Project Designer

Job Description:

With preliminary direction from a licensed architect, participate in all design phases for a wide range of project types, including K–12, Higher Education, Science & Technology, Healthcare, Commercial, Office, Residential, Hospitality, and Mixed-Use, Healthcare, Office, and Retail and Science & Technology Campuses and Mixed-Use Master Planning; develop design concepts through sketches, diagrams, physical models, 3D massing, and digital visualization aligned with client goals and project vision; contribute to local, national, and international design competitions, supporting rapid concept development, visual storytelling, and production of compelling presentation materials that communicate design ideas clearly and persuasively; prepare client-facing presentation materials using hand sketches, rendered drawings, diagrams, and digital visualization tools, including Rhino3D, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, Enscape, D5, and Unreal Engine to support advanced visualization and immersive VR experiences; develop parametric design studies using Grasshopper for façade systems, building massing, and performance-driven optimization to support data-informed design decisions; support pre-design and planning activities, including goals analysis, space program spreadsheets, adjacency diagrams, narrative summaries, and Developed Project Program documentation; participate in design reviews, charrettes, and pin-ups to gather feedback and refine design direction, contributing structurally and creatively to team discussions; develop design documents for all phases—schematic design, design development, and construction documents—including architectural plans, elevations, sections, and details in both imperial and metric standards for jurisdictional agency review and corrections; produce 2D and 3D drawings under general guidance, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency with firm standards and the Project Delivery Manual; prepare comprehensive BIM documentation using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, along with other BIM, 2D, and 3D modeling tools, ensuring integration of building systems and design intent; provide material and product research and analysis appropriate for projects requirements and client’s satisfaction; apply critical thinking and problem-solving to develop technical solutions that address design challenges and maintain design integrity across drawing sets; conduct site analyses, including existing conditions documentation, base drawing preparation, zoning/code analysis, site photography, and diagramming; provide alternative site design studies requiring site plans, site sections, 3D digital massing and physical site modeling; develop daylighting, energy, and environmental performance analyses using tools including Rhino3D, ClimateStudio, and Revit to support data-driven design strategies; perform weather and climate data analysis to identify passive design opportunities that reduce energy use and enhance building performance; develop and apply biomimicry-inspired design strategies, including wind tunnel and aerodynamic studies for building form optimization, to inform innovative performance-driven design approaches; contribute to research and pilot initiatives exploring the integration of AI tools in design workflows and studio operations; coordinate design documentation with multidisciplinary consultants—including MEP/FP, structural, civil, lighting, A/V, telecom, graphics, interiors, landscape, and code consultants—to ensure integrated design solutions and compliance with project goals; translate clients' functional and spatial requirements for structures into feasible design solutions, incorporating custom detailing, structural engineering principles and building systems into architectural designs; assist with project task scheduling, scope alignment, and budget tracking in accordance with project agreements; respond to Requests for Information (RFIs), clarifications, and design modifications during design and construction phases; help identify scope items outside the Owner–Architect agreement for negotiation of additional services with the client; contribute to the continued improvement of firmwide sustainable design tools, resources, and processes to enhance performance outcomes and consistency in deliverables; process RFIs, submittals, and change orders through platforms like BIM 360; review shop drawings, product samples, mockups, and cut sheets to support material and equipment approval; review structural installations, HVAC layouts, lighting installations, and electrical equipment for alignment with architectural intent.

Job Requirements:

Bachelor of Architecture (5 year) or foreign equivalent plus 1 year of experience to include participating in all design phases for a wide range of project types, including K–12, Higher Education, Science & Technology, Healthcare, Commercial, Office, Residential, Hospitality, and Mixed-Use, Healthcare, Office, and Retail and Science & Technology Campuses and Mixed-Use Master Planning; developing design concepts through sketches, diagrams, physical models, 3D massing, and digital visualization aligned with client goals and project vision; contributing to local, national, and international design competitions, supporting rapid concept development, visual storytelling, and production of compelling presentation materials that communicate design ideas clearly and persuasively; preparing client-facing presentation materials using hand sketches, rendered drawings, diagrams, and digital visualization tools, including Rhino3D, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, Enscape, D5, and Unreal Engine to support advanced visualization and immersive VR experiences; developing parametric design studies using Grasshopper for façade systems, building massing, and performance-driven optimization to support data-informed design decisions; supporting pre-design and planning activities, including goals analysis, space program spreadsheets, adjacency diagrams, narrative summaries, and Developed Project Program documentation; participating in design reviews, charrettes, and pin-ups to gather feedback and refine design direction, contributing structurally and creatively to team discussions; developing design documents for all phases—schematic design, design development, and construction documents—including architectural plans, elevations, sections, and details in both imperial and metric standards for jurisdictional agency review and corrections; producing 2D and 3D drawings under general guidance, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency with firm standards and the Project Delivery Manual; preparing comprehensive BIM documentation using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, along with other BIM, 2D, and 3D modeling tools, ensuring integration of building systems and design intent; providing material and product research and analysis appropriate for projects requirements and client’s satisfaction; applying critical thinking and problem-solving to develop technical solutions that address design challenges and maintain design integrity across drawing sets; conducting site analyses, including existing conditions documentation, base drawing preparation, zoning/code analysis, site photography, and diagramming; providing alternative site design studies requiring site plans, site sections, 3D digital massing and physical site modeling; developing daylighting, energy, and environmental performance analyses using tools including Rhino3D, ClimateStudio, and Revit to support data-driven design strategies; performing weather and climate data analysis to identify passive design opportunities that reduce energy use and enhance building performance; developing and applying biomimicry-inspired design strategies, including wind tunnel and aerodynamic studies for building form optimization, to inform innovative performance-driven design approaches; contributing to research and pilot initiatives exploring the integration of AI tools in design workflows and studio operations; coordinating design documentation with multidisciplinary consultants—including MEP/FP, structural, civil, lighting, A/V, telecom, graphics, interiors, landscape, and code consultants, to ensure integrated design solutions and compliance with project goals; translating clients' functional and spatial requirements for structures into feasible design solutions, incorporating custom detailing, structural engineering principles and building systems into architectural designs; assisting with project task scheduling, scope alignment, and budget tracking in accordance with project agreements; responding to Requests for Information (RFIs), clarifications, and design modifications during design and construction phases; helping identify scope items outside the Owner–Architect agreement for negotiation of additional services with the client; contributing to the continued improvement of firmwide sustainable design tools, resources, and processes to enhance performance outcomes and consistency in deliverables; processing RFIs, submittals, and change orders through platforms like BIM 360; reviewing shop drawings, product samples, mockups, and cut sheets to support material and equipment approval; reviewing structural installations, HVAC layouts, lighting installations, and electrical equipment for alignment with architectural intent.