Each client and each project will require slightly different architectural services.  At Keystone Architects we tailor our response to suit individual situations.  There is, however, a basic process that if followed. What varies is the starting and stopping points and the amount of detail that is gone into at any step.

The Brief

A brief is a list of the expected outcomes of a project.  Some clients know exactly what they want before they approach us. Others will need assistance in thinking through the alternatives available.  For highy specialised or technical projects such as car dealerships or hospital laboritories we may need to research franchise requirements or visit similar facilities to gain feedback on where best practice currently lies.

Feasibility

Will the brief be able to be realised on the particular site?  Will it be financially viable?  What are the current rules for development of the site?  How is it zoned and what is the local authority attitude to such a development? Will other authorities be involved?

Keystone Architects often assist clients with advice before purchasing a property or to determine the scope for renovation, expansion or conversion.

Sketch Design

We start to put ideas on paper.  There will generally be more than one solution to be considered.  Drawing different ideas helps to work each one through to its logical conclusion, testing it against the brief. The brief is often modified during this process.

The sketch design process is valuable for us as designers as we find out as much about what our clients dislike as about what they like.

Design Development

We take the best ideas from the sketch design process and start to mould them into a detailed three dimensional solution.

We may need to consult with structural engineers or other technical professionals at this stage.

The design drawings that result can be used for selling an idea, for gaining town planning approval and for obtaining budgetary advice from a builder.

Documentation

Once the design is signed off by our clients we can move forward to preparing the drawings and words necessary for building approval, tender/pricing and construction.

At this stage architects work very closely with the consultant team which can be made up of one or more of the following:

-  Surveyor (confirm site boundaries, levels, services location)

-  Structural Engineer (structural elements, tiedown and bracing)

-  Civil Engineer (site drainage, paving and retaining walls)

-  Hydraulic Engineer (plumbing & drainage)

-  Electrical Engineer (generally only required on commercial projects)

-  Mechanical Engineer (air conditioning & ventilation)

-  Fire Engineer (primarily commercial projects particularly budget accommodation)

-  Acoustic Engineer (when a project is noise sensitive or when noise generated by a project may afftect its neighbours.

The architect is generally the head consultant providing the contact point for the client.

Documentation will consist of a co-ordinated set of drawings and specificaton notes prepared by the full team. Documentation prepared for an owner builder or a specific builder can be much less detailed than documentaion prepared for a tender process.

Building Approval

Given that a project has appropriate town planning approva, the documentation can be lodged with a local authority or private certifier for building act compliance, plumbing & drainage and operational works approvals as applicable.  This process is generally called obtaining building approval. Application can be made by the client, the builder or by the architect as the owner's representative.  Often we make these applications during the tender process to save time.

Tender/Pricing

Once all the documentation is complete a competetive tender can be arranged with a number of builders quoting on the same thing.  The alternative is to work closely with one builder from as close to the begining of the project as possible and have him prepare an estimate early in the process and a final price at this stage.

Some clients arrange their own pricing while others like us to run an independent tender- this is particularly true