OUR SERVICES

The following is an outline of the design process and basic services we offer to our clients. We can tailor our scope of services to meet the specific project needs per our client's request.

Pre Design services

This phase includes initial client engagement to determine the projects goals, objectives and requirements. This phase involves site analysis, researching building local building codes and regulations and identifying potential project challenges.

Schematic Design phase services

During this first phase we consult with our clients to determine project goals and requirements. Often this determines the program for the project. The program, or architectural program, is the term used to define the required functions of the project. It should include estimated square footage of each usage type and any other elements that achieve the project goals.

During this phase we will develop study drawings, documents, or other media that illustrate the concepts of the design and include spatial relationships, scale, and form for the owner to review. Schematic design (SD) also is the research phase of the project, when zoning requirements or jurisdictional restrictions are discovered and addressed.

This phase produces a final schematic design, to which the owner agrees after consultation and discussions. Construction costs are estimated based on overall project volume. After approval of the final schemamtic design, the design then moves forward to the design development phase.

Design Development phase services

Design development (DD) services use the initial design documents from the schematic phase and take them one step further. This phase lays out mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and architectural details.

Typically referred to as DD, this phase results in drawings that often specify design elements such as material types and location of windows and doors. The level of detail provided in the DD phase is determined by the owner’s request and the project requirements. The DD phase often ends with a formal presentation to, and approval by, the owner.

Construction Document phase services

The next phase is construction documents (CDs). Once the owner is satisfied with the documents produced during DD, the team moves forward and produces drawings with greater detail. These drawings typically include specifications for construction details and materials.

Once CDs are produced that are reviewed and approved by the client, they will be sent on to contractors for pricing or bidding per the client's request. The level of detail in CDs may vary depending on the project scope and the client's preference. This phase results in the contractors’ final estimates of project costs

Bid or negotiation phase services

Included in this phase is the preparation of the bid documents to go out to potential contractors for pricing. The bid document set often includes an advertisement for bids, instructions to bidders, the bid form, bid documents, the owner-contractor agreement, labor and material payment bond, and any other sections necessary for successful price bids. On the owner's request, our team is prepared to meet with any potential bidders to review the project requirements.

Construction phase services

Contract administration (CA) services are rendered at the client’s discretion and are outlined in the owner-architect construction agreement. Different owner-architect- contractor agreements require different levels of services on the architect’s part. CA services begin with the initial contract for construction and terminate when the final certificate of payment is issued.

The architect’s core responsibility during this phase is to help the contractor to build the project as specified in the CDs as approved by the owner. Questions may arise on site that require the architect to develop architectural sketches: drawings issued after construction documents have been released that offer additional clarification to finish the project properly. Different situations may require the architect to issue a Change in Services to complete the project.