Our Work Process

Phase 1A - Master Planning 

This first stage is probably the most important time that you will spend with us during our design process. We will discuss the programmatic requirements for your project: is your project a renovation or new construction; urban or rural; what type of rooms and where should they be located in relation to your site, personal needs, requirements and preferences. We want to understand how you live and your emotional attachments to the concept of home. This is the time when we will compare your needs in relation to your budget, schedule, site opportunities and limitations. We will review any existing documentation for the house and site, carefully research and document the zoning, code criteria, permitting process, and prepare drawings as required for our work. As our client you will need to be very frank with us about your goals, expectations, budget, and how you want the end product to feel and function. We will ask you many questions to gain a better sense of your goals and expectations, and will listen carefully to what you say and don’t say, such as the lack of response or negative reaction to a topic or element. We may make suggestions based on our knowledge and experience. After a through discussion of these topics, we will be able to establish the scope program and direction of your project. 

Phase 1B - Schematic Design

Once we have defined the scope of the project, we will create a series of rough sketches known collectively as schematic designs. These sketches will illustrate the general arrangement of rooms, as well as the site layout, zoning constraints and other design forces. Depending on the project, three dimensional drawings may be used to help convey the visual nature of the schematic designs. Our goal at this stage is to develop the design concept imagery that embraces your needs and guides the development of the design. We will refine these sketches to clarify the potential development options for the property until adequate information exists for you to make an informed decision on how you would like to proceed. General budgeting would be performed based on our knowledge and experience to ensure you are comfortable with the potential overall cost of the entire project. Discussions about the schedule of the project and anticipated length of the design and construction phases will be held to ensure that your expectations are managed appropriately. Do not be alarmed if these sketches are not yet the detailed drawings that locate every drawer and appliance. Ask us to explain how the traffic patterns flow, how the spaces serve different purposes and what will they look like. It is critical that we are all on the same page about what you want and what our architectural response is. Before proceeding any further with the design, we will ask for your approval on the overall design, scope and budget.

Phase 2 - Design Development

During this phase, refined drawings will be developed based on the schematic designs of the previous phase, as well as your feedback. These drawings will illustrate the proposed improvements to the structure. This phase will continue until a set of preliminary construction drawings have been prepared and are subsequently approved by you. This set of drawings is suitable for a general contractor to prepare a cost estimate. It would be during this phase that we would provide you with a list of qualified contractors for the project. We will work together to develop an interview and bidding process that will facilitate the selection of a contractor. We will provide recommendations, however the final choice is yours. The availability and work capacity for qualified contractors often limits how quickly they can start a project. We have found that the sooner the contractor can be integrated into the project, the better the results are for the client in terms of overall schedule and cost.

Phase 3 - Construction Documents

This is the stage during which we work to finalize the design and ensure it fulfills all of your requirements. Your continued feedback during this phase allows the preparation of precise, scaled drawings. This drawing set includes all of the necessary plans, sections, elevations, details, window/door/hardware schedules, etc. required to convey the intent of the project, obtain permits, and begin construction. This comprehensive suite of drawings, specifications, and material and fixture selections will be used to establish the exact cost of construction by the contractor. We strive to make these documents as thorough as possible. Finally, we review the contractor’s final proposal on your behalf in order to ensure it accurately represents the project’s construction documents and manual.

Phase 4 - Construction

We strongly encourage our continued involvement in the project for the entire duration of the construction phase. Up until now, your project has been defined by drawings, discussions and samples. When construction begins, your project moves from drawn representation to a physical reality. We will visit the construction site and attend project meetings at intervals which we determine to be reasonably necessary, in order to become familiar with the progress and quality of the work, as well as review the contractor’s applications for payment. We make ourselves available to answer any questions and provide sketches or drawings that are necessary to accommodate existing conditions and design or construction topics that arise. As the project nears completion we will work with the contractor and owner to prepare and close out any punch list items. Our attention remains focused on your project long after the dust has settled in order to address any tweaks or modifications, ensuring that the final product exceeds your goals and expectations.