When beginning discussions about starting a new design and construction project, many people tend to reach out to builders first. This is not a bad idea by any means, but typically a builder would only refer you to an architect/designer anyway. A builder is not going to know where to start unless they have a designed set of blueprints to reference. In any case, it’s always best to have your design and construction team on board as early as possible in the process to help inform decisions.

Additionally, it’s important to have a clear understanding of whether or not your project is logistically possible. This should typically be able to be answered by either the builder or designer, but we recommend engaging your local building department once you have an idea of what your project entails. Every town has their own set of zoning laws that may restrict what you are looking to do. In addition to zoning, there could be other boards or commissions that will impact your project as well. Speak to the town first so that you have a clear path moving forward - and it never hurts to show face with the folks who will ultimately be approving your project. It is imperative to have a complete understanding of what your project will require as it will ultimately impact how long it will take to deliver everything you need to move forward with construction.

That’s what we do! Whether or not you have a clear vision in mind for your project, our process starts by getting to know you, your home (or whatever the project may be), how you utilize the current space, and what is missing. We then embed that information into our design process to propose a design that meets as many of those needs as possible in a feasible and functional way.

Not a problem. While our basic scope of services typically consists of seeing a project through design and construction, it’s not necessary. Any project can be developed in stages and the design fees would reflect that accordingly. Early design concept and feasibility studies are an integral part of what we do for any design project and we can stop our services there once we’ve produced the information that you require to make better informed decisions. These services can of course be picked up at a later time should you decide to move forward.

There are many factors that can impact the overall timeline of a project. In the most conservative sense, you should start planning ahead at least a year in advance of when you would like to break ground. In some instances this will be shorter, and sometimes longer. Planning well in advance should allow plenty of time for design, project approvals, to bid the project out to contractors, and for them to mobilize on site.

The most important thing to remember is to approach a project with patience and empathy for all parties involved. This goes for everyone - from owner to architect, architect to owner, owner to contractor, and so on. Construction projects are complex and there are many moving parts at all times. The design process should never feel rushed to ensure all aspects of the project have been thoroughly thought through and well documented, project approval processes can often take longer than expected, lead times for ordering certain products or equipment can impact construction schedules, and even things like unforeseen weather conditions can slightly delay a project.

This emphasizes the importance to plan ahead and select a designer and builder who you like to work with, who communicates well (and often), and who will listen to your every need.

This is not always the case. In fact, more often than not, more and more detail is being required from the authorities having jurisdiction. As codes become more strict in terms of how we build, often times more detail is required to demonstrate to the project approving authorities that the project will adhere to all the necessary applicable codes. This can often extend beyond the architect’s scope of work to include: structural engineering, land surveying, civil engineers, wetland scientist, energy consultants, and so on.

This is a complicated question. Ultimately, the scope of services will come down to what is required for the project. That being said, there is a baseline scope of services that will apply to every project in order to deliver a set of drawings that will not only get your project approved with the town, but provide clear direction to the builder on how to construct the project.

Architectural services typically fall anywhere between 6%-8% of construction costs. If the project includes areas that require additional detailing and information, those fees can rise into the 10%-12% range.

Another factor that impacts design fees is if consultants are required on the project (structural engineer, surveying, civil engineer, etc…). In general, if your project requires these services, you should plan to add at least an additional 10%-15% in addition to the architectural fees.

Fees can fluctuate above or below these ranges depending on the size and complexity of the project. A small renovation or addition project may only by 4%-5% of construction, and a large new construction project with a number of complex conditions may be in the 13%-15% range.

These factors should all be considered when budgeting for a project.

Another complicated question that comes down to scope of the project. This will always be laid out at the onset of a project, but it should always be understood that factors like project approvals from the town or potentially even the permitting process itself may cause increases in the design timeline.

A typical new construction home should be expected to have a 6-8 week design timeline, plus an additional 3-4 weeks for producing the technical documents for the project.

If your project requires approval from the zoning board of appeals, you should expect to add 2 months to the process. You must submit an application that gets review to get you on the agenda for the board’s hearings (typically required to be submitted 1 month in advance), then you must wait a number of weeks post-approval to receive the official notice from the city/town.

There are many factors that go into a project’s total costs. For the average person who does not live or work in the design and construction industry, it can be easy to overlook most of what actually goes into completing a project.

First and foremost are the design expenses (some of which may not be totally clear at first) required to produce the necessary drawing documentation to get your project approved. Secondly, sitework and utilities are two large project costs that often get overlooked. Lastly, code requirements can often come into play where you may have been unaware (this can include special mechanical, electrical, or plumbing requirements). Lastly, general expenses like permitting and inspection fees can add to the total cost.

This reinforces the importance of engaging with a design professional and a builder as early on in the process to set clear expectations of budget so that the design can be tailored to fit your needs.

Unfortunately there is no one-size-fits-all number that every architect or builder will charge for their services. There are many factors that impact what a company charges for their service; experience, size of the company, quality of the product/service they provide, etc…

It’s always important to consult multiple designers or builders for your design and construction project to feel comfortable with who you’re working with, understand the services they provide, and make sure they are the right fit for your project’s needs.

The architect’s involvement in any project begins at our very first conversation. Pre-Design services are a basic service provided in order to develop a clear path forward for the project where we lay out the projects goals, challenges that need to be overcome (usually not if, but how many), and how we arrive at those solutions.

It’s important to understand that the architect’s services do not stop once the design has been completed. Once the design has been finalized, a detailed set of technical documents need to be produced to demonstrate the projects adherence to all applicable local and national building code standards and to provide the contractor’s with a clear set of instructions on how the project is to be built to conform to the design intent.

After the building permits have been issued and the contractor mobilizes on site, the architect’s work is still not done. Construction Administration services are also a basic service that we provide. This phase of the project can involve a number of different tasks, mainly the general oversight of the construction to ensure the project is being built in accordance with the design documents and to answer any questions the contractors may have (this may include providing supplemental drawing instructions). Additional requirements may include providing reports to the local building departments to demonstrate that the project is progressing in accordance with any applicable codes or conditions that may have been set upon project approval.