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Through this column, we aim to present our readers with authentic insights by featuring the journeys, experiences, perspectives, and accumulated expertise of professionals working in architecture and engineering.
In this edition, we spoke with Qualified Architect Erdenejin.B a certified architect, one of the founding members of MGL E&C, and a professional collaborator since 2017 about architectural planning, particularly master planning, and his professional approach to design.
What project are you currently working on?
At present, I am primarily involved in converting schematic designs into detailed construction drawings and conducting site supervision. In terms of project types, I am working on several developments, including office buildings, residential complexes, industrial facilities, and high rise projects, particularly focusing on partial and master planning components.
What are the advantages and challenges of working on multiple projects simultaneously?
Working on multiple projects at once requires strong project management and team coordination skills, as well as the ability to align various stakeholders, including clients and contractors. It also provides valuable exposure to different project typologies within a short timeframe, allowing for continuous learning and professional growth.
On the downside, managing several projects concurrently increases the risk of schedule delays if coordination is not handled effectively.
What distinguishes your work? What do you prioritize in planning?
The distinctive aspect of my work lies in developing comprehensive planning solutions that balance the interests of clients, end users, contractors, financial constraints, and project timelines.
There are occasions when clients request outcomes that may not be technically feasible. In such cases, it is essential for us, as professionals, to clearly explain the limitations and propose viable alternatives. Although the client provides the financial investment, the end users residents, customers, or businesses ultimately experience the space. Therefore, strict adherence to applicable building codes and standards remains a top priority.
Currently, due to the nature of my responsibilities, I place particular emphasis on building elevation planning. Recent climate related challenges, such as flood risks, along with the allocation of construction sites on uneven terrain, have made elevation strategy increasingly critical.
In simple terms, properly determining the building’s 0.00 level can significantly reduce earthwork and foundation costs, improving overall economic efficiency. At the same time, the 0.00 level directly influences architectural spatial quality and circulation design, including entrance platforms and ramp solutions.
If the base level is set too high, excessive staircases may be required, potentially affecting both functionality and aesthetics if not resolved appropriately. Ramp dimensions are likewise dependent on elevation decisions. Furthermore, pedestrian and vehicular access whether connected to the ground floor or basement level is a crucial planning consideration that requires careful attention.
How do digital tools support your workflow?
We are currently developing and refining these processes using Revit. This software integrates multidisciplinary project data within a 3D environment, enabling more accurate and coordinated design outcomes.
For example, utilities coordination, level differences, pipe diameters, and technical clearances can be visualized in real scale, reducing the likelihood of clashes during construction. In practice, this allows approximately 80-90% of the design documentation to be directly implemented on site with minimal revisions.
Additionally, Revit enables early stage extraction of quantitative data such as earthwork volumes and material quantities which provides significant advantages for clients in budgeting and decision making.
Based on your experience, what advice would you offer to young professionals in the field?
In planning, if one prioritizes circulation flow, fire safety egress, engineering systems, and aesthetics in that order most building codes and standards can be effectively satisfied.
In our context, we are often required to accommodate extensive functions within limited site areas. Therefore, intelligent space planning and early stage conceptual decisions particularly in sloped or topographically complex sites are critical to streamlining subsequent design phases.
Rather than striving solely for “error free drawings,” our core responsibility is to collaborate closely with engineers, clients, and contractors to anticipate potential risks and develop sound, practical solutions.
The construction industry is inherently collaborative no single professional can accomplish everything alone. Moving forward, effective coordination among stakeholders, along with the adoption and efficient use of technological advancements, will be increasingly important for the next generation of industry professionals.