[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]During the first phase, schematic design, an architect consults with the owner to determine project goals and requirements. Often this determines the program for the project. The program, or architectural program, is the term used to define the required functions of the project. It should include estimated square footage of each usage type and any other elements that achieve the project goals. During schematic design, an architect commonly develops study drawings, documents, or other media that illustrate the concepts of the design and include spatial relationships, scale, and form for the owner to review.
Schematic design also is the research phase of the project, when zoning requirements or jurisdictional restrictions are discovered and addressed. This phase produces a final schematic design, to which the owner agrees after consultation and discussions with the architect. Costs are estimated based on overall project volume. The design then moves forward to the design development phase.
Deliverables: Schematic design often produces a site plan, floor plan(s), sections, an elevation, and other illustrative materials; computer images, renderings, or models. Typically the drawings include overall dimensions, and a construction cost is estimated. Note: The contract may actually spell out what is to be delivered.
Programming
A Program is developed during the Schematic Design Phase. A Program is the research process of discovering and developing the owner/client’s requirements and desires for a project and setting them down in written, numerical, and graphic form. The ultimate intention of the Program is to define the complete project scope of work to be designed.
Measured Drawings
Measured drawings are developed during the Schematic Design Phase. They are prepared in the process of measuring a building for future renovation or as historic documentation and are created from on-site measurements. Measured drawings are a key component to the success of any design for an existing facility. Precise Measured Drawings are critical to ensure the accuracy of any new work being done within or adjacent to an existing structure.
Code Search
A Code Search is performed during the Schematic Design Phase. Building and zoning codes are researched and a meeting between our office and the municipality’s code officials occurs to establish and clarify the principle code issues that are applicable to the project being developed. It is not uncommon for our office to meet with code officials on several occasions during the entirety of a project. It is imperative that there be good communication between our office and the municipality to avoid potentially unpleasant misunderstandings later.
[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”] Design development (DD) services use the initial design documents from the schematic phase and take them one step further. This phase lays out mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and architectural details.
Typically referred to as DD, this phase results in drawings that often specify design elements such as material types and location of windows and doors. The level of detail provided in the DD phase is determined by the owner’s request and the project requirements. The DD phase often ends with a formal presentation to and approval by, the owner.
Deliverables: Design development often produces floor plans, sections, and elevations with full dimensions. These drawings typically include door and window details and outline material specifications.[/read]
[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]The next phase is construction documents (CDs). Once the owner and architect are satisfied with the documents produced during DD, the architect moves forward and produce drawings with greater detail.
These drawings typically include specifications for construction details and materials. Once CDs are satisfactorily produced, the architect sends them to contractors for pricing or bidding, if part of the contract.
The level of detail in CDs may vary depending on the owner’s preference. If the CD set is not 100-percent complete, this is noted on the CD set when it is sent out for bid. This phase results in the contractors’ final estimate of project costs.
Deliverables: The construction document phase produces a set of drawings that include all pertinent information required for the contractor to price and build the project.[/read]
[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”] The first step of this phase is preparation of the bid documents to go out to potential contractors for pricing. The bid document set often includes an advertisement for bids, instructions to bidders, the bid form, bid documents, the owner-contractor agreement, labor and material payment bond, and any other sections necessary for successful price bids. For some projects that have unique aspects or complex requirements, the architect and owner elect to have a prebid meeting for potential contractors.
After bid sets are distributed, both the owner and architect wait for bids to come in. The owner, with the help of the architect, evaluates the bids and selects a winning bid. Any negotiation with the bidder of price or project scope, if necessary, should be done before the contract for construction is signed.
The final step is to award the contract to the selected bidder with a formal letter of intent to allow construction to begin.
Deliverables: The final deliverable is a construction contract. Once this document is signed, project construction can begin.[/read]
[read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”] Contract administration or construction administration (CA) services are rendered at the owner’s discretion and are outlined in the owner-architect construction agreement. Different owner-architect-contractor agreements require different levels of services on the architect’s part. CA services begin with the initial contract for construction and terminate when the final certificate of payment is issued.
The architect’s core responsibility during this phase is to help the contractor to build the project as specified in the CDs as approved by the owner. Questions may arise on site that requires the architect to develop architectural sketches: drawings issued after construction documents have been released that offer additional clarification to finish the project properly. Different situations may require the architect to issue a Change in Services to complete the project.
Deliverables: A successfully built and contracted project.[/read]
