A pride of nominations

When you ask Jeff Hurdis, Lead Designer at Lagois Design-Build-Renovate about his philosophy of design, he has one word.

The word is “Listening”.

Listening is the part that comes first because without it nothing else happens properly.

“All homeowners are different,” he explains, “so one design idea doesn’t work for everyone.” 

Jeff was recently nominated for the Greater Ottawa Homebuilders’ Association award for Designer of the Year – one nomination among several for Lagois this year.

Along with Designer of the Year, the company has been nominated for Renovator of the Year and also in these categories:

The awards will be announced on November 4, 2023, at The Westin Ottawa. 

Jeff is not only a designer but a detective.

It’s his job to try to “uncover the challenges” homeowners are having with their homes. He asks what doesn’t work, what has been tried, and what they really want to do.  

“I ask several questions on each topic,” he says until all the issues have been covered and understood. 

“It goes beyond creativity,” Jeff explains. “First you have to find the solution, and then the creativity begins.”

It’s a full team process. Jeff first investigates what homeowners need, want, and expect according to their space and budget. He brings that information back to the office and creates a model, a “wish list”, determined by his clients. And then the Lagois team sits down for a brainstorming meeting, called a charette, or a collaborative planning session.

“Everyone comes to the table with a concept or an idea,” he says. “We’ll take one or two or three, then work through some designs.” These eventually translate into large 2ft by 3ft drawings showing floor plans and elevations. 

It takes at least two or three days of work to get the concept figured out, not just by Jeff but by the team. He explains he prints the drawings and shows them to someone else ‒ for example, Sophie Villeneuve, Lagois Project Development Manager, who acts as a second set of eyes. Sophie might make suggestions that improve the concept, and Jeff might make the adjustments.

The next step is a meeting with the homeowners to present the designs. This meeting is a long one that can take two or three hours.

“We review their goals, walk through their spaces and show them how our proposal will alleviate some of the issues,” Jeff explains. “At this point, we’re still finding a direction that makes sense for them spatially ‒ how it feels, how it fits into their budget.”

Homeowners are encouraged to tell him what they don’t like. “I always reinforce that they’re not going to hurt my feelings,” Jeff says. “If there’s something they don’t like, we want to know right away.”

Sometimes his clients will want changes that might work well; sometimes the changes aren’t feasible for a variety of reasons, including cost.

He enjoys the excitement of each project. 

“Some people have been sitting with an issue in their house for over 20 years,” he says. “It’s so awesome to see how happy they are with the results.”

Jeff has been with Lagois for nearly 12 years. Actually, it’s where he once began as a co-op student. Following graduation, he applied for an opening and was hired.

Today he’s busy not only with work but with a growing family that includes two-and-a-half-year-old Dylan and six-and-a-half-month-old Chloe.

“Fortunately they’re both good sleepers,” he says.

He loves his work ‒ not just the skill and creativity of it, but working with a variety of people, often at an important turning point in their lifestyle.

“The Lagois Team and I are so incredibly proud of Jeff,” said Lagois President Jacob Kirst when the nomination was announced. “What an accomplishment! This is a testament to his dedication and unwavering commitment to provide homeowners with design solutions that are aesthetically inspiring, highly functional, innovative, sensitive to the environment and that finish on time and on budget.” 

He added: “We celebrate this recognition with Jeff, and we thank him for making a difference.”

But Jeff is quick to say that, although his name is on the Designer of the Year nomination, it is really a recognition for the entire company.

“It’s all one piece,” he says. “As a project moves through the process, others are fully involved. For example, Sophie does the final selection of colours and tiles and finishes. The site supervisors take over the construction. It’s a team effort.”

The whole team is proud to be part of such an honour.

“I joined the Lagois team about a year ago,” says Rheanna Kollaard, Lagois Architectural Technologist, “and ever since I have been grateful to be surrounded by such talented individuals who have continually inspired me to be my best.”

Rheanna goes on to say: “This nomination is a testament of the dedication and collaboration that our team possesses. I am excited to see what we will accomplish in the future!”

Gordon Shaw, Site Supervisor, is new to Lagois and a dedicated team member. “I can’t say enough about our fabulous company and staff,” he says. “After spending several years now in the construction/renovation industry I have never had the privilege of working with such talented and knowledgeable teammates.”

Gordon is impressed by the “solid, lasting relationships with our clients and our dedication to completing our projects on time and with outstanding quality in mind. It means a lot in life to love where you work. I love working at Lagois and look forward to many more upcoming projects.”

Tom Felts, a long-time Lagois team member and presently Site Supervisor, knows very well the importance of a strong team. “What being nominated for the GOHBA awards means to me,” he says, “is recognition for all the hours of hard work that our talented, dedicated team puts into creating truly amazing spaces for our clients to live in.” 

Ruby Rose, Lagois Architectural Technologist, likes the team’s openness to ideas and creativity among wide expertise.  

“It’s exciting to be a part of the team at Lagois,” she says, “where people who work here are open to ideas and perspectives from everyone's area of expertise.” 

“We had a meeting recently where everyone brought their ideas together,” she says. “Jeff considered each option and came up with an amalgamation of the ideas that made the most sense for the client. 

“I looked at his design later and I was amazed at how elegantly he manipulated the space to fit each design goal that the client laid out for us.

“The success of Lagois seems to be our focus on working as a team and each person bringing their best to that team.”

Sophie Villeneuve, Project Development Manager, agrees.

“We have a passionate team that works hard to get all the pieces together to make beautiful homes,” she says. “It’s a great honour to be nominated for our work.” 

What Jason Simons, Lead Craftsman, loves about working at Lagois is “the sense of pride I feel going to work every day.” 

Jason calls the team “amazing from design to finished product”.  

He adds: “As lead carpenter at Lagois, I'm so proud to be part of the team that has been nominated for these awards.”

Darren Vander Meer, Lagois Production Manager, is especially proud of a particular Lagois accomplishment this year: the long-term goal and big challenge of renovating to a NetZero standard. 

“It’s a great honour to be recognized amongst our peers,” he says. “This year has meant a lot – not only because of our NetZero standard but because at the same time, we have accomplished our clients’ holistic design goals...all with the support of the best team!” 

Brenda Salmon, Lagois Office Manager, recalls that “we have been a finalist for Renovator of the Year and Designer of the Year every year for as long as I have been with Lagois.” (Lagois was awarded Renovator of the Year the first year she started with the company.) To Brenda, this is a “testament to the exceptional quality of work that we provide our homeowners.”

And she says about Jeff’s nomination for Designer of the Year: “This is a testimony to his brilliance and his dedication to bringing homeowners’ visions to reality. He deserves to be recognized.”

Herb Lagois, the company founder, has been aware of the company’s quality and reputation longer than anyone. 

“From my perspective,” he says, “it all starts with good leadership. It speaks to Lagois having a focused team under the guiding light of Jacob Kirst. It also speaks volumes about how passionate the Lagois team is in everything they do and how they enjoy what they do, too. 

“They help folks love where they live – and that starts by loving where they work.”