Please reach out to us via our contact form. Let us know who you are, how to get in touch, and a little about your project (where it is, and what you want to do). We’ll schedule a time for us to talk and figure out the best next steps from there.

If you’re new to design and construction, the easiest way to start is by getting in touch with us. We’re happy to schedule a conversation to discuss your current situation and future goals. From there, we’re happy to help identify the best next steps and how we can help you.

We offer a range of services depending on your specific needs.

For instance, if you are still testing the waters, we provide a predesign package that explores the initial questions and regulations governing the property. However, if you are more certain and ready to go, we can do a full design and permitting process to get you building. We can also continue into construction administration to assist in the building process as needed.

Drop us a line to start the conversation and together we can figure out what works best for your needs.

We understand that everyone comes to the architecture and design process from a different perspective.

Some have been around design and construction for many years and just need us to run the process to design the project and get their permit. Others have never done anything like this at all, and they have many more questions that need to be addressed at the start, and throughout the life of the project.

We’re here to help both ends of this spectrum and everyone in between.

We focus on communication and education as needed so that you understand what is happening in the moment, understand the implications that come with different options, and what drives a specific decision.

First and foremost, we’re here to create the best project for you. Our first job is to understand your vision and goals to identify and track that north star as we navigate the design process.

To do this we take a team approach. Construction and building codes are complicated. There’s just too much for any single party to know. That’s why we work with structural engineers and other consultants, contractors and their subs, and most importantly, you as our client, throughout the process.

We are not the top or front of a project, but in the middle of it. We navigate the process by gathering and sharing information between the various groups - constantly learning and teaching.

Because of that, communication is our second priority. When the team understands the goal, and works together efficiently towards that, great projects happen.

If you’re not asking the right questions, it’s very hard to get the correct solution.

Because of that, we need to understand why we are building before we move to what we are building and how. To that end, we start every project with a predesign process to discover and understand your “why”.

Sometimes we put this process into a separate, and smaller, contract, but other times it’s just the first step in our path towards a building permit and the start of construction for your project.

Please get in touch and we will schedule a time to talk more about what next steps may be best for you and your project.

While many of our clients were referred to us by their contractor, you do not need to have a contractor selected to start your project. Regardless of whether you find your architect or contractor first, the process will start with your architect as we work together designing your project and then obtain permits. To pull the permit and start construction, you’ll need to have a contractor selected.

With that said, there are benefits to having a contractor linked to a project early on.

If you have a contractor from the start, we’ll do check-ins at specific project milestones to verify that the project is generally on track for budget, scope, and scheduling. Early in the project, this information will be fairly loose but will get more specific as we progress. Because changes may be required during the permit process, your contractor will likely not be able to give you final estimates until the permit process is completed.

Having a contractor at the start of the project can be helpful but not required. If you do not yet have a contractor, we can help you navigate that process.

Let’s start the conversation and see how best to help.

The design process starts for a project is a constant cycle of identifying questions, finding answers, and implementing solutions based on the information available. It starts with very little information and gets more detailed as we build towards the final set of plans.

To structure the process, we break it down into smaller stages:

Predesign: finding the kernel of what is needed along with identifying the various rules and restrictions that must be followed. This is the most nebulous stage but is the most instrumental in the quality of a project as it sets the direction.

Schematic Design: determining what the main decisions and largest moves are. This is the first diagrammatic step toward the final set of plans and is quick and loose and easy to make large changes.

Design Development: putting the rules to the schematic design to verify that the plan will work and what must be done to make the concepts reality. This is often the bulk of the work.

Construction Documents: finalizing the various drawings and documents that will be submitted for permit review and eventually used as the contract documents for construction. The most basic parts of this involve making sure all information points correctly to one another and that needed details are completed.

Permitting: navigates the jurisdiction having authority to obtain permission to build the project as designed. There will often be comments received from the jurisdiction that must be addressed prior to approval. Once all reviews are completed and approved, then the permit is available for payment and construction can begin.

The above is a basic explanation of things. Please feel free to reach out and we can send you a more detailed diagram of the process as well as discuss how it would specifically apply to your project.

Designing a building requires several specialized professionals. At a minimum you will need an architect but will almost certainly need a structural engineer and surveyor as well. We can also include landscape architects, interior designers, and even acoustic engineers if desired.

If the project is simple enough, most mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design can be done by the subcontractors during construction. For more complicated projects though, it’s good to have those areas designed by licensed engineers.

The full makeup of the design team really depends on the needs of your project. Get in touch and we can discuss the specifics, and we’ll get to assembling the team to meet your needs.

Contracts structure the roles and responsibilities for the parties involved in a project. There are several ways to do this, but from a high-level perspective, the two most common types of project delivery are Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build model.

In Design-Build, you have a single point of contact and a single contract. The designer and builder are the same entity. As an example, in this model, you will hire someone to build you a home within a set budget. It is their responsibility to then design and build it to the specifications of that single contract. Contractors providing this service will often hire an architect via a subcontract to design the project for them.

In a Design-Bid-Build, you will have a contract with an architect to design the project, and a contractor to build it. In this method you work with the architect to define the full scope of the project and can even include materials and specific products if you choose. You can then send it to several contractors to bid on for your selection. Once you choose a contractor, it is then their responsibility to build what has been designed. The architect is then involved to varying degrees, depending on project and contract requirements, to help protect the intent.

If you have a contractor that you prefer, you can follow the Design-Bid-Build model but replace the bid portion with a negotiation process. This negotiation process identifies how the contractor can construct the project on time and within budget. This may mean modifying some material selections or scaling back on some portions of the project scope. We are here to help in this process as needed.

The last thing to clarify with contracts is who’s responsible to who. In some cases, you may hire an architect, but the job will require a structural engineer and a landscape architect.

The architect may just put those services within the main contract with you and then fulfil those duties by hiring the other consultants under the architect. Alternatively, you can have contracts with all consultants required for the project. This means that each consultant is responsible directly to you rather than to the architect acting as intermediary.

The development process is complicated and the above is general information. Please drop us a line. We are more than happy to discuss the specifics of your project and how best to fulfill your specific needs.

We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.