The architect is the skilled professional who listens to you, interprets your wishes, and helps realize your building dreams. The architect is a counselor, planner, designer, mediator, work coordinator, and business administrator. Architects add value at every stage of the project, from initial conceptual design through construction completion. Architects are trained problem solvers.

As part of their job they create drawings, build scale models, write specifications, letters and other documents, supervise or manage architectural projects. An architect provides much more than a set of blueprints. Architects provide a service, not a product. Architects must be multi-skilled. Trying to do all these things at the same time is part of the challenge and excitement of being an architect.

Most architects do not actually carry out the construction of the buildings they design, but they know and talk the language of contractors who do. Most architects work on both residential and commercial designs. However, some architects specialize in certain types of home construction, such as historic renovations or luxury homes. Some architects may develop projects on their own, alone or in conjunction with real-estate developers. They also may teach architecture, carry out research, or give advice to building owners. Some architects participate in design competitions and then are hired to do a project when a jury, a group of people assembled by the client to evaluate architects, likes their preliminary design for a building selects them.

Whether you're about to expand your current home or facility, adapt an existing structure to a new use, or construct an entirely new building, your project represents a major investment that will affect you, your family, clients or employees for years. Smart decision-makers know that the way to maximize such an investment begins with consulting an architect.

Architects have the education, training, experience and vision to maximize your construction dollar and ease the entire design and construction process. Architects are licensed professionals. Like doctors and lawyers, they have completed university programs and lengthy internships, and they have passed a series of rigorous exams. Their training covers many areas, ranging from landscape design to structural engineering. This diversity means that architects can see possibilities and find solutions to your special needs.

When architects are involved at the earliest planning stage, they gain more opportunities to understand your needs, develop creative solutions, and propose ways to reduce costs. The long-term result is visually pleasing architecture that adds to the productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of your business operation, or a home with greater resale value that is ideally suited for the way you live. The stunning homes and businesses you see in glossy magazines are almost always custom designed by licensed architects. They are the unique creations of men and women with the skill and the know-how to explore new and unexpected possibilities. If you have special needs, or if you desire a home that is truly unique, then you'll need to hire an architect

Architects provide a broad range of services and can provide value at every stage of the design and construction process. By working directly with you and assessing your requirements in great depth, the architect tailors the design to suit your personality, needs, budget and lifestyle. The architect's extensive study of design alternatives (some of which you may not have considered), allows you to choose the design most appropriate to your needs. Their expertise can save you time and help you avoid costly mistakes.

An architect's knowledge of site-planning and natural energy processes (the influence of wind and sun on the building, groundwater flow, etc.) helps accommodate your project to the site characteristics and neighborhood context. Architects also look beyond your immediate requirements to design flexible structures that will adapt with the changing needs of your family or business. By keeping abreast of the latest construction technologies and materials, architects can recommend materials and construction systems to fit your design and budget. By overseeing construction, your architect helps to make sure that your project is built according to design. The architect serves as your agent with the contractor, resolving disputes that may arise and analyzing additional costs the contractor proposes. In many cases, the savings you can achieve through design and construction efficiencies could pay for the architect's fees.

You have several approaches you can take to find the right architect. Find out who designed the projects in your community that you like. If you see a house or building you like, don’t hesitate to ask the property owner who designed it. Get recommendations from friends, relatives, or acquaintances who have worked with architects. If you know a contractor that you trust, you can ask him or her for the names of a few architects. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) website (www.aia.org) has a list of its members by location with links to architect’s websites. There are many new “find an architect” websites, and there is always the yellow pages.

A brief call to an architect can help you determine if his or her experience is appropriate to your needs. An architect’s website is a great way to see their portfolio before you make initial contact. Once you determine that the architect does the type of building you want, set up an interview to discuss your project and review photographs and other samples of the architect's work. For larger, mostly commercial and public projects, a request for proposal can be published in a newspaper or trade magazine inviting architects to present their qualifications. Most architects will have their initial meeting with you with no consultation fees.

After a few meetings it will become obvious which firm is best for your needs. Check the architect's education, training, experience, references and personality. Your architect will need to get to know you well, so he or she should be someone with whom you feel comfortable. Other people for whom the architect has worked should be satisfied customers and should attest to the architect's ability to respect agreements about services, fees and schedule. Be prepared: this process will take some time, and it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make.

You can verify an architect’s license and see if any disciplinary action has been made against that architect by visiting the California Architects Board website at: (www.cab.ca.gov). The AIA is the American Institute of Architects, the national professional organization of architects. Not all licensed architects are members of the AIA. AIA architects are guided by and must adhere to the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Fees should not be the determining factor in selecting your architect. Variations in cost generally reflect variances in service. Architects are normally paid in one of three ways. One method specifies a percentage of the total construction costs. This percentage will vary in proportion to the size and complexity of the project. For a full range of services, the percentage can be 10-15 per cent of construction costs for a new home and 15 to 20 per cent for remodeling. A second option is payment of an hourly fee plus expenses. The third method is a "lump sum" fee. You and your architect should agree upon fee method, conditions, and pricing parameters before design work begins. It is customary for the architect to be paid in several stages or monthly rather than in full at the end of the job. In most cases, the architect's fee also includes compensation for structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering consultants the architect may need to hire.

DGA charges on an hourly basis for most projects. This ensures that you will not be billed for more than the actual hours spent on the project. DGA always gives clients a written estimate for the total cost of the project before starting work. After discussing your needs, we will lay out possible fees with you for your consideration. All services are subject to Client approval and written contract that details your expectations, our services, schedules and everything else we collectively consider important. We believe a good, clear, written agreement will prevent later misunderstandings or disappointments.

We begin with an informal consultation. We meet, sit down, and listen to what the client has to say. They tell us about their ideas, their site, budget, and schedule. They get to see how our office operates, and examples of our work. If we find a good fit, we prepare a proposal letter and written contract detailing our fee schedule and subsequent steps in the design process.

Once authorized, we start the Schematic Design phase by looking at your "wish list”. A client may say: "I love the fireplace in this journal article, the kitchen layout of my friend's house, the color of the house in this picture, and the front porch on the house I grew up in." Depending on the clients' wishes, a project can fit them like a glove, be more flexible for resale or lease, or make room for future development. When we have a good idea of your goals, we can better assist you through the decision-making process.

During this time we formulate a detailed “program” which defines your needs and objectives: function, size and relationship between spaces, character and image, and a host of other considerations. We also establish the construction scope, budget and schedule. Site analysis becomes the other catalyst for our design; we consider things such as sun and wind patterns, views, water run-off, existing vegetation, and circulation patterns. We examine the neighbors and the local region for clues to successful building design. We note materials and construction traditions. We will also perform a Code Analysis and establish your specific zoning and environmental restrictions. If you don't already have a site in mind, we can assist you in evaluating potential sites. If you are remodeling or adding to an existing structure, we will schedule an appointment to make measurements and take photos.

The next step is synthesizing the clients' wishes and needs with the site constraints and strengths. Conceptual brainstorming and exploration define this portion of the design process. Based on the Program and Code Analysis, we will prepare preliminary design sketches of a site plan (the proposed building located on your site), floor plans (layout) and elevations (exterior views of the building). We will prepare an Outline Specification; a list describing the proposed products and materials to be used on the project, and depending on the size and complexity of your project, we may prepare multiple schemes and discuss with you the benefits and/or drawbacks of each.

Our goal during this phase is to acquire a complete and accurate understanding of your intentions and project requirements. To be certain that we clearly communicate our ideas to you, we may use several different presentation methods such as 3D perspective drawings and/or models to study how spaces relate to each other, while revealing proportions, textures, and lighting qualities. Upon completion of the Schematic Design phase, a contractor -- either a bidder or the contractor the owner has already selected -- is usually brought into the process for input on project costs.

The design is refined with greater specificity and detail during the Design Development phase. The sketches prepared during Schematic Design will be thoroughly detailed and developed into a complete set of design drawings. All the building materials, fixtures and finishes will be selected. A code review will be performed to confirm that the project meets with the limits and requirements established by any and all regulatory agencies. Engineering consultants are typically brought on board the design team during this period.

We coordinate the work of specialty consultants your project may require, including structural, electrical and mechanical (heating, plumbing, air conditioning), and civil (drainage and site utilities) engineers. Other consultants may include: acoustics, cost estimating, lighting, historical, geotechnical, equipment landscaping, interior design feng shui, and graphics. Once again, upon completion of the Design Development phase, a contractor is usually consulted again for input on project costs.

To complete the design process, all the required technical information, such as dimensions and notes, will be added to the drawings. Although this phase is primarily intended for working out the technical aspects of the project, some design work also takes place. Light fixture, plumbing fixture, and finish material (tile, carpet, paint colors, etc.) selections are finalized. A Project Manual will be developed, which will include a final Specification document (a detailed description of every material and product used on the job) and various material lists (door schedule, window schedule, finish schedule, etc.). Combined, the Construction Drawings and the Project Manual become the legal documents from which a General Contractor will prepare a bid and ultimately construct your building.

When the design fully developed, we will prepare an Application for Building Permit and submit drawings to the Building Department and the Fire Marshal for their comments and approval. Zoning regulations, which are published by each town and vary from one town to another, concern the building's use, size, relationship to the site and parking. Building codes are published by the state and address how buildings are to be constructed, dictating, for example, door sizes and materials, window sizes and locations, structural lumber sizes, and stair and hallway dimensions. A special section of the code ensures access to public buildings for people with disabilities; it dictates requirements for bathrooms, kitchens, ramps and other building elements.

Once you and the Building Department approve the Construction Documents, and if you haven't already selected a general contractor, we will help you to invite contractors (usually three or more) to submit total construction-cost bids. We will prepare a comprehensive Bid Package, which includes a complete set of Construction Documents (Construction Drawings and Project Manual) and the Bid Requirements (instructions, due date, etc.). We will issue a package to each selected bidder, and answer any questions they may have. We will collect the bids on the scheduled due date and carefully review each one with you. If negotiations are required during the bidding process, we will assist you as necessary. We will prepare a standard construction contract to be agreed upon by you and your contractor.

About half the cost of any construction is labor and the other half materials. Since labor costs vary according to skill, experience and the contractor's overhead, competitive bidding allows you to select a contractor on the basis of cost and schedule as well as reputation and approach. Recently contractors have become less willing to bid on projects. This is not only because the economy has been strong enough that most of them are very busy. It is also difficult for a contractor to justify spending many hours putting together an estimate when the contractor has a one in three or a one in four chance of getting the job. Finally, many contractors believe that they can actually save you money if they are involved in the process from the very beginning.

This is the final phase of the project where the design goes from pencil on paper to wood and metal and concrete. We aren't afraid to get our hands dirty. Serving as your eyes and ears throughout construction, we will make scheduled site visits to observe the progress and confirm that the project is being built as per the prepared Construction Documents. We answer questions, review submittals and shop drawings (manufacturers’ drawings of specific elements to be incorporated within the building), and review monthly certificates of payment that are submitted to you by the contractor. We will work closely with your General Contractor to keep the project on schedule and efficiently resolve any unexpected issues that may arise.

As your advocate, we take on the responsibility with you to negotiate construction challenges and work through solutions. Architects are ethically bound to represent your interests at all times. Our involvement at this time is critical to make sure the architectural process accomplishes the desired result. When the project is close to completion, we will perform a “walk-through” with you and prepare a Punch List of items that need completion or modification. We will work with you until the project is complete and you are fully satisfied with the results before issuing a Certificate of Substantial Completion.

After the work is complete, and local authorities have granted a "certificate of occupancy," we will continue to be available to act as an intermediary with the contractor during the warranty period. An on site inspection will be scheduled one month before the one year warranty expires. After the warranty period is over, David Gangloff Architects will also be available when you need advice on maintenance, facility planning, furniture, or your friend’s project.