As we promised in our last post, this week we’ll show you where our services here in the Utica area saved clients money and construction 
headaches. All with just a little design work and planning before construction. Our philosophy is “it’s most cost effective to make changes on paper rather than in the field during construction.”
Planning Ahead Saved Thousands $$ for Major Restaurant Site Expansion
A national fast food chain located in Rome, New York decided on a site expansion to improve their restaurant. The upgrade included repaving the parking lot, better lighting, and improving the look of the grounds. The work included the coordination of three different elements: paving, electrical, and landscaping.
Prior to hiring our firm, the Vice President of Operations asked several contractors to provide costs for the project. He told each of the bidding contractors what he wanted for the new look and the size of the area to be paved. He was shocked to see the estimates he got. They ranged from $20,000 to $80,000!
The trouble was, without a defined plan, how could the owner decide which construction fee was fair and which wasn’t? With a pricing range that wide, there was no way to make a decision. (And, to be fair, it was tough for the contractors to accurately bid on specs ascertained in a conversation). The owner needed an “apples-to-apples” comparison of the work to effectively review costs and materials.
After the VP of Operations called us and described his vision, we provided him with a set of well-defined plans. We organized the scope of the work into Construction Documents that included material specifications. Those same contractors now had a defined scope of work and provided the restaurant construction costs from $20,000–$26,000.
When reviewing the bids from each contractor, the VP of Operations had a greater confidence that the bid pricing was all based on the same scope of work. If the owner had gone it alone, he could have potentially paid $60,000 too much for the project. And he would not have known if the bids were all based upon the same specifications. Our drawings set the level of quantity and quality.
Home Plumbing Made Easier
Another example of our “coming to the rescue” is a homeowner in Central New York whose contractor came up with house plans that included a first floor utility room placed in the interior of the house. The contractor suggested to the homeowners that an architect should be hired to review and provide detailed plans for construction.
Working alongside the contractor and getting input from the homeowners, we suggested changing the plan to place the utility room on an outside wall of the house. This allowed the dryer to vent directly outside. And by placing the utility to the rear of the building, it also hid the plume of steam created by the dryer in colder weather…a condition not considered earlier by the homeowners or contractor. This simple change during design saved money by making the plumbing and venting much shorter. And the vent was more visually appealing from the exterior.
Architects for Smart Planning and Organizing
These are just a couple of examples of smart planning and organizing using the services of your local architect. As you can see, your project doesn’t have to be pricey or fancy. You’ll often recoup the cost of your architect just by correcting design flaws and making sure you're getting what you really want before construction begins.
We invite you to call us before you start in on your next project at 315.737.4416. We think you’ll agree that your construction will go much smoother, be less expensive, and you’ll end up with a better building in the process.
Until next time,
Dan Berkhoudt and Tom Davis
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