- Locations
- United States
- International
United StatesInternationalLatin America Region
- Careers
- Contact Us
We provide fully integrated facility solutions that ensure the execution of capital projects across markets, offering local presence and global reach to the private and public sectors.
With broad-based expertise across disciplines, we are an unparalleled source for performance-driven facilities built to deliver, from concept to ribbon-cutting.
With a broad range of in-house engineering expertise, we can optimize your current operations or take your new project from concept to completion, providing unrivaled service and results.
Haskell is a global network of experts providing integrated design, engineering, construction and professional services to clients and communities.
Home / News & Insights / 5 Questions with Design Expert Chris Flagg
Chris Flagg, AE Group Operations Principal, takes a moment to answer five questions about key issues for municipal and post-secondary professionals and how the right approach can relieve their challenges.
Enjoy this conversation with Chris.
The easy answer always points to funding, but from my standpoint, it’s more to do with clients truly understanding the value of a vision. When it comes to design, you must start with a clear, strategic plan of attack from those who make the primary decisions. From Mayors to City Managers to City Planning staffs, it takes an appreciation for creative planning to see what it can do to elevate the status of a community.
Municipally speaking, there is a great movement afoot to change the paradigm of the typical planning processes. Cities are more interested in the scale of the urban landscape, from building facades, to streetscapes and the spaces between buildings. The integration of these elements all lend to providing a more pleasing environment for the pedestrian.
Streets, for example, are being considered more like public spaces; not primarily for the automobile, but for bikers, pedestrians and alternative transit. More creative components are now being developed for drainage, streetscaping, pedestrian safety and traffic calming. They all work together to create more user-friendly environments.
Post-secondary education markets have been strapped by the economy the last few years, but there is now movement within that sector that seems more positive. We are currently working with upper level institutions, that are growing quickly, and coordinating our strengths with their needs.
A refined, strategic approach to our past relationships is key. As we continue to grow our strength of services internally, we can intentionally tailor our approach to each prospective client.
By consistently securing and delivering successful projects like we have been, we can build momentum and carry that expertise beyond the borders of Florida. I want us to be known as a national prominence in both markets. There is no reason this can’t be achieved with the talent level we have.
With collaborative opportunities, clients will experience our full range of design-build services. By realizing our combined strengths as a front-end design entity, we can support our customers in the changing marketplace. Design matters!
The beautiful thing about this profession is that it enables me to see the big picture. Just look around. Essentially everything from the ground up is an opportunity for improvement. By developing an early entry of a project through design – whether it is an urban design issue, community planning opportunity, transportation, anything related to the betterment for a city, neighborhood or community – I’ve been trained to consider all the elements of connectivity so that its aesthetic and function can be maximized through good design.
As an increasing number of clients realize this, they are becoming more open to investing in projects that can, and will, make a quality of life difference.
Knowing what I know about navigating through Jacksonville’s development regulations offers great knowledge in how to deal with other city processes! It takes a great deal of local knowledge to deal with any city’s level of review. I’ve had the benefit of embedding myself over the last decade in multiple city endeavors, organizations, committees, etc., and have made many political contacts – all enhancing my experience in navigating these processes. It’s been extremely helpful to know the level of acceptance and appreciation for projects prior to moving forward with them.Every city has untapped potential. The value of vision, once defined, will always lead to a greater sense of community.
The biggest trend is in the processes related to the development of more sustainable, multi-functional spaces and buildings. Everything now is beginning to relate to the diversity of use, whether it’s an urban space, a parking garage, a street or a campus facility. We consider how much use can be accommodated by this space or building. That, to me, can be a drastic improvement in our way of thinking as creators.
Technology is certainly an opportunity as well. Take virtual experiences, for instance. When it relates to the human experience, the way we use a space or facility directly affects our ability to plan on so many levels. This, I believe, defines the opportunity to become more creative in the early phases of design. With vision, there could be such an expansive approach to historically ordinary items. Landscapes become self-contained eco-systems. Material and natural resource re-use in all elements of design becomes commonplace. Streets, for instance, can become usable public spaces safely enjoyed by all. Parking garages can become multi-functional works of art that you just happen to be able to park within. Spaces between buildings in the urban environment can become activity hubs for gathering, entertainment or contemplative use. These all serve as examples of new trends.
We utilize urban design principles in both the municipal and education arena. It’s all about creating a pleasing, multifunctional environment. Everyone knows a great place when they experience it. We aim to continue creating those memorable experiences for our clients using high design. By focusing on our clients’ objectives, we can position ourselves to be the recognized resource to deliver those experiences.
Actually, yes. I have a true passion for watercolor painting. My profession has enabled me to exploit my drawing, rendering and illustration skills. This led to my love for watercolor, being the most expressive medium for me.
I’m more of a realist when painting, but because watercolor is so spontaneous, it lets me loosen up naturally. I enjoy plein air painting, outdoors and on-site, so I can make quick decisions and not fester about the details. My subject matter is vast, usually what interests me, but overall, I like to paint anything that has a sense of character.
Haskell delivers $2± billion annually in Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) and Consulting solutions to assure certainty of outcome for complex capital projects worldwide. Haskell is a global, fully integrated, single-source design-build and EPC firm with over 2,400 highly specialized, in-house design, construction and administrative professionals across industrial and commercial markets. With 25+ office locations around the globe, Haskell is a trusted partner for global and emerging clients.
No matter the facility, be it an airport terminal or a college campus, a hospital or shopping district, multifamily residential...
Sound Risk Management is crucial to large construction projects and can be critical to their success. Capital expenditure...
When the city of Tavares, Florida, wanted to build a downtown performing arts center, Haskell’s design team invited...
Students benefit when community members from all walks of life participate in the educational process. But that same broad...
Bridging the natural and built environments is the role of Haskell’s Landscape Architecture team. As an integral part...
Replacing a truss bridge for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF), a key component of the largest construction...
When Haskell was founded in 1965, architects couldn’t work in the same organization as construction staff. The American...
Since beginning in 2012, the Green Apple Day of Service (GADoS) has worked to unite communities in making schools safer,...
As the craft distilling market has emerged, it has brought distilleries out of the darkness of aging warehouses. Distilleries...
Our car-centric society continues to dictate the need for parking. If unimaginative plans are repeatedly accepted, these...
Bryan Bedell, Division Leader of Haskell’s Water Division, takes a moment to answer five questions about key issues...
When some people think about the design-build project delivery method, they think of using it for a building. Perhaps,...
1. How is Haskell responding to the changes in the aviation industry? What we know is that speed to market is one of the most...
111 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32202
© 2024 Haskell. All rights reserved.