The Design-Build Process: Part 3 -Schematic Design

In Schematic Design, we begin translating ideas into an efficient building design. This phase is when we start exploring design concepts, considering all options, and forming a general idea of the project's look and feel. The floor plans and overall shape of the project will start to take form, but specifics about materials and details will come later. This phase includes several meetings where we present ideas to you using images of other projects as examples, hand sketches, and models to help visualize the size, shape, and relationship of spaces. We listen to and observe your reactions, refining the ideas according to your feedback until we reach an agreed-upon design direction to further develop in the following phases. You can expect to be quite engaged throughout this phase and will be asked for approval of the Schematic Design before work proceeds. Make sure to let us know if you don’t understand something and take the necessary time to provide thoughtful feedback. While changes are always possible later, it is easiest to make them during this phase. Typical Timeframe of 2-4 Weeks (varies greatly depending on size & scope of project)