Our Process
We guide you every step of the way
At Brian Siegel Architects, we guide you through the different stages of the architectural design and building process. We listen carefully to your ideas and work with you to turn your dream home or business into reality.
Design Phase
Complimentary Initial Consultation. We’ll meet at your home or project site to review your goals, budget, site restrictions, and discuss design ideas. After this meeting we provide an architectural services proposal and preliminary construction cost estimate, to give you a realistic expectation of costs before the project begins. Once the proposal is agreed upon, the project begins with the signing of an AIA Contract Agreement.
Preliminary Design. We field measure and photograph your home or project site to record all existing conditions. We’ll meet with you to go over the initial design ideas in more detail. We’ll develop a design solution that incorporates all the goals presented to date.
Design Development. The preliminary design concept is fine-tuned with computer generated plans, elevations and perspectives to achieve the final design.
Public Hearing Representation. If special permissions are required, we file the final design development drawings with the appropriate municipal authority and assist with application requirements. We’ll give a clear and expert presentation to receive the most favorable review.
Construction Phase
Construction Documents. Using our final design concept, we produce a set of working drawings. These drawings are known as construction documents; they will represent the graphic and verbal description your project.
Bidding and Negotiating. With over 20 years of experience, we have established relationships with many builders in the area. We’ll select several builders and provide them with a copy of the construction documents. We make our selection based on the builder’s experience, expertise, and comfort level with a particular project type or scale. After all bids are submitted, we’ll lead meetings with you and each builder to fully review their bid before you make a final decision.
Interior Design
If requested, we can assist with the interior design details for your project. We can develop elevations, sketches and perspectives for built-in shelving, kitchen cabinetry, tile, crown molding and other finishes. We’re happy to coordinate directly with trade specialists such as cabinet makers, plumbing and tile suppliers, countertop fabricators, etc.
Professional Project Management
Throughout the Construction Phase we are your advocate. We’ll visit the site and address all questions and concerns, should the need arise. Our goal is to make sure your project is built as it was designed and specified.
Off-Site Coordination
As registered architects in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Vermont, we design and manage projects beyond our home base in Chatham, New Jersey. We are experienced in working with clients on out-of-state design and construction projects, backed by the internet, email, digital photography, and site visits if needed. If you’re looking to do a vacation or beach home, or moving your primary residence, we have you covered.
Brian visiting the construction site in Windhall, Vermont