02 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
In the Design Development phase, the design that emerged out of the schematic phase gets refined, and the structure and materiality of the building evolves. Client/Architect interaction continues throughout this phase as various spaces and materials develop and become unified throughout the structures.
Interaction with consultants intensifies during this phase, typically involving structural and mechanical engineering. More complex projects might require additional specialty engineers. At the end of design development, all basic parameters of the building are established in plan, elevation and section, as well how the structure and interior spaces interact with the site, landscape and natural environment.
If special Planning Department city approvals are required by the local municipality and/or homeowners association (HOA), towards the end of this phase would be when the materials, modeling, rendering, and drawings get submitted and reviewed for approval.
03 CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
This step is the most detailed and cumbersome of the 5-phases of an architectural project. It is within this step, that the set of construction drawings, specifications, and details get incorporated into the set of Construction Documents for the purpose of communicating the design of each element to the municipality, builders, owners, and engineers.
During this phase, the client’s input might include selection of finish materials and fixtures, deciding on building components such as windows, or reviewing electrical layouts. The end goal of this phase is to create a consistent plan set with all the information required to obtain a building permit, accurate pricing, and a complete and thorough set of construction documents to build from.
05 CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
After the project breaks ground, it is the responsibility of the contractor to implement the plans, however, a certain level of oversight is needed to ensure the proper execution of a design, and to make sure that the building reaches its potential.
During this stage, we will engage in regularly scheduled visits to the project with the contractor. At these visits we will go over instructions with subcontractors in order to get the details and aesthetic goals right. We also conduct regularly scheduled Owner|Architect|Contractor meetings as part of the continual communication process. We prefer to be very involved during this part of the process. We think that our being part of construction is important.