Design Services

Animal Arts offers a full range of design services.  From the above list you can choose the specific services and expertise that you require for your particular project.

Initial Design Consultation

We are always interested in new ideas and would welcome the opportunity to talk to you without charge about your plans.  Areas that we often explore in this initial consultation are site selection, facility size and capacity, construction cost and schedule.

Project Feasability / Fundraising Package

In this stage we develop a “picture” of your project as we identify the goals, size, cost and overall design approach.  For veterinary projects, this information can be used to secure bank financing.  For animal shelter projects, this information will help you kick off your Capital Campaign.

Schematic Design

In this step our goal is to design a working and efficient floor plan that will enable you to provide the best animal care and reach your full potential.  Our aim is to create a facility that is tailor made to your functional, aesthetic and economic needs.

Working Drawing Production

In a series of Work Sessions with you we develop detailed information about the functional requirements of each room in your facility.  We then translate this information into a complete and comprehensive set of drawings that your contractor will use to build your project.  Our expertise allows us to provide specific design solutions for the very unique buildings that are used for the care and housing of animals.

Supervising the Construction

Animal Arts can help you monitor the construction of your building to ensure that the finished product complies with the working drawings and fully realizes your goals and expectations.

Bridging Documents

Bridging is a way to combine our expertise with the cost effectiveness that a local contractor can provide.

Here is a quick description of the Bridging process:

• Step One: Animal Arts develops the Schematic Design with input from you, the owner.  The Schematic Design includes an interior floor plan and the exterior appearance of the building.
• Step Two:  Animal Arts develops the Bridging Documents.  This set of drawings, that is approximately two-thirds of the way through the design process, develops and identifies all the specific and important veterinary building components necessary for the contractor to formulate an accurate and complete construction cost.  
• The Bridging Documents, for the most part, relinquish responsibility to the local architect and contractor for designing the less critical, more generic building systems and components.  This gives your contractor the opportunity to save you money on these aspects of your building.
• Step Three:  The Contractor Locks to a Price using the Bridging Documents.  The contractor uses the Bridging Documents as a tool, or bridge, to assure the finished building includes all of the critical veterinary specific components.  The contractor's architect is the Architect of Record, responsible for completing the Construction Documents, local design, and code conformance.  Animal Arts consults with the local contractor/architect team and reviews their drawings for conformance with the critical aspects of the Bridging Documents.
• During this phase of the work, you pay the contractor for the production of these drawings, but you are still not locked into having him/her build the project.  Only when you have reviewed and approved the completed Construction Documents do you sign the contract and authorize the contractor to proceed with construction. 
• Step Four:  The Contractor Builds the Project for the previously locked-in price.  During the construction, Animal Arts continues to be involved in a consulting and review capacity to assure conformance with the Bridging Documents and to act on your behalf.