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OUR PROCESS

Design Assist

IN OUR 120 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WE FOUND THAT DESIGN ASSIST IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. EVERY PROJECT NOW INCLUDES THIS CRUCIAL STEP.

Design Assist is the Zahner project delivery method in which owners, contractors, architects, and fabricators work together at the beginning of project to develop a plan for building the project for success. A project completed with a Zahner Design Assist phase will reduce “value engineering” from occurring later in the project’s development. This ultimately improves the bottom line, providing predictability and cost savings for the owner team.

For more than a century, architects, owners, and design professionals have turned to Zahner to find solutions for many of the world’s most complex challenges in metal and glass. The Design Assist process allows stakeholders to draw upon Zahner’s expertise to ensure each project is clearly defined and value engineered for efficiency before construction begins.

ZAHNER ASSIST ENSURES QUALITY SYSTEMS AT PREDICTABLE COSTS. PICTURED: PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM

ZAHNER ASSIST ENSURES QUALITY SYSTEMS AT PREDICTABLE COSTS. PICTURED: PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.
PICTURED: COOPER UNION NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING.

PICTURED: COOPER UNION NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING.

PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANY.

As the architectural industry continues to trend toward a collaborative process, Design Assist provides a unique solution to fill the gap of a specific set of desired skills. Zahner provides ease of communication and collaboration through a clear process of helping clients think through the potential risks to arrive at the highest quality and most efficient design possible. The Design Assist team develops system details, project budgets and value engineering, creating a general framework from which Operations can easily follow throughout the fabrication and installation phases.

By addressing design issues prior to fabrication, Design Assist allows for improved constructibility and mitigates the need for excessive change orders and Requests for Information (RFIs) in the field, while controlling budget and improving estimated timelines. Allowing for a Design Assist in the project development process often results in an opportunity to take the vision further.

If desired, Zahner is equipped to provide long-term, onsite consultation. Depending upon the complexity of the project, Zahner consultants often work in teams to broaden the expertise available to the client. As a comprehensive organization, clients know that no matter the challenge, Zahner will have the solution.

To learn more, contact a member of the Zahner sales team to bring Zahner in on a phase one Design Assist contract for your project — and ensure success.

Have a complex project?

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MORE ABOUT OUR PROCESS
CollaborationSuccessful projects begin with collaboration.EngineeringZahner engineering provides fully formed solutions for art and architecture.FabricationThe fabrication team focuses on the custom needs of clients.
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Recent Projects

Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio
Mountain View, CA

Google Bay View Campus

…
https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/23083350/CREDIT_Iwan-Baan_Google-Bay-View-22-04_5816_Iwan-Baan_LR-mono.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1334 2000 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-04-25 10:39:052025-06-04 10:26:26Google Bay View Campus
Council Bluffs, Iowa

James Turrell Skyspace

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/24062220/james-turrell-sphere-7-min.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1512 2016 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-03-31 13:46:032025-04-24 11:33:17James Turrell Skyspace
Stanford, California

Schwab Residential Center at Stanford Graduate School of Business

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Aerial view of the Scottsdale Civic Center.
Scottsdsale, Arizona

Scottsdale Civic Center

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The perforated panels are made from Zahner's Angel Hair, a diffuse finish on stainless steel.PHOTO ©️ Parrish Ruiz de Velasco (parrch.com)
Arlington, Texas

UT Arlington Cooper Street Bridge

https://www.azahner.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1F2A0383_mono.jpg 1667 2500 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-01-10 10:36:262025-01-10 10:36:26UT Arlington Cooper Street Bridge
London, England

Grand Foyer in the Ambassador Building at Embassy Gardens

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/23122736/Embassy-Gardens-2_edit2_min-grad.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1234 1849 Katie Barone https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Katie Barone2024-07-23 12:27:562024-11-13 10:25:39Grand Foyer in the Ambassador Building at Embassy Gardens
Miami, Florida

Mount Sinai Medical Center Parking Garage

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/30115518/MSG_EAD_0144-grad.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1530 2500 Katie Barone https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Katie Barone2024-05-01 17:04:332025-05-05 08:08:53Mount Sinai Medical Center Parking Garage
Washington D.C.

1700 Pennsylvania Avenue – The Mills Building

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/26092146/2022-09-14_016-grad.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1875 2500 Katie Barone https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Katie Barone2024-03-26 09:23:502024-03-27 16:03:401700 Pennsylvania Avenue – The Mills Building
Kansas City

Pembroke Hill Dining Hall

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50 Hudson Yards Terrace underneath the canopy.© Fedora Hat Photography
New York City

50 Hudson Yards Terrace

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/24112651/50-hudson-yards-DJI_0604-copyright-fedora-hat-grad-scaled.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1918 2560 Winifred Wright https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Winifred Wright2023-10-31 10:56:562025-03-12 09:45:3350 Hudson Yards Terrace
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Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio
Mountain View, CA

Google Bay View Campus

…
https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/23083350/CREDIT_Iwan-Baan_Google-Bay-View-22-04_5816_Iwan-Baan_LR-mono.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1334 2000 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-04-25 10:39:052025-06-04 10:26:26Google Bay View Campus
Council Bluffs, Iowa

James Turrell Skyspace

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/24062220/james-turrell-sphere-7-min.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1512 2016 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-03-31 13:46:032025-04-24 11:33:17James Turrell Skyspace
Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.Photo © Iwan Baan, Courtesy of Heatherwick Studio
Mountain View, CA

Google Bay View Campus

…
https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/23083350/CREDIT_Iwan-Baan_Google-Bay-View-22-04_5816_Iwan-Baan_LR-mono.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1334 2000 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-04-25 10:39:052025-06-04 10:26:26Google Bay View Campus
Council Bluffs, Iowa

James Turrell Skyspace

https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/24062220/james-turrell-sphere-7-min.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=92&webp=85&ssl=1 1512 2016 Alexandra Contreras https://e5awgs3wuhi.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/24152838/logo.svg Alexandra Contreras2025-03-31 13:46:032025-04-24 11:33:17James Turrell Skyspace
Stanford, California

Schwab Residential Center at Stanford Graduate School of Business

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