Industrial • Food Processing • Commercial/Retail • Financial Institutions • Office • Medical • Restaurants • Hotels/Motels • Presentations/Renderings • Code Evaluations

GENERAL SERVICES

Architectural services include design, preparation of construction documents, and construction administration. Architects also provide a wide variety of services including feasibility studies, architectural programming and project management.

Be prepared to discuss the nature and scope of your project in detail - its size, your personal feelings about it, your hopes, expectations, objectives, budget, and timelines. Be prepared to explore new ideas as your Architect may suggest changes and solutions you had never even thought of.

The following is a typical outline of services offered by Architects and their sub-consultants:

1. Project Inception
2. Execute Agreement for Professional Services

   The Client-Architect Agreement clearly defines the services and respective obligations, responsibilities, and expectations of both the Architect and Client, along with the services to be provided by the Architect and fees to be paid by the Client.

3. Programming - "Deciding What to Build"

   The purpose of this phase, if included, is to obtain information from the Client regarding the needs, requirements, expectations, objectives, priorities, budget, and schedule and/or to assist the Client in defining these aspects of the Project. This can occur through questions and discussion in a meeting (or several meetings) or in a detailed analytical study of the Client's operations and facilities. The intended results of the programming phase will be a clear understanding of project requirements and an articulation of project design objectives. Information gathered at this level will form the basis of the schematic design phase.

   The Architect and necessary Consultants may visit the Client's existing facility (if appropriate) to familiarize themselves with the operations and conditions. The Architect and Architect's Consultants will review drawings of any existing facility or other information that may be provided by the Client. [Information provided by the Client is treated as confidential and is returned to the Client when it is no longer required.] The Architect and Consultants will brainstorm and prepare a coordinated list of questions and discussion items to guide and develop the Program for the Project. In addition to the review of project goals and information gathering, the Architect will identify applicable Federal, State, and local codes, the Client's recommended guidelines, scheduling and sequencing issues, budget concerns, value engineering concepts and any other issues of concern.

4. Schematic Design - "Rough Sketches"

   We view schematic design as a highly interactive process between the Client, the Architect, and the Architect's Consultants. Collectively, we refer to these groups as the Design Team. During this stage, the Architect will begin by preparing preliminary design sketches based on your program of requirements and budget to explore and illustrate possible options. Multiple conceptual sketches will be developed to test relationships and view various approaches to the project. The Architect will review these options with the Client, pointing out the merits and responding to your input. The Client will be directly involved in this interactive review process. Schematic Design concepts will be refined and compared to the programming statements. Often times the program might be revised slightly as the design is developed and this will be clearly reviewed in progress. This is the time at which changes should be made to reach an agreement on the design that works best in terms of site planning, function, quality, cost, and appearance.

5. Design Development - "Refining the Design"

   This stage refines the selected schematic design concept for a clearer definition of the scope and quality of the finished project. All elements of the project will be clearly identified and expressed. Drawings in this phase will be developed using AutoCAD software to facilitate sharing information among Design Team Members and to aid in the most efficient development of construction documents during the next phase of work.

   Coordination and review of documents will be an ongoing process, lead by the Architect and directed to the Client for continuing review in a coordinated manner. The Design Development Phase will culminate in a set of coordinated drawings including plans, elevations, building sections and some typical details along with a set of outline specifications. A detailed cost estimate along with a commentary about scheduling and construction issues can be developed in conjunction with construction industry experts (e.g. General Contractors with experience in this type of work). These Design Development Documents will be submitted to the Client for review and comment.

6. Construction Documents Preparation

   Subsequent to approval of the Design Development Documents, detailed Construction Documents will be prepared incorporating any additional comments. These are required to obtain building permits and bids, and to guide the contractor in construction.

   Close and continuing review of work in process will be maintained to ensure adherence to the Client's requirements. Construction Documents will be developed in stages as required to coordinate with the needs of the construction schedule. Progress prints will be regularly shared and compared using electronic data transfer methods. Drawings and Specifications will be prepared with attention to bidding requirements with multiple prime contractors for major divisions of the work. Consideration in the setup of computer drawing files will also be given to additional uses the Client may have for the computer drawing file information to ensure the greatest flexibility and highest value. Construction Documents will be submitted to the Client for review and comment on an ongoing basis. Revision will be made incorporating comments prior to issuing documents to contractors for pricing and construction use.

7. Bidding and Negotiation Phase - "Hiring the Contractor"

   The Architect can advise you on your choice of contractor - usually done by calling for competitive bids. The Architect will help evaluate the bids to select the contractor and then prepare the contract between the Client and the Contractor.

   The Architect will distribute drawings and specifications to prospective bidders and will assist the Client, as required during the Bidding Process. Bidding and award of construction contracts can be phased, if necessary, to accommodate the construction schedule.

8. Construction Administration

   The Architect is available to consult with the Client and advise the Client during construction. Regular on-site visits will determine if construction is progressing in general accordance with the contract, and that the design, materials, and workmanship meet with acceptable standards. The Architect provides regular progress reports to keep the Client informed, authorizes staged payments to the contractor, and remains involved until the project is completed.

   We recommend a weekly coordination meeting conducted by an Associate of the firm (either on-site or by phone). Appropriate team members will be available for clarification required and for review of submittal information. Our staff is available to organize and expedite construction contracts, schedules, and cost accounting including field bulletins, field orders and change orders. Project close out requirements including: items to complete lists, operation manuals, guarantees, record documents will be implemented as required.

Additional Services
Additional services over and beyond basic traditional services include:

• Feasibility Studies
• Site Selection
• Building Condition Audits
• Advanced Programming
• Interior Design
• Renderings And Promotional Materials
• Full Time Site Representation

SCHEDULE, COST CONTAINMENT, and VALUE ENGINEERING:

SRA ARCHITECTS believes that our team, with the cooperation of the Client can facilitate most any construction schedule.

The SRA ARCHITECTS Design Team has extensive construction administration experience. This experience motivates the team to obtain budget costing from the construction industry at the completion of the design developmental stage of planning. We feel this approach of cost estimation creates a realistic evaluation of the project at a time when design scope revision will not impair the overall value of the project.

SRA ARCHITECTS offers reliable cost effective value engineering services. We can analyze the benefits of fast track scheduling; life cycle economics of mechanical, structural, and material systems; durability of code required construction systems. Value engineering is a normal review process of our implementation of schematic design and design development tasks.