About Build IT Design & Project Management
the mission
When you are building a workspace for your business, your IT and AV teams should have a trusted partner to gather all of their requirements, deliver professional construction documents like low voltage or AV drawings and RFPs, and manage the implementation of the design throughout your construction project's life cycle.
Why does your IT team need a partner?
TIME: There's a huge learning curve for anyone who has never done construction work and your IT people already have full-time jobs. A partner can gather design requirements, create construction drawings, create and manage RFPs, approve submittals, attend meetings, solve problems, manage changes, and go onsite to coordinate work and review progress... which saves your IT team a great deal of time.
EXPERTISE: An experienced partner can show you options you haven't considered that might save you time, money, and regrets. An experienced partner will have tools that improve the design and function of your IT services. And an experienced partner also knows from experience what to communicate, when, to whom, and how.
OWNERSHIP: An experienced partner knows what impacts your IT infrastructure, what other disciplines intersect with it, and what gets in the way if not attended to. Bridging the gaps and managing the overlaps between disciplines like IT, AV, Security, and MEP, is how your IT infrastructure gets built to spec, and an experienced partner can own managing all of that for you.
I help IT teams get the most out of their new office build or renovation project. I help define the requirements, document them, and get them included in the larger construction process. I do it by working like a project manager, representing the IT team in all things construction. And my way into that is low voltage design and managing its installation: that's network cabling, MDF/IDF design, AP placement, and integration with other disciplines.
With a background as an IT administrator, IT Project Manager, and literally hundreds of workspace design/build projects, both from the client side and as a professional consultant, I've lived in the middle of that Venn diagram for 3 decades, designing, building, and assuring the quality of IT infrastructure for my clients.
Build IT Design and Project Management is my private consulting practice, established in 2023 in Holly Springs, NC, but I've been working as a consultant since 2018 in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in build projects all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and India.
Build IT DPM Processes
BEGIN
Design
BEGIN
Gather and Document Requirements
Review or Establish Your Standards
Understand Preferences and Options
Understand Constraints & Concerns
Discuss, Document and Manage Risks
Set Up Project Progress Tracking
Establish Communications
Initial Review of Architectural Plans
Regular Meetings with the Project Team
Plan
Design
BEGIN
Deeper Dive into Architectural Plans
Deeper Dive into AV Specifics
Deeper Dive into Security Specifics
On-site Surveys for Existing Conditions
WIFI Modeling in Ekahau
Determine Need for Engaging Other Providers (AV, Network Equipment, Security) and make introductions
Telecom Considerations
Design
Design
Execute
Confirm Power& Cooling needs
MDF/IDF Design
MPOE & Riser Considerations
Assure that no data runs exceed maximum distance
RFP/Issue for Bid CAD Drawings, RFP processing and respond to RFIs
Bid leveling
Low Voltage Vendor Selection
Review/Approve Submittals or request alternatives
Execute
Execute
Execute
Issue for Construction CAD Drawings & Patching Schedule
Confirm Updates to Cabling and Equipment
Confirm All Data Locations On-site
MDF/IDF Build
Assure data connectivity to all specified devices, including AV, Security, BMS and Life Safety
Coordinate installation of Switches, Servers, APs, AV, UPS & PDUs
Confirm Power & Data ready for All AV
Respond to Changes
Manage Quality
Manage Risks
Finish
Execute
Finish
Coordinate MDF/IDF Cleaning
First Day Of Business Support
Project Closing Documentation, including As-Built CAD drawings, As-Built Patching Schedule, Retrospective/Lessons Learned
Day 2 Items
Build IT DPM FAQ
- Do you pull copper and fiber cables? No, but we can help you select the right low voltage contractor (or AV contractor) if you don't have one, and we'll definitely help you manage their work and assure a high-quality outcome.
- Do you sell networking or AV equipment? No, and that means my recommendations are independent, with no obligation to sales quotas or margins. I can, however, introduce you to vendors, help you make decisions on equipment, and even help level their bids if you want to run an RFP.
- Why create low voltage drawings when the architects or MEP team will do a power & signal plan? A power & signal plan doesn't typically show data locations in 3-D, nor do they specify termination and mounting details. That's important for APs, security cameras, sensors and speakers. A power & signal plan also doesn't show a hot and cold aisle in the MDF, so your HVAC will properly cool your equipment, and it doesn't call out your preferred rack and wire managers, etc., or guarantee their functional placement in the room.. There are a great many details that the low voltage contractor will need to build your infrastructure properly and to your specifications that a power and signal plan just won't show. Drawings allow us to get specific with your requirements down to the part number and include them in the SOW for the low voltage (or AV contractor).
- Why is it important to include AV elevation details in low voltage drawings? We create drawings to specify exactly where your AV gear needs power and data in 3 dimensions (see the image to the right), and request any infrastructure that the GC and electrical contractor need to provide, like conduit stub-ups & junction boxes or poke-throughs in the floor for power outlets and data, plywood support for the display mounts, and many other things. Drawings help coordinate the in-wall infrastructure with the furniture and AV equipment that will be installed, like displays, NeatBars, Room Schedulers, Sensors and tables themselves.
- Consultants are expensive: why spend all that money? I can help you avoid design and installation problems that are more expensive to fix later, and taking on all of the construction related tasks, myself, allows you and your team to focus more on your normal duties. I can provide valuable context when evaluating design options for your IT infrastructure, as well as choosing other providers to help you achieve it. While my services are not free, my time is far less expensive as a consultant than it would be as an employee.
- Do you follow a cookie-cutter approach? There are deliverables and processes that are common and typical to all construction projects, but I tailor the approach to fit the needs of your team and your project. Every project has its own stakeholders, requirements and constraints - different from any other. I'll provide you with a detailed scope of work for your project that we'll agree on, and we'll agree on the cost before doing any work. Note: If it's needed, I will share my cost calculations with you.
- You're a sole proprietor business but you sometimes say "we" when talking about your work. Why? I don't have employees, but I don't do this alone. I work exclusively with a highly experienced CAD drafter to do your drawings. I have a team of consultants for accounting and bookkeeping, as well as any legal matters that need attention. And I have a network of trusted friends and providers in the industry who I can bring in to help us if there's a need. They support me so I can support and execute your projects.
Some of My Clients
Let me bring to your team the same knowledge, experience and level of service that my previous and current clients have relied on.
About the owner
David Turner, PMP - curriculum vitae
Build IT Design and Project Management
Owner, 2023 - present
With nearly three decades in IT infrastructure and Project Management and nearly 180 design-build projects to my name, I’m excited to serve your team by bringing order to the chaos and building lasting quality into your office’s IT infrastructure.
Lanlogic, Inc.
Raleigh, NC and San Francisco, CA
Technical Program Manager, 2018-2023
Design and manage Low Voltage, IT and AV installations on new construction and tenant improvement projects for national and global clients like Okta, Square, Twilio, Pinterest, One Medical, Stripe and Atomic
Atlassian
San Francisco, CA
Workplace Technology Project Manager, 2016-2018
Manage the technology side of office build projects in San Francisco, Mountain View and Austin offices, including coordination with Workplace Tech, Real Estate, Legal and Procurement teams internally, working with external PMs and construction trades
City of Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
IT Director Infrastructure Services, 2013-2016
Provide executive leadership to the IT infrastructure services teams, writing budgets and prioritizing projects to further the City’s objectives in serving the community. Served on the committee to evaluate offering fiber broadband service as a public utility, developing the service model and project plan and submit to the City Council for approval
Babcock & Brown, LP
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Head of IT Americas Region, 2001–2011
Serve as IT leader and senior project manager for boutique financial firm in New York and San Francisco. Projects included Cloud Transitions, 2 Data Center builds, multiple Office-Build/ Expansion projects. Systems Engineering and top-level tech support
Additional INfo
Professional Credentials:
PMI: Project Management Professional since 2016
Education:
Bachelor of Music magna cum laude
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
References:
Available on request
Fun Fact:
I spent my 20’s working as a professional singer and traveling the world on cruise ships and bus & truck tours.
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