Whether through a face to face meeting or phone call, our initial meeting(s) will often involve the development of your design brief and identification of the project budget.

Your design brief and requirements will be compiled and presented as a ‘return brief’, which will form part of our agreement moving forward.

Pre-design also includes the gathering of information and project research. This often includes the completion of a Dial Before You Dig assessment, the request for a site survey, and preliminary research into statutory requirements such as height and setback requirements, flood planning level, bushfire attack level and heritage requirements.

This is when we put pen to paper. During the concept design stage we take all project information, requirements and the design brief and start to realise a design on the project site.

While the existing site information and measure-up is translated into our CAD program, we often like to begin with sketch analysis and preliminary concept plans to consider the balancing of the differing site constraints, opportunities, project requirements and client’s vision.

Occasionally we will present preliminary concept design(s) as a sketch plan to bring you into the design process as early as possible.

We will then follow with a concept design presentation consisting of 2D floor plans and 3D perspective views, bringing life to the spaces with early ideas for building heights, roof shape and form, window and door positions, materials and finishes, joinery design, and indicative furniture — subject to the scope of services we have been engaged to complete.

The developed design progresses the concept and design decisions in greater detail to communicate a deeper understanding of the project with drawing and documentation that will facilitate the development application — or any other statutory application process where required.

This package will often include 2D plans, exterior elevations and section drawings with accompanying schedules such as materials and finishes. It may include the coordination of any specialist consultants including those required to support the development application such as a planning report (Statement of Environmental Effects).

Most projects will require a planning application for statutory approval, such as a development application.

MR-AD are experienced in coordinating specialist consultants, compiling and submitting planning applications. With education and experience in both architecture and planning, we are able to anticipate council considerations and expectations, resulting in a high-level success rate through the development application process. We have always been able to have a fair discussion and negotiation with local councils and as a result have never had an application refused.

Throughout this process we are able to detail the building design down to the finger-pull details and fixings within your joinery. As a result we find that the construction documentation process is one of the most exciting parts of the project for our clients as we are able to talk about how your building and spaces will look, from the wall finishes to the lights and kitchen cabinetry.

MR-AD have the skills and expertise to design and document every aspect of your building project from the wall systems, to the roof details, joinery, fixtures and fitting. We like to be able to provide suggestions for all aspects of your project such as the style of the windows and the materials they will be made from, the cladding material and finishes, the tap fixtures, sinks and tiles. This level of detail and careful consideration allows for a comprehensive and coherent design that is specifically tailored to your needs and requirements.

With a broad network of builders and contracts we are able to assist you in the identification of suitable construction experts to invite to tender on your project.

We are able to manage the process of tendering where we prepare, collate, and supply the invitees with the necessary documents on which to base their tendered prices, accompanied by a letter of engagement where we can setout any conditions of tendering to ensure validity of the tenders.

We can assist with assessing tenders thereafter and create any required materials to make the tenders reasonably comparable.

Once a preferred tenderer is identified we can assist with any clarifications and negotiations prior to preparing all necessary contract documents for your assessment and signing.

Throughout construction we like to attend the construction site on a regular basis and hold a meeting with yourself and the builder — typically weekly or fortnightly — to answer any queries that the builder may have, inspect the works completed and help assess the quality of the workmanship.

We will provide site meeting minutes to capture any discussions, questions, confirmations or clarifications.

We can also assist with assessing a builder’s progress claims — considering the claim is reasonably in accordance with work completed on site — and assist with tracking the cost of the construction works on behalf of the client.

Our experience in ‘contract administration’ — the process of ensuring that a construction contract between yourself (client) and the contractor is executed in accordance with the terms of the contract — will allow you to focus on enjoying the build process.