Thursday, December 30, 2010

Working With an Architect: What to Expect - Phase 3 of 6


Phase 3:  Design Development

Sample Design Development Drawing for a Home Addition


Goals:  Refine and finalize the design

Fee breakdown:  15-25% of total fee

Services May Include:
· Revised Site Options
· Revised Floor Plans, Elevations and Building Sections
· Ceiling Plans, Wall Sections, Key Details
· Interior Finish Selections and Materials Research
· Preliminary Structural Calculations
· Involve Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineers, if needed
· Involve Consultants, if needed
· Revised 3-D Models
· Revised Cost Estimate
· Continue LEED Documentation (if applicable)

 
Phase Is Typically Completed When:
The owner has approved the revised/ refined design from the previous phase.  At this point, almost all design decisions have been made.
Missed phase two?  Read last week's post HERE to catch yourself up!  Check back next week for information on Phase 4:  Construction Documents!

Questions?
Please feel free to contact us at (815)806-0146 or e-mail Nicole at n.corbett@rjaarchitects.com

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Happy Holidays from RJA!

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!  Whether you have been naughty or nice this year, all of us at Robert Juris & Associates Architects hope that you have a very joyful holiday season.  We thank you for your continued support, business, and friendship.  Cheers to continued success in 2011!
Sincerely,

Robert Juris
Robert Juris & Associates, Architects Ltd.


Working With an Architect: What to Expect - Phase 2 of 6

Phase 2:  Schematic Design

Sample Elevation and Floor Plan Options for a 2nd Story Home Addition

Goals of this phase:  Graphically explore design options

Fee breakdown:  15-25% of total fee

Services May Include:
· Building Site Options
· Floor Plan, Elevation and Building Section Options
· Massing 3-D Models
· Preliminary Cost Estimate
· Begin LEED Documentation (if applicable)

Missed phase one?  Read last week's post HERE to catch yourself up!  Check back next week for information on Phase 3:  Design Development!Questions?
Please feel free to contact us at (815)806-0146 or e-mail Nicole at n.corbett@rjaarchitects.com


Friday, December 17, 2010

Working With an Architect: What to Expect - Phase 1 of 6

Phase 1:  Pre-Design


Sample Pre-Design Sketch


Goals of this Phase:
Initiate project and determine the owner's criteria to define the scope of the project.

Fee Breakdown:
5-10% of total fee

Services May Include:
Feasibility Studies
Site Analysis & Selection
Code Analysis
Programming
Budget Analysis - Hard Costs (Construction) and Soft Costs (Fees)
Schedule Development
Existing Facilities Survey and Analysis
Preparation of Owner/ Architect Contract
Determination of Level of Green Ratings Certification Desired (LEED or other)

Phase is Typically Complete When:
The owner has approved the scope of work and the Owner/ Architect contract is signed.

Missed the introduction?  Read last week's post to catch yourself up!  Check back next week for information on Phase 2: Schematic Design!

Questions?
Please feel free to contact us at (815)806-0146 or e-mail Nicole at n.corbett@rjaarchitects.com

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Working with an Architect: What to Expect - Introduction to Series



For someone who has never worked with an architect, the design process can be intimidating and often misunderstood.  There are standard phases of design that are common throughout the industry for architects to follow.  Because projects can vary greatly in scope and complexity, some projects will not require all the phases, while other projects may require additional services.  The scope of work should be determined in the initial phase and clearly defined in the Owner/Architect contract.  Each phase of work has certain goals that should be reached and approved by the client before moving on to the next phase.  Also, each phase will vary in the amount of time spent to complete it and therefore will represent a varying percentage of the total fee. 

Fees
Our fees are usually based on how much time we think it will take for us to complete the project.  Some factors that we take into consideration when estimating this is project size, type, location, complexity, and scope of services.

Questions?
Call us at (815)806-0146
E-mail Nicole at n.corbett@rjaarchitects.com

The six standard phases of design are:
1. Pre-Design
2. Schematic Design
3. Design Development
4. Construction Documents
5. Bidding and Permitting
6. Construction Administration & Observation

In the upcoming series of posts, we will explore each phase of design in more detail.  Coming up next....Pre-Design! 

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Andersen Windows


Andersend Windows Headquarters Bayport, MN

Nicole Corbett recently had the opportunity to go to Bayport, Minnesota and learn more about a product that we often recommend, Andersen Windows.  The trip included a tour of Cardinal Glass, where the glass is manufactured, and Andersen Windows and Doors.