For BRR Architecture, it is not about us it's about you, our clients. We consolidate our client’s goals, needs, aesthetics and economic parameters into appropriate architectural solutions, for today and tomorrow.

Case Study: Ensuring a Successful Grand Opening

Closing the gap between the day clients decide to open a new store and the opening day.


Steve Kellen, AIA Steve holds his architectural degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Steve’s experience includes multiple projects for the Western Region of the Wal-Mart Team, with particular concentration in the Phoenix Metro/Arizona area. His experience also includes multiple stadium, arena, and ballpark projects. In 2008 Steve became an Associate.

Our Challenge
When you combine working with the largest retailer in the world, aggressive construction programs and schedules for new store openings, the pressure is on to deliver a superior product at possession and ensure a successful grand opening. Complicated by with working in a variety of jurisdictions, all with different codes and ordinances, inspectors, utilities, and various individuals that all have their own agenda, BRR was faced with the seemingly impossible task of devising a better way to foresee problems before they arose and prevent last minutes headaches that might stall a project's opening, and in the end, cost the client a significant amount of money.

Our Solution
In 2005, BRR opened its doors in the greater Phoenix Metro area to provide a strong local presence in what has been a hotbed of construction activity. We began by truly partnering with Wal-Mart’s construction managers, the general contractors, local officials and inspectors, civil engineers, developers, and at times the vendors and manufacturers of construction materials. We have established strong working relationships with these partners, which has improved communications and the necessary review processes. This has helped close the gap between the start of the project and grand opening. Consequently, problems due to potentially long material lead-times, costly construction errors, as well as the needs of participating inspectors from the building, fire, or health department have been greatly reduced.

Our Results
The Phoenix office, in providing a local presence to our client, has been able to:

  • Reduce permitting times for construction changes
  • Reduce lead times of construction materials by working with local and nationwide account holders to discuss needs and expectation and secure commitments to our client
  • Provide greater access to all our construction partners for a timelier resolution of critical issues
  • Increase frequencies of visits to project sites to observe construction activity
  • Help advise contractor of problematic areas prior to construction to avoid costly deviations.