ARCHITECTURE
consists of the full range of services defined by the AIA. These
services include construction documents or working drawings, soliciting
and reviewing bids from contractors, and Construction Administration
(CA). The CA includes observing the construction progress of the job to
ensure that the facility is being built in accordance with the drawings.
CA also involves checking and approving shop drawings, answering
contractor's questions (Requests For Information, or RFI's), reviewing
and approving requests for payment from the client, and a final punch
list.Architectural services also
involve the coordination of all of the other disciplines in a
construction project such as Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Plumbing,
Fire Protection, and Electrical Engineering.
Estimating at periodic times during the
construction document phase is included in our Architectural Services.
ENVIRONMENTAL &
SAFETY AUDITS consists of Dario Designs and our associates
reviewing a newspaper's operations and touring the facilities. We
conduct interviews to understand the environmental and safety
procedures.A confidential report
is then provided with a list of the violations and some recommended
solutions to more complicated matters. Our lists usually include simple
things, such as illegal extensions cords and ladders in poor condition,
as well as more serious issues such as the lack of proper egress and
dangerous operating procedures.
We have never found fewer than 100
violations as a results of our audits. Most of them are simple custodian
fixes. Others can prevent major fines, injuries, or even loss of life. A
benefit of this service beyond the obvious improvement of safety is that
the regulatory agencies look very favorably upon a newspaper that is
trying to regulate itself, rather than being regulated by the
authorities. It illustrates the intent of trying to be as safe as
possible.
Finally, we will point out areas of
non-compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
ESTIMATING
includes Dario Designs providing cost estimates for production equipment
and the construction of the facility. These estimates are provided by
Dario Designs based on our historical records and experience. We also
solicit and manage estimates from local contractors that are more
familiar with the local construction methods and materials.
Estimates get closer and closer to the final
costs as the scope gets more well defined. The various stages where
estimates may be provided include the end of the masterplan, schematic
design, and design development, as well as the end of 30%, 60%, and 90%
completion of the construction documents.
EXISTING CONDITION
DOCUMENTATION services include the physical field measuring
of an existing facility and producing a CADD drawing of the existing
facility. This computer-generated document is a valuable tool for all
future projects. Because these documents are computerized, they are
easily updated to reflect the day-to-day changes in a facility and can
be used for al future planning and facility modifications. Other uses
for these documents include:
- Illustrate furniture plans and
departmental layouts
- Fire, safety, and evacuation plans.
- Pricing documents for future
facility modifications, such as new carpeting, raised floors,
ceilings, wiring, or painting.
- Illustrate locations and types of
electrical, voice, data, and fiber optics services.
- Illustrate heating and cooling zones
for mechanical systems.
- Security and facility access plans.
- Plans for insurance companies
illustrating current fire protection systems and precautions.
- ADA compliance plans.
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
are used to determine which of several potential solutions will best
meet the needs set forth in the program. Typical scenarios compared in a
feasibility study include utilizing the existing facility, renovating
the existing facility, adding on to the existing facility, retrofitting
a newly acquired building, or constructing a new facility. Other
feasibility studies will compare the advantages and disadvantages
between staying downtown, building a complete new facility off site, or
building just a production facility and running a split operation.
Feasibility studies will results in schematic floor plans illustrating
the various solutions and a list of the advantages and disadvantages of
each. Budget estimates and milestone schedules are also produced for
each scenario. If a new site and building is selected, then an
additional feasibility study may be conducted to determine which site
best meets the needs of the program.
Schematic Design
is used to verify and clarify the technical assumptions made in the
masterplan. The schematic design carries the project to the level of
detail required to identify any critical issue not covered in the
masterplan. Some of the tasks performed include the following:
1. Code and regulatory
agency investigations.
2. Existing facility
documentation, if renovating, adding on, or purchasing an existing
facility.
This would also include evaluating the
existing mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and structural systems.
3. If the above tasks are
in order, schematic floor plans, sections, and elevations are drawn.
4. Budget estimate.
5. Schedules for
architecture, engineering, construction phasing if renovation, and
equipment
selection, acquisition, installation,
and training.
SERVICE DEFINITION:
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
