Our Process
elevates the every day

We recommend starting every project with a Kick-Off period, which, regardless of scope, entails facilitating at least one face to face meeting. This is the best opportunity for us to listen to your needs and help create a list of goals and objectives to make sure the project runs smoothly.

Before recommendations can be made, the needs of the client and community need to be assessed, which is the first step in the Design Inspiration phase.  We begin with collecting a broad spectrum of data sets, both in the field and off, to learn as much as we can about the community and project area.

Part of our research includes reaching out to you and your community for input on programming, recreational, and amenity needs. This is usually done through a community survey, steering committee meetings and other engagement activities. This will establish and develop the guiding principles for the project.  These principles will be used throughout the process to ensure the project, when complete, meets or exceeds the original goals and objectives.

The Planning + Design phase begins evaluating the conceptual designs/vision to find that perfect solution. Sometimes you just know it when you see it, but more often than not, we blend ideas from each concept, or vision into the right fit.  By the end of this phase, we will request a “design freeze” and begin developing construction documents, if applicable, for the selected design.  Construction cost estimates are key in this phase to make sure we are on track! We will also develop 3D renderings of the final concept for public and internal review, as well as finalize all plan graphics.

Construction documentation is completed to provide a communication tool between the design team and those involved in the construction of the project. These plans are a more detailed and focused version of the design development plans. Construction documents require clarity, specificity and completeness to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the intended users of the project. In addition, a clean set of construction documents ensures fewer change orders and reduced risk of contractor errors. Specifications, final details and final cost estimates are key parts of the construction documentation phase. After construction documentation, we are often involved in construction admin. Our involvement in this phase varies depending on your desires, interests and abilities. We can assist with Bidding the project and distributing plans to contractors. We can attend Pre-Construction Conferences and Review Pay Applications. Most often, we make site visits during the critical construction times, develop a Punch List and complete a Final Walk-Through.