From the ground up

Allied Design works with engineers, architects and others in the building professions, and their clients

1 of 2Diane Costerton designed this future dental office building in Cranbrook, B.C., and is involved in every step of its construction. — Marie Milner photo

2 of 2Diane Costerton designed this future dental office building in Cranbrook, B.C., and is involved in every step of its construction. — Marie Milner photo

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Diane Costerton of Allied Design in Fernie, B.C., is a landscape architectural technician, and that means she has the practical and professional knowledge to work closely with engineers, architects and contractors. She co-ordinates the steps in the building process, and her work is a blend of the technical and the creative.

There is another area where Costerton is creative: at home.

“I love cooking—any kind,” she said. “I love food and wine. I like providing food for small, intimate groups, especially when it’s an impromptu event.”

An easy choice that worked

For her career training, Costerton attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary (SAIT) and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton.

“I’ve admitted to my children that I put zero effort into choosing my career,” she said with a laugh. “The second listing in the SAIT course calendar—right after aeronautical engineer—was architectural landscape technician, and I thought, ‘Sure—OK.’ And luckily, I loved it. I have now been doing this work for years and years, but I decided to form my own company, Allied Design, just a year ago."

The steps in the process

“I love the design aspect of the work, which I do collaboratively with engineers,” Costerton said. “The Architects Act of B.C. designates exactly what kind of buildings require the involvement of an architect, so there are distinct parameters that I work within. The client tells me what kind of a building they want, I do the design and take it to an engineer, who presents the plan to the City for approval.”

During construction, Costerton oversees the work that the engineers and builders do. She advises the clients of the building progress and relays any of their requests to the appropriate people, and she gets the clients’ approval of the interior designs.

A good deal for everyone

“The contractors and engineers like working with me because they don’t have to explain the technical terminology and all the steps and the processes that have to be complied with through different layers of the system,” said Costerton. “And the clients like me because I save them lots of time and money. I cost them far less than they would spend if they were consulting with an architect or an engineer. I can lead them through the increasingly complicated permit and approval processes, sometimes saving them thousands of dollars.”

Costerton said that she absolutely loves the work in construction and design, and hopes to do lots more of the same.

“It’s hugely rewarding for me when a project is on budget and the client is really happy with it,” she said.

For an example of one of Costerton’s many current works in progress, have a look at the building under construction in Cranbrook on the corner of 12th Avenue and Second Street North—the future home of the dental practice of Dr. Dean Nish. Costerton designed the building and is involved in every phase of its construction.