• • If you are considering a commercial project, the answer is probably yes. Under Wisconsin law, plans for any new building or modification to an existing building over 50,000-cubic feet must be prepared by a licensed design professional.

• For a residential project in Wisconsin, there are no legal requirements for an architect, but there are numerous variables to consider:
  • • For a straightforward house, many good builders can prepare perfectly adequate plans. Most builder-designed houses will be economical, functional, and will probably be organized around efficient use of typical construction materials.
  • • Many lumber yards used to prepare house plans at no cost with the understanding that they would cover the design costs from their markups on the building materials used. This trend has been declining in recent years as these companies seek to reduce overhead costs.
  • • There are also non-architect home designers who may be able to provide a higher level of client interaction and design than a builder or lumber yard. As in any industry, the quality of work will vary considerably between practitioners. If you take care in the selection of a home designer, he/she should be able to provide good value for most clients.
  • • An architect is necessary for those discerning clients seeking a project carefully designed to reflect their character/lifestyle and tastes. Architects tend to have different approaches to design and client interaction, so again, it is important to take the time to select your architect carefully.
  • While architectural fees are typically higher than those of home-designers, they are often considered to provide better value: Architects have spent numerous years being trained in both architectural aesthetics and practicalities; they understand how to balance budgets along with form and function; they pass examinations and maintain continuing education for strict licensing requirements to stay current with building codes and technological advances in the building sciences; they strive to optimize site layout and characteristics to take advantage of the building’s environment; they are available to help you through the entire design and construction process to ensure that the finished product matches your expectations.

Depending on how far along you are in imagining your project, you may prefer to tailor the level of architectural services to your immediate needs.

Whether you are simply looking for help defining what might be possible on your site, wanting a full set of architectural and engineered Construction Documents for bidding and construction, or anything in-between, we will be happy to tailor a package of services to give you just what you need.

We recommend bringing your construction professional (either a General Contractor or Construction Manager) into the collaborative design process as early as possible. We would be pleased to discuss what approach might be the best fit for your project and to help/assist in your selection process if desired.

Most projects will require a site survey for the plan/permit review/approval process. We recommend obtaining a detailed survey as early in the process as possible. If you do not have a survey already, we would be happy to assist you in defining the correct level of site information required and in procuring the services of a suitable surveyor.

Most projects will require professional engineering in addition to architectural design. These might include civil, structural, plumbing and fire protection, HVAC, and electrical engineering. We can help you define the appropriate level of engineering for your project and can assemble a team specifically suited to your project’s needs. Alternately, we can help you determine whether a Design/Build approach might be more appropriate for your needs and work with your contractor to coordinate those services.

Applicable to all design projects:

• • “The Old Way of Seeing – How Architecture Lost Its Magic (And How To Get It Back)” by Jonathan Hale.
    • An easy to appreciate discussion on the importance of designing for “harmonious buildings,” and how the old masters used light and shade, proportion, regulating lines, and hidden patterns to achieve beautiful and meaningful architecture.
  • “Architecture of the Absurd – How “Genius” Disfigured a Practical Art” by John Silber.
    • An entertaining glimpse into how “starchitects” create pretentious sculptural monuments with “willful disdain for their clients, their budgets, and the people who live or work inside their creations.” This book is a delightful call for today’s architects to embrace beauty in their buildings while also “meeting the practical needs of clients and the public.”

Applicable to residential projects:

• • “The Not So Big House – A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live” by Sarah Susanka with Kira Obolensky.
    • While we don’t completely agree with all the recommendations in this book, it does provide an excellent reference for basic approaches to maximizing a client’s return on architectural investment.
  • “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home” by Eric Hodgins.
    • While we hope clients never experience the woes faced by the Blandings, this whimsical story entertainingly outlines both the delights and potential pitfalls of designing and building the house of your dreams.