Getting Started

Experience tells us that successful projects—those that achieve the desired results for owners, users, and architects— result from informed clients working with skilled architects to form sound professional, business, and often personal relationships. These relationships are formed early on and are nourished by clear communication, mutually understood expectations, and a willingness of both client and architect to understand and accept their responsibilities for realizing a successful project.

Building in today's marketplace is a complex undertaking requiring many different products and skills. Your architect understands the complexities and works with you to design an appropriate response to your requirements. In turn, your architect works within the building industry and watches out for your best interest in transforming the design into a building.

The best way to begin a new project is for you; the owner; to reflect on what you bring to it: knowledge, experience, needs, desires, aspirations, and personal opinions. You also bring the resources to realize your expectations.

Naturally, every owner starts from a different place. Some have had vast experience with design and construction and know what they want and how to go about getting it. Many owners have much less experience.

Whatever your situation, it makes sense to begin with some self-examination to assess what you already know about your project and what you will establish with your architect's help. The questions
outlined below can be used as a guide.

You don't need firm or complete answers to these questions at this point. Indeed, your architect will help you think them through. A general understanding of where you are, however, will help you select the best architect for the project.

What activities do you expect to house in the project? Are you ready to translate these activities into specific spaces and area requirements, or will the design program (the collection of parameters from which design is derived) emerge in working with the architect?

Has a site been established, or will this decision also be a subject of discussion with the architect?

Have you, or perhaps others, fixed a construction schedule or budget?

What are your design aspirations? What thought have you given to the design quality or amenity you are seeking in this project?

What are your overall expectations for the project? What are your basic motivations as a client, and what role does this project play in achieving your overall goals?

How do you make decisions? Will a single person sign off on recommendations? Are committees necessary?

How much information do you need to make decisions? Do you require a lot of detail?

Do you have the resources to do this project? Where will they come from, and what strings may be attached?

How much experience do you have in design and construction? Have you done this before? If so, where have you been most successful, and when were you disappointed?

Please feel free to get in touch with us for further concerns regarding the above topics or any queries that you may have.