The Project Process

The project process, and the ultimate success of a project, depends on a number of factors and variables, briefly discussed below.  Please click on the link below for our detailed Project Process brochure.

One of the most challenging tasks for an Architecture Firm is managing expectations, for both the design and engineering process and the final constructed project. As with most things in life, the first step is for us to listen. We listen to you express your wants, needs, and expectations for the project; weigh the wants and needs against the expectations; and then communicate to you our thoughts on how they match up. Perhaps you want a project completed in 6 months when we know that it will actually take closer to 18 months, or maybe you want a 50,000 sq.ft. light industrial building on a budget of $2,000,000, but we know a building such as this will be closer to $5,500,000. It is absolutely crucial for us to understand and communicate openly, up front, in order to set the expectations properly. Only in this way, can we achieve a mutually successful project.

There are numerous project delivery methods that can be used to complete your project. By “delivery method”, we mean the way in which your project gets designed, bid, and actually constructed. These methods include the “traditional” design-bid-build, design-build, many types of construction management (CM) arrangements, integrated project delivery (IPD), and engineer/procure/construct (EPC), to name some.

In general, there are 5 phases to the design, engineering, and construction of a project. There are many variations of the process, and some phases are not always required but Serenity Architecture typically follows the 5 step process.

  There are numerous ways to calculate architectural and engineering fees for your project, including lump sum (fixed fee), percentage of construction cost, hourly rate, and cost-plus.