Our Architectural Process:
A successful project is built on a clear, disciplined process. One that provides transparency at every stage, engages the right stakeholders at the right time, and ensures the design intent is carried from initial concept through construction.
What stays the same across every project
While each project is tailored to its context, our approach is grounded in a few consistent principles.
01
direct principal involvement.
A principal is engaged from the outset and remains actively involved throughout. You are not handed off after the initial meeting. The person who understands your vision continues to guide the work, ensuring continuity in both design and decision-making.
02
guided with clarity.
We prioritize transparency around scope, schedule, and cost. You will always understand what is happening next, what is required of you, and how decisions impact the overall project. If conditions shift, we address them proactively before they become issues.
03
we handle the bidding.
We lead the bid process on your behalf. When it is time to select a contractor, we coordinate site walkthroughs, review and normalize bids, and help you evaluate proposals beyond the numbers, considering communication style, experience, and reliability to identify the right partner.
04
support through construction.
We stay closely involved through construction. Most clients do not realize how much can go wrong between a finished drawing set and a finished space. We manage that gap, reviewing submittals, visiting the site, and resolving issues directly with the contractor so the finished space reflects the documented design intent.
No two projects are the same. A family renovating a Manhattan apartment approaches the work with a different set of priorities than a brand scaling its retail footprint. Our process is structured to respond to those differences. We are flexible in approach, but consistent in rigor. The phases below reflect how we tailor our work to meet each project’s specific goals and constraints.
Residential Process
Residential projects, particularly in New York, involve layers of complexity that are not always visible: board approvals, landmark reviews, contractor coordination, consultant teams, and material lead times.
Our role is to manage that complexity so you can stay focused on the decisions that matter most, how your home looks, feels, and functions for your life. While timelines vary, every project follows a consistent structure.
01
Programming and pre-design
We begin by understanding how you live. We ask detailed questions about your routines, priorities, and what is not working in your current space. We assess existing conditions, review building requirements, and define the project’s constraints, budget range, and path forward.
what you receive.
02
Schematic design
We translate those insights into design. We explore spatial relationships, choreography through the space, and concepts around materiality. This is where key decisions are made: layout, flow, how rooms relate to one another, where natural light falls. We present options, talk through the trade-offs, and refine until the direction feels right.
what you receive.
03
Design development
The selected concept is refined in detail. Materials, fixtures, and custom elements are defined. This is the phase where things start to come together, when clients can physically touch the materials that will surround them every day. We bring clients into the office for sample meetings where possible, because the tactile experience of a material is different from seeing it on a screen.
what you receive.
04
Construction documents and approvals
We produce a coordinated set of drawings and specifications that contractors will bid on and build from. This is also when we handle agency filings, board applications, landmark submissions, and any regulatory approvals the project requires. For many projects, this phase involves coordination with the Department of Buildings (DOB), co-op or condo boards, and sometimes the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
what you receive.
05
Bidding, construction, and closeout
We lead contractor selection and remain engaged through construction, reviewing submittals, visiting the site, and resolving issues as they arise to ensure the final result aligns with the design intent.
what you receive.
The best projects tend to start simply, with an honest conversation about what you need.
Retail & Commercial
Retail projects move faster, involve more stakeholders, and repeat across locations. Our process reflects that. We work as an extension of your internal team, coordinating with your real estate leads, construction managers, VM and branding teams. The structure of our services depends on where you are in your growth.
If you are launching your first physical store, we start with concept and prototype development. If you already have a footprint, we start with an audit of existing locations in order to develop a prototype and brand book to position for scaled implementation and rollout coordination.
01
Concept and prototype development
We partner with your team to translate brand identity into built form. We work to elevate the customer experience while addressing the operational needs and the practical constraints of the real estate from the outset. The result is a prototype designed for longevity and scale: a system that can be deployed across locations while preserving the character and intent that define your brand.
what you receive.
02
Site evaluation and adaptation
No two sites are identical. We assess each new location for feasibility, review lease parameters, evaluate local code requirements, then adapt the prototype to suit the specific space. Our experience designing hundreds of locations across the country allows us to balance consistency with the practical realities of varying jurisdictions, landlords, and existing conditions.
what you receive.
03
Documentation and permitting
We develop site-specific construction documents and manage the permitting process for each location. For multi-state rollouts, this includes navigating varying building departments, accessibility requirements, and local amendments. We streamline this complexity, allowing your internal team to stay focused on growth rather than regulatory nuances.
what you receive.
04
Construction administration AND rollout support
During construction, we remain actively engaged. We review submittals, conduct site visits where appropriate, and work directly with your GC to address field conditions. For multi-site rollout programs, we implement a structured tracking system that keeps your team informed on the status of every location without requiring them to manage the details individually.
what you receive.
Let’s build a partnership from start to finish.
Deliverables
Phase-by-phase deliverables
One of the most common questions we hear is simple: what exactly will I receive at each stage? It is a fair question, particularly for clients new to working with an architect, or those accustomed to firms that limit their scope to permit drawings.
We approach our work differently. As a full-service architecture and interiors practice, our role extends beyond producing drawings. Each phase is structured to deliver the level of detail, coordination, and oversight required to move the project forward with clarity and control.
The outline below reflects how we define deliverables at each stage: what we produce, how we communicate it, and how it supports the next step in the process.
Pre-Design
We establish the project foundation by documenting existing conditions, defining program, and aligning on budget and schedule. For retail, this includes brand analysis and site feasibility.
Deliverables: Existing conditions survey, program summary, preliminary budget and schedule, due diligence report.
Schematic Design
We translate design goals into spatial concepts, presenting clear design options supported by plans, diagrams, and a concise narrative.
Deliverables: Concept options, floor plans and diagrams, design narrative, prototype framework (retail).
Design Development
We refine the selected concept into a solidified layout. Develop material strategies and key details.
Deliverables: Refined plans and elevations, material and finish selections, fixture and lighting direction, brand environment standards (retail).
Construction Documents
We coordinate with consultants to produce a complete drawing set for bidding, permitting, and construction.
Deliverables: Construction documents, specifications, filing packages, consultant coordination (structural, MEP, expediting), location-adapted sets (retail).
Regulatory Approvals
We manage the filing and approval process by working with the expeditor to prepare required submissions. We coordinate with agencies, landlords, and boards to secure necessary approvals.
Deliverables: Permit applications, agency filing packages, responses to comments, board submissions (as required), expeditor coordination.
Bidding and Negotiation Support
We lead the contractor selection process by issuing bid letters and documents to qualified GCs, reviewing bids, and helping you evaluate proposals beyond cost.
Deliverables: Bid package distribution, bid leveling, contractor walkthroughs, scope clarification, and award recommendations.
Construction Administration
We stay engaged through construction by reviewing submittals, visiting the site, and resolving issues to ensure the work aligns with the design intent.
Deliverables: Submittal and shop drawing review, site visits and field reports, RFI responses, change order management, punch list and close-out, rollout tracking (retail).
