The Process

“How does this work?”

That’s the typical preliminary question we get from many of our first time clients and prospects.

In short, we try to make hiring an architect as easy and painless as possible. If you have a question about whether your project requires our services, we’re happy to have a conversation with you.

We thrive off of providing you with an exemplary experience and making the process of bringing your project to life fun, engaging, and enlightening. To that point, 90-95% of our clients come to us from word-of-mouth referrals, so that tells the story of who we are as a company and as designers. We work with you to enable your space to work for you.

We’ve been at this since 1997, and we know exactly what we’re looking for when we step into a project. We like to see how you live, and try to really get an idea of what you’re all about, and what you want and/or need. This is what sets us apart. We actively listen to your vision and ask the right questions out of the gate so that we can get the design right the first time. In fact, we even have a sheet for each project we start in on – we call it, “client homework.” It basically walks us through your day:

What do you do when you first wake up in the morning?
What’s the first room you walk in to?
Do you walk the dog right away?
Where’s the leash?

We ask all these questions because it forces you to really think about your day and how you use your home and your space. It makes you think of things in your current space… things that you may all of sudden realize are really inconvenient and want to change.

When you’re working closely with a team, and that team is well-informed, good things will happen. We approach the subject of “team” at the outset so that if you need help tying together all of the pieces and parts, we can give you qualified candidates that will suit your needs. It’s good to have a team in place in the early stages so that everyone is on board with the project planning and development process and questions/concerns are raised and remedied at the start of a given process. Understanding the little things now accounts for big success when a project is completed.

In a nutshell,
here’s how the process unfolds:

  • Initial site meeting: As mentioned, we like to get a strong understanding of what you’re envisioning, and figure out how to best implement a livable solution for you that fits what you’re looking to achieve with your property. This could be making a space in your home feel more spacious, or it could be a brand new addition from the ground up. This meeting is to discuss your vision, and brainstorm inherent goals. You may not have a complete understanding of how the process works at the outset, or how your vision stands up to the possibility of even becoming a reality. It’s our job to put things into focus. This is when and where that begins.
    Of note: The initial site meeting is free of any sort of charge. It’s simply for us to better serve you.
  • Design Proposal: Formal document walking you through a set of objectives for the project. We’ve done it all. From small-scale residential renovations to large contracted commercial projects – we’ve long been a source for innovative architectural ideas and initiations. Once the pre-design is on the table, we’ll walk you through it and make sure it makes sense to you.
  • Pre-Design: In specific regard to additions and renovations, the next step is really about bringing the project to reality. The first step in that is taking measurements and documenting the specifications of the space we’re working on. This is how we capture our floor plan, elevations, and other applicable details so we can work out the schematic designs.
  • Schematic Designs: This is the process in which a conceptual design is developed. We try to provide as much detail as we can within our drawings so that it makes our life easier and the lives of the contractor/builders easier when it comes to bringing the project to a tangible existence. Analysis of the building program, aesthetic factors, existing conditions, and the site enables us to produce solutions in floor plans and elevations. Local and state zoning regulations and a preliminary analysis of the type of construction, structural systems and materials will be determined and will be a factor in the design process as well.
  • Finding the right fit: Once designs are approved, it’s time to bring in the right person to build out the blueprints. Your builder is someone that is going to be working on your home for days, weeks, and perhaps months, so you want to find someone you feel comfortable with, and someone whom you can invest your trust in. You may have someone in mind already (great!) If not, we have a vast network of contractors/builders we can introduce you to.
  • Project Management: We stay involved every step of the way to make sure you’re getting EXACTLY what you want. We drop in on projects to make sure things are running smoothly and make sure end goals are being achieved. We can do this as often as you’d like.

That’s basically it. Of course, we’re always available for questions and/or concerns. Our goal is to provide you with peace-of-mind, and, of course, make your dreams a reality.