Philosophy

0047

I believe each individual, couple, family, or company is best qualified to design their own home, workspace, or retail store by virtue of their knowledge of themselves and their needs. My job is to ask the right questions so I understand exactly what they want and present design options in a way they can clearly understand so they can make informed decisions.

I bring more than 40 years of experience listening to people and asking those questions, Programming, and clearly presenting the most appropriate design options Schematic Design, enabling my clients to visualize their dreams and make fully-informed decisions. I describe these visions in drawings and dollars my clients can understand. “Second thoughts” are encouraged during Design Development so that most revisions are made prior to spending the bulk of my time – and your money – producing the finished product – the information required to gain planning and building permits necessary to build your design.

Once the final design is agreed upon, I prepare all necessary structural engineering, Title 24 energy calculations, and drawings, Contract Documents, required to obtain a building permit. By controlling critical aspects of the design, I provide my clients with a more economical, better-integrated building quicker and for less money than architects who do not do their own structural engineering and have draftsman do their final drawings.

I assist my clients through the Permit Approval process by working with planning and building department staff and making public presentations to local homeowners’ associations, Design Review Boards, Planning Commissions and City Councils. While government agencies are approving your permit, I can provide additional information, Bid Documents, not required to obtain a building permit, but necessary to obtain bids from subcontractors on all phases of the construction project. I am very experienced in the Bidding and Construction Administration phases of the project, having done much of the construction work myself and having acted as construction manager for several jobs using my own General Contractors license. I work well with traditional general contractors, construction managers, and owner-builders.

I make periodic visits to the construction site and bring construction deficiencies to the attention of my clients promptly, when changes can be made easily and at less expense.


 


P.O. Box 388 Aptos, California 95001
 

Homepage | Philosophy | Services | Projects | Photo Gallery | Contact Jim