You talked with a builder and were told you need drawings. Much more goes into those drawings than you might think. Architects are skilled in space planning, construction methods, materials selection, project management, and working with local government officials. We have the education and experience required to analyze what you want and translate that into a functional, buildable plan. We can think spatially and visualize your house. We have experience working in certain neighborhoods with specific codes and regulations - historic neighborhoods, for example.

We listen to a client’s needs and wants, then translate those thoughts into plans and elevations. We can think through the house as a whole and foresee how things will fit together and if there will be any constructability issues. We manage your project from beginning to end and ensure that the project adheres to local building codes. We work hard to keep your project within your budget and make revisions as necessary. We can give you recommendations for contractors who would be well suited for your project, as well as help manage other professionals such as interior designers, landscape architects, structural engineers, etc.

We are required to have a specific professional degree - either achieved through a 5-year bachelor's program or a Master’s in architecture. We accrue thousands of hours in many different areas of architecture as part of a nationally controlled internship program, including tasks in every phase of design as well as management and business operations. We are also required to take a series of tests to ensure that we abide by the requirements and codes that protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. After that, we complete continuing education requirements on a regular basis.

Every project is different. We work hard to adapt our process to fit what you need. This is a creative process (you can read more about our process here), so work does not always move in a straight line. The goal is to understand your needs, collaborate on a design, and detail that design so it can get built.

Be very open about what you want and what your budget is from the beginning. The process will go much more smoothly if we know what you can spend on the front end. Share images that you are drawn to and explain what you like. The more information you can provide at the beginning, the closer the initial design will be to the perfect design you’re looking for. Be honest. If something isn’t working, say something. Our goal is to get you what you want and need. Pay your bills on time. Don’t be afraid to ask for something or for an opinion that may be outside what you think an architect does. We are both project managers as well as designers and if we can’t help, we can try to point you to someone who can.

Other professionals, you may need to hire.

Surveyor/Civil Engineer

• Survey of the lot - needed for almost any project (not interior or second floor only)

• Stormwater plan - needed for any project adding more than 800sf

Contractor

• Builder also brings in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC subcontractors

• Typically gets a structural framing package from the lumber company

Interior Designer

• Finishes, fixtures, and furnishing outside of our scope

Structural Engineer

• If doing anything unusual, may need additional structural drawings

Landscape Architect

• If focusing on outdoor space, we can only go as far as rough locations for pools or hardscape. For material selections, retaining walls, plant selections, and full landscape designs, you’ll want an LA

Home Energy Audit

• There are companies that specialize in energy efficiency. If you need a plan to use solar energy, specialty fixtures, or rainwater collection, we are happy to work with someone to incorporate those, but we don’t specialize in selecting any of that.