The Start of the Planning Phase
A majority of our projects are broken down into 3 phases. The Pre-Design Phase, the Design Phase, and then finally, the Planning & Permitting Phase. For more information on the three phases, please visit the Our Process page. A majority of clients who are looking for a design project are not only interested in getting their home designed in 3D. Most wish to obtain a building permit and structural plans for their project. This is where the Architectural Planning & Engineering Phase comes in.
After you have approved your floor plans and 3D home designs, we will then convert your designs so that they can be prepared for preliminary plans. The preliminary plans are simply a more finalized version of your designs, only on large plot paper and 1/4″ per foot scale. The preliminary plans are made up of the first few architectural pages. The site plan, the demo floor plan (if it’s needed), the new floor plan, the electrical plan, elevation views, and often section views. These pages more focus on what the home is going to look like vs how it’s going to be built. These pages come later, once your approve the preliminary plans.
Once the prelims are approved by you, then we continue on to structural planning. This is the second part of the Planning Phase and usually takes around 3 weeks to complete. During this time, our planners, engineers, and designers will develop the floor framing, wall framing, roof framing, foundation, additional sections, structural specifications and detail pages, as well as the Title 24 energy calculations page. Once the structural plans are ready, we can submit your plans for a building permit, where the Planning Phase continues.
