If you have never worked with an architect before, the design process can feel opaque. How long does it take? What decisions happen when? When do costs become clear? This article walks through the standard phases of architectural design so you know what to expect at each stage.
The process begins with programming, a phase dedicated to understanding your needs. We discuss how you use space, what you like and dislike about your current environment, your budget range, and your timeline. For residential clients, this often involves touring your current home and talking through daily routines. For commercial clients, it means understanding operations, growth plans, and brand identity. Programming typically takes two to four weeks and results in a written project brief that guides everything that follows.
Schematic design is where ideas take shape. We develop two or three conceptual approaches — floor plan options, massing studies, and preliminary material directions — and present them for your feedback. This is the most creative and exploratory phase, and it is where the biggest design decisions are made: overall layout, building form, and spatial character. Schematic design typically runs four to eight weeks, depending on project complexity, and involves two or three rounds of revision before we settle on a direction.
Design development refines the chosen concept into a detailed design. Structural systems are defined, mechanical layouts are coordinated, materials and finishes are specified, and the building's appearance is fully resolved. By the end of this phase, you have a clear picture of what the finished building will look like, how it will be built, and what it will cost. Design development typically takes six to ten weeks. From there, we produce construction documents — the detailed drawings and specifications that contractors use to bid and build the project — followed by construction administration, where we visit the site regularly to answer questions, review submittals, and ensure the finished building matches the design.