Design Process
Designing and building is a complex undertaking. Architects break it into phases to make it more manageable, and while the profession shares a common vocabulary, firms divide and name the phases differently.
What follows is our version, in plain language: a general map of the arc, not a fixed scope or schedule. The phases overlap, and decisions often circle back for another look. Knowing what comes next can make the process feel less daunting.
Pre-Design #
Pre-design is information gathering. We learn how you live or work, what you need now, and what you may need later. We study the site — its topography, light, access, and surroundings — and the rules and context that shape what is possible. This is often the most personal phase: the questions have as much to do with daily life as with architecture. Your answers become the foundation for everything that follows.
- A brief grounded in how you live or work
- A site read for light, wind, access, and views
- An early map of constraints, permits, and opportunities
Schematic Design #
Here the conversation turns from information to ideas. We test options for siting, massing, and layout in sketches and models, then compare how they feel and function. The goal is to find a direction before the details arrive; materials and finishes can wait. This is also the easiest time to make big changes, while the design is still fluid. We listen to your reactions and refine until we agree on a direction.
- More than one option, not a foregone conclusion
- A sense of how each option feels and works
- An agreed direction before details
Design Development #
The chosen direction becomes a resolved design. Layout, building form, and major systems are worked through together, and materials and details begin to take shape. This is often when the project starts to feel real — when you can picture yourself in the space. It is also where cost and constructability need to be tested, so scope can be adjusted before documentation begins. Consultants may join, and their input is folded into the whole.
- A resolved layout, form, and exterior language
- A budget and constructability check while changes are still affordable
- Consultant input folded in early
Construction Documentation #
Once the design is settled, we translate it into the drawings and specifications a builder will use. This is a phase of precision and coordination: dimensions, details, materials, and systems are resolved and checked against one another. It can take longer than expected, because the design may look complete before the documents are. Decisions still arise, and some need your input; we explain the options and their implications so you can decide with confidence.
- A coordinated drawing set and specifications
- Details that hold up in the island climate
- A clear record of decisions and what is included
Permitting #
Most projects require review by the local jurisdiction before construction can begin. We prepare the information for that review, submit it, and respond as questions arise. Timing varies with the jurisdiction, the complexity of the project, and the review processes involved. Your involvement may be lighter here, but the pace is often set by others.
- Permit applications prepared for county review
- Timely responses to county comments
- A realistic schedule that accounts for review time
Bidding & Negotiation #
Choosing a builder is part of the process, not a separate transaction. We can compare contractors, review qualifications, and explain what a bid does and does not include. Some clients come with a builder in mind; others want introductions. Either way, the goal is a clear scope, a realistic price, and a working relationship that can carry the project through construction.
- A shortlist of builders suited to the work
- Comparable scope and pricing across bids
- Clear expectations before construction
Construction Administration #
Construction is where the design meets the site. The contractor leads the work, but we remain involved — answering questions, observing progress, and helping resolve conditions that were not visible on paper. Some decisions have to be made in the field, and quick, practical collaboration keeps small issues from becoming costly ones. Our role is to protect the design intent while staying realistic about what the site and the building require. We stay involved through closeout, because the finished building is the real measure of the process.
- Site visits at key milestones
- Field questions answered while they are small
- A final walkthrough that closes the loop
After move-in #
A building is never quite finished in the drawings. It is finished in use — when the rooms work for daily life, when the building settles into its place, and when the parts that were imagined on paper become ordinary and familiar. We value the relationship that grows through a project and welcome hearing how the spaces are working after occupancy. The best feedback often shapes the next project.
Where are you in the process?
Whether you’re just starting or already have drawings, tell us where things stand. We’ll help you figure out what comes next.