Together we will simply focus on your project needs and aspirations. This is crucial to ensure that, moving forward, time and money is spent on exactly what you want to accomplish and savings is found along the way.  In addition, the location,  building, and site is thoroughly evaluated and understood for its potential and limitations.

The fun continues as, together, we take your defined needs and begin to work them with the physical location being designed.  We continue to test these needs and determine the WHY of its purpose to make sure we focus on what is important to you and ensure we don’t get outside the budget.  We present design studies that reflect our investigations and further refine the design.  Design ideas are always presented in ways to visualize and understand the proposed design. This process goes back and forth until we have a master plan design that works for you and your budget.  We provide estimated construction costs for the master plan. 

If required, we will prepare drawings and assist in preparation of the application for historic, planning or zoning board hearings. We present and provide expert testimony regarding your project

With the master plan complete, and approvals in hand, we develop the design and refine the aesthetical details and specifications. This refinement process articulates the design and describes the materials and building systems that are to be used.   The product of this phase results in detailed, comprehensive, and code compliant documents that will be used for bidding, permits and construction.  Structure, mechanical systems, lighting, power, specialty items, material, color, and other details are defined here.  We provide an updated cost estimate at this time.

We put together a list of contractors that are suited for the work.  This list consists of our recommendations as well as yours.  If you already have a contractor, we forgo the bidding process and work with them. The bidders meet with us to review the complete project and walk through the site, and/or,  the building with their subcontractors.  We explain the design and answer questions to all contractors. Bids are submitted on our standard bid forms so that the bids are compared apples to apples. Together we check references, discuss and negotiate costs and award the bid. We use an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Owner / Contractor agreement or an approved equal for contract.  We provide the contractor with signed & sealed drawings to submit for permits to the township.  We answer all questions the township may request regarding our work until the permits are approved.

Our construction administration process is intended to ensure that;

1. You are not burdened by the construction process
2. The project is built correctly
3. The contractor receives all he needs to perform his work 
4. The design is refined as necessary. 
5. Savings occurs 
6. You receive what was intended

We feel that contractors are vital team members and should not be viewed adversarial. We advocate good building construction and fair contract decisions. You can expect regular project meetings vital to fostering honesty and communication between all team members.  These meetings include the following:

1. Inspect the work
2. Review the schedule
3. Address issues brought up by the contractor or you
4. Review payments
5. Review submittals
6. Review change orders
7. Review Shop drawings
8. Make minor design adjustments
9. Document the construction process
10. Perform punch lists
11. Address issues the township inspectors may have.