Architectural Design

Grimes & Associates can provide for all of your architectural needs from small remodeling to extensive campus/facility designs.  

Projects vary in size.   Many have common phases in the design and construction process, including:

• American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance

• The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in "places of public accommodation" (businesses and non-profit agencies that serve the public) and "commercial facilities" (other businesses).
  
• This regulation includes:   Standards for Accessible Design, and establishes minimum standards for ensuring accessibility when designing and constructing a new facility or altering an existing facility.   For more information on ADA, see the ADA Home Page .
  
• The purpose of the Texas Accessibility Standards (1999) is to set standards for accessibility to:
  • Public Buildings and Facilities
    
  • Privately Owned Buildings and Facilities Leased or Occupied by State Agencies
    
  • Places of Public Accommodation, and
    
  • Commercial Facilities by Individuals with Disabilities.
    

• Site Selection/Evaluation

• Location, Location, Location!
  
• Grimes & Associates performs a detailed analysis of the general community and the specific location of your next project.   Many of the common phases in the Site Selection and Evaluation process include:

• Adjacent Businesses and Projected Development
  
• Demographics Profile
  
• Engineering Considerations
  
• Expansion Opportunities
  
• General Real Estate Market Evaluation
  
• Identification of Competition
  
• Infrastructure, Zoning and Codes
  
• Site Analysis and Recommendations
  
• Site Viability and Alternatives
  
• Transportation Access and Traffic Patterns
  
• Utilities and Environmental Issues
  
  
  
• Feasibility Studies
  
  
  • A preliminary Feasibility Study generally includes the development of preliminary estimates of overall costs for a specific project.   Often with input from others, the study may include preliminary estimates of total project costs as well as annual operating and maintenance expenses in order to obtain a preliminary indication of the overall financial feasibility of the project.
    
    
    

• Schematic Design

• T he primary objective of the schematic design is to clearly define a feasible concept based on the scope of the project.   This is completed so that the client can more thoroughly understand the project and approve its construction.
  
• The schematic submittal may include, a site plan, floor plans, elevations, a cost estimate, a comparative analysis of the schematic design and the program or master plan, renderings, and life cycle cost analysis.

• Cost Analysis/Preliminary Estimates

• The primary objective of cost analysis is to provide oversight of the calculation, submission, and audit cost rates.
  
• Grimes & Associates provides the financial oversight for your project, so that costs can be managed and planned for.