We believe that the quality of service provided by an architect helps to define the quality of an Owner’s experience throughout the life of a project. We’ve been fortunate to have been involved in projects which are defined by wonderful and sublime design. But underpinning that design, and insuring that the overall project experience was (on most days!) a smooth one, was a well-defined and executed plan for serving the project on a daily basis. A smooth-running project is important not only for inspiring confidence in both the owner and the project team, but also because it allows the Owner and the project team to continue to refine and develop the project beyond the construction documents phase of the work. Once construction begins, time not spent trying to figure out where ductwork needs to go can be spent refining the design of fireplaces, carefully considering finish materials, and the myriad other “front and center” aspects of the design that will be enjoyed by the Owner for years to come. Well after working drawings are done, there are new design opportunities to consider as a project is constructed; a well-run project environment creates the space necessary to evaluate and act upon those opportunities, helping to further ensure a great outcome.
Pre-Design Services
There is often a great deal of effort required in evaluating a property – i.e. determining the “where” of the project, well in advance of the “what”. Not to mention the fact that the “where” can often define and constrain the “what”. We can help you understand the pros and cons of the locations you’re looking at (or your current location!), help you understand the various approval processes you and your team will need to navigate, and help you to arrive at a great decision.
Design, Construction Documentation, and Contract Administration
The services which are at the core of what we do: from defining your project in terms of concrete requirements (such as overall project area, number of bedrooms, etc.) and more elusive goals, to initial phases of design creating floor plans, elevations, etc., through production of construction documents, and finally through administration of the contract between the you and your builder, we’ve developed a strong skill set focused on delivering these services.
Sustainable Design
While we realize that sustainable design may not be critical to every Owner, we believe that there are always opportunities to “do more with less”, both during construction, and across the lifecycle of a project. We believe there are some essential commonsense maxims that can guide many decisions: “Waste not, want not”, “A penny saved is a penny earned”, and countless others. Even if a project doesn’t completely conform to LEED, or some other formal rating system, it can still be well-designed to take advantage of natural light, minimize its exposure to solar heat gain, minimize grading impact, be designed with thoughtfully-selected materials that minimize waste and reduce additional finishing, and incorporate efficient building systems that, while using fewer resources, lower an Owner’s cost of operation and ownership.
Architectural Interiors
Whether it’s helping you directly (by selecting interior finishes, design millwork, plumbing and light fixtures); assisting your favorite interior designer, or helping you find your first designer, we not only have a long history of our own successful architectural interiors implementation, we also have a history of highly successful collaboration with great designers. We’re happy to help your directly, or we will tailor our services to mesh cost-effectively with your designer, providing as much or as little support to them as needed.
How would you describe your design process?
For us, good design begins and ends with the client’s needs, both in terms of their concrete needs for various areas, spaces, and functions, but also the more ephemeral desire for beauty, enjoyment, etc. We listen carefully, and strive to put together a program and plan that reflects those needs first and foremost. An architectural expression should grow naturally from that well-conceived plan – in concert with the client’s desire towards a particular style or “feeling”. Lastly, we believe that good design is often about “what wasn’t done” – and that most often, it is restraint and editing which are ultimately the keys to a sublimely beautiful result.
How are your fees structured?
Depending on the project, duration, and scope of work, we will propose for work in a number of ways: hourly, flat-fee, $/SF – to name a few. After an initial meeting with you to understand your needs, we can discuss with you how we’d like to propose on your project.
What about the other consultants we'll need for our project?
While we often make the consultant work (and their fees) a contractual part of our work, generally for structural, HVAC, plumbing, etc., there are other consultants that, when needed, are typically hired directly by an Owner. In either case, we’ll recommend great consultants we’ve worked with in the past, and who’s judgement we trust.
What about builders?
If you’ve already identified the builder you’d like to use, we’re eager to meet them. If you haven’t gotten that far yet, we can give you the names of trusted contractors we’ve worked with, to great success, in the past – usually over multiple projects. And if you have names that you’ve gotten recommendations for, but haven’t met, we can help guide you through the process of meeting and evaluating them.
We're interested in meeting with you - how do we start?
Contact us to schedule a meeting, and if you have any info (maps, lot plans, photos) that you can send along easily prior to our meeting, that always helps us to hit the ground running. We can meet, discuss the project, and determine together if we’re a good fit!
