ABOUT FORWARD DESIGNERS & BUILDERS OVERVIEW & DIRECTION Forward Designers & Builders is a full service architectural design and construction company. We focus on residential structures, and the families that call them home. We approach our work and your goals in a much different manner than the traditional method of construction delivery, which features a "stand alone" architect and a "stand alone" contractor. While this method can be successful, it is often achieved over-budget, over-schedule, and with compromises to design. Having experiences in this traditional method has led me to pursue a better way. I started Forward Designers & Builders in 1997 with a vision of combining outstanding design and quality construction into a system that ensures a realistic budget, realistic expectations, and outstanding craftsmanship, with no surprises. Our method is DESIGN/BUILD. We work in the tradition of the Master Builder, where the architect and the builder are one in the same, and own the project from concept to completion. DESIGN BUILD BENEFITS » One Source of Accountability. The Architect is your builder. We have all the expertise in-house to design, select materials, select fixtures and build to a specified budget. » Estimates are highly accurate. Design concepts are developed from the beginning and reflect a realistic understanding of construction costs and the budget guidance established by the client. » "Go" or "No Go" stages. Preliminary design plans and budgets allow you, the client, to evaluate project feasibility and decide to proceed or not to proceed. » Strong Working Relationship. DESIGN/BUILD offers the client a chance to develop a solid working relationship with designer-builder before signing a construction contract. » Cohesiveness between design and construction. The same company that designs the project also builds it, and this company is more likely to keep the original design intent in harmony with construction. » DESIGN/BUILD saves time and money. The DESIGN/BUILD process delivers the completed project much faster than traditional design and construction methods. This time savings means cost savings. DESIGN BUILD SERVICES Designing "We appreciate that you were able to show us the design possibilities of our home." The success of our remodeling and construction projects is largely based on the content of our design solutions. Sometimes the best solutions are not the most obvious ones. As design professionals, it is our passion to discover and explore all possibilities. While we pursue many different design languages, we believe user function and utility come first. Accordingly, the details of the design language follow to create the desired spatial quality and atmosphere. What's your language? Modern, Craftsman, Colonial, Contemporary, etc… Budget Planning "Understanding cost issues at an early stage helped us define our priorities." There are many variables to consider when making an investment in your home. How much to invest? What's the return on our investment? Where do we begin? Should we design to a wish list, design to a budget, or a combination of the two? The overwhelming advantage of our DESIGN/BUILD process is that design concepts are developed from the beginning, utilizing a realistic understanding of construction costs and the budget guidance established by you, the client. This eliminates financial surprises, and allows the wish list and budget to co-exist. As a design progresses through design development, the project budget becomes more refined and accurate, cumulating in a final construction cost, which is documented in a scope of work document, construction contract, drawings and specifications. Selections "We really enjoyed that you could tune in to what we wanted, narrow our choices, and offer insight on use and function. It's really been fun seeing it come together before we started construction." Making countless decisions on fixtures, materials, finishes and colors can be an overwhelming task, especially when decisions impact function, style and the Project Budget. As a full-service design company, we welcome this responsibility. Our charge is to organize and lead you through this challenging, exciting and fun process. It is an integral step towards establishing your family's personal aesthetic style, achieving the best possible function, and balancing the project budget. We utilize our extensive in-house product library as well as local showrooms to develop a customer specific color board. This simple tool allows us to paint the bigger picture which ultimately assists us in numerous smaller decisions. Building "The progress meetings were great…nice to know what's happening next, and why. They really helped us reconfirm decisions and placements… Everything came together so well, and is exactly what we wanted." Planning is the backbone of success, and the building phase of our DESIGN/BUILD process is where you reap the rewards. » No final cost anxiety. Before construction starts, the final cost is known, and documented in a construction contract. » No design anxiety. Before construction starts, all design decisions have been made, and there is satisfaction in knowing you have considered all options. » Project manager leads the team. Before construction starts, a predictable construction schedule has been developed, which is an overview of our labor forces, trade partners, suppliers and fixtures. » Our Trade Partners are on board and ready. Before construction starts, our project manager has conducted pre-construction trade walk-through and verified our trade partner's schedule. » Your fixtures are ready for Installation. Before construction starts, all plumbing and electrical fixtures have been selected and ordered. » Our suppliers are ready to deliver. Before construction starts, all interior and exterior materials and finishes have been selected and ordered. Our goal is No Surprises! This is a high, but reachable goal. We strive to deliver our finished product on time, and on budget. © 2006 Forward Designers & Builders