Grisafe Architecture has a great relationship with the City of Long Beach, as well as the planning departments of many of the surrounding cities.
Working with an architecture firm that is respected by, or at least very familiar with, those in their local city planning department(s) is more important than you might think. It can go a long way toward keeping your project moving forward in an efficient manner.
Each city has its own way of doing things and ways in which they like to see things done by architects or general contractors who are submitting plans to them. Since our architecture firm has been working in this area for a while now, we are well aware of what each city planning department wants to see in the plans we submit, and we are able to format them accordingly. We also speak the same “language” as those who work in city planning departments, so when they ask for things like Cal Green Notes, Title 24 calculations, a WQMP, or a FEMA valuation, we know exactly what they need to satisfy their requirements.
The team at Grisafe Architecture is well aware of many of the local codes that apply to typical residential or commercial design projects. We also do our best to stay informed of any changes to the code by continually exposing ourselves to relevant classes, seminars, and periodicals. When an atypical situation arises in a project we are working on, we know where to look or who to ask to find the applicable code requirement.
The plans we submit are often approved quickly and require few revisions from the city planning departments, which helps to keep our clients’ projects on schedule.
In addition, our firm has a great reputation throughout the Long Beach area. We are well respected by local officials, as well as by other professionals in the building and construction industries. We are always looking for ways to give back to the communities in which we live and work and make connections with others who are working to benefit the community. For example, Mark Grisafe, Grisafe Architecture owner and lead architect, currently sits on the Cultural Heritage Committee for the City of Long Beach and has served as a consultant to a local community center. Our firm was also one of only two architecture firms that was involved in the beta testing process for the Long Beach City Planning Department’s new online plan submission system.
Working with an architecture firm that is well connected and respected in their area isn’t the most important factor when choosing an architect, but it is certainly a factor worth considering. As you’re talking with architects about your upcoming project, you might want to make a point of asking them about their relationship with the planning department in the city in which your project is located and take note of their answer.
