Residential Design Process Focused on Early Decisions and Reduced Risk
Most construction problems don’t start on site.
They start when key decisions are made without enough information, or when decisions are made too late in the process to be easily changed, because they were initially ignored or forgotten.
Our design process is structured to: identify risk early, clarify options, and resolve critical decisions before construction begins. This approach reduces project uncertainty, improves cost predictability, and leads to a smoother, more successful project outcome by taking the time to understand the risks first.
If you're not sure what service best suits your needs, we've got you covered. We've built a Service Level Selector Tool where you answer the questions we typically ask our prospective clients to help us better understand and recommend your best starting point.
They start when key decisions are made without enough information, or when decisions are made too late in the process to be easily changed, because they were initially ignored or forgotten.
Our design process is structured to: identify risk early, clarify options, and resolve critical decisions before construction begins. This approach reduces project uncertainty, improves cost predictability, and leads to a smoother, more successful project outcome by taking the time to understand the risks first.
If you're not sure what service best suits your needs, we've got you covered. We've built a Service Level Selector Tool where you answer the questions we typically ask our prospective clients to help us better understand and recommend your best starting point.
An unsalvageable, illegal, unpermitted exterior wooden deck.
Step 1: Design Feasibility and Risk Review
Understand Limitations Before Design Begins
Every project starts with understanding what is possible, practical, and risky.
This stage often takes the form of a Design Feasibility & Risk Review study, which may include investigating one or all of the following items:
Every project starts with understanding what is possible, practical, and risky.
This stage often takes the form of a Design Feasibility & Risk Review study, which may include investigating one or all of the following items:
- Identify site and zoning regulations, limitations, and challenges
- Existing conditions and structural constraints
- Discover prior illegal, unpermitted work - some need immediate remediation
- Building envelope, thermal efficiency, and non-compliant existing systems (structural, stairs, fenestration, HVAC)
- Long-term operational, performance, and durability implications
- Unforeseen cost and complexity issues affecting the budget and design direction
Concept image of a new home
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Concept image of older home conversion
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Step 2: Concept Explorer - Design Direction Investigations
Explore Possibilities Without Locking Them In
Once constraints are understood, we explore design options through sketches, diagrams, and models.
This stage allows us to:
Use the Concept Explorer Inquiry Form to tell us more about your project and expectations.
Once constraints are understood, we explore design options through sketches, diagrams, and models.
This stage allows us to:
- Test layouts and spatial flow
- Investigate the impact of the environment to develop integrated design solutions
- Evaluate implications of key decisions
- Identify scope and complexity early
- Refine direction before detailed work begins
Use the Concept Explorer Inquiry Form to tell us more about your project and expectations.
Schematic image of seasonal cottage conversion
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Schematic image of new custom home
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Step 3: Schematic Design Development
Resolve Decisions Before They Affect Construction
With a preferred direction established, the design is refined and coordinated.
This stage focuses on:
With a preferred direction established, the design is refined and coordinated.
This stage focuses on:
- Clear design intent
- Structural and envelope coordination
- Constructability and performance
- Alignment between scope, expectations, and budget
Framing and roof truss verificatoin
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Roof truss verification at end wall
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Wall framing and roof truss verification
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Step 4: Permit & Construction-Ready Drawings
Precise Drawings That Reduce On-Site Interpretation
Our workflow creates construction-ready drawings directly from the 3D model of the design you've approved in the Schematic and Concept steps. That means the final approved design drives the documentation process, and we're not "redrawing" the plans using a separate 2D software package.
If we update the model, the construction drawings are also updated - immediately. Absolutely nothing is lost in translation.
Using the 3D model as the basis for generating the drawings results in:
Our "drawings" are more than just 2D representations of floor plans, elevations, and cross-sections. The information produced is the outcome of a workflow that encapsulates decades of design and on-site experience.
In addition to the "plans," all schedules required by the municipality, suppliers, and manufacturers for posts, beams, concrete mixtures, wall and floor assembly sections, stairs, structural steel, and product specifications are included. These results are a complete set of assembly documents that serve as your critical risk-management tool.
That's the "invisible" value the outcome of our workflow provides - for every project we do.
Get a quick start by introducing yourself with our Permit and Construction-Ready Form.
Our workflow creates construction-ready drawings directly from the 3D model of the design you've approved in the Schematic and Concept steps. That means the final approved design drives the documentation process, and we're not "redrawing" the plans using a separate 2D software package.
If we update the model, the construction drawings are also updated - immediately. Absolutely nothing is lost in translation.
Using the 3D model as the basis for generating the drawings results in:
- Pricing accuracy because quantities for materials are known
- Framing templates for every wall (so you can reconcile lumber counts)
- Constructability errors are eliminated (they are caught upstream in the Concept and Schematic development of the project)
- 3D illustrations of the actual assembly of the structure are provided (right down to reinforcing steel placement)
- Trades to "see" what they need to build before they build it
- Shop drawings from manufacturers are "dropped" into the model to test for fit (floor and wall framing, roof trusses, stairs, railings, etc.)
Our "drawings" are more than just 2D representations of floor plans, elevations, and cross-sections. The information produced is the outcome of a workflow that encapsulates decades of design and on-site experience.
In addition to the "plans," all schedules required by the municipality, suppliers, and manufacturers for posts, beams, concrete mixtures, wall and floor assembly sections, stairs, structural steel, and product specifications are included. These results are a complete set of assembly documents that serve as your critical risk-management tool.
That's the "invisible" value the outcome of our workflow provides - for every project we do.
Get a quick start by introducing yourself with our Permit and Construction-Ready Form.
Worm's eye view of the foundation
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Assembled view of walls, floors, and foundation for townhomes
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Exploded view of walls, floors, and foundation for townhomes
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Step 5: Construction Support & Clarification
Clarity Doesn’t End With The Building Permit
Even with good drawings, questions arise during construction. Want to "see" how it all fits together?
No problem. Using all the information developed in the workflow, you can pick and choose what you need to see.
Before you start the construction process, we've already built the project digitally. That's value.
Even with good drawings, questions arise during construction. Want to "see" how it all fits together?
No problem. Using all the information developed in the workflow, you can pick and choose what you need to see.
Before you start the construction process, we've already built the project digitally. That's value.
Why This Process Works
Early Decisions Are Easier and Cheaper to Change
Our process moves the discovery of uncertainty forward into the early phases of the design's development. Changes can be simply implemented and potential errors systematically and deliberately eliminated.
Our clients benefit from:
Our process moves the discovery of uncertainty forward into the early phases of the design's development. Changes can be simply implemented and potential errors systematically and deliberately eliminated.
Our clients benefit from:
- Fewer surprises during construction
- Better cost control
- Improved comfort and durability
- Greater peace of mind
Where to Start
If you’re still unsure which service level is appropriate, the best first step is to use our Service Level Selector Tool. It uses the information you have today to help you better understand what service works best for you.