Interior Design and Building Fit-up

We have developed spacial expertise in furniture layouts for large Government organizations. We can assist our clients with day to day layouts necessitated by every day changes or complete re-organizations as well as moves to new premises.

High Security Work

For over 25 years we have developed special expertise in providing services to clients who operate in high security environments. This is an ever-changing area which requires us to be aware of technological changes which may impact on how these facilities are designed. Work for such clients also requires us to be familiar with the protocols of handling drawings and information. PR-TY’s team currently has high level security clearances in place to enable us to provide services to clients in this area.

Facility and CAD Management Services

PR-TY has been increasingly called on to provide services that go beyond those traditional provided by most Architects. As of late we have been very involved in assisting large public organizations with not only preparing furniture layouts and fit-up drawings but also assist them by advising them on how to streamline their internal management processes. We are called upon to assist the client with their entire building portfolio and this can include management and regular updating of their CAD and building information files. This type of service is oftentimes referred to as ‘Facility Management’. We have been acting in this capacity for several years and the contractual arrangement is either through a standing offer arrangement or may be involved in us providing full-time staff on their premises to asset them with their needs.

Leasing Services
We also provide leasing services for either buildings we have designed or other buildings owned by the client. This usually involves measuring of individual areas to the Building Owners and managers Association (BOMA) standards or in the case of more complex buildings advising the building owner the optimum way to subdivide the building to achieve maximum rent.

Program Development

A good program is the first step to delivering a successful project. We will assist you in formulating the program for your project. We have signifiant experience in programming for new buildings as well as existing buildings which anticipate a large move or re-distribution of personnel.

Planning Feasibility Studies and Zoning Analysis

We will analyze the zoning requirements for a specific property.

We will advise you if your project requires special planning or other regulatory permissions and produce the relevant information for making an application to the local municipality. We may also assist you by providing services in connection with planning appeals and finding the best specialist consultants or legal advice that suites the particulars of your situation.

Measurement Survey & Drawings
Oftentimes we have to work with existing buildings for which no plans are available or the plans that do exist are not up to date. We will measure existing buildings for the purpose of assisting us to make design proposals for alterations or additions.

Building Condition Survey

PR-TY will inspect and establish the condition of a property and prepare a report. We will advise you on whether or not you may require specialist consultants in areas such as structural, mechanical, electrical asbestos abatement or other environmental specialists.

Sustainability Advice and Design
PR-TY can advise you how to optimize orientation, microclimate, building fabric, lifecycle costing, energy and water consumption and ensure compliance with Building Regulations. Additionally, if you require options for future proofing your building against future costs, or creating a zero carbon building the implications can be established by a specific studies at an early stage.

Conservation and Preservation
If the building you own is ‘historic’, a ‘Protected Structure’ or in an ‘Architectural Conservation Area’ you will need the advice of an architect with skills in conservation and preservation. Even if your building is not listed as a historic property it can still be worthy of conservation and you will want to make sure that its character is not damaged in the process of any alterations or extensions you plan to carry out.

Project Management
PR-TY is well experienced to act as the project-manager coordinating the other inputs to deliver a project successfully. This may take various forms from managing a traditional building project to assisting a client with co-ordinating a move from one facility to another.

Master-Planning
PR-TY has significant experience in assisting clients with not only determining their immediate needs but also will master plan your project to make sure it satisfies any anticipated future growth.

Dispute Resolution Services
PR-TY with it’s wide experience is well respected and able to offer dispute resolution services such as mediation and conciliation.

A SAMPLE PROJECT PROCESS

Project Definition Stage

Design Approach

The process we propose is an interactive one, we work with the client, the user groups and the stakeholders to create.

A project that satisfies the goals and objectives outlined in the RFP or project scope definition

Understanding

The design team seeks to learn everything it can about the site, the programs, and the context. In effect, the goal is to create a balance sheet of strengths and weaknesses for each of the above issues and at the same time to identify the goals and design principles that should guide the design process. Some of the information that the team analyzes is objective or “hard” data (base maps, past master plans, existing conditions, square footage requirements, base-line environmental practices, energy use, etc.); some is subjective or “soft” data collected from stakeholders (perceptions, hopes, fears, goals, etc.). All of the information will be used to further a more complete understanding of each of the major issues.

Exploring

The design team creates alternative “solutions” based on the information that has been gathered and analyzed. These solutions address not only the design of physical space, but also the design of the experience within that space. Design alternatives are reviewed with stakeholders and compared. Comparison with “benchmark” facilities researched by the design team could be brought into play at this point if the team feels that this would facilitate honing in on the most appropriate solution. Each option is evaluated for strengths and weaknesses based on the agreed goals and design principles. The first two steps in the process are rarely linear or consecutive. As “exploring,” continues, “understanding” increases, which in turn informs further exploration.

The design alternatives are accompanied by opinions of probable cost. These opinions are not as detailed as more formal third-party cost estimates, however, these estimates allow the client and core team to make informed decisions on moving the project forward in a specific direction.

Deciding

Based on the evaluation of alternatives by stakeholders, the design team prepares a “final draft” concept plan and program for discussion and review. This plan, crafted to reflect the consensus input of stakeholders, becomes the basis for further development of the design. During this further development of the design we would continue to meet every other week with the deciding group until the project design has been signed off and we proceed to the next stages.

Traditional Design Services Stage

Schematic Design Phase

After the Project Definition Satge has been approved and the Conceptual Design signed off by the client, the project moves into the Schematic Design which will elaborate upon the concept and begin to design plans and elevations consistent with that concept. Typically, we propose that the client organize end-user groups (depending on the size of the client and key stakeholders) and depending on the schedule that we establish a weekly or biweekly meetings where these user groups are met individually. We have found that his creates an investment mentality in the end user and establishes the framework for conducive, constructive dialog where the best design emerges.

At the conclusion of that series of meetings, we recommend holding a ‘core team’ meeting. This core team is a group of persons, that are empowered as decision makers and arbiters of conflicting request or directions. At that core team meeting they are updated as to the progress of design, the end user group meetings and outstanding issues. We will provide a cost estimate at the end of this phase.

Design Development

Once the Schematic Design is approved by the client, Design Development begins. We propose continuing the end user and core team meetings. The primary purpose of design development is to defined and describe all-important aspects of the project.

Designs are refined and begin the coordination process. With the end user continuously engaged the continuity of the concept will have advocates who will hold the design accountable. We will provide a cost estimate and a quality control review at the end of the phase.

Construction Documents

As the final phase of the design phase begins, after approval of the design development by the client, we propose a less frequent meeting schedule with the end users and core team. This phase is focused on documenting and detailing all the decisions that have been previously made, coordinating disciplines and establishing a completed biddable set of documents. Some end-user and core team meetings will be required as update meetings. We have found that his continues the spirit of cooperation that has been fostered throughout the process and is an outward expression of the respect that the design professional has for this team approach of design and problem solving. We will provide a quality control review and final cost estimate prior to bidding.

Bidding and Negotiation

PR-TY will provide a complete set of drawings and specificationS in order to obtain accurate and competitive bid proposals from the contractors. We will work with the client to review all bids and assist in awarding and preparing contracts for construction.

Construction Phase Services

We view construction phase as an important part of the process and we take our job seriously in representing our clients interests during construction. We will be available on a regular basis for construction meetings and reviews and we will be available for RFI’s throughout construction schedule. We will review the project to ensure the project is being built as designed and specified in the drawings.

Post Construction and Commissioning Stages

We consider the building takeover process to be critical to the success of the project. It is important that as builds and all applicable warranties and documents be provided to the user. Commissioning ensures that the new building operates initially as the owner intended and that building staff are prepared to operate and maintain its systems and equipment. Post Construction especially in the first year requires that we monitor that the commissioning process was successful and that on the one year anniversary we follow up as required under the contract.