This strategy is straightforward in definition but powerful in practice: become the primary point of contact between the client's team and ours. The results? Efficient teamwork, smooth collaboration with stakeholders, and clear communication throughout the project. Here's how on-site coordination turned a global collaboration into a seamless process.
This year, our Architectural Production team worked alongside RSP on a mixed-use project in Abu Dhabi, providing Revit modeling and documentation during the Concept Design stage. With a busy schedule and a multifaceted project, effective on-site coordination was vital to successfully bringing together diverse stakeholders and ensuring timely delivery.
Working closely with the client at their office in Dubai for two months brought another key advantage in this case: the ability to review issues in real time while our production team adjusted schedules to ensure overlap, despite the seven-hour time difference. As coordination advanced, comments began arriving not only from RSP but also from the PM company and the developer. My role, therefore, was to filter inputs, clarify priorities, and ensure that both our production team and RSP could stay focused on their respective tasks: delivery and design.
The power of disciplined coordination
The development features seven plots distributed among three different architects. To align everyone, a third company acted as Project Manager, providing floor plates while each architect developed first floors, podiums, and roofs within strict GFA limits. RSP managed three plots—including one hotel building, which added complexity due to delayed operator input—while our team supported them with Revit modeling and documentation during the Concept Design stage.
Overall, we worked with 47 models across various scales—units, floor plates, buildings, basements, and the master plan—and strict compliance with the developer and PM's BEP was non-negotiable. Thanks to clear protocols and disciplined coordination, we integrated frequent design changes without compromising quality or consistency. This approach relieved the client from the burden of constant back-and-forth communication.
What I valued most from this experience was being immersed in RSP's office culture and gaining first-hand insight into managing complex projects in this region. Sitting next to RSP's technical leader allowed me to understand not only their design standards but also their approach to multidisciplinary coordination.
This proximity to the client's team enriched my perspective and gave me a deeper appreciation of how projects in the UAE are shaping.
Ultimately, being present on-site ensured quick responses, reduced waiting times, and greater clarity in communication. More importantly, it proved that acting as an extension of our client's team is one of the most effective ways to overcome early-stage restrictions and deliver high-quality results.
Read about other on-site experiences and learn how our Architectural Production team can help you deliver your design vision.
