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M'Guinness & Associates is flexible in creating a custom approach with our services that best suite our clients. We offer a turnkey approach to your project or offer any part of our services at our clients request. We understand that every client is different with the amount of services they retain from a design/construction professional. We pride ourselves on collaborating with other design professionals, engineers, interior designers, decorators and contractors to achieve our client's objectives. That is why we will work with our clients to tailor fit our services to meet the client's goals.

The following is a basic guideline to a successful project and the typical services M'Guinness & Associates offer. Not all projects are the same and the process will be a little different with each project. Moreover, this sometimes overwhelming list of items are typical of a new home and/or major addition & remodeling projects. As a disclaimer and for example, a simple kitchen remodel or small addition would require very few of these items.

Design & Construction Process Outline

Programming

♦ Decide on a programming team

♦ Identify and prioritize client and user values

♦ Discuss project goals and design issues

♦ Identify project constraints and opportunities

♦ Gather and analyze project data

♦ Determine project goals

♦ Create and document project requirements

Schematic Design

♦ Review of program with Client

♦ Prepare preliminary design concepts

♦ Presentation of design concepts to Owner (layouts & basic space planning)

♦ Owner review and input (repeat, average is 3 to 4 rounds)

♦ Schematic design finalized

Design Development

♦ Develop the approved schematic design with more detail to assure the design is

feasible. Most of the time things just need to be moved around slightly to

make the schematic design viable.

♦ Analyze and plan for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural & architectural

details to be developed in the construction documentation phase.

♦ This phase results in drawings that often specify design elements such as material

types and location of windows and doors. The level of detail provided is determined

by the clients's request and the project requirements.

♦ This phase often ends with a meeting to, and approve the drawings by the client.

♦ Deliverables typically produced after the Design Development phase often produces

floor plans, sections, and elevations with full dimensions. These drawings typically

include door and window details and outline material specifications.

Construction Documents

♦ This phase includes technical information to obtain a permit.

♦ This phase also moves the drawings & specifications forward and includes all pertinent

information required for the contractor to price and build the project.

♦ The drawings & specifications may include, but not limited too:

♦ Site Plans

♦ Demolition Plans

♦ Floor Plans

♦ Floor area and lot coverage calculations & diagrams

♦ Exterior Elevations

♦ Building Sections

♦ Schedules (Finish, Window, Door, plumbing & lighting fixtures, appliance etc...)

♦ Architectural details, sections & interior elevations

♦ Title 24 Energy compliance report

♦ Build it Green or LEED environmental requirements

♦ Soil Engineering (reports)

♦ Civil Engineering (calculations & drawings)

♦ Structural Engineering (calculations & drawings

♦ Topographical Survey & Drawing

♦ Every client has a different comfort level of how much detail they want included.

Some detail is required by the jurisdiction assigning the permit, but a lot of the

information on a completed construction set of drawings is only for the purpose to

have the contractor and client on the same page as to what the client is expecting

will be done by the contractor and what the contractor plans to actually do.

Some clients want just the bare necessities to get a permit and want to work the

details out directly with the contractor. Others want every last detail spelled out on

the construction set of drawing to assure the contractor is including what they want.

However, the majority fall somewhere in between and want more than the minimum

without going overboard. The level of detail included is discussed with the client

at this time to assure they will have a finished set of plans and specifications at a

level of detail they are comfortable with before the bidding and construction begins.

Because the amount of detail may vary depending on the client’s preference, when

the drawing set is not 100-percent complete, this is noted on the drawing set when

it is sent out for bid.

Construction Bidding and Contractor Selection

♦ Detailed scope of work

♦ Client sends out plans and specifications to other contractors for competitive bid.

♦ Bid evaluation, to assure other contractors are including all specifications and

particulars in the plans.

♦ Review bids and recommend contractor

Construction Management 1

♦ Assist with negotiating a construction contact with general contractor.

♦ On-site construction observation, recommendations and problem solutions

♦ Material selection consulting

♦ Assure contractor is adhering to the design

♦ Assure contractor is staying on schedule

♦ Provide further design and drawings during construction when needed.