Service Details
We work with you from your first thoughts of the project, through the design, and to the selection of a contractor and construction of the job.
We take pride in being hands-on. We believe that during such an important and potentially stressful experience, you should be working with somebody who understands your situation. We hope to guide you through the process so that the anxiety, reservations, or unease that can come with undertaking any building project are manageable.
We are not expecting any prior knowledge from our clients. We offer this information for your reference and hope that you will contact us to begin the process. Opening a line of communication is the best way to enter into any project.
Pre-Design &
Programming
Prior to beginning any project, we sit down with you and have an in-depth conversation about exactly what you want to do. We encourage you to share anything that might help us understand how you like to use the space you live in. The more we know, the more we can tailor our design to fit your needs. We are interested in understanding your lifestyle choices, as well as your personal and aesthetic preferences. We find it useful to know things like where you prefer to read or watch TV and what kinds of gatherings you might like to host.
Survey
After we have worked out a clear trajectory for the project, we need to document the existing property. To do this, we visit the site to take interior and exterior dimensions. We use these dimensions and the description of the property included on your deed to generate existing condition drawings over which we will draw new designs.
Schematic Design
Once we have accurate drawings of the site and have defined a clear scope of work, we begin designing your project. During this phase, we will share with you proposals for the project in the form of schematic drawings. We like to meet multiple times to go over the drawings. We will discuss the merits of the design, and you will have the opportunity to make changes to the design. From this refinement of the schematic drawings we will ultimately arrive at a design that will carry through the rest of the project.
Design Development
Design development is where we begin to make the project real. During this phase we begin to apply materiality to the project to determine its specific look and feel. We choose finishes, map out appliances, and hone in on specific fixtures. This is also when decisions are made on types of flooring, trim, cabinetry, and lighting.
Construction
Documentation
Taking from the design we have developed, we then put together drawings that can be used by a number of professionals to permit and construct your project. These documents consist of all components required to build the final product to current building standards, including code analyses, product installation specifications, and zoning specifications. These drawings will be reviewed by various government agencies for the issuance of necessary permitting. From there, General Contractors would be able to use these drawings to construct the project.
Bidding
Through our many projects, we have developed relationships with many trustworthy and dependable contractors. During this phase we ask contractors to submit proposals for the job based on the construction documents. We aim to solicit cost estimates from three qualified contractors. After we verify that all aspects of the design have been addressed in the estimates, we will meet with you to help make a decision on which contractor you will hire to construct your project. We then help facilitate the contract between you and the contractor.
While we do have a list of contractors we trust, we are equally happy to work with any contractor of your choosing.
Permitting
Permitting is when we get permission for the contractor to build your project. While the bidding is taking place, we file all necessary paperwork with the relevant municipalities and address any comments or concerns as they are presented. Once the necessary permits are issued, construction can begin.
Construction
Administration
Construction Administration consists of site visits to confirm that work is being completed in accordance with the specifications and the drawings. Since construction can be a stressful component of any project, we find it important to stay involved through to the completion of the project. This allows us to ensure that the work is being done according to our design standards and that you are getting what you expect from the construction. Prior to your payment of the contractor, we also verify that the work they are soliciting payment for has been completed to the standards outlined in the drawings.
Upon completion of the work, we do a walk-through with you and the contractor to put together a final punch-list of the tasks that need to be completed before the work is signed off on. Once the items on the punch list have been completed by the contractor, we do a final walk-through to confirm that the work has been done and then sign off on final payment.
Additional Services
Feasibility Study
For those who have not yet decided to proceed with a project, we can perform quick studies of local building codes and provide preliminary cost estimates for potential projects. Whether you are starting a development project or renovating an existing structure, and regardless of whether you currently own a property, we can help you get a clearer picture of what can be done. Whatever the scale, we can help you assess the merits of a project idea and help you make a decision as to whether or not to proceed. Sit down with us and let us know what you're thinking.
Existing Condition Documentation
For those looking to make a purchase or preserve historic information, we can survey any building or property to ensure that the deed description matches the existing property. Occasionally fences, sheds, plantings, and walkways cross existing property lines, so we also check that neighboring properties are not encroaching on the property you intend to purchase.
Photography
We can provide professional photography services and deliver well-composed photographs of both exterior and interior spaces.
Whether you are looking to sell your property or generate documentation of a historic property prior to demolition, we can tailor our documentation to showcase the property's rooms and details.
We also provide aerial drone photography.
3D Computer Modeling,
Rendering, and Animation
For large projects and in-depth analyses, we have the capacity to develop three-dimensional computer models from which we can generate animations and photo-realistic renderings. These are handy for developers looking to market a project prior to construction and for home or business owners who need help visualizing project proposals.
Physical Modeling
We can also produce presentational physical models using foam, chipboard, plexiglass, and 3D-printed materials to aid in visualization and presentation.