Our Architectural Design Process

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

The New England Design & Construction 10-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

Once we’ve established that NEDC is an excellent match for your project, you will be assigned a lead designer to carry you through the entire design process. After you have been introduced to your lead designer, we proceed to gaining a deeper understanding of your style and aspirations for your project through surveys and our on-site pre-design meeting. In this kickoff meeting we will perform a 3D scan of your existing space with our millimeter-precise laser scanner to generate architectural floor plans. While creating the existing floor plans we are working in parallel researching all applicable zoning and construction codes, and getting any additional consultants that may be needed introduced to your project.

A recap of the steps:

• Get to know you and your space
• Take accurate measurements and generate architectural floor plans, and complete in-depth surveys to understand the styles and finishes desired
• Identify and isolate any possible architectural design challenges and solutions
• Research past projects, subcontractors, vendors, zoning laws, and historical requirements that may be applicable

3. Schematic Design

Utilizing all the information gathered in pre-design, your design team works through viable solutions for the outlined goals. You will be presented with multiple design variations of your project in both plan and 3D massing models. After receiving your feedback, a singular layout that captures your favorite elements of each design variation will be created. Using this plan and company historic figures, your first budget will be created. Once that budget is approved you will advance into the next phase of design.

Major Milestones:

• Schematic Design Plan Presentation
• Hybrid Plan Approval
• Schematic Design Budget Presentation

4. Design Development

Now we move into more detailed development of the selected plans, bringing in vendors and trade partners needed to bring the design further into reality. The first step of this phase is attending local showrooms to select finishes and products that support the client’s vision. With these selections, the plans and renders are taken to the next level and prepared for our design development plan review at our office. At this review you can see samples, plans, renders, and even use our VR goggles to immerse yourself into the project. Following this review a project manager is assigned to your project and our construction team leads a subcontractor walk-through as we acquire project-specific pricing from our trusted subcontractors. Using the confirmed finishes and acquired bids, your 2nd budget is prepared and presented for your approval.

Major Milestones:

• Showroom visits and online shopping
• Design Development Plan Review
• Construction team integration and subcontractor walk-through
• Design Development Budget Review

5. Construction Documentation

In the final phase of design our team utilizes the permit approval timeline to fully flesh out any remaining design complexities and fully integrate the construction team. We also assemble a final construction contract package including plans, budgets, scope of work, and selections.

Major Milestones:

• Permit submittal
• Construction Contract Approval
• Project lead hand-off from designer to project manager

6. Pre-Construction Meeting

Before construction starts, we hold a quick meeting at your home that acts as the official transfer from design to construction. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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