Services

Every property owner of existing buildings should have a set of drawings that record the building as it currently stands. These are helpful for future development of the building and typically architects need them to start work on a project. For many reasons, the owner could lose track of these drawings. If this is the case, they will need to hire an architect to redo them.

Record drawings are not as-built drawings. As-built drawings are defined as drawings completed by the contractor to document any changes made to the original design during construction. As-built drawings should show the changes made in red ink.

While the two terms were used by architects somewhat interchangeably, it is no longer recommended that architects use the term as-built.

Because architects create record drawings using information provided by the contractor, they cannot be verified by the architect and there will be no liability issues for the architect.

With the increasing focus on environmental concerns, our clients are more frequently asking us for sustainable design services.

Sustainable design services that we offer could include analyzing materials’ impact on health, design for well-being, energy analysis, ventilation and computational fluid dynamics, carbon accounting, project sustainability assessment, e.g., LEED, BREAM, WELL, and workshop facilitation.

I-Group Construction offers these services.

We set how the buildings and structures work together to create an enjoyable environment is just as important as the design of the individual buildings.

Urban design extends past the design of a single building to focus on groups of buildings, public spaces, transport systems, services, and amenities. As it includes components of architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning, many architects will need to bring on external consultants with expertise in these urban fields. While the scope expands, the architectural contract can grow to match the needs and build a much more holistic project.

We are always on our client's side to assist with bidding, negotiating, construction and how much it will cost to build a building. The owner usually has little to no experience with the negotiations. We help with price discussions.

This is where we can be extremely helpful. We know what cost is too much and what is too little. We know what changes can be made to lower costs without impacting the integrity of the original design. If a client is uncomfortable doing these kinds of negotiations, it's worth it for you to hire us and guide you.

This would include any services that the owner doesn’t feel capable of dealing with on their own. This could be the selection of various materials or any coordination with other involved parties.

If you request us to include project management as an add-on service, it would typically be included under an hourly rate. Neither the owner nor the architect has a clear idea of how this service will look during the project, so an hourly rate versus a flat fee covers both the owner and the architect no matter what arises.

We use modern design software, we render 3D models of designs. This gives you a clear feel for how your building will look. It can also be used as promotional material to gain support for the project. Many times, we also put together a short film showing a camera moving through the 3D rendering of the project. While basic services would include the design drawings, 3D images are not typically included as a basic service because of the extra cost and time to produce them.

Most clients only care about the deliverable of a beautiful, legible image and not our process for deriving said image.

A feasibility study determines if a project is worth the owner’s investment. Normally, we will look at the proposed location and other factors to determine if this project will bring the outcome the owner desires. A feasibility study also takes a hard look at the legal right to build what the owner envisions. If codes prohibit the owner from building what they want, a feasibility study would help them figure that out.

When owners have a concept for a building that will have a mixed use, I-Group Construction specialize in that type of design. What mixed use means is single buildings that serve as residences, restaurants, workspaces, medical services, or other combinations of building use. More people want buildings that create a village-like feel. This is often combined with urban design to create urban spaces that have micro neighborhoods where people don’t have to travel far to work or play.

Where a building is placed is equally important as the design of the building. Site selection is a multifaceted process that varies depending on the use of the building. Site selection for a retail space will often look at things like the amount of competition and the cost of living in the area. It wouldn’t be great to put a business where it has to fight with several similar businesses or where the locals cannot afford the products or services.

Single family homes will often be a bit different during the site selection process. Usually, the land has already been purchased by the owner. An architect can help situate the home on the best spot on the property.

A building condition audit is done on an already existing building. An architect can help look for structural issues or building components that might be out of code. An audit might look at questions like: how is the building’s overall condition, can the current capacity be safely increased, is the building sufficiently able to serve the owners' needs, and how much longer the building can last?

Construction administration provided under basic services is a part-time site representation. The architect will only be on-site for specific activities, like inspections, testing, or oversight of sensitive construction activities.

In some cases, the owner might need more full-time representation. This could be for legal needs or if the project is complicated. If small failures could cause huge headaches for the owner or put people in danger, full-time oversight might be needed.

While electrical schematics are an important part of the design for a building, we are under no obligation to provide these. Architects are the most qualified to provide these drawings, as they intimately know the final layout of the design. If a client wants electrical schematics, they will need to be included as an additional service with an additional fee.

Cabinetry elevations is a more detailed drawing of the configuration and design of cabinets. Typically, cabinetry elevations require a very high level of detail and it can take hours to create this level of design. This is something that is not required by any sort of housing authority. Just like with electrical schematics, architects are the most qualified to create these drawings. They will know what configuration of cabinets will go best with the overall design.

During a project the owner will typically have to prepare multiple contracts with several different entities. Having an architect help to pull together these contracts means the contracts will be more consistent. An architect can also make sure all the components of a contract are included that will make the project run smoothly for the client.

I-Group Construction offers in-house interior design. It benefits the project to have a holistic approach that includes all design elements from the beginning. It makes for a more complete and cohesive final project.