FIVE REASONS WHY A DESIGN+BUILD FIRM COULD BE RIGHT FOR YOU

a note from bill

five reasons why a design+build firm could be right for you

Designing and building function as two sides of the same coin. They are each complex processes in their own right. With numerous moving parts to consider, it’s understandable that to jump into an addition, renovation, or even a custom build, you take a leap of faith. Faith that this build will end up being all that you’ve hoped for, and faith that it will go as close to plan as your vision of the completed project. You need to consider things like the 

style and functionality of your home, as well as the timeline and budget. And even before all of that, you need to choose which avenue to take to bring this project to fruition. The traditional avenue is to hire an architect, who does the design, and they hand it off to a contractor for the building phase. Another option is to hire a builder, who then contracts with an architect to design the project. Both options can have great outcomes and work well for many different types of clients; we ourselves often provide services through these avenues!
You may not be aware, however, that a third option is out there: an architect-led Design+Build firm. At Studio21 Architects, we offer the One Point Design+Build service. It combines the architectural and construction aspects into one unit within our firm, and through the entire process, the emphasis is on design. The potential for miscommunication and finger pointing common with the use of two separate firms diminishes, without sacrificing the quality of the work. Below, I’ve put together a few reasons why a Design+Build firm might be the right fit for you and your next project.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.​

When you hire a Design+Build firm, a single team works together to see your project through to completion. On top of that, you will have a point of contact every step of the way to help guide you through the process and make things happen smoothly and quickly

UNDERSTAND THE “WHY”, NOT JUST THE “HOW”.

Our architects work with you to discover the underlying intent for your wishes regarding the space, whereas a builder may look for shortcuts that could affect the functionality you want in your home. Your home should function for you, and to get there you need 
to learn why certain choices may be better than others.

BENEFIT FROM COST-CONTROL.

With a Design+Build process, the project budget can be developed as the project is being designed. The architect can advise the client on ways to control costs and the construction management team can monitor costs in the early stages of the design with previous projects and selective preliminary bidding.

ENABLE FASTER DELIVERY TIMES.

In the use of a Design+Build firm, you eliminate the game of telephone between architect and contractor. Alterations to the design can be managed swiftly and effectively when the architect and construction team function as one group, allowing for your project to be completed on a timeline with minimal delays.

ENJOY HIGHER-LEVEL DESIGN.

You don’t have to sacrifice design for the sake of speeding up your timeline; in an architect-led Design+Build, better communication between contractor and architect not only saves on time, but ensures a space where design isn’t compromised.

The traditional architecture process certainly does work for some, while the Design+Build process works well for others. It ultimately comes down to what you value, and so in reading this article, I hope it has given you some insight into important things to consider for yourself. What will make you most comfortable? How much to you value as little stress as possible? 

ALL THE BEST, 

---

written by: bill styczynski

Bill Styczynski is the president of Studio21 Architects, as well as an architect in his own right. Every month, Bill writes an article for the Studio Pages newsletter about design topics that he believes will be informative, helpful reads for all of our clients, established and potential.