AG’s commitment to Bright Vision. Bold Communities. is based on decades of experience designing places where people live. We are known for creating environments that enhance lifestyles and foster a sense of community. Year after year and project after project, clients value our ability to provide vision, build consensus and deliver certainty and predictability. From our numerous long-term client relationships to our esteemed list of award recognition, we have a track record of success. At the heart of our accomplishments is the AG Team.
With the architectural process in mind, AG’s organizational structure offers a dedicated design team, an engineering team, and two project management teams. Interactions with the AG Design Team lay the foundation for client relationships and project success. Often, those interactions begin with a conversation with Chief Design Officer Eric Harrmann or Senior Associate Andrew Alden.
As Chief Design Officer, Eric continues AG’s long-standing design legacy. He has 20 years of industry experience designing senior living communities, large multifamily developments and complex mixed use master plans. He has shared insights on senior living trends as a speaker at local, state and national conferences. Eric is committed to pushing the boundaries of design to raise the bar on senior living and has been instrumental in the development of thought leadership efforts. He has received local and national award recognition for his professional accomplishments and project work. Eric is involved in projects around the country that reinforce AG’s commitment to Bright Vision. Bold Communities.
Andrew’s deep commitment to design for aging has evolved into an over 25-year career focused on creating senior living environments that are innovative and resident-centered—a portfolio of work spanning the continuum of care. Andrew supports the future of the industry as an active member of local and national organizations dedicated to improving the lives of older adults through the built environment. He is also a strong believer in the value of linking research and practice. Andrew teaches, conducts post-occupancy evaluations, publishes articles and presents at conferences. He is recognized as a thought leader, valuable resource and advocate for improving the lives of our ever-growing senior population.
Client-Focused Design Solutions
What can clients count on when working with the AG Design Team? A one-of-a-kind, client-focused design.
“When we begin working with a client, an important piece of our relationship development is communicating that this process is not about us. We design for the client, not ourselves,” says Harrmann. “Our approach brings an elevated aesthetic to the conversation while remaining mindful of its impact on client-specific operations and marketability.”
Due to this client-focused approach, AG’s portfolio showcases designs that speak to a variety of client goals and user needs. “Clients can count on our team’s ability to embrace a wide range of architectural styles while responding to regional differences and client-specific requirements,” Alden describes. “We design with a focus on contextual, operational, experiential, and user group fit, ensuring that each project is as unique as our clients. One size does not fit all!”
This client-first approach requires the right design talent. Team members not only with strong design skills, but professionals who excel in listening and translating feedback into real solutions. At AG, a development mindset and thorough construction knowledge contribute to thoughtful design responses. When it comes to the strengths of AG’s Design Team, knowledgeable, bright, supportive, creative, zealous, inquisitive and collaborative are a few of the words used to describe this talented group of professionals.
Alden and Harrmann believe the diverse perspectives and backgrounds among the team members enrich the entire design process. And more importantly, they commend each team member’s ability to listen and lead with a collaborative mindset.
“Our team has the keen ability to understand the big picture while drawing from unique experiences. And we are driven to finding the right solution for clients, rather than simply repeating what’s been done before. We rely on the collective knowledge and strength of our collaborative mindset to deliver outstanding results,” says Harrmann.
“We make it a priority to understand the needs of the community, residents, staff, family members or other user groups,” says Alden. “Once a foundation of mutual understanding is established, we can work together to develop effective solutions. Our role is to serve as both a knowledge base and facilitators of the design process, emphasizing collaboration with all user groups to create mutually beneficial design outcomes.”
Guiding Clients Through an Engaging Design Process
One of the ways the AG Design Team listens to and collaborates with clients is through a charrette. This dynamic design process prioritizes feedback from multiple user groups. Visual graphics play an essential role in building consensus and keeping the entire team aligned. This inclusive approach builds excitement by giving participants a voice in the design development and allowing them a first-hand look at how the vision for their project takes shape.
“We use the charrette process to foster a shared vision and build consensus around the design direction,” says Harrmann. “By sketching and designing in front of the client, we engage them in a real-time, collaborative experience, eliminating the need to step away and return with ideas later. A key element of this process is the active involvement of the design team, who are committed to following through on every aspect of the design.”
Whether through a charrette exercise or client meetings, Harrmann applauds the team’s ability to strike a balance between embracing challenging design opportunities and confidently working in front of people to develop creative solutions. “We thrive on open and honest feedback, using it to fine-tune and perfect our designs.”
Learn more about working with the AG Design Team and how they communicate design visions.
“I am most proud of the AG Design Team when I walk through our projects and see the positive impact on everyday users—including residents, staff, and family members. We take pride in being stewards of the physical environment, knowing that our work enhances the daily lives of people across the country.”
AG values input from multiple stakeholders to inform the design process. Charrettes are in-person design experiences where clients and team members gather to share input and engage in meaningful discussions.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented, creative and empathetic team. Everybody has a personal passion for designing beautiful places that improve lives. That passion really comes out in our collaborative process. Clients benefit from our ability to design with empathy as well as how each of our specialties and unique skill sets come together to create environments that positively impact the people they serve.”
This axonometric 3D view showcases our modeling capabilities as well as the strategic master planning process for phasing neighborhoods in this senior living community.
“The energy of our process and the way we leverage individual strengths while working together is something special. It is how we take projects to the next level. What that means for clients is that even when working directly with one team member, they are receiving the benefit of our team’s combined years of experience and creativity as we design an attractive and well-thought-out building.”
Our team produces renderings to bring designs to life for clients. We select a rendering style that best suits the vision, and often these drawings play a critical role in garnering support for a project. From building consensus among team members to obtaining community and city approvals, renderings are powerful communication tools.
“I appreciate the collaborative environment our team fosters. Each person is respected and tapped into for their design input and unique expertise, which makes everyone comfortable providing feedback. This team mentality stems from our shared goal of producing the best possible work we can, and it directly benefits our clients. They sense our level of commitment and can count on receiving well-considered and creative solutions that address their specific project needs.”
Through massing studies, we illustrate how the building forms are evolving based on the desired unit counts. These diagrammatic explorations help the team determine the project’s feasibility. Then, we use renderings to contemplate different material applications and details as we fine-tune the overall building articulation.
“Our team is a passionate and creative group that works effectively and efficiently to provide clients with thoughtful design solutions in a timely manner. Our process encourages a high level of participation from clients and project stakeholders to ensure we build consensus around a design. As such, we are very responsive and value feedback as we refine the design. Our ability to sketch using an electronic format supports this collaboration, allowing for quick in-person drawing during a design meeting. Then our team provides high-quality diagrams, plans and renderings to create an accurate visual representation of the project design. We believe in creating expressive and stimulating environments and generating excitement for projects through realistic drawings and renderings.”
Our team uses a variety of tools and techniques to help us communicate and share the project vision with a client. From site planning, building programming and plan development to exterior design and renderings, each drawing at each phase ensures the design intent is maintained throughout the entire process. The final photograph illustrates that the intended vision becomes a reality.
“The AG Design Team has evolved in incredible ways over my 30+ years at the firm. I am proud to be part of such a diverse group of good-natured and talented people. We each offer varying levels of experience and distinct skill sets that complement each other. We use that to our advantage as we work synergistically, analyzing the issues to be solved and offering positive solutions. Not only do we provide thoughtful spatial design and beautiful architecture, but we also have a keen understanding of construction challenges, which means we deliver buildable designs. We design with the end in mind to ensure our solutions meet client expectations and deliver the desired results.”
Through hand drawing and sketching, we can generate a lot of information in a short amount of time. It gives us options to consider before transitioning to the detailed computer work. These skills allow us to quickly respond to clients during a meeting when they want a better understanding of how a plan works. It is also a technique that supports conceptual brainstorming in our design meetings or helps us work through technical challenges with project managers.
“Clients can count on our openness to finding a solution tailored to their specific needs. We don’t simply repeat what’s been done before. We rely on our knowledge and experience to reference what works while striving to create unique solutions that address specific requirements and identify opportunities for enhancements. Our approach considers efficiency, multi-user experiences, senior lifestyles and opportunities for social engagement. Above all, we listen.”
We created this senior living community site plan sketch using an iPad software program called Trace. This software blends the traditional feel of hand drawing with the versatility of a digital format, adding depth and dimension to design concepts. Whether in person or virtually, the client can experience the importance of a sketch.
Meet all of the talented members of Our Team. Interested in learning more about AG’s dedicated engineering and project management teams?