Our Approach
Our project team will consist of primarily consultants which we have worked with in the past, although we are open to using other outside consultants if requested..……all the players will be readily accessible with the ability to perform in short notice. We believe that a good team that works well together is the foundation for design excellence, and a catalyst for success.
Our experience in creating excellence in the built environment, which often present numerous design possibilities, coupled with our experience and understanding of very finite criteria (like budgets, codes, and site constraints), help us to produce the right project, for the right place, at the right time, within the right budget. We assist our clients in making the right choice from conception to reality.
CAI will assist you in providing the proper program for the project as required. At project kick-off, we reccommend that the project team visit one of our similar facilities to assist with program generation if needed. Once the program and budget are finalized, CAI will design the new facility to meet them accordingly. CAI will oversee the bidding process; and will assist you to ensure sufficient contractors participate in the bidding process to obtain reasonable and competitive pricing. Once the bidding is complete, CAI will analyze the bids and make recommendations for the contract procurements. CAI will then provide construction administration services on your project until substantial completion and the Certificate of Occupancy is obtained.
Approach Characteristics
Good Start – CAI, as the team leader, we will call for an immediate kickoff meeting, requiring all involved parties to exchange contact info, identify point of contacts, and collaborate specific scopes and expectations.
Appropriate Role Playing – It is difficult to understand how design professionals sometimes, forget who is paying the bill. We understand that being a good listener and giving the customer what they asked for, should be the default and not complicated by inappropriate egos.
Code Compliance - Amid the beauty and fun, there will always be codes. Emergency components, egress requirements, rated separations, ADA conformances, required HVAC air changes, and the proper selection of building materials; all must be taken into account from the start, or costly repercussions will result. One user injury resulting from the wrong choice of a flooring product is one too many, and can be a very expensive mistake.
Milestones – Time is always of the essence. CAI will set project schedule goals and milestones for the project in the beginning. These goals will be monitored often and are necessary in evaluating our team’s production performance. Weekly progress reports, photos, and constantly updated ‘issue action lists’ are our second nature. A company rarely knows just when good documentation will be badly needed later. As we know, it’s too late to try and recreate actual events after the fact. These management tools keep the project on track and as well as provide project information if it is needed ‘down the road’.
Cost Effective Design – It will be the responsibility of CAI to research the costs of similar recently constructed Facilities. In a market in which there seems to be a greater fluctuation in prices than ever before, the Architect should closely follow updated costs of materials and labor. Understanding what percentage of the budget may be used for aesthetics, in lieu of pure function, is in itself, an important ‘fine art’.
Closure – Ever notice how it is difficult to get some people to completely finish anything? At CAI, we commit to continuing our tasks until the job is truly 100% done. This will be a high priority of ours and would include: warranties completed and distributed, punch list items resolved, release of liens satisfied, governmental agencies appeased, ‘customer satisfaction’ interviews taken and reports distributed as needed.
Build upon our established Relationship - We are truly proud to have this opportunity to prove ourselves to you. We will provide an attractive design solution. We will provide a functional design solution. We will provide high quality design solution. We will provide a Design that is within budget and we will implement these philosophies into the final constructed Facility while striving to meet or exceed your expectations!