Your guide to the interior architectural process A step-by-step guide from Context Architects
Renovating or designing new space for your business is a significant investment. We understand this. So we’ve produced this step-by-step guide to help you understand what’s involved at each stage of the process.
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Westpac Corporate Office
Step 1: PROJECT INITIALISATION
Step 8: DETAILED DESIGN
Step 2: PRE-DESIGN
Step 9: BUILDING CONSENT
Step 3: CONCEPT DESIGN
Step 10: PROCUREMENT
Step 4: PROJECT COSTING
Step 11: CONTRACT & SITE ADMINISTRATION
Step 5: DEVELOPED DESIGN
Step 12: PRACTICAL COMPLETION
Step 6: RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATION
Step 13: DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT & ARCHIVING
Step 7: SOFT FITOUT 2
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Mother Duck childcare centre
PROJECT INITIALISATION So you need a new fitout? Here’s where we work out together how to make your new interior sing. We analyse your requirments and desires and bring them all together in the written brief.
What we do:
What you do:
• Meet to discuss your brief including design ideas, objectives, customer needs, brand and workspace requirements • Translate into a needs analysis report • Explain fee structure, procurement options and contractual terms • We can also help you assess potential tenancies, lease agreements and provide test fits.
• Talk us through your business drivers, brand requirements and preferred design aesthetics so we can better understand your business • Nominate your point of contact to represent your company throughout the fitout process.
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PRE-DESIGN We work together to refine the brief including project objectives, design intention, budget and deadlines. We research and gather information to enable design planning to commence.
What we do:
What you do:
• • • •
• Supply property information including leases, existing plans etc • Inform us what items the landlord may be providing as part of the lease terms • Talk to us about your budget and programme requirements.
Visit the site and measure up your new tenancy Council liaison to gather relevant site information Determine consents required Discuss programme and prepare a draft critical path • Discuss what level of fitout can be achieved with your budget.
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CONCEPT DESIGN Concept design is a top level idea of how your project will look when it’s finished.
What we do: • Prepare concept layouts, sketches, 3D models, perspectives and elevations • Integrate your brand, culture and values as part of the design • Discuss how you might integrate sustainable
What you do: • Be available to discuss the concept design • Involve other stakeholders to review the design if necessary • When you are happy, sign off the design so we can proceed to the next stage.
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PROJECT COSTING Now we develop a total project cost estimate based on the concept design, your budget and the brief in order to provide peace of mind that your project is on the right track.
What we do:
What you do:
• For larger projects we recommend getting a quantity surveyor involved at concept stage to ensure the project is tracking on budget • Review quantity surveyor project cost estimates with you and recommend changes if required to meet the budget without compromising the design intent and your business objectives. • We are conscious of cost control and work closely with you to work out a fitout budget at the start. We involve a quantity surveyor at the design stage to ensure the design matches your budget.
• Provide any additional relevant information requested for the QS to cost the project • Be involved in any value engineering decisions if required • Once the budget is approved, proceed to the developed design phase.
Life Pharmacy
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DEVELOPED DESIGN The design is now developed to a greater level of detail, incorporating design input from other consultants and selecting materials and finishes.
What we do: • Coordinate fee proposals and engage consultants • Provide developed plans and drawings for approval, including floor plans, elevations and sections to scale • Present sketches of critical details • Present a 3D computer model showing the flow between spaces, materiality, light and views between interior spaces • Integrate signage requirements • Develop bespoke joinery items • Show fittings and furniture layouts for each space.
What you do: • Approve consultants’ fee proposals • Agree on a procurement method (for example building tender or negotiated contract) • Review the 3D model and/or plans. Discuss tweaks to the final design • Review critical detailing • Discuss options for finishes, colours, furnishings and fittings • Agree any bespoke design requirements, for example, for customised joinery • Agree on signage requirements.
Westpac Signature Branch
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RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATION This is an assessment of the environmental effects of a project. They can take anywhere between four and 12 weeks for council to process.
What we do: • Ascertain if resource consent is required. Resource consent is not generally required for interiors projects, although may be needed if elements such as external signage or carparking requirements are included • Prepare drawings, assessment of environmental effects report, consultants’ reports and apply for consents • Liase with council and monitor progress of the application.
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The stage where we finalise the furniture, fittings and finishes, ever so important in creating a rich interior environment with an enviable aesthetic!
What we do:
What you do:
• Prepare an interiors colour palette • Source materials, fittings and finishes (including lighting, flooring, wall coverings, soft furniture, finishes and hardware) • Specify the products and fittings that best suit your brief and needs. As architects, we aren’t tied to specific suppliers, and can pass on the trade discounts we receive. • Design customised furniture and joinery units • Prepare options for soft fitout items • Once approved, we can procure these items directly from the suppliers and organise delivery.
• Review and sign off a colour board and sample material swatches, furniture and fittings • Be involved in the development of specialised items, for example bespoke joinery units • Select soft fitout items from options we prepare.
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SOFT FITOUT
DETAILED DESIGN This stage involves preparing the documentation that forms the basis of a contract between you and your building contractor.
What we do:
What you do:
• Prepare detailed construction documentation (also called working drawings) based on approved developed design • Complete coordination of consultants’ detailed documentation • Prepare a written specification covering the materials, processes and labour expected of the building contractor.
• Generally, at this stage there is little involvement required on your part!
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BUILDING CONSENT A building consent is required to ensure building work complies with the NZ Building Code and other relevant standards.
What we do: • Prepare documentation and lodge your building consent application on your behalf • Liaise with council until building consent is achieved (processing can take four to 12 weeks).
What you do: • Be available to discuss any issues that arise during the building consent process.
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PROCUREMENT Discuss the pros and cons of a negotiated contract or tender for procurement and recommend the best approach for you.
What we do: • Negotiate a contract with a selected builder, or... • Pre-qualify tenderer reputations and invite up to four contractors to price the project • Issue tender documentation and coordinate tender process • Review tenders and make a recommendation • Organise contract documentation • Agree with contractor on building programme.
What you do: • Discuss and agree on a procurement method • For tenders, agree on the tendering parties • Meet to discuss tender bids and tender recommendation • Approve successful building tender • Confirm building programme timeframe • Discuss your contract works insurance requirements with your insurance broker. This may be held by your landlord if you have one.
Westpac 79 Queen St.
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Westpac Signature Branch
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CONTRACT & SITE ADMINISTRATION Construction begins! We impartially administer the building contract between you and the contractor. This is known as contract administration.
What we do:
What you do:
• Observe construction and run site meetings to ensure that the work is being done in accordance with the contract • Establish lines of day-to-day communication • Report progress via site meeting minutes • Issue contract instructions and provide additional information that may be required on site • Receive claims for payment, make deductions as outlined in the contract and issue certificates to authorise payment to the builder • No additional money is spent unless variations are approved by you.
• Attend site meetings if you want to • Review site meeting minutes and discuss any concerns with us • Receive and pay certified claims for payment • Discuss and approve any variations to the building contract.
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PRACTICAL COMPLETION
What we do: • Identify any defects at the end of construction (also known as snagging) • Issue defects notices to ensure that they are corrected before final payment • Review warranties and guarantees • Prepare as-built drawings, services contacts and operating manuals as a maintenance instructions for you • Determine and certify practical completion.
What you do: • Move in (and invite us to the opening party!) • Expect a call from us to check you are delighted
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Rhodes & Co. legal firm
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT & ARCHIVING
What we do: • Keep a record of your project’s documentation in an online file.
What you do: • Use your client login and password on our secure website to retrieve and access your project’s documentation.
Westpac Barrington
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If you want to have a chat about your ideas, or get started on one of these stages, get in touch and one of our interiors experts will be happy to help:
Rhodes & Co. legal firm
Auckland: Kerri Goss kerri.goss@context.net.nz Level 1, 326 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland PO Box 56404 Dominion Road, Auckland 1446 P: 09 358 0140 M: 021 245 5667 Christchurch: Ben Frost ben.frost@context.net.nz 75 Perry Street, Papanui, Christchurch PO Box 5227, Papanui, Christchurch 8542 P: 03 550 1550 M:027 527 0072
www.contextarchitects.com
www.contextarchitects.com