As an architect, several times a month, I find myself in some variation of a phone or email conversation with a prospective client that starts like this: Client: Hi. My contractor suggested I contact you. Me: How can I help you? Client: We’re doing a [describes project] and we thought it would be simple and
Any building or remodeling project involves a team of professionals. Depending on the size and complexity of the project, the team can range from a single architect and contractor to a host of architects, engineers and construction project managers, but the basic requirements are the same: properly trained and experienced professionals working in concert via
Starting a large building or remodeling project can seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never worked with an architect before. You’ll probably have lots of questions about timing, process and cost, and a host of others are bound to come up as your project progresses. To take some of the mystery – and, hopefully, some of
This post first ran in 2018. Many people think of an architect as someone who designs large, important buildings – a visionary who dreams up new and bold designs, like New York’s Guggenheim Museum (Frank Lloyd Wright) or Chicago’s Aqua tower (Jeanne Gang). And of course, architects do that. But an architect does much more
A commercial building project is complex. It often involves a large team of people with different skills, time pressures and communication styles. When you add the worries any entrepreneur has when building a new business or revamping an old one – local competition, market changes, permitting issues and environmental requirements, to name just a few
Finishing your building project is definitely time for celebration. You’ve been through all the work, expense and emotion that any major project entails, so when the final nail has been hammered in and the last of the paint has dried, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. But before you pop the champagne and
The design development is complete, the construction documents are done, and you’ve selected a contractor. Congratulations! You’re moving into one of the most exciting phases of your architectural design project: construction. During this phase, contractors will begin the task of building your dream, and with it comes the essential task of construction administration. Construction Administration Purpose A building or remodeling
During the bidding phase of your architectural design project, your architect can help you select the contractors who will build your dream. Once your design has been finalized, you’ll need to send design documents to qualified contractors, who will use them to provide estimates of the costs of labor and materials for your project. Bidding
Once the design development phase is complete, it’s time to move on to step three in the architectural design process: creating the construction documents. Construction Documents Purpose The construction documents represent the completed design for the project. They are submitted to the city for any required permitting, and the final versions of these documents will
After the schematic design is completed, the next step in the architectural design process is the design development. Design Development Purpose While the schematic design’s purpose is to provide an overview of the building or remodeling project, the design development phase is intended to fill in the details. During this phase, the architect works with
