Our Process
Our Process & Services
Our job as architects is to be your advocate throughout the entire process of creating your new building. We are here to not only translate your wishes into state-of-the-art designs, but to ensure that those designs are code compliant, built to a high standard of quality, and completed within your allotted time and budget. Here we have outlined every phase of the commercial building process and our services through each step…
DESIGN STAGE
(6 months)
INITIAL FACILITY PROGRAMMING
Typical Duration, 2 Weeks
Our approach to designing facilities is methodical and deliberate. Generally, the first step in this process is understanding your needs and enhancing your vision. We know that no architect is capable of understanding the project better than the owner. Therefore, our first job is to listen to and learn from you. We start off with a document we call our Design Questionnaire, which asks you key guiding questions regarding the proposed construction. Once you fill out the Questionnaire, we hold a kick-off meeting where we can get to know each other and establish channels of communication. At this meeting, we will establish a tentative project schedule and budget, discuss goals and objectives, and begin interviews with individual users. These interviews allow us an opportunity to study the current staff and space demands and make growth and needs projections. Also during the Programming phase, HDA performs evaluations of the available sites for the project. All good architecture is rooted in and optimized for its site. With this in mind, we will visit each site you are considering, evaluate each based on its circulation, utilities, visibility, grading requirements, and overall suitability, and make recommendations to help you make your selection.
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
Typical Duration, 6 weeks
Based on our initial meetings and interviews, the architectural team will begin generating schematic floor plans (the layout of the building) and building elevations (its exterior and facade). We will also develop a schematic site layout and perform a rough grading study. During the Schematic Design process, the owner’s involvement is absolutely critical. Design is an evolutionary process and there are no ‘one size fits all’ solutions. Each design choice is custom tailored to your specific needs and we are happy to make any alterations you request so that you can get everything you want and need out of your new building. We also provide integrated interior design services, ensuring that the materiality, look, and feel of your space matches your vision. Once we have settled on the plans and elevations, we begin the task of creating the graphic and written instructions used by contractors during construction.
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Typical Duration, 12 weeks
This phase is the end of the design portion of the contract, and marks the transition to construction. HDA and our team of consultants (which typically includes civil, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural engineers) create all the necessary drawings, specifications, and technical documents to construct your building. HDA will carefully review each of these documents for clarity, continuity, and quality. Once we have a complete construction document package, the design team conducts a formal quality control meeting with all team members and the owner. This is simply a final opportunity to make certain that the project design and documentation agrees with your vision. When the architectural team and owner deem the documents satisfactory, we submit them to the City or County code review agencies and the local Fire Marshal for comments. Any and all comments are addressed promptly before our final walk-through of the documents with these agencies to show complete code compliance.
BIDDING & CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Typical Duration, 12 weeks
HDA’s involvement does not end with the design phases. We continue our meticulous, detail-oriented approach through bidding and administration of the construction contract. During the bid phase, we will ensure that the project gets maximum exposure, sending numerous invitations to general contractors to stimulate interest in your project and facilitate competitive bidding. The Project Architect in charge will be your representative, maintaining strong communication and understanding throughout the bidding, and issuing any requested clarifying addenda expediently and concisely. Once the project is awarded and the General Contractor is underway, we will remain involved from the preconstruction conference through the closeout documentation and warranty inspection. Our job is to protect the owner’s best interests while remaining fair and unbiased to all parties.
We always endeavor to promote a sense of cooperation and teamwork. If and when a problem arises, we address it quickly and fairly. At the same time, we do not accept any substandard work, no matter how minor. HDA demands that the contractor and subcontractors fulfill the terms of their contract to the letter, with no exceptions. As the contract approaches its completion, we are involved in compiling the closeout documents expected of the contractor. We also revise our CAD files to exactly match the as-built conditions. Finally, we perform the punch list inspection requested by the contractor, where all of the design consultants perform a thorough examination of the built conditions and verify that it is built as it was designed.
Our portfolio speaks for itself, with visually appealing, state-of-the-art veterinary clinic design that improves care quality, optimizes efficiency, and boosts profitability. It’s a full-service approach to veterinary architecture with best-in-class results.
Schedule a consultation to learn more, or explore our portfolio of work.
