An architect like Arocordis Design and Stephen M. Frey, AIA plays a pivotal role in helping a client hire the right builder team by using their experience and networks in the industry here in Vermont. Once hired, effectively collaborate with the client and their builder to help deliver the desired end results. Here is what we recommend.
Our Multi-generational Modern Farmhouse - Calais, VT
1. Good drawings and visualizations with clear design and building scope
Before hiring a builder, we set up a clear design and scope of work with and for you our clients. We create clear architectural drawings that communicate the desired design, quality, and scope of the custom home design, major renovation, or addition. Good drawings help organize a successful project from the start.
We also create 3D pre-visualizations along the way as we work with you at the early stages of the design and each step of the way as the design becomes more detailed as we move into later phases. This helps us easily communicate the north-star vision for the project to prospective builders.
Together with a good architectural drawing set, 3D pre-visualizations make for a powerful communication tool for our clients, builders, and suppliers to aid them in developing preliminary estimates and approaches to a project. That way, everyone has the visual tools to be on the same page.
2. Recommendations
Architects like Arocordis often have extensive networks and experience collaborating with various builders. We supply recommendations based on the project’s specific requirements and the builder’s strong suits. They might suggest builders near the building site with a proven record in similar projects or who specialize in the desired architectural style and sustainability practices.
Builders often want to work within a specific radius or driving time from their offices. It might be within a region, let’s say, in the Stowe and Waterbury area, or Waitsfield, Warren, or Moretown area, or Tunbridge, Woodstock, White River Junction area, or other areas in Vermont where we work. Wherever you are in Vermont, we can help find good builder teams that work nearby.
3. Pre-qualification
Architects can aid in pre-qualifying potential builders by reviewing their portfolios, checking references, and ensuring they have needed experience, licenses, insurance, and certifications. This vetting process helps narrow down the choices to builders with proven competence and reliability.
This also includes whether the builder is part of Efficiency Vermont’s Efficiency Excellence Network (EEN). Collaborating with a builder that takes part helps ensure they will supply the needed expertise to our clients in climate-positive energy efficiency building practices. We count on them to help us take care of our clients, their community, and our planet as best we can as architects. We turn to this list when making recommendations for builders who work near an owner’s home site.
4. Collaboration
Architects like us often continue to collaborate with builders during the detailed design phase. They can suggest builders who have a history of effective collaboration throughout the process, ensuring a smooth workflow and communication between the design and construction teams. Selecting a builder then can lead Arocordis to create and customize further the drawing set to a builder’s set level of information suitable for construction. Often there are more details to figure out during construction.
This collaboration certainly involves our clients as we, as a team work together to make increasingly detailed design decisions that may include integrated choices in colors, fixed finishes, and lighting fixtures. Other choices may include deciding on the best heating and cooling systems that suit the design and client’s needs. Still, others could involve working with kitchen and bath designers from the building yards who supply the builders in the region where they work.
5. CONTRACTURAL GUIDANCE
Architects can offer guidance to the client in their drafting of contracts with the builder team. They can clarify the project scope of work, key milestones and timelines, payment schedules, and responsibilities of each party, ensuring clarity and minimizing potential conflicts. This helps the team focus on the delivery of the vision of the client for their project. Note our advice does not constitute legal counseling, but rather informal guide-by-the-side insights. Always consult legal counsel for detailed home-building contractural-related questions.
6. Ongoing oversight and collaboration during building
Throughout the construction phase, architects can supply oversight, review the progress, ensure adherence to design intent, drawings, and specifications, and address any design-related queries or modifications. This helps keep the design integrity and quality of the project. It also helps reduce client anxiety.
During construction, the builder may have questions for the owner, and or an owner may look to change the project along the way, altering the original design intent and drawings. This often creates questions about how this change affects other parts of the project. Or what is the best way to solve the challenge?
Unexpected conditions often arise on site, particularly during renovations or additions. This can create a need to reach a prompt consensus, understand costs and time impacts, and decide whether to go ahead with that change. It also can create intense client anxiety. Often, quick drawings from us will help solidify the needed changes to the design. Our updated documents then make it easier for smooth coordination and construction in the field with the builder and their subcontractors.
A fitting example from a recent project, a client of ours asked the builder to enlarge their garage 8 feet from the original design, and update the overhead doors, and home entry porch area. The builder could have marked up their builder set and done the best they could. Instead, they asked us to update this area holistically in the 3D building model and plans of the new home and reissue the drawings to distribute to the greater team.
With this request to update the drawing set, we revised the many conditions, which included the foundation and exterior wall design, site grading, exterior design and location of windows, and the new overhead garage door sizes. We also updated the main home entry and porch design to show the impacts of the final door and window selections by the client.
We also created 3D visualizations of these changes with exterior and interior renderings of the finished results. They helped keep the shared north star vision of the finished construction result intact for the client, their builder, their subs, and suppliers. The updated builder’s set of drawings and visualizations at this later stage of the project helped align all parties to the expected built result. This helped save time and money. It also reduced anxiety for our clients. Thety knew what they were getting from the builder.
A common thread here is these situations create anxiety for the client. By being involved during construction, we can function as advocates for the client and help them decide with the builder that affects project cost, quality, and design intent. It also can create a more graceful, less anxiety-filled process. We can function as guides by the side.
Architects like Arocordis Design and Stephen M. Frey, AIA, can play an integral role in the construction process, aiding clients in selecting the right builder team, effectively collaborating throughout the project, and ensuring the realization of desired results. From clear design and builder recommendations to contractual guidance, ongoing drawings, and oversight, our involvement aims to streamline the process, support design integrity, and ease client concerns.
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If these insights resonate with you as a potential client seeking an inspiring and smoother design and construction journey, let’s team up. Discover how our expertise can transform your vision into a reality while minimizing anxiety and maximizing the quality of your project. Reach out today to embark on a collaborative and stress-free building experience with Arocordis Design. Please click on the link below.
Want to see examples of our work and access our project stories that go into helpful detail on the project, site, and design process with our clients? Click on the link below.
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