Are you looking to move into a new home or work space and do not know where to begin?

Are you looking to renovate your  existing home or work space for optimal success and well-being? No scope of work is too small. The smallest changes to an existing space can sometimes yield the biggest improvements. Additionally, I can decipher whether or not an improvement needs to be permitted by the city.

Are you a developer looking for a fast, easy, and inexpensive flip? Or are you a developer looking to spend more time to design and build a completely new building?

If any of the above questions resonate with you, I can walk you through possibilities, next steps, and assist with the decision-making process. I will first get to know you better to discover what your ultimate goals are in your venture and in life. Together, we will design the best path to achieve your goals. Every project follows a similar overarching process from conception to realization, and it consists of six phases:

1. Planning
2. Schematic Design
3. Design Development
4. Construction Documents
5. Permitting and Bidding / Negotiation
6. Construction Administration

In the planning phase, also known as pre-design, we create a list of wants and needs and assign priority levels to establish the spectrum of bare minimum vs. idealistic goals. The outcome is a chart or diagram organizing space types, quantities, desired square footages, adjacencies,  and any special requirements for each space.

In the schematic design phase, we put the requirements to work! I review the requirements from the planning phase, the survey, the soils report, codes, schedule, budget, the site, and the proposed procurement method, each in terms of the other. Then, the fun begins! We seek to create the ideal holistic vision by illustrating the scale and relationship of project components.

In the design development phase,  we refine the design. I bring consultants, such as structural and mechanical engineers, on board to coordinate the technical aspects and to ensure that the project is in accordance with codes, budget, and schedule.

In the construction document phase, I produce the technical drawings in conjunction with the consultants. This detailed set of drawings demonstrates to the city and your general contractor how your project will be built.

In the permitting and bidding/negotiation phase, the construction document set is submitted to the city, and then resubmitted with corrections, to obtain the building permit. I overlap portions of the construction document, permitting, and bidding phase to save you time, as the city approval process can be unpredictable. The second half of this phase is the bidding or negotiation phase. If you want to competitively bid the project, drawings are provided to qualified general contractors for them to submit bids of construction costs. I assist you in reviewing the bids to select a G.C. and help you get to your target budget while meeting the design intent. The initial comprehensive bid represents the best of all worlds, including all the bells and whistles, so that you can comprehensively understand the cost implications of all components. As a result, the bid comes in higher and within range of the target budget. Value engineering, the elimination period, is built into the process to bring the project back down to earth. If you choose the negotiation route, I send the drawings to one G.C. that you previously selected, and we negotiate the bid.

In the construction administration phase, I visit the project site on a regular basis to determine if the work meets the design intent of the Construction Documents. I answer requests for information, make clarifications as needed, and review submittals like shop drawings, material samples, and substitutions. The final walk-through marks the end of this phase.