Merin Cherian, Interior Site Coordinator
I joined XBD almost 6 months ago and in that time, I have learned a lot and made some amazing friends. As an Interior Site Coordinator at XBD Collective, my days are filled with a dynamic mix of on-site coordination, office-based tasks, and client interactions. While no two days are exactly the same, I've come to appreciate the unique challenges and rewards that come with this role.
My mornings often begin with site visits to oversee ongoing projects. This involves attending weekly project meetings, reviewing shop drawings, and coordinating with contractors and suppliers to ensure that the design is being implemented as planned. This is one of the most important aspects of my role -to ensure that our designs are being implemented correctly and everything is compliant with guidelines from the relevant authorities.
After my site visits, I return to the office to participate in internal coordination meetings. These meetings provide an opportunity for the design team to discuss key project points, address site concerns, and make necessary adjustments. In between these meetings, I find time to review shop drawings, respond to RFIs from contractors, and coordinate with the Senior Project Coordinator, Mark, and the interior design team.
My role involves extensive collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders. I work closely with the Senior Project Coordinator and Interior Designers. Externally, I liaise with interior design contractors and suppliers.
Building and nurturing strong relationships is a key part of my position here at XBD. I need to ensure that we have the trust of not only the clients but the contractors and design team too. It is important that we communicate effectively with the designers and keep them informed with everything that is happening on site. There needs to be a level of trust and cooperation with contractors and suppliers too – they need to be confident that we have the knowledge and qualifications necessary to manage the large projects that we collaborate on.
Working at XBD Collective is busy and it is a fast-paced environment, however, the team culture and comradery amongst the divisions makes it easier to manage the volume of high-end projects that come to our studio. I feel blessed to be a part of such an incredible team and to have the opportunity to work on diverse and exciting projects.
