An architect designs structures, interiors, and landscapes to give beauty, function, and strength to the built environment. A good Long Beach architecture firm delivers this with an exceptional standard of care to ensure that the design meets the client’s needs, and that the finished project is built correctly and according to code, as well as on time and within budget. Many clients choose to have their Long Beach architect involved with their project from start to finish—from concept to construction completion.
At our Long Beach architecture firm, we start by learning about what our client is hoping to achieve with their project. Perhaps it’s expanding their family’s home or building a custom home from the ground up. Or maybe the client is a business owner who wants to renovate an existing building to suit their specific business’s needs. Whatever the specific project entails, we work closely with the client to obtain a good understanding of their spatial needs, as well as the look and feel they are going for.
The next step is to create multiple design concepts that address all of the client’s needs and wants and that fit within their budget. These concepts are given to the client to review and the best concept is selected for further design development. From there, the details are specified and a final design is drawn up and submitted to the city for approval. These plans are also the ones that are sent out to general contractors for the competitive bidding process.
Once a contractor is selected and the building process begins, an architect is also able to help oversee the construction to ensure that everything is done according to the agreed-upon design. An architect can also keep the project on track in terms of the timeline and the budget.
An architect should not only be skilled in architectural design and have a good pulse on current residential and commercial building trends, but he or she should also be a good communicator and familiar with the building process. He or she should be budget-conscious and be able to stick to strict timelines. In addition, an architect should have a good network of professional contacts, such as structural and mechanical engineers, Title 24 consultants, interior designers, general contractors, subcontractors, and other building specialists, and maintain good relationships with their local city planning departments.
When taking on a home remodel, a commercial renovation, or a ground-up building project, there is no substitute for a talented, experienced, well-connected architect. A good architect can be an important ally in the entire process, advocating on behalf of the client with city officials, their general contractor, and others.
Contact us at Grisafe Architecture in Long Beach to learn more about how we can help you on your upcoming project.
