It takes a certain savvy to build collaboration in a hard-bid environment. If the team is committed to quality, it can happen. However, every project needs good processes. Hard bidding makes those more valuable. Having worked for an architectural firm for 11 years, and as a staff architect for a hospital for 19 years, I am sharing lessons learned I hope will be useful. Building Owners: Be Committed to Pre-Planning Every owner with continual construction is well served to maintain a professional staff that is current, knowledgeable and well-seasoned in the development of buildings and facility systems. The staff can