In today’s fast-paced construction environment, design is rarely a static phase. It’s a dynamic, evolving process that often continues well into construction. At Barton Malow, that’s where our Design Managers step in – serving as the connection between design and construction.
On some of our most complex projects, Design Managers are deployed when we hold design responsibility under contract or where the design is technically challenging, incomplete, or rapidly changing. They don’t replace architects and engineers of record but rather ensure that the design process remains aligned with the project’s goals of constructability, efficiency, and owner intent.
Oftentimes, owners may start with a blank slate without a fully defined scope, and the program requirements can evolve mid-project. Battery manufacturing, for instance, is a field marked by rapid innovation. Design Managers navigate uncertainty by prioritizing design activities that support construction progress while allowing for flexibility in areas still in flux. By collaborating closely with estimating and procurement teams, they help align design decisions with budget goals, supporting cost control throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Importantly, they don’t work in isolation. Design Managers actively solicit input from all project participants, ensuring that field insights and constructability considerations are integrated into the design to benefit the project best. They maintain alignment across all stakeholders to facilitate communication, clarify scope, and help resolve conflicting inputs. This approach is especially valuable in Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Design-Build, or Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) models, where collaboration is essential and design decisions regularly need to be made in real time.
Ultium Battery Cell Manufacturing Facilities
In the automotive space, where speed to market is often a competitive advantage, this kind of proactive design management can make a world of difference. It allows the project to move forward and avoid costly rework and delays, even when every design detail has yet to be finalized. It helps maintain momentum when changes inevitably occur, whether due to evolving technology, shifting owner priorities, or unforeseen site conditions. Design Managers monitor and expedite design deliverables to ensure they align with these types of fast-paced project schedules and to improve the quality of the design.
By establishing clear expectations for design scope, schedule, and budget early on, Design Managers help reduce surprises later in the project. At Barton Malow, they have been utilized on some of our most robust projects, such as the Ultium Cells battery cell manufacturing facilities, where they documented workflows, coordinated technical details, and ensured design packages were delivered in a way that supported procurement and construction timelines. They have also recently been deployed on some solar and wind projects for Barton Malow, emphasizing the growing need for design oversight in the renewable market.
Client Value at a Glance
So, at the end of the day, what’s in it for the client? A Design Manager brings clarity and control to complexity:
- Fewer surprises. With early alignment on scope, schedule, and budget, Design Managers help reduce costly changes and rework.
- Faster progress. By prioritizing design activities that support construction, they keep the project moving, even when design is still evolving.
- Better outcomes. Their coordination ensures that constructability, cost, and owner intent are always in sync, leading to higher quality and greater satisfaction.
Design management isn’t about control; it’s about coordination. It can help create a framework where design can evolve without derailing a project. And in sectors like automotive and battery manufacturing, where complexity and changes are the norm, that framework is essential.
To discover how Design Management can benefit your next project, contact Lauren Ranke, Director of Design Management at Barton Malow.
About the Author: Lauren Ranke, PE, leads the Design Management team at Barton Malow as Director of Design Management. As a highly organized and collaborative Design Manager with a background in structural engineering, she has over 13 years of experience in the AEC industry. Her project experience includes automotive manufacturing, battery manufacturing, metal processing, renewables, water treatment plants, and other heavy industrial facilities.
Providing oversight on some of Barton Malow’s most impactful projects, Lauren has worked on Ultium Cells, the General Motors DMAX Plant, the GM Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center, and more.
