Architectural Services
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Programming-specializing in green building materials
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Master Planning-based on a bio-regional approach to land analysis
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Land Analysis of the passive solar features of various lots for perspective builders (residential scale and larger)
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Architectural Design
- Schematic Design - based on the Program, the Architect will determine basic structure sizes, refine spatial relationships, and develop building elevations identifying the project’s conceptual character.
- Design Development - based upon the Program and Schematic Design, the Architect will prepare, for the Owners approval, Design Development documents of all structures that refine the spatial relationships, and finalize the architectural character of the project.
- Construction Documents - after Design Development approval by the owner, the Architect will prepare Construction Documents defined as Plans, Elevations, Building Sections, Wall Sections, Construction Details, and other architectural drawings as necessary to convey the design intent and the scope of work. The Architect will provide information for use by other consultants (structural or electrical engineers for example) coordinate said consultant’s information and assemble Contract Documents for Permitting and Bidding.
- Building Specifications - the Architect will prepare materials and equipment specifications as required to convey the design intent and certain materials standards.
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Bid Supervision - the Architect will prepare bid documents (including the Construction Documents, the Building Specifications), and forward said documents to the general contractors of the owner’s choice. The Architect will issue clarifications and addenda as required and supervise a bid opening at a time and place to be determined. Based on the bids, references and supplementary information, the Architect will assist the Owner in selecting a General Contractor.
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Contract Administration - The Architect will inspect the project at regular intervals during construction to review the Contractor’s compliance with the Contract Documents. The Architect will issue Change Orders, Reports, Pay Requests, Punch list and clarifications as required during the project.
Additional Services
While we work with and actively promote a number of different building materials (wood, metal, structurally insulated panels, high insulation ICFS products such as Perform Wall, Cempo, Grid Wall and others), we confess to an affinity for straw bale construction. We worked on our first straw bale structure in 1993 and have been actively involved with the design, construction, building code and insurance related issues regarding straw bale construction since.
Though not appropriate for all climates or design types, a well constructed straw bale structure can provide thermal and sound insulation far superior to other building systems in it’s price range. When you factor in the renewability of the material, the embodied energy of the manufacturing process and the community building aspect of the wall raising process (people from many different economic, ethnic and religious backgrounds all working together for a common goal) straw is truly a special building material.
We offer presentations, resources, teaching workshops and wall raising supervision for load bearing and post and beam straw bale structures to:
- Owner Builders
- General Contractors
- Civic and Interest Groups
- Building Officials and Code Organizations
- Lending Institutions and Insurance Agencies
- Other Interested Parties
