Harry Gandy Howle Architects, P.A.

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THE FIRST STEP IN THE DESIGN PROCESS IS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM, WHICH IDENTIFIES THE SPECIFIC PROJECT GOALS. THESE MIGHT INCUDE DETERMINING WHAT TYPES OF SPACES ARE REQUIRED, THEIR SIZES AND CONFIGURATIONS, ADJACENCY NEEDS, AND BUDGET. POTENTIAL BUILDING SITES ARE ALSO EXAMINED TO DISCOVER ANY LIMITATIONS OR OPPORTUNITES THAT WOULD INFORM THE GENERATION OF A DESIGN.

THE STAGE INVOLVES THE CLIENT AND ARCHITECT WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE AESTHETIC IDEAS AND GENERAL LAYOUT FOR THE PROJECT. SPACES ARE USUALLY LAID OUT IN ROUGH FORMAT, BUT ARE DONE SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED IN THE PROGRAMMING PHASE. THE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP THE BIG IDEAS OF THE DESIGN, WITH FURTHER REFINEMENT TO FOLLOW IN THE SUBSEQUENT PHASES.

DURING THIS PORTION OF THE PROCESS THE MORE PRECISE COMPOSITION OF THE PROJECT TAKES SHAPE. DECISIONS ARE MADE WITH REGARDS TO THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM, BUILDING MATERIALS, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LAYOUTS, AND FINISH SELECTIONS. THE DRAWING SET BEGINS TO TAKE FORM WITH FINALIZED PLANS, ELEVATIONS, AND SECTIONS BEING DEVELOPED.

TYPICALLY THE LONGEST PHASE, THE ARCHITECT IN THIS STAGE PRODUCES THE DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS THAT WILL BE USED BY THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO BUILD THE PROJECT. DRAWINGS PRODUCED IN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT HAVE NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL LAYERS OF INFORMATION PLACED ON THEM THAT GIVE EXACT DIMENSIONS AND NOTATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION. WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS MAY ALSO BE PRODUCED THAT GIVE FURTHER EXPLANATIONS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL BUILDING SYSTEMS OR MATERIALS.

FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, THE CLIENT MAY CHOOSE TO SIMPLY SELECT A GENERAL CONTRACTOR OR PUT THE PROJECT OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID. IN THE FIRST SCENARIO, THE ARCHITECT CAN ASSIST WITH IDENTIFYING QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS AND IN ADVISING THE CLIENT DURING SELECTION AND CONTRACT NEGOTATIONS. IF THE PROJECT IS A BID SCENARIO, THE ARCHITECT DISTRIBUTES INFORMATION, PROVIDES CLARIFICATIONS, AND HELPS TO ENSURE THAT A FAIR PROCESS TAKES PLACE. ONCE BID SUBMISSIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, THE ARCHITECT CAN PROVIDE INSIGHTFUL ANALYSIS OF THE VARIOUS BIDS AND THEIR SPECIFIC CONTENTS.

THE FINAL PHASE OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES INVOLVES OVERSIGHT OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. THE ARCHITECT CAN VISIT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, REVIEW SHOP DRAWINGS FOR COMPONENT FABRICATION, PROVIDE CLARIFICATIONS, AND CERTIFY APPLIACTIONS FOR PAYMENT. A COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL OF SERVICES BY THE ARCHITEC DURING THIS PHASE HELPS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A QUALITY PROJECT.

HARRY GANDY HOWLE ARCHITECTS, P.A. OFFERS CLIENTS THE ABILITY TO ENGAGE OUR SERVICES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE CAN SPECIFICALLY TAILOR A LEVEL OF SERVICE TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS. LET US DISCUSS WITH YOU HOW WE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOUR PROJECT.



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