Question 1

How do you charge?

Accepted Answer

We are flexible. We can work with either of the 2 options:
Option 1: Hour based average fee (with or without Not to Exceed)
Option 2: Lumpsum agreed fee

Question 2

How do you Estimate Hours?

Accepted Answer

We work on trust. You tell us the hours the job would need and we will honor it, alternately you give us an example set that represents your expectations and we can provide you our estimate.

Typically a single family residence project would be approx 80-100 hours in all. For larger projects the average estimate would be approx. 20hours per sheet.

Question 3

Can you provide references?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can provide references of decision makers of practices who can vouch about our credentials and share with you their experiences. Just drop us an email and we will send you the information and credentials of our references

Question 4

What’s the simplest way to “assign task”?

Accepted Answer

The easiest way could be a simple statement like:
For a Typical Floor Plan: “here is the floor plan, please dimension it”
For a Typical Life-safety Drawings: “Here is our code analysis, please create life safety drawings and also call out the partition tags in the main floor plan”
For a Typical RCP: “The floor needs to have 2x4 tiles, and restrooms would have gyp ceiling. Give us a drawing that we can pass on to the consultants for putting the diffusers and lights”.
For a Typical Door Details: “Use our standard drawings from XYZ project and give us a standard door detail sheet”.
For a Typical Schedules: “People, please generate a finish schedule for the project in Excel and send it to us” or “please generate a door schedule and send it back. We would in turn forward it to the hardware consultant”
For a Typical Plan related work: “Here are the structural drawings, please coordinate it with the floor plans, identify the conflicts and let us know”
For a Typical Coordination task: “Here are the structural drawings, please coordinate it with the floor plans, identify the conflicts and let us know.

Question 5

What functional types of Buildings do you have experience on? Can you show any samples?

Accepted Answer

In terms of functional building types, we have experience of 22 years on :
Health Care, Behavioural Health, MOB Buildings & Clinics
Tenant Improvement
Commercial
Education
Correctional Facilities
Mixed Use
Residential
 
Example of Commercial Project : Click Here 
Example of Residential Project : Click Here
For other project types, please send us an email

Question 6

How does this relationship work?

Accepted Answer

It’s essential that one considers CS as a part of your internal project team. Its just that this part of team sits in a different geographical location and in a diff time zone. This approach will allow the information to flow just like it would in your internal office.

Question 7

How are your services unique?

Accepted Answer

We always keep the same team deployed till the project is complete. For clients, who give more than 1 project the same set of people are deployed so that learning from one project are automatically applied to the other projects.

Question 8

How does one begin the first project?

Accepted Answer

When scope is defined
Step 1: Identify from the Sheet List, the sheets that you want CS to work on and then assign hours against it.
Step 2: Share a sample PDF for a project that illustrates your documentation approach
Step 3: Set a deadline that you would like to follow and communicate it to CS
When scope is not defined
Step 1: Estimate the man hours based on your estimated fee & budgeted expense
Step 2: Allocate the manhours for CS and cap it with not to exceed number and then agree on weekly timecards (with progress made)
or
A statement that says:
“We have a 40-hour job for 1 person (FTE) that includes working on Floor Plan & RCP.
Floor Plan Related Task: 20 hours at max.
RCP & Misc. Related Task: 20 hours at max.
please let us know if you can handle it. The base drawings are attached in the email.

Question 9

Describe your familiarity with building codes and particularly the IBC

Accepted Answer

We have helped our architectural clients on projects located in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Colorado, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We have therefore become very familiar with the applicable codes in each of these states and with the IBC.
We have effective understanding of code requirements in terms of fire and life safety issues (like travel distances, exit requirements, fire rating, suite sizes, smoke zones, occupancy separation etc). We also understand implications of ADA requirements.
It must be noted though that we rely on you for maintaining full control of all code issues and be responsible for their applications. Our staff is here to assist and provide additional informed support

Collab Studio Architects

Frequently Asked Questions

Our 26 years of experience indicates that "Good Communication & Accountability" is an important factor in the success of our services