JOHN FERRARO ARCHITECT

Architectural Process & What You Should Expect

The typical Architect is charging between 8% and 15% of the construction cost.

In a nutshell, these are the services you are paying for. Feel free to contact us with any questions about these services. And remember, this is just an overview and should not be considered definite until discussed in thorough detail with the Architect.

The Five Phases:

(1) Schematic Design: In this phase we will discuss your idea, figure out it's meaning, it's multiple functions, and the overall scope of work you are looking at for the long haul. This is the most flexible of the phases. It is in this phase that you have the freedom to form your idea with the highest level of conceptual input.

Think of what you want built the way an artist will write a song, paint a canvas, or create a sculpture. They instill meaning within the fabric of their work. We want to help you do this too. The more we journey down these avenues of creative thinking, the more unique your design will be.

(2) Design Development: In this phase we, the Architects, have begun the process of inputting all of the information from the schematic design phase into a comprehensive set of preliminary documents. The flexibility for change is still fairly present, however, dramatic changes will set back our schedule. These documents provide the data that will outline where we are on our budget. If the data reveals that we have gone over budget, it is in this phase that we "value engineer" various components of the design to make it fit our budget. 

(3) Construction Documents: In this phase your design is complete, and the "instructions for assembly" are being developed by the Architects. These are the "blueprints" that the contractors will be heavily referencing throughout the construction of the project. Any changes made to the design in this phase will cause set backs in the project schedule. The construction documents are the only way your project is getting built. They are used as legal documents in municipalities, and as the lifeline for contractors. 

(4) Bidding and Negotiation: The first step of this phase is preparation of documents that will be utilized to calculate a bid.

After bid sets are distributed, both the owner and architect wait for bids to come in. The owner, with the help of the architect, evaluate the bids and select a winning bid. The final deliverable is a construction contract. Once this document is signed, project construction can begin.

(5) Contract Administration: In this phase various activities take place to allow the project to evolve. We will discuss pre-construction meetings, site visits and job meetings, submittals, request forms, inspections, and a couple of other ongoing tasks that we will take care of.