Understanding your property is a critical step in any project. We investigate existing site restrictions, allowances and opportunities and explore zoning, building and municipality parameters – all to guide building forms and layouts for your project. We conduct field measurements, which help us establish existing conditions for your property, and our feasibility analysis, which ensures the conceptual directions we explore are practical and achievable.

Activities Include:  

• Code and zoning analysis 

• Field measurements 

• Site documents 

• Meet with building department 

During programming, we define your scope of work. Here, we ask the important questions – what is the problem we are solving for and what are we designing toward? We spend time unpacking your project goals and the vision for your space. And we take time to get into the specifics, discussing schedules, budgetary items, priorities, concerns, and site considerations. This step ensures we are creating a design that meets your needs and your vision.  

Activities include:  

• Design consultation 

• Scope analysis and budgeting 

• Visioning

Here we put pen to paper – translating your vision, your goals and your project needs into design solutions. We explore a variety of conceptual ideas, material selections and layouts. Through a collaborative back-and-forth process, we make refinements and narrow in on an ideal design. During this phase, we use our designs to engage in meaningful conversations with various builders to ensure our work meets your needs and your budget.  

Activities Include:  

• Schematic versioning and floor plan development 

• Conceptual package 

• Contractor consultations  

• Budget check-in 

This phase is about the specifics. We document and describe every facet of your project. This includes floor plans, electrical plans, sections, elevations, materials, finishes and details of planned building construction. We engage Engineers, MEP, Civil, Landscape and Builders – all working together – to define the roles, responsibilities and work that is to come. Ultimately, your construction documents (CD set) communicate the details of your design.  

Activities Include:  

• CD development 

• Builders’ notes and responses 

• Consultant and contractor coordination

Permitting is about safety and compliance. We work with various municipality officials, historic districts (when applicable) and contractors to ensure the work we are about to undertake complies with land use, building and energy codes. We provide additional information and clarification as needed and actively work to make refinements, ensuring your project is sound and approved for construction.  

Activities Include:  

• Submit drawings for permitting 

• Bidding and negotiations  

• Addressing city comments and official responses 

It is time to bring your vision to life. During the construction phase, we stay meaningfully involved – performing regular site visits to communicate with you, your builder and any additional consultants involved on the project. Our goal is to be your advocate and help bridge the gap between design and construction. We keep your design intent front and center and work to understand and decode curveballs that are discovered. We work with all those involved to provide solutions to the inevitable challenges that arise during the building process.   

Activities Include:  

• Site visits  

• Coordination between consultants 

• Design integrity and client advocacy