Architects are both artisans and engineers. In most of the world, only qualified persons may legally practice architecture.
To get a license, first off any architect usually needs to have a degree from an accredited university. Each state usually requires exams to be passed as well. In addition to this, there is also a fairly substantial training period. Arizona takes such terms and titles seriously, including versions such as architectural designer is restricted to licensed individuals by law.
To practice, a Phoenix architect must be able to work independently of supervision. Design professionals under the supervision of a licensed architect, such as architectural technologists and intern architects, often may not need a license to practice, however, they must approve all plans with the registered professional.
Architecture is a mentor-based profession. It is one of the highest skilled labor jobs out there, so not everyone can do it. Usually after passing their exams, and graduating from college, architects also have a length of time that they have to work under the supervision of a professional architect, usually of three years or more. Like a lot of skilled professions, sometimes continuing certification is also required.
If you think all of this material is excessive, think again. One pin out of place in a girder, and a building can fall onto a busy street, killing or injuring hundreds or even thousands of people. Less extreme is the effect a badly designed building can have on a skyline. Look at the Seattle EMP museum. Even though it was designed by a notable architecture firm, a lot of people in Seattle do not like the way it looks, which is not a high mark for it’s architect.
So when you get ready to hire a design professional, check out his portfolio, and check him out with with the state. That way you get an architect that is right for you and your project.
DesignLine Architects, LLC
470 E. Canyon Creek Court
Gilbert, AZ 85295
480-710-3861
http://www.designlinearchitects.com
Design Line Architects wishes you and yours a safe and happy New Year.
Happy New Year From Your Tenant Improvement Architect | (480) 710-3861
We can help. If you’ve made a New Year’s Resolution to remodel your home, or even if you haven’t, your Gilbert architect stands ready to assist you.
Design Line Architects, LLC is an architecture firm based in Gilbert, AZ.
Design Line Architects, LLC
470 East Canyon Creek Court
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 710-3861
http://www.designlinearchitects.com
Commercial tenant improvement is something that becomes necessary for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, additional space is needed, or a room needs to be built that requires a special configuration, like a server room. A commercial tenant improvement project involves items like interior remodeling of an existing office or retail space, upgrades for the current tenant or changes to accommodate a new tenant that may be moving in.
As to why an architect must be called in that’s due to the complexity of modern buildings. Simply knocking out a wall could be disastrous if one hit a load bearing strut or if the wall itself is load bearing. One could accidentally rupture a pipe or electrical conduit, or even damage utilities like fiber optics or cabling.
Tenant improvement allows flexibility for a tenant to adapt space to suit their needs while still staying in compliance with structural requirements and applicable city codes.
Calling in an architect is always your best bet for such improvements.
DesignLine Architects is a Gilbert based architecture firm.
Design Line Architects, LLC
470 East Canyon Creek Court
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 710-3861
http://www.designlinearchitects.com
An architect is so much more than a designer. First off, here is a definition of an architect from WIKIPEDIA.ORG:
An architect is a person trained to plan and design buildings, and oversee their construction. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design and construction of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1] Etymologically, architect derives from the Latin architectus, which derives from the Greek arkhitekton (arkhi-, chief + tekton, builder), i.e., chief builder.[2]
Professionally, an architect’s decisions affect public safety, and thus an architect must undergo specialized training consisting of advanced education and a practicum (or internship) for practical experience to earn a license to practice architecture.
To read more of this entry, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect
In most of the world, only people with appropriate qualifications and licensure may legally practice architecture. To get a license, an architect has to have:
There is a big difference between an architect and a building design professional. An architect can operate independently of supervision. A building design professional is someone that can be an architectural technologist, an intern architect, or an engineer but is not directly connected to the architectural process. Another key thing to know about what an architect does is that sometimes, they are consultants.
Sometimes an architect is hired not to design a structure or building, but to do a feasibility study on a proposed structural improvement or addition. Sometimes, it is a good idea to have someone outside of a design team take another look at any plans to make sure there’s no problems down the road.
Architects have an eye for detail, and are respected consultants throughout different levels of society.
You can do a lot worse than to call an architect for any improvement projects you may have for your home or business involving structural changes.
Design Line Architects, LLC
470 East Canyon Creek Court
Gilbert, AZ 85295
(480) 710-3861
http://www.designlinearchitects.com
Obtaining approved building permit in Tempe has been put on a “fast track” for those who are planning for minor commercial tenant improvement for your business OR for a minor home renovation. These special programs will significantly shorten the plan review and building permit approval process.
Over The Counter Plan Review
If you meet the following criteria and have a form of payment with you, you may be eligible for an Over the Counter Permit. The Building Permit may be processed while you wait, depending on the complexity of the project. Plan check and building permit fees vary depending upon the type of work being done and the valuation.
3. A counter plan review will NOT be provided when any of the following conditions exist:
Please Note: The counter plan review is usually available on TUESDAY and THURSDAY (only) from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. To learn more, call (480) 350-8341 to verify availability of services.
You May Need a Tempe Building Permit, if you’re:
You May NOT Need a Tempe Building Permit, if you’re:
For more Building Permit specific details related to cities that you live or work, click on one of the following links: Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale.
About the Author
A Tempe architect will help you avoid many common mistakes that are made with construction projects. No matter what kind of space you need today, we’ll make sure it’s designed for your needs in the future. This will give you future function built into today’s home addition. To discuss your Tempe building permit needs, contact Doug Rusk at 480-710-3861 or email us at drusk@designlinearchitects.com.
Architect in Tempe
Doug Rusk, Architect DesignLine Architects, LLC Gilbert, Arizona www.designlinearchitects.com
Written By Doug Rusk, Architect
When Dawn, a San Francisco Pharmacist, decided to move closer to her grandkids in Chandler, she found an amazing home that was more than what the doctor ordered. But despite this home’s idyllic location in an exclusive gated Arizona community, Dawn knew that her first move was to renovate her dark, out dated Master Bathroom.
Using a trusted referral for a reputable, licensed contractor, Dawn called Ken from Behrmann Home Basics (BHB) to start work immediately. Ken knew that a quick hand sketch would help Dawn visualize a few alternate ideas for her Master Bath Remodel. So he brought in Gilbert Architect Doug Rusk from DESIGNLine Architects to help Dawn make sense of the many design choices available.
With her casual / contemporary styling preference and a flexible budget in mind, Dawn’s main requirement was to remove the Master Bath Tub in order to make room for a large walk-in shower. Below are pictures of the original Master Bathroom, showing the dated tub/shower combination and two small windows over the vanity.
Although Doug’s first sketches of Option’s 1 & 2 worked reasonably well (shown above), it was Option #3 (shown below) that Dawn immediately knew was the Master Bathroom renovation she wanted.
In addition to removing the Master Bath Tub in order to make room for a large walk-in shower, Dawn wanted the mirrors on the closet doors replaced with a wood paneled door in her Master Bathroom Remodel. She also wanted an electric hair dryer available to grab at a moment’s notice from one of the drawers under the sink that was already plugged in (SHOWN ABOVE). For the borders over the shower and the vanity splash, we used colorful glass tile.
Below are pictures taken during the construction phase, showing the framing, plumbing and electrical work inside the walls. During the short construction phase, the BHB construction team did an amazing job of installing plastic walls with zippers to seal off the construction zone from the main home.
Doug Rusk is the principal at DESIGNLine Architects, LLC located in Gilbert, Arizona. We specialize in residential design and commercial remodeling for small and medium sized businesses with expertise in space planning and interior design consulting. We’ll provide your General Contractor a thorough preliminary design packages that will enable an early construction cost estimate to confirm your budget quickly.
If you haven’t already heard… the City of Mesa offers a “shortcut” to obtain building permits for minor commercial remodel. This special program, called “Permit By Inspection” (PBI), will significantly shorten the Plan Review and Permit Approval process – if your project qualifies.
Permit By Inspection (PBI)
The permit by inspection program (PBI) is a voluntary alternative to the standard construction document plan review and building permit approval processes for special projects of certain building uses, occupancies and degree of complexity. The PBI program is intended to provide a stream-lined approach to building permit plan review review and issuance in which senior building inspectors review construction documents in the field and approve the issuance of the building permit. There is a 20% premium for the PBI process on top of the regular building permit fee and other fees.
Benefits of the “Permit By Inspection” (PBI) Process:
There are currently no written criteria to determine if your project will qualify for the building permit by PBI process. To learn more, call Clyde at (480) 644-4273.
If your project does NOT qualify for the PBI process, the regular Plan Review Turn-Around Times at this writing are:
Commercial
Residential
Signs
Over-The-Counter Plan Review
The City of Mesa also offers same day over-the-counter plan reviews for the following projects types:
For more Building Permit specific details related to cities that you live or work, click on one of the following links: Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale.
A Mesa architect will help you avoid many common mistakes that are made with construction projects. No matter what kind of space you need today, we’ll make sure it’s designed for your needs in the future. This will give you future function built into today’s home addition. To discuss your Mesa building permit needs, contact Doug Rusk at 480-710-3861 or email us at drusk@designlinearchitects.com.
Written by Doug Rusk, Architect
Nestled among a large group of Sun Lakes retirement homes, where golf carts dot a sleepy street in South Chandler Arizona, stands a home that’s in desperate need of a Master Bathroom Remodel. bathroom remodel, bathroom remodel, bathroom remodel, bathroom remodel
Recent New York transplants, Ana and Ayad, did what most people do when they move into a home that shows signs of mold in their shower; they called a reputable, licensed contractor, who in this case was Ken from Behrmann Home Basics (BHB). Because this wasn’t the first or the last project that Ana and Ayad would need, Ken knew the first step would be to have a quick hand sketch designed by Doug Rusk, from DESIGNLine Architects, that would help his clients visualize a few alternate ideas for their Master Bath Remodel. Ana had a very specific idea in her mind for the Bathroom remodel. bathroom remodel, bathroom remodel
She wanted to remove the makeup counter, drawers and knee space between the two sinks (shown above). “This would leave 3-1/2 feet of space between the sink vanities for a nice sized floor plant”, she said. But because she also wanted the medicine cabinet storage removed also, Doug, her Architect, had another idea for her Master Bath Remodel.
bathroom remodel
He wanted to replace the lost medicine cabinet with storage for a toothbrush, soap and accessories. So Doug also proposed Option A (shown above) which would instead add a tall cabinet between the two vanity sinks, high enough for the vanity counter to extend behind the false cabinet front, creating a storage niche. Ana ended up sticking with her original Master Bath remodel vision and kept the space for a healthy green plant. bathroom remodel
Here is the shower converted from a light pink, vintage 1992 ceramic, to a more updated ceramic tile finish, with a textured glass, frame-less enclosure. Below are a few pictures that show the Master Bathroom remodel.athroom remodel
Many of the Sun Lakes home, built in the early 1990’s, are well designed and have great bones. Now that these homes are getting a little older, certain areas need updating. With some strategic planning, the lives of these homes can be extended for another 20 years +. Intelligently remodeling an existing house to make it last for another generation is also one of the most sustainable things a homeowner can do.
Below we’ve outlined a couple of our primary strategies you should consider for your next home remodel:
While it would typically be ideal to update the entire home, most homeowners have a budget that requires a limited scope; being aware of where dollars are spent allows a homeowner to get the most renovation for their buck. Usually there are certain areas of older homes that need the most attention and we’ve found that the kitchen and bathrooms remodeling are typically most in need of modernizing. bathroom remodel
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to stop with a home renovation. While you’re updating the kitchen, it’s tempting to also update a few things in the living room, and then why not replace too old, hall bath shower enclosure and, then you realize, that awful garage floor needs that speckled paint you always wanted. Before you know it, budget creep occurs. We find it useful stay true to your budget and to specifically define where the remodel is ending.
Doug Rusk is the principal at DESIGNLine Architects, LLC located in Gilbert, Arizona. We specialize in residential and commercial remodeling for small and medium sized businesses with expertise in space planning and interior design consulting. We’ll provide your General Contractor a thorough preliminary design packages that will enable an early construction cost estimate to confirm your Master Bath remodel budget quickly. bathroom remodel, bathroom remodel, bathroom remodel
If you’re building a minor residential or commercial remodel in City of Scottsdale and need a building permit, there are special programs in place that will significantly shorten the plan review and permit approval process.
If you meet the following criteria and have a form of payment with you, you may be eligible for an Over the Counter Buliding Permit. The building permit may be processed while you wait, depending on the complexity of the project. Plan check and building permit fees vary depending upon the type of work being done and the valuation.
1. For smaller residential remodels/additions, the City of Scottsdale offers a convenient over-the-counter plan review and building permit process, available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, opening at 10 AM on Wednesdays. Plan Review is completed over the counter at the One Stop Shop.
Over The Counter Plan Review
– Home Remodels or Additions less than 1000 SF – no second floor additions.
– Patio additions and enclosures.
– Carports enclosures into garages or livable space.
– Garage conversions to livable space.
– Non-habitable accessory buildings less than 1000 SF.
– Solar panels that are in compliance with City of Scottsdale placement guidelines.
– Properties with non-conforming structures and/or properties, requiring additional research, may be submitted for a standard 20 day review.
– Projects zoned Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) must be submitted for a 20 day review.
– During busy waiting periods, only one plan per customer will be honored.
2. The City of Scottsdale is now processing minor Commercial Tenant Improvements (TIs) using a two-tiered process that will allow certain types of TIs to be reviewed, and building permits issued, either same day or within 15 days of submittal. building permit, building permit, building permit
Over The Counter Plan Review
– 2,000 sq. ft. MAX
– Group B or M occupancy ONLY
– Single-story, non-structural
– No use changes
– Do not require a Use Permit
– Do not require a Use Permit
– Ask for a Counter Plan Reviewer
15-Day T.I. / Commercial Remodel Review
– Groups A, B, E or M occupancy ONLY
– Non Structural
– No use changes
– No Use Permit required
– No exterior work* (other than roof mounted equipment that is fully screened)
3. Projects north of the CAP will require some planning input before approving for over-the-counter review. Please ask to speak with a Planner.
4. Fire Sprinklers – Any residential improvement that involves 25% or more of the existing structure; and/or adds more than 25% to the original structure, requires that fire sprinklers be installed in the entire home.
5. Building Code – Any residential improvement that involves 50% or more of the existing structure; and/or adds more than 50% to the original structure, requires that entire structure must be brought up to the current Building Code standards.
6. Water & Sewer improvements may be required.
If your project does NOT qualify for the Over The Counter Plan Review process, the regular Plan Review Turn-Around Times at this writing are:
Commercial
– 15 business day review – Tenant Improvement (See item #2 above)
– 20 business day review – Downtown Projects less than 3,000 sq.ft.
– 10 day expedite review (100% of building permit fee)
– Super expedite review with negotiated turn-around time (200% of building permit fee)
Residential
– 20 business day review (5 days for master plot plans)
– 5 day expedite review (100% of building permit fee)
Signs
– 10 business days
– Get Your Sign Permit Approved in One Review – 10 Steps!
To learn more, call 480-312-2500 at the One Stop Shop 7447 E Indian School Road, Suite 105, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Please Note: The counter plan review is usually available on TUESDAY and THURSDAY (only) from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. To learn more, call (480) 350-8341 to verify availability of services.
For more Building Permit specific details related to cities that you live or work, click on one of the following links: Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale. building permit, building permit, building permit
A Scottsdale architect will help you avoid many common mistakes that are made with construction projects. No matter what kind of space you need today, we’ll make sure it’s designed for your needs in the future. This will give you future function built into today’s home or office remodel. To discuss your Scottsdale building permit needs, contact Doug Rusk at 480-710-3861 or email us at drusk@designlinearchitects.com. building permit, building permit, building permit
The key to successful home remodeling is taking the time up front for proper planning. It’s in the best interest of ALL homeowner’s to consider the four steps below, BEFORE signing a construction contract. Early planning is important for an enjoyable remodeling experience, because it will flush out problems early and set expectations that will prepare you for the road ahead.
You might be a homeowner whose family needs are changing, or maybe you’ve lived in your home for a while and just need a change.
You can complete each piece of your master plan as you can afford them, knowing that each piece has been designed to fit together.
A contract is needed to set the rules and the terms of your home remodel. It’s very important to write down ALL your project goals up front and include them in the written contract with your architect and contractor.
It’s easy to jump ahead without thoroughly planning out your home renovation. Improper planning will result in impulsive decisions and choices that might cost extra either in labor or materials. If you take the extra time required to follow these four steps in the beginning, you will take control of your home renovation, and really enjoy the results.
An architect will help you avoid many common mistakes that are made with construction projects. And no matter what kind of space you need today, we’ll make sure it’s designed for your needs in the future. This will give you future function built into today’s addition. To set up a home remodeling appointment contact Doug Rusk at 480-710-3861 or email us at drusk@designlinearchitects.com.