Beyond the Blueprint: How Job Site Visits Are Elevating Our Facilities Design Team
A Perk Beyond the Desk
At Pickering, we believe great design doesn’t stop at the drawing board—it comes to life in the field. While our engineers and architects are skilled at creating detailed plans, there’s no substitute for seeing how those plans take shape in the real world.
That’s why our Facilities Design team has launched a new initiative—one that’s proving to be an unexpected benefit for our technical staff. This program gives team members the opportunity to step out of the office and onto active job sites, where they observe construction in progress, interact with contractors, and gain firsthand insights into material performance, structural techniques, and design implementation. The impact has been immediate, reinforcing the importance of blending creativity with real-world application.
Why Site Visits Matter
The goal of these visits is simple: to strengthen the connection between design and construction. While 3D models and specifications are critical to our process, there’s something uniquely valuable about standing on-site and seeing how decisions play out in the field.
Through these visits, team members gain insight into three key areas:
Tom Moisan, RA, and Yousef Saleh, PE
Material Selection – What Works in the Field
What looks good on paper doesn’t always perform best in practice. Project Manager Tom Moisan, RA, emphasizes that site visits help younger staff understand the materials they specify. A recent visit, for example, reinforced the importance of masonry coursing—ensuring layouts maximize efficiency and reduce waste. Seeing this firsthand allows designers to make more informed choices that improve both constructability and cost-effectiveness.
Design Techniques – Thinking Like a Contractor
Even the best designs can face unexpected construction challenges. Yousef Saleh, PE, Chief Structural Engineer, believes that understanding how something is built is key to designing it well. “If you don’t know how it’s constructed, there’s a good chance the design may be incomplete,” he says. Watching contractors work provides our team with a new perspective—one that helps refine details and make designs more practical and buildable.
Collaboration in Action – Strengthening the Designer-Builder Relationship
Engaging with contractors and site crews leads to better communication and stronger projects. Project Manager Robert Hardwick sees these visits as essential to professional growth. "Seeing your design take shape in the field closes the gap between intent and execution," he explains.
This kind of exposure helps our staff anticipate potential issues before they arise, leading to smarter design decisions and stronger project outcomes.
A Learning Experience That Sticks
For many of our team members, these site visits have been eye-opening. Seeing materials, structures, and details in person—not just on a screen—deepens their understanding of how design choices translate into built environments.
Architectural Designer Malak Nossair describes site visits as an essential bridge between concept and reality. “They provide a direct connection to the work being done, offering invaluable insights that turn ideas into action. Experiencing a project in person creates opportunities for real-time feedback, deepens understanding, and enhances learning—all of which are essential for successful outcomes.”
By stepping into the field, our team isn’t just observing—they’re gaining firsthand knowledge that strengthens their work. These visits help translate ideas into smarter designs, ensuring we continue to create projects that are not only visually compelling but also practical, efficient, and well-executed.
Looking Ahead
With the early success of this initiative, the Facilities Design team plans to expand the program, offering even more opportunities for employees to step into the field. As the program grows, so will the collaboration between our designers, engineers, and the professionals who bring our plans to life.
By embracing the value of real-world exposure, we’re not just enhancing our designs—we’re strengthening our entire approach to creating smarter, more efficient, and more constructible projects.
