Why We Value Considering the Big Picture

This post is the third in a series exploring the values that guide our work at Colman Engineering. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing how each value shapes our approach—not as a declaration that we’ve arrived, but as a reflection of what we’re striving for every day.

Our "Considering the Big Picture" value means looking beyond immediate tasks and deadlines to consider long-term impacts, interconnected systems, and the real-world implementation of our designs. It’s about understanding how today’s decisions shape tomorrow’s outcomes—for our clients, their neighbors, and the environment we all share.

But what does that look like in practice? Here are a few examples of how we apply “big picture” thinking to our day-to-day work:

Keeping the Client’s Purpose in Mind 

We start by asking simple questions that help identify what matters most to the client. Understanding our clients’ purpose helps us align our technical work with their deeper goals. Whether it’s long-term flexibility, cost-conscious design, or building community trust, we keep that purpose front and center throughout the project. That clarity allows us to make decisions that support not just an approved design—but the client’s actual vision.

Thinking Beyond the Property Line

We don’t stop at the site boundaries. We carefully consider how proposed changes might impact neighboring properties. Sometimes that means taking extra care to avoid creating new drainage issues next door—but it can also be an opportunity to solve existing problems. We aim to help our clients be good neighbors through thoughtful, integrated design.

Making Plans Construction-Ready

Approvals are just one milestone in a project—not the finish line. We believe plans should be not only approvable but also clear, accurate, and easy to build from. That means creating construction documents that reduce confusion, eliminate guesswork, and support smooth execution in the field.

We think through how contractors will read the plans, what they’ll need to build efficiently, and where coordination details matter most. That includes clear callouts, intuitive sheet organization, and reducing over-detailing that can overwhelm or obscure intent. We’re intentional about making our plans helpful to everyone involved in the project—not just those at the design table.

Planning for Long-Term Site Function

A site that works well today should still work well in five, ten, or twenty years—especially as the owner’s needs grow or evolve. That’s why we consider potential future expansion and flexibility as part of the initial design.

We ask questions like: What if they add a new building later? Can parking be expanded? Will stormwater systems handle added impervious area? By thinking ahead, we can reserve space for future infrastructure, size utilities accordingly, and avoid locking the site into a layout that won’t serve the next phase of growth. Our goal is to give clients options—and protect them from expensive redesigns later.

Protecting Shared Natural Resources

The work we do at the site level ripples outward—sometimes hundreds of miles. A stormwater outfall in the Shenandoah Valley is ultimately connected to the Chesapeake Bay. Erosion, sedimentation, and nutrient loading are local actions with regional consequences.

We take our environmental responsibility seriously, not just because we must, but because we should. That means making design choices that protect waterways, preserve soil health, and reduce pollutant loads, all while helping clients meet regulatory requirements and stay within budget.

Why Big-Picture Thinking Matters

Considering the big picture helps us deliver not only good engineering but meaningful outcomes. When we pause to understand what matters most, look out for others, and think ahead, we create designs that truly make a difference. It’s one more way we’re supporting our purpose: engineering for a better world.

Follow along as we continue this series, diving into the values that shape who we are and how we work!