Government Agency Design Solutions

The quality control (QC) process includes ensuring that adequate time for the process is built into the design schedule, identifying QC personnel at project kickoff, requiring all design team members perform their own QC prior to the planned QC process, carefully documenting and coordinating the QC comments between all disciplines, and enforcing all team members are addressing the comments through a rigorous backcheck process. The LA Group is committed to performing services and delivering work products in accordance with the highest standards of quality for its industry.

Ensuring the longevity of furnishings, materials, utilities, and general site installations and protecting them from the harsh winter weather requires experience and knowledge of regional conditions. The LA Group’s project experience in seasonal cold weather areas of the country has yielded familiarity with current factors, codes, and conditions affecting government engineering and construction projects.

Conditions such as snow and ice, salting of pavements, freeze/thaw, stormwater, and frost depth are carefully evaluated for the proper application of codes and design requirements. For example, when designing concrete pavement installations, the correct sealer must be specified to help prevent moisture from penetrating into the concrete and causing damage during freezing conditions. These types of considerations, along with proper maintenance practices will help ensure long term durability of installations in cold weather areas.

Often, the highest quality materials are the costliest. Evaluation of alternatives or differing approaches is a key step in ensuring the best installation while staying within realistic budgetary limits. The LA Group strives to work with all clients to understand their goals and budget limitations. During the design process, a continuous value engineering program ensures that cost effective designs are developed and that project budgets are achieved. The LA Group conducts value engineering on all its federal design projects and provides recommendations for providing the needed functions safely, reliably, efficiently, and at the lowest overall cost possible and improving the value and quality of the project.

Integrating sustainability into a project site means balancing environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, user comfort and well-being and community sensitivity. Understanding a client’s goals and needs and bringing sustainable concepts into the design process at an early stage ensures that sustainable components are included holistically.

An example of a sustainable site design component that successfully provides benefits on multiple levels is stormwater assessment and design. Integrating stormwater management practices into the overall project in innovative and sustainable ways not only meets regulatory requirements but brings long term value by reducing maintenance efforts and replacement costs, enhancing aesthetics and providing opportunities for varied ecosystems.

Universal design is intended to go above and beyond established accessibility standards. The National Park Service, for instance, defines Universal Design as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” Each project type, be it historic preservation, renovation or new facility design presents unique challenges in providing accessibility to meet governing standards and universal design.

Through creative and thoughtful design The LA Group designers and accessibility experts are able to apply the appropriate accessibility standards, including consideration of universal design for various project types to meet each project’s unique goals and challenges. The LA Group is deeply experienced in the application of ABA, ADA and Universal Design standards and principles.

As a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) The LA Group routinely helps large businesses meet small business plan requirements for large federal government construction contracts. As a small business the firm is also able to pursue various project types, both large and small, and with a multi-disciplinary structure able to provide a variety of planning and design services to many client types. The LA Group provides both prime and subconsultant services to its clients.