Introduction
Dori Graham, Director of Interior Construction at Northwood Office, joins Jack Ossa on The Power of Design Podcast to talk about a career that moves between design, furniture, general contracting and the owner's side of commercial real estate.
She explains how an interior design degree, a large furniture installation and a second degree in construction management led her to hospital projects and then to managing office upfits and capital improvements for a landlord.
About the Episode
Dori grew up in the Houston area and studied interior design at Louisiana State University, where classes overlapped with architecture and landscape architecture. Her first jobs were in commercial furniture, working on systems furniture, government contracts and custom finishes. A furniture installation for a large school district headquarters showed her how interiors fit into construction, and she decided to go back to school for a master's degree in construction management at Texas A&M.
After graduating during the downturn she started over as a project engineer, first on retail upfits and then on hospital renovations. She spent more than seven years on a children's hospital campus, where her team completed about $160 million of work and she became project manager. She later worked on the owner's side, took part-time construction work during the pandemic, and joined Northwood Office in 2022.
The conversation covers how she works with leasing and development teams, how landlord reviews protect a building's future, the value of scanning existing conditions, and a shared frustration with timelines. At the end Dori asks Jack which sector of design he would choose, and he talks about residential design and spaces that adapt to the people who use them.
Key Takeaways
- Interiors and construction connect: knowing both the design and the build side makes it easier to see how a space will be built and used.
- Build from the inside out: Jack and Dori agree that understanding the micro level improves design and constructability.
- Ask questions: admitting you do not know something brings the right people in and makes the team stronger.
- Align before presenting: contractors, designers and engineers should agree among themselves before presenting to the client.
- Landlord review protects the asset: checking tenant plans for items such as supplemental cooling and specialty flooring keeps the space usable for the next tenant.
- Speed of communication: architects, owners and contractors all benefit from fast, clear answers, and nothing has to be perfect to keep the project moving.
- Scan first: a 3D scan and an accurate existing-conditions model save time on upfits and renovations.
Highlights from the Conversation
If I can get on your team and tell you I don't know then all of a sudden you're the expert and then you can teach me.
Dori Graham
I don't know it all and that there is something humbling about being in construction and saying you don't know.
Dori Graham
It doesn't have to be perfect, let's just keep the ball rolling.
Jack Ossa
Topics Discussed
- Studying interior design and starting in commercial furniture
- Changing careers into construction management
- Hospital renovations and working with design teams
- Moving to the owner's side of the table
- Office upfits and capital improvements at a large office park
- Landlord review of tenant plans
- Timeliness and communication between architects and owners
- Scanning existing conditions and adaptable space
Why This Conversation Matters
Dori describes the daily reality behind an office upfit: tight lease dates, existing conditions, specs and several parties who need to answer quickly. That is the kind of project we handle in interior architecture, as in BWM Office and Collet Office, and the same collaboration applies to ground-up work in architecture.
About the Guest
Dori Graham is Director of Interior Construction at Northwood Office. A Texas native with a bachelor's degree in interior design from Louisiana State University and a master's degree in construction management from Texas A&M, she has worked in commercial furniture, general contracting on retail and hospital projects, and on the owner's side. Connect with Dori Graham on LinkedIn or visit the Northwood Office website.
