The Approach

The ability to conceive and create a design from a program list of requirements is what distinguishes Architects from all others in the building industry. The skill to create excellent design distinguishes Architects from each other. The complexes skills necessary to convert a conceptual design to a physical structural through exceptional documentation distinguishes an Architectural firm.

At McDowell/Hall-McDowell we are committed to excellence. We understand that a good design will meets all program requirements while staying within a stipulated budget and schedule. We also understand that an excellent design will do all this while also increasing the quality of life for those who inhabit the building and passersby for whom the building is an aesthetically striking emblem.

We further understand that to provide architectural and construction management services to a broad range of clients for a variety of building types, as we do here at McDowell/Hall-McDowell, design skills represent only a fraction of the knowledge and abilities necessary to deliver a complete project. To achieve our mission to consistently surpass expectations while achieving excellence by delivering quality services to each project’s stakeholder, we have worked hard to go beyond excellent design and acquire the extensive skills, knowledge, abilities and experience necessary for a successful project.

Consider the Architectural/Construction Management services offered by the firm of McDowell/Hall-McDowell for your next project. These services can be provided as a full service under one contract or contracted in any combination to match the client’s requirements. Experience for yourself excellence.

 

The Services

Planning/Pre-design Services

Strategic Facility Planning: Strategic Facility Planning is McDowell/Hall-McDowell’s full Planning/Pre-design Service. Here is where we can translate an organization’s strategic business plans into medium or long range facility plans with the information obtained from a Financial Feasibility Study, Zoning information, a Site Analysis, a Master Plan and a Project Program. We apply our abilities to analyze the client’s goals and needs, identify facts and constraints, generate concepts and develop space plans to produce a written narrative, accompanied by charts, graphs and diagrams, that describes what the client is endeavoring to achieve.

We are also prepared to offer the associated service to Strategic Facility Planning listed below as individual services in any combination for our client’s convenience.

 

• Financial Feasibility Study: + / -

  We at McDowell/Hall-McDowell consider the proposed project’s programming requirements, local conditions, potential market growth, future client base demands, proposed future development and budget constraints, along with, future cost for labor and materials, infrastructure, regulations, etc. in order to yield useful benchmarks that are used to forecast the performance of the proposed project as an assistance to our client in determining the financial feasibility before project commitment.

• Zoning Process Assistance: + / -

  This service analyzes zoning regulations and advises our clients about their options for a particular property. We also assist our clients with navigating the zoning approval and variance process.

• Site Suitability & Analysis: + / -

  Analysis of a building program and the capability of a site to accommodate it, combined with an assessment of political, environmental, and regulatory issues, make up our Site Suitability & Analysis service.

• Master Planning: + / -

  We provide to our clients Master Planning services in the form of a small scale site, floor plans and elevations, supplemented by written material and when requested a model, which depicts all the elements of a client’s long range master program or scheme. This is an important tool for the client to use to base their long range decisions.

• Programming: + / -

  Architectural programming is an integral part of our services. It is a thorough and systematic formal process for analyzing the organizational project values, goals, and requirements. This approach can expose our client to a wider range of alternative approaches which will assist their decisions as they choose the appropriate direction. When merged with additional information and constraints, we will use the program to form a rational basis for the design.

 

Architectural Services

Architectural Design: Architectural Design is the main service offered by all architectural firms and we at McDowell/Hall-McDowell are qualified to provide a superior design service. With an interactive approach, we will work closely with your team, to create a design solution that meets your program with a balancing of your requirements and desires to the project resources. By integrating our design skills with knowledge of structures, MEP systems, code and zoning requirements, site restrictions, energy and environmental concerns, etc., McDowell/Hall-McDowell can translate abstract ideas into an aesthetically pleasing building form that functions for you.

We are also prepared to offer the associated service to Architectural Design listed below as individual services in any combination for our client’s convenience.

 

• Code Compliance Analysis: + / -

  We have many years of experience working with multiple codes to develop comprehensive Code Analysis which will resolve potential compliance concerns early in the design process. We work closely with the code authorities for a smooth code review and permitting process. McDowell/Hall-McDowell can also assist other designers, developers and contractors with review of their documents to resolve permitting or code issues.

• Accessibility Compliance: + / -

  Accessibility compliance is a standard part of our full architectural service included with our Code Compliance Analysis. McDowell/Hall-McDowell can also assist other designers, building owners and building operators in matters related to the accessibility of a facility. With our real-life working experience we absolutely understand accessibility requirements and will apply our creativity for practical and realist solutions that are truly an integrated part of the design.

• Space Planning: + / -

  We at McDowell/Hall-McDowell are highly skilled and have been often praised for our creative, efficient, and extremely functional space planning. We consider numerous design parameters, including program, client’s organizational structure, and relationships, codes, ADA, circulation and work flow, building system interfacing, security and privacy, and flexibility to achieve the maximum from your space.

• Construction Documentation: + / -

  As the bridge between the conceived design and the physical building, the construction documents must provide accurate and detailed instructions. Construability is the goal at McDowell/Hall-McDowell for all our documents, both drawings and written specifications. With such accuracy your project will experience fewer omissions and errors, which will result is fewer RFI’s, saving time and resources. With our combined 70 years of experience we are a proven provider of excellence, accurate, and trusted documentation.

• Document Coordination / QA/QC-Review & Checks: + / -

  A Quality Assurance Plan & Quality Control in the form of a close ongoing review/coordination process is an important part of our standard design service on all our designs and documents. When McDowell/Hall-McDowell offers this review/coordination as a ‘stand alone’ service to other designers, developers, contractors and financial instructions it as a Review & Check service.

 

Construction Services

Design-Build: Teamed with one of our experienced construction consultants, McDowell/Hall-McDowell offers Design-Built services. Our approach joins two highly skilled disciples in a united team effort for an efficient process for our clients.

Construction Management Advisor: Coordinating with the General Contractor to complete project work on time and within budget is a high priority for the Construction Manager. Estimating, specification writing, scheduling, monitoring, and documenting are all important CM activities. We offer a degreed CM with years of field experience who understands thoroughly construction processes, task coordination, and is additional extremely familial with the design, so as to answer the General Contractor’s questions without hesitation. This arrangement ensures the quality of the design and construction process while creating a seamless integration of the steps and processes that much occur to complete a project efficiently.

We are also prepared to offer the associated service to Construction Management listed below as individual services in any combination for our client’s convenience.

 

• Construction Procurement: + / -

  We at McDowell/Hall-McDowell assist the client in obtaining competent construction services for bid or negotiated contracts. We assist you to ensure that contractors are well qualified, that services are obtained for reasonable cost and that the project is organized contractually to minimize the potential for costly changes or delays.

• Contract Administration: + / -

  As construction administrators, McDowell/Hall-McDowell interprets construction contract documents, track the progress of the work, and reconcile any conflicts. Our involvement during the construction phase helps assure the client that the completed building will reflect the design intent and further insure the quality of materials and workmanship.

 

Operations – Maintenance Services

Commissioning: McDowell/Hall-McDowell has the experience to lead the commissioning team based on our cross-cutting knowledge of building systems. A commissioning team guided with strong leadership is an excellent addition to any project plan and a good addition to partnering processes. Collectively, our team has thorough understanding of what buildings, building systems and building control systems can and can not be expected to do. Areas of our knowledge used in the commission service are building design, HVAC, power, lighting, security, elevators, plumbing, fire protection, and code / regulations. McDowell/Hall-McDowell deliverables to our client includes a system performance assurance plan, test procedures, test documentation forms, and test reports, correlated into a final report.

Construction Defect Analysis Services: Construction defect analysis investigates building performance problems to determine their cause, develop recommendations for solutions and defend findings and recommendations in mediation, arbitration, or litigation proceedings. It takes years of experience with construction processes and detailing to evaluate a defect or building failure and understand the origin, as well as, clearly comprehend how to amend the problem. We have such experience here at McDowell/Hall-McDowell at your service.