Anyone who has undergone a home or cottage building project will know first-hand the sometimes considerable wait times associated with the design phase. It’s a province-wide issue, and one Marshall Drafting & Design was established to help address.
“We started out because of the need in the southeast, but also in Manitoba more broadly,” says Michael Pankratz, Partner and Designer at Marshall. “A lot of people were looking for a full-service residential drafting and design company. They were having trouble connecting with someone who could fulfill all their needs.”
Pankratz, who is also the Design Lead at Kleefeld-based Cornerstone Timberframes, is well accustomed to the unique specializations involved with timber framing, and that background helped drive the vision of Marshall Drafting & Design.
“We specialize in custom residential homes, cottages and recreational projects,” he says. “We do have lots of carry-over from Cornerstone clients on the designs of their dream homes and cottages.”
Marshall’s work tends to be at the higher end, and prospective customers can view their most recent projects on their Instagram.
“We do specialize in your more high-end homes – designs that might have difficult framing details,” explains Justin Mendel, Lead Designer & Partner at Marshall Drafting & Design. “One of the main needs I think Marshall has solved is for contractors who handle interior design in-house, but still require a drafting firm that can handle a large volume of builds, often with a high level of complexity.”
He adds: “I think we do a good job at bringing architectural and structural practices under one roof, so there’s no gap in communication or the details throughout the design process.”
Marshall relishes a challenge – such as if a client wants to use a timber frame or any other specially-manufactured product. There’s nothing they’ll shy away from, and Pankratz proudly refers to this adventuresome quality as a “selling feature.”
“There’s really no building system, wall assembly or new product out there that we’re scared of,” he says. “We want to learn about it, and we’ll implement it into our drawings in a way that works for everyone.”
Marshall has already been involved with projects throughout Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, as far west as Kelowna, BC and as far north as Churchill, MB. There’s no shortage of work in and around Steinbach, and demand is always high in the Winnipeg region.
As a growing business, Marshall Drafting & Design is also in hiring mode. Specifically, they’re looking for a designer/drafter to join the company.
“Someone with a construction background would be helpful, and experience with SoftPlan software is an asset for sure, but any other drawing program is great as well,” says Mendel.
Adds Pankratz: “Attitude is also a big part of what we look for in someone. We want someone who’s excited about designing and building, but also learning.”
Which is basically what the company is all about.
Marshall Drafting & Design can be reached by calling (204) 804-8722. Additional company information, as well as a gallery of past projects, is available on their website.
