Design Build Team

Design Build Team Member: Andy Pfannes

2010-09-01T13:07:29Z

Andy Pfannes is one of Design Build Team’s conscientious lead carpenters. Since joining Design Build Team in 2001, Andy excels at keeping jobs on time and on budget. He is certified through Associated General Contractors and the Builders’ Association in Kansas City, Missouri and has a Construction Management degree from Longview Community College. Andy has several areas of specialization including the regulations and procedures dealing with Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).

Monica, Andy’s wife, is a Spanish teacher at North Kansas City High School and he volunteers with various high school activities including the Spanish Dance Team and the Northland Diversity Council. Not only is he a talented carpenter, but he plays the guitar and mandolin, and sings!

The Misconceptions about Design-Build

2010-08-26T13:35:17Z

There are many misconceptions about Design-Build firms. One is that the homeowner will pay more for the drawing since there is no competitive bid and the other is that the client will not have any control over the project. Finance & Commerce recently published an article combating these fears. And we wanted to share some of their findings with you. Joy Jayaram writes that, “An owner on a design-build project has the ability to control as much of the design as desired. Design-build is an integrated and collaborative approach. All team members have valuable input and are essential to developing the optimum solution.” Jayaram also goes on to say that the design-build approach is usually faster, has fewer change orders and takes away a lot of the risks from the owner.

We build what we design at Design Build Team. We understand not only what drives the building process, but we understand the reasoning behind the construction.

Below is some examples of our work.

Design Build Team

Architectural Metal

2010-08-25T18:48:59Z

The brilliant minds at the Kansas City based A. Zahner Company have spent over a century taking metal to a whole new level. Founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1897, Andrew Zahner provided custom architectural metal designs throughout Kansas and Missouri. A. Zahner mastered the use of new materials such as galvanized steel and aluminum, and later stainless steel. Under the management of Andrew Zahner’s great grandson, L. William Zahner, the company shifted from regional projects to international projects.

Working with such acclaimed architects as Frank Gehry and Snøhetta, who designed the September 11^th Memorial in New York City, Zahner has become a recognizable name throughout the industry.

We are proud to have such talent here in our city and we look forward to seeing where Zahner takes metal in years to come.

“The heart of our product beats at the intersection of art and function.” – A. Zahner Company

NASCAR Hall of Fame, designed by Pei Cobb Freed, Charlotte, North Carolina

Apple Flagship Store in Soho. Zahner produced dozens of Apple Stores with several architects.

Kauffman Center, designed by Moshe Safdie. Kansas City, Missouri

Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry. Chicago, Illinois

Taubman Museum designed by Randall Stout Architects, Roanoke, Virginia

September 11 Museum designed by Snøhetta, New York City