Our Architectural Design Process

Why choose an architectural design-build firm for your home remodel

The New England Design & Construction 8-Step Process

1. Complimentary In-Home Evaluation

One of our design professionals will come to your home to help assess your needs. We examine your lifestyle and the goals of your home improvement project while suggesting solutions and ideas on how best to move forward. Preliminary budget requirements will be discussed, as well as our general process.

In summary, we will:

• Work with you to understand the functional needs of your new space
• Develop architectural design goals for your home
• Discuss next steps and our architectural design and remodeling process
• Review preliminary budget requirements

2. Pre-Design Study

Once we’ve established that NEDC is an excellent match for your project we will gain a more in depth understanding of your existing space and project goals by taking accurate measurements (with our millimeter-precise laser scanners), generating architectural floor plans, and continue with more in-depth surveys about level of finishes and style desired. Through our initial step, called the Pre-Design Study, we create 2-3 directions that your project could take and isolate any design challenges and their potential solutions. We research past projects of similar scope, specialty subcontractors, vendors, zoning laws, and conservation and historical requirements to create an accurate budget for the proposed scope of work.

A recap of the steps:

• Taking accurate measurements and generating architectural floor plans
• Complete in-depth surveys to understand the styles and finishes desired
• Create a direction and plan for your project
• Identify and isolate any possible architectural design challenges and solutions
• Research past projects, subcontractors, vendors, zoning laws, and historical requirements
• Develop an accurate budget for the proposed project scope

3. Design Development, Schematic Design, and Construction Documentation

Once a specific design path is chosen, we proceed with the remainder of our design process. With the guidance of your assigned designer, you will visit showrooms, create catalogs, and choose every single finish that will go into your space. At each phase of design, we hone the budget down further so that before construction begins, we have an exact final budget for your project. This final budget is fixed, as we have a complete list of your selected finishes and their associated costs. Typically separated architects and contractors (or Design-Build firms with no licensed architects on staff) have budgets fluctuate 11-20% during construction; comparatively, NEDC’s architectural design process keeps our average change rate at just under 3%.

Architectural plans, a high-resolution rendering of your new space (including VR walkthroughs through our Oculus headset), and all construction documents are also completed through these stages. We prepare for construction by providing you with a timeline of completion for your project and an introduction to your NEDC Project Manager.

4. Pre Construction Meeting

Before construction starts, we hold a quick meeting with you that serves as an introduction to the production team and your project manager. During this meeting, we cover all of the key information needed to complete a successful project. Lines of communication, material and tool storage, dust protection, work hours, and special requests are all gone over to ensure that you are not only happy with the final built product, but the construction process as well.

In short, during the meeting, we’ll review:

• Lines of communication
• Material and tool storage during construction
• Dust protection
• Work hours
• Special requests

5. Weekly Meetings

Communication is the keystone to any successful remodeling project. We want to make sure that you are in constant communication with your Project Manager, and schedule a weekly in-person meeting time up front for your project to go over any coordination points and answer any questions you have that arise during construction.

6. Substantial Completion Walk-Through

Once the project is complete, we’ll walk through the house and develop a punch list of items that still need to be taken care of. We’ll assign those items value, and withhold that amount from your final invoice until completed. We always want you to be fully satisfied with our work, from the development of the architectural design to the finishing touches.

7. Post Construction Wrap Up and Project Binder

We let you experience and enjoy your new space for a few weeks and schedule a sit down meeting in your home to gather your feedback on how you feel the project was executed from design through completion so that we can continue to improve and serve you even better during your next project. We also provide you with a project binder that contains all of the information that was used to make your project successful — contracts, construction documents, renderings, fixture and appliance information, so that you can maintain your new space properly and provide the next owner peace of mind that your project was executed correctly.

Your project binder will include:

• Contracts
• Construction documents
• Renderings
• Fixture and appliance information

8. Warranty

New construction will often settle with the home, sometimes separating caulk lines or creating other detrimental effects. NEDC is passionate about providing the highest quality of work and the best service available when it comes to high-end remodels and construction in New England, this is why we provide a 5-year service warranty on all of our work. We will contact you periodically after your project is completed to ensure that we have made you as happy as possible.

About New England Design and Construction