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OUR PROCESS
If you aren't familiar with the typical design process, these descriptions may help clarify what we offer for your project.
PRE-DESIGN
The research phase.
Any project - large or small - deserves thorough research and understanding prior to design. This research is the foundation of a successful project. In this phase, our main goal is to listen and gather critical pieces of information to help us develop the best design solution for you. In this phase we also research state and local codes and requirements that are pertinent to your project.
This phase typically accounts for 5% of the overall design fee.
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
Putting pen to paper.
In this phase we begin to look at the overall layout and feel of your building. This is a critical phase in the design process because it gives the client an opportunity to set the course of the project. Your vision will start to take shape. It's during this phase that we may provide 3D renderings of your building so that you can see how the design is progressing in realtime. If a project requires an outside estimate, we typically will reach out to contractors to provide a rough estimate to ensure that things are on track and on budget.
This phase typically accounts for 10% of the overall design fee.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Refining the design.
The Design Development phase begins when a layout is selected and you give us direction to move forward with a particular design. This phase gives us an opportunity to add more detail to the drawings and start to integrate building systems into the design. If an engineering consultant is required for the project, such as a mechanical engineer or structural engineer, this is the phase that we will typically introduce them into the project for their initial design work.
At the end of this phase we are ready to begin putting together a set of drawings that the contractor will be able to use for building.
This phase typically accounts for 10% of the overall design fee.
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Details, details, details...
This phase is where the heavy lifting occurs in the design process. A full set of construction documents is put together so that when the project is ready to be built, the contractor has the technical details for construction.
This phase typically accounts for 40% of the overall design fee.
BIDDING & NEGOTIATION
Finding the right contractor.
Depending on your preferred project delivery method (PDM), we will assist in the bidding or negotiating process by providing a set of construction documents to interested contractors. We will answer contractor questions, coordinate pre-bid meetings, and analyze bids.
This phase typically accounts for 5% of the overall design fee.
CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION
Overseeing your investment.
We understand how important your construction project is to you. In fact, chances are you only hire an architect once in your life, especially if it's a residential project. That's why we use our resources to help you and your contractor through the construction process. We make site visits, answer questions, monitor progress, review change orders, issue clarification drawings, and certify requests for payment. We're there to help from start to finish.
This phase typically accounts for 30% of the overall design fee.
