Once contract negotiations are complete we begin
work with a kick-off meeting at the Owner’s office involving all parties
connected with the project. At this time we get to know everyone involved and
establish channels of communication and "chain of command" in regard to
the Owner’s staff and the users. At this meeting, a tentative project schedule
will be reviewed, goals and objectives will be discussed, and interviews with
individual staff members are scheduled if needed.
During the programming phase, HDA performs evaluations of the available sites
for the project, in coordination with a Geotechnical engineer. This determines
if any site modifications are necessary due to unsuitable soil materials or
rock. The site is also evaluated for circulation, and an adjacency study is
performed in order to evaluate the best relationship between building and
parking. HDA then schedules a meeting with the Client and reviews material
produced during this phase.
During this same time period, the schematic design phase begins for the
facility. The architectural diagrams generated in the previous phase will be
further refined by the architectural team to create schematic floor plans, which
are then enhanced with the addition of required millwork, furniture, and
equipment. Schematic design also includes preliminary elevations of the building
so that concepts may be visualized in less abstract terms. Structural,
mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings systems are also discussed and
reviewed at this time. In addition, to ensure that applicable codes are being
addressed, the schematic floor plans are usually reviewed with City/County code
review Agencies and the local Fire Marshal, if applicable.
A schematic site layout is also developed and a rough grading study is
performed. The building location and footprint is coordinated with the Architect
to ensure consistency and a preliminary earthwork study is performed to
determine the amounts of earth and/or rock to be moved.
Prior to the completion of the schematic design phase, a cost estimate is
performed by our cost estimator to evaluate adherence to the budget. Upon final
approval of the schematic design documents, design development will begin.
The construction document phase is the end of the design portion of
the contract. From this point forward, HDA produces the written and graphic
instructions utilized to build the project. The drawings and specifications are
then carefully checked against each other and reviewed by our quality control
architect for clarity and continuity. The cost estimate at this phase includes a
detailed summary of the costs associated with each system and material type.
When the documents are deemed satisfactory by the architectural team and the
Owner’s personnel, the team submits the drawings and specifications to the
City/County code review Agencies and the local Fire Marshal for comments.
As with the design phases, HDA remains committed to a meticulous, deliberate
approach to bidding our projects and administering the Construction Contract.
Throughout the bid phase, we will be involved in assuring that the project gets
the maximum exposure possible. We will send numerous invitations to General
Contractors to stimulate interest in the project. This effort unusually
facilitates very competitive bidding.
At HDA, we understand the inherent value of quality. Although it is sometimes
hard to attach a dollar value on the quality of construction documents, it is
very easy to see what the lack of quality costs.
Each discipline has in place quality assurance procedures that allows HDA to
maintain control of the quality and consistency of our construction documents.
One method we use is utilizing project managers and project architects, who are
not involved with the project, to review and critique the documents at several
intervals throughout the life of the project. These include stages during the
programming phase, at schematic design, design development, and throughout the
construction document phase. Typically the principal not in charge of the
project serves as the Quality Control Architect.