education architecture industry, this firm has branched out to oer interior design services, now working through a variety of sectors.
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midwest | architecture
Baysinger Design Group by Rachel Goldberg
4 Construction Leaders Today
architecture | midwest
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Baysinger Design Group in Marion, Ill has undergone many changes since their beginnings as a small partnership that focused on architectural services for K-12 schools. In 2004, Sheila and Michael Baysinger decided to branch out to create a business that provided architecture, planning and interior design services. Today, their strength lies in the ability to adapt to the constantly changing needs of its diverse client base. Their diversification did not happen overnight. In order to understand the most effective strategy for dealing with each market, Sheila Baysinger said she devoted a significant amount of time to marketing research. They have come a long way since they started, but Baysinger said she is still working on developing new markets. They are now working more with federal and local government, as well as office and healthcare facilities. “All it takes is one project in that market,” she said. “You get one project, you do it well and you can use it as a springboard for the next.” Many of their projects come from repeat clients who liked Baysinger’s work the first time around. Federal government contracts are especially hard to get at first; Baysinger said it can take 18-24 months of marketing to get that first project. “It’s not easy; it’s involved and it takes a consistent dedicated effort over a period of time.” By attaining certification as a woman-owned, HUBzone and small business, Baysinger was able to widen their group of clients. The federal government sets aside some contracts for businesses in those categories, to narrow the field of competitors bidding for them. BDG has successfully marketed itself within those categories and won government contracts. BDG currently holds contracts with the US Navy and Air Force. They are also working on a federal design build project for the VA hospital, which mandated that the building be constructed from modular units. Each project comes with a unique set of requirements, whether it is a federal, municipal, or commercial building, but the government facilities tend to set more rules and restrictions. Baysinger recently completed an office building to house Williamson County’s administrative functions. The project included a site master plan that incorporated neighboring buildings and traffic patterns. The challenge of the project was in combining the unique features of the site with the input of the various parties involved in the building. “There was a good amount of freedom but some interesting constraints, too,” Baysinger said. “We were working with different entities, each with their own concerns, and trying to meld those together into a unified design that would be responsive to all their needs.” Understanding and meeting their clients’ needs 1. Mackie’s Pizza take out couter, Marion, Ill. Summer 2010 5
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is at the core of BDG’s mission. Central to their working process are two simple but important ideas: communication and quality control. “At the end of the day, you need to make sure your projects have been coordinated and controlled with the client and contractor and that are internally correct and usable,” Baysinger said. By providing clients with the best possible service, they develop long-term connections to the community that allow them continued growth. Though owning a business in a small town can sometimes translate to more limited opportunities, Baysinger sees it as an advantage because the community is aware of the quality of their work. One of Baysinger’s favorite projects was building the Mackie’s Pizza restaurant, the result of a successful working relationship between Baysinger, the client and the contractor. “It was a very dynamic, collaborative process,” she said. “The owner was really interested in being a part of it, and contractor on the job was very good at working with us in developing details that responded to the design intent but also were economical, efficient, and easy to construct.” The project required fast thinking for Baysinger; it was given such a short time frame that they were designing as it was being constructed. It involved major interior and exterior renovation of an existing building to create the kitchen and dining areas of an Italian restaurant. The metal building, a former retail facility, was given a new entry vestibule, windows and architectural detail. Inside, Baysinger created a party room and cozy eating environment with wood detailing and stone counters and fireplace. Baysinger relishes the challenge of transforming an existing space into something different. “Renovation is always a little more challenging because there are more unknowns there,” she said. “But in some respects, those constraints also make the project interesting.” She says the creative process is the most rewarding part of her job. Though she is often consumed with the many other responsibilities of being a business owner, she still keeps an active role in the design work. “I love being an architect,” she said. “I try very hard to keep my hand in the design end of things.” CLT 2. Midwest Ear, Nose, Throat Clinic, Herrin, Ill. The lobby and check-in area for the clinic. Photo courtesy of Baysinger Design Group. 3-5. Williamson County Administrative Building, Williamson County, Ill. This newly completed construction is a 42,000 sq. ft., three-story public office building. It houses the county clerk, treasurer, supervisor of assessments, county commissioner and other county related offices. The new design effictively addresses parking, pedestrian and vehicular circulation. Photos courtsey of Baysinger Design Group. Summer 2010 7
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