Commissioning…who?

Our new office – what a dream!  New systems, new lighting, new flooring, new space…  With any construction project these days, building commissioning is just one of those things that happen in the process.  All of the new stuff needs to be tested.  It must work.

This building is a clean slate for each of us.  A fresh start.  It provides an opportunity for each of us who will work and interact in the building to stretch our minds in how things are done, just as the building design itself stretched the design team.  We’re calling this “occupant commissioning” – the chance for us to think about how we operate in all aspects of our work and life, so that we can continue to test our methods, improve on them, and challenge them again.

It is easy for us to think of some things:  we’ll be stewards of the environment through our new mechanical system and rain collection process.  And our partnership with community groups, like Holly Ridge Center, who will provide janitorial services through employment of those with differing abilities.  Our commissioning, though, pushes us to stretch our creativity further in how we can take the best next step.  An idea like teaming with Olympic College and Washington State University’s mechanical engineering program so that they can be active in the monitoring of our mechanical system, providing the students with a working laboratory of sorts, while we are able to realize regular observation of the unit – this is the type of thinking outside of the box that we recognize because our facility encourages it.  What other ways can we be more efficient, more sustainable, more creative or collaborative?  How can we better serve clients, our community, and ourselves?  In all of this, how can we make a broader impact?

Changing our mindset and getting each of us out of the routine of “the way we do” things is going to be the biggest challenge.  Many of us are anxious to tackle this task, and to do so quickly.  But, we’re dealing with change, so our solution is to start with small steps.  We’ve kicked off a series of seminars that focus on how things will be different in the new space.  We’re creating more opportunities to open up dialogue between each other.   And we’re really looking closely at the reasons why we do something in order to determine if and how it should be done.  More will come, and with all of it the change will happen.

Monica Blackwood, Principal
Director of Business Operations