Architects help clients design, permit, bid, and build their buildings.

CLIENTS

Those clients could be a single family, a committee, a business, or a city entity. These buildings could be mountain homes, suburban homes, urban homes, multi-family homes like apartments or townhomes, additions to existing buildings, new warehouses, new church buildings, tenant finishes in retail spaces, libraries, and even airports.

DESIGN

We investigate the client’s needs and design the structure according to those needs. We also design that structure in compliance with the local building codes. Then, we produce construction documents. These are construction drawings and specifications that detail the building in every way …the way in which the building sits on the site and how the finish grade routes water around the building, the structural components and calculations, the wall assemblies and exterior waterproofing, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and even the client’s finish selections like paint colors and sink fixtures. This is the “creatio ex nihilo” …this is the “something out of nothing“.

PERMIT

In order to build the structure you want, you have to get permission from the local authority having jurisdiction. The architect is the point of contact for this process. Now, depending on the jurisdiction, getting the permits could be an 8-week process or an 8-month process. Whichever the case, the architect is responsible for submitting drawings that fulfill the AHJ’s requirements for submission, coordinating all responses in an efficient manner, and updating the drawings in the process.

BID

First, the client always selects the contractor. However, the architect assists the client in finding reputable and proficient contractors to bid the project. Sometimes the client has a pre-selected contractor. When that happens, we get the opportunity to integrate the contractor early in design. In every case, we assist the client in pinning d own the GMP, the Guaranteed Maximum Price for construction.

BUILD

The architect is a representative of the client. As the representative for the client, the architect ensures the contractor builds the structure according to the Construction Documents. We are there to observe construction, document the process, and ensure that the payment the contractor is requesting from the client aligns with the work that has been performed.