RBS Architects + Dolmen Construction (2011-2014)

Budget: $10,000,000

Location: Providenciales, TCI

After completing my bachelors, I took off to the Turks & Caicos Islands to continue work on a $10,000,000 extension to the Providenciales International Airport. The Project had been won on our involvement in the original scheme,  our experience in the Caribbean, the renders produced by myself, and the cunningly inexpensive outdoor, glulam design done by my father. 

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Roles and Responsibilities at RBS: Client Liaison; Contract Writing; Risk Management; Team Organisation, Budget Analysis: Project Time-lines; Project Brief; Survey(s); Liaison of Prospective Consultants; 2D and 3D rendering/images/videos; Design Presentations; Feasibility Studies; Collation of all Documents & Drawings necessary for Building permit; Fee Invoicing; Appointment of Specialist Consultants; Florida Building Code Drawings/Detailing & MEP; Manufacturing Info; Schedules of Works & Accommodation; Contract Preparation; Delivery of Tender Documentation; Site Visits; Liaison with Contractor; Construction Programmes; Site Logistics; Compliance Checks; Progress Docs; Architect’s Instructions, Interim Certificates; Certificate of Practical Completion; Defects List, Handover and Close out.

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For me, this was the greatest experience I have ever had, and it proved a steep learning curve. After helping to manage the team through the design, tender and construction drawing phase, I also took on a personal client - who had a restaurant and bar within the airport. After this initial phase, I asked the partners if they would let me go and work for the Dominican run Dolmen Construction Company that was chosen to build the airport project we had just designed. They agreed and I am eternally grateful as it proved an amazing opportunity as I was able to see the more practical side of the decisions we make as architects. I also became more familiar with the process of ordering materials and how a lot of the supposedly simple things we do on paper actually get done! I was very blessed that the contractor allowed me to be his right hand man for much of my time there; it was a cultural shock and a totally bizarre experience but the lessons I learned from this time are with me to this day.

 

My ability to speak Spanish, French and a few words of Haitian Creole gave me a small window in on site, but overall, it was a challenging experience. The images below comprise a small selection of the vast number of drawings I produced during my time working at the airport. I have divided in to three sections: Main Design Phase, Private Client and Construction.

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Roles and Responsibilities at Dolmen: Plan/manage the daily work of sub-contractors. Daily Quantity and Personnel Schedules. On-site decision making, product ordering, quantities & CAD. Weekly site meetings with Architect, Client & Engineer to ensure project deliverables achieved to time & target. 

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