Our Infill Design Process

↓ Connect

It all starts with a personal connection, which is why we’re excited to meet and get to know you and your vision for the project. At our initial meeting, we will discuss your ideas, tastes, and lifestyle needs, as well as the scope of the project. We’ll then look at the features of your property and its context to get an understanding of what attracted you to that particular site and what features it has that we can take advantage of in the design of the building. If you haven’t selected a builder at this time, we will be happy to recommend one of our preferred partners with whom to meet.

• While not absolutely necessary, it is helpful if at our initial meeting you have an idea of your construction budget, as well as a copy of your real property report (RPR).

After our initial meeting, we will prepare a design proposal that outlines our services, fees, and estimated timelines for your particular project. Our fees vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. We will also include estimates on outside consultant and municipal permitting fees that will be required before construction can begin; these fees fall outside of our purview and will vary between providers.

Once we have received a signed copy of the contract, as well as a digital copy of your site’s development survey, we can get started on our site analysis.

↓ 01 Site Analysis

Before we dive into the design of your home, we want to ensure you are informed about the opportunities and regulations associated with your site and how best to achieve your vision within that context. To do this, we begin with a detailed site analysis that examines your property’s physical features and context, as well as the municipal development policies (e.g.: land-use / zoning bylaws and local area plans) and building code requirements applicable to your project (this is sometimes referred to as determining the "highest and best use" of the site). This will determine the best position and maximum dimensions for your home within the regulatory setbacks.

We will meet to review the site analysis, address any concerns you may have, and then explore the opportunities that we can work into the schematic design phase.

↓ 02 Schematic Design

This design phase allows us to explore the circulation, proximity, and relationships between each space of your home and its surrounding context. We will begin by sketching out rudimentary bubble diagrams together. This will help us understand your desired living experience as you progress through each space of your home. We will discuss how each space functions to suit your needs, what kind of feel you’d like each space to have, and how we can make the best use of every square foot.

If you have a particular style that you’d like to achieve, this is where we would look up examples of the features you like and discuss how strictly or loosely we will adhere to that style’s principles in order to fit with your priorities. We invite you to share Instagram photos or Pinterest boards with us so we can further refine our design to fit your aesthetic.

Typically a few versions of the floor plans and exterior elevations will be required in order to achieve your vision. With each round of revisions, we will provide you with multiple 3D views of the model to ensure you’re satisfied with how it’s shaping up. This phase is typically complete within a couple of weeks, depending on the size of the project and how quickly we can align our visions.

↓ 03 Design Development

Once we have a schematic design in place, we then need to expand the drawing set to include the required detail to get regulatory approval for the development. This is typically through the municipality’s development permit (DP) process. In some suburban or rural areas the DP may be preceded by architectural controls (AC) that need to be approved by a land developer. If your site requires a land-use/outline change (LOC) or a lot subdivision, these applications will also need to be prepared, although many can be submitted concurrently with your DP.

Throughout this phase, we will be refining your home’s design by adding the necessary technical detail to describe how the building will relate to its existing context, including neighbouring buildings, street access, and parking. Additionally, we will have to demonstrate its compliance with municipal standards for firefighter access, waste and recycling collection, and landscaping.

In some cases we may need to prepare a formal presentation for local stakeholders, such as community associations or planning committees, in order to ensure we don’t run into opposition that could derail the project down the road. This may require additional diagramming and 3D colour renderings of the project to properly convey the design intent.

Simple projects that meet the strictest contextual rules will likely receive DP approval within a month. Projects that require relaxations or increased density will follow the discretionary permitting path, which takes about three months for approval. This process can take a few rounds of design team review (DTR) and design revision in order to get DP approval.

↓ 04 Construction Documents

Once the municipality has approved the development permit, we're into the final stretch of the design process. We will need to sit down and discuss the construction of your home with your builder and sub-consultants in order to decide on the best method of constructing your home and what technical documents will be required for the building permit (BP) application. We will need to finalize the construction budget, materials, assemblies, and systems that will be needed to achieve the structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, energy, and life-safety requirements of your home; the earlier these decisions can be made, the quicker we can apply for your BP.

We take pride in our extensive knowledge of Alberta's building code, along with our rigorous quality control checks, that allow us to produce highly accurate and detailed drawings that ensure the construction of your home goes as smoothly as possible. Once your BP has been approved by the municipality, we will pass the baton to your builder who will guide you through the construction phases of your new home.

While this concludes the design portion of your new home, we will always be available to provide any revisions or additional details that may be needed along the way. Once your home is ready for you to take possession, we would love to do a final walkthrough and review of your home to ensure you're happy with the design. After all, your referral is the greatest complement we could receive.