Services
Every project is unique, and we'll tailor our services specifically to your needs, your timeline, and your budget. We guide you through each step of the process and are always available to advise and answer questions. Our goal is to help you make the right choices and to realize your vision for your property, whether it's your home, office or building.
Property Review
For coops, condominiums, townhouses, buildings or empty lots. You may be considering a property purchase; an owner exploring the potential of your property; or an owner planning to renovate, enlarge or build a new building. We can assist with the following:
Gather all relevant information on the property from sites like NYC Department of Buildings and Zola NYC
Perform a zoning analysis to get a clear picture of what's permissible on the property
Review of the relevant Building Codes and Energy Codes
If your property is landmarked, review the pertinent Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) requirements
Review a property's existing conditions and recommend improvements and renovation approaches
Review with you the NYC approval process, project design and construction, timelines, and estimated costs and budgets
Discuss your ideas and desires, and brainstorm preliminary options for space layout, upgrades and design
At completion of this phase, you will be substantially better equipped to make decisions regarding purchasing, renovating or building on the property.
Preliminary and Schematic Design phases:
During this phase, we discuss your wants and needs, encourage brainstorming, jointly explore the possibilities, make suggestions and often surprise our clients. We are a small boutique studio, so you work directly with the principal architect.
We believe it's important to budget adequate time for exploring options and possibilities during this phase, as it is the basis for everything that follows. Through this phase, during ongoing interactions with you, we:
Explore options for layouts and floor plans
Develop architectural and interior design concepts
Produce 3D models and 3D images to better understand the design
Create materials and mood boards
Adjust design concepts to costs and budget
Review compliance with building codes and zoning requirements
Solidify and further develop the preferred options
Explore heating and cooling options
Coordinate the structural design
Develop a preliminary design for millwork (kitchen, closets, etc)
At the completion of the schematic design phase, you will be confident in your choices and will have a well-informed and realistic understanding of what you want to do.
We will issue a schematic set of drawings, which will be the starting point for the sets submitted to the Department of Buildings and for bidding/construction. This will enable you to start serious and educated conversations with potential contractors.
Department of buildings and other required approvals:
We have extensive experience working with the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB), Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and other relevant authorities. We'll find the fastest path to get your required approvals and permits:
We produce the set of drawings that are submitted for DOB and other required approvals
Throughout the approval process, we coordinate with the engineers, the expediter and any other consultants
Once approvals are received, we coordinate and guide the selected contractor in obtaining the required permits
Bidding and Construction drawings phase:
We take pride in producing high-quality, detailed drawings. This enables the bidding contractors to provide better, more accurate proposals and helps minimize the likelihood of additional costs and surprises during construction. Services for this phase typically include:
Production of a full set of bidding drawings that includes building plans for demolition and construction, elevations and sections, lighting and power & data drawing; interior elevations; construction details; doors, windows and finish materials schedules
Help with choosing lighting and plumbing fixtures, appliances and finish materials that fit your budget and design goals
Referrals for contractors that are well-matched for your project
Coordination of the work with the engineers and other consultants
Review and analysis of proposals from the bidding contractors
Once you choose the contractor, we make revisions to the drawings based on contractor costings and suggestions
Construction Administration:
To ensure on-site work is performed in accordance with the construction drawings, typically our services will include:
Periodic site visits and participation in site meetings
Responding to contractor's work-related questions
Review contractor's requests for payments and provide recommendations
Review punch lists at completion of the construction work and provide you with recommendations for final payments to contractor