Custom Structures - Our Process

Home - Our Process

We have detailed processes for both residential and commercial processes. Please choose one of the following.

The Residential Process

The Commercial Process

Residential Process

Whether your next project consists of designing a new home, renovating an existing home, or adding an addition to your current home, CS Custom Structures, Inc. is dedicated to providing you with professional services to make your dream a reality. The following is a process breakdown on a typical design project:

Program Development

Through an initial consultation, our registered architect, designers, and contractor will meet with you to determine your requirements for what you desire to achieve with your project.

Using a "Team Approach", our designers will discuss critical issues with you such as your special adjacency needs, the style of architecture preferred, work flow within the home, functional layout, room sizes, amenities and your lifestyle patterns centered on such issues as children's activity areas, a future parent's room, a home office and entertaining with open spaces. We will also discuss types of materials such as interior and exterior finishes. Likewise, we will discuss issues such as square footage requirements, your timetable, and your budgetary expectations.

During this programming phase it is critical that we be good listeners.

Conceptual Sketches

Following the Program Development phase, the next step is the development of conceptual sketches. This is when the architectural designers develop hand-sketched conceptual plans and elevations of your desired project. These Concept Sketches translate the Program Development elements into drawings. These early sketches are intended to be used as a tool to ensure that our understanding of your requirements and goals is correct. Upon your approval of the concepts we then proceed to the next phase which is preliminary design.

Interactive Approach

Depending on the complexity of the project, we can develop an early CAD floor plan and basic elevation of your project. At this time we will visit you at your home and project the CAD generated floor plan on a screen for your review and comments. The exciting part of this approach is that we will also have one of our CAD operators with us. As we walk you through the new plan the CAD operator can make changes or show various options in front of you. We can move walls, delete walls or add walls. We can make rooms larger or smaller. We can prepare rough kitchen and other layouts with your direct involvement.

Working interactively with the home owner, at this early stage ensures accuracy and engages the homeowner in the design process.

Preliminary Design

The first stage of the construction document phase is referred to as the preliminary design. This effort constitutes 35% of the design effort and enables the designer to begin cost estimates to ensure that our design is within your budget. We submit the 35% package to you for your review and upon your approval of the preliminary package we then proceed with the final construction documents.

Construction Documents Phase

The construction document phase is where we prepare the working drawings and specifications necessary to construct the project. At this phase we issue construction drawings that meet local and national codes for approval by the local building authority. This submittal may include drawings such as site plans, code criteria, floor plans, elevations, wall sections, cross sections, finish and opening schedules, cabinetry elevations and miscellaneous details as well as enlarged elevations and plans. This phase is usually broken into a 65% and 90% submittal to better guide you towards the desired end-product and maintains assurance that our design is within your budget.

Construction Administration

Although we would enjoy building you next project, we understand some clients may already have a builder selected. In this case, our designers would periodically visit the site during construction to answer any questions that may arise; and most importantly, verify that the project is proceeding according to the drawings and specifications.

Our designs are one of a kind and are never duplicated. At CS Custom Structures, Inc., we're bringing architecture back into the residential construction market, one project at a time.

In 2008, CS Custom Structures, Inc. was the recipient of the prestigious American Institute of Architects, Blue Ridge Chapter's, Craftsmanship Award.

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Commercial Process

Whether your project consists of designing a new business, renovating an existing business, or adding an addition to your current business, CS Custom Structures, Inc. is dedicated to providing you with professional services to meet your business needs while maintaining your budgetary expectations. The following is a process breakdown for a typical commercial design project:

Program Development

Through an initial consultation, our registered architect, designers, and contractor will meet with you to discuss your requirements, timetable and budget. Using a "Team Approach", our designers will discuss critical issues with you such as your special adjacency needs, security, the style of architecture preferred, work flow, functional layout, departmental room sizes, and public space as well as growth expectations, acoustical concerns and flexibility requirements. We will also discuss types of materials such as interior and exterior finishes. Likewise, we will discuss issues such as square footage requirements, your timetable, and the budget that we are to design to.

During this programming phase it is critical that we ask the right questions and be good listeners.

Conceptual Sketches

Interactive Approach
Depending on the complexity of the project, we can develop an early CAD floor plan and basic elevation of your project. At this time we will visit you at your office and project the CAD generated floor plan on a screen for your review and comments. The exciting part of the approach is that we will also have one of our CAD operators with us. As we walk you through the new plan and the CAD operator can make changes or show various options in front of you. We can move walls, delete walls or add walls. We can make rooms larger or smaller. We can prepare optional layouts with your direct involvement. Working interactively with the business owner, at this early stage ensures accuracy and engages the business owner in the design process.

Preliminary Design

Construction Documents Phase

The construction document phase is where we prepare the working drawings and specifications necessary to construct the project. At this phase we issue construction drawings that meet local and national codes for approval by the local building authority. This submittal may include drawings such as itemized code criteria, dimensioned floor plans, building elevations, wall sections, cross sections, finish and opening schedules, interior elevations, built-in furnishings and miscellaneous details pertaining to ADA requirements, fire separation assemblies, stairs, elevators, moldings and construction detailing essential for bidding and permitting purposes. This phase is usually broken into a 65% and 90% submittal. These submittal reviews enable you to track progress and enables us to update our cost references to ensure that the design remains within budget.

Construction Administration

If we are selected to construct the project then construction administration is simply a part of the construction process. If, however, we are not the builder then we can provide construction administration services. Being a general contracting firm as well as an architectural design firm, we have the resources and experience to effectively represent you during the construction phase.

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