Architectural design services

Billdr offers design services to support you with pre-construction planning. We connect you with a trusted and experienced architect who will work with you to develop architectural plans and project requirements (e.g. takeoffs, permits) within two weeks, speeding up your renovation process. Your dedicated Billdr Project Manager facilitates collaboration between your architect and general contractor to eliminate stressful back-and-forth and guesswork.

With more experience working on large projects, architects can carry out and sign plans for all residential, commercial, or industrial projects that have more complex structural requirements. On the other hand, due to more restrictive knowledge, an architectural technologist may not be able to carry out the same functions for those types of constructions.

An architect is responsible for designing indoor/outdoor spaces and selecting construction materials and finishes. A structural engineer will oversee the design and sizing of load-bearing components that hold a construction up.

Your municipal by-laws will determine whether you need an architect for your project. Typically, you will want to work with one for extensive, complex renovations where permits are required. For example, if you are planning a new build or major renovation (custom home, home extension, laneway suite), you will likely need to hire an architect.

An architect will provide you with a high-level description of the scope of work and a list of requirements. Architectural plans include drawings of your current space, demolition work, construction work, and technical details related to room dimensions, materials, finishing, siding, flooring, foundation, sound and thermal insulation, among other specifications.

Plans are a communication tool compiling details from a project’s scope of work to reduce ambiguity, misunderstanding, and interpretation risk. For certain types of constructions (e.g., those requiring building permits), plans are a mandatory legal document that needs to be signed by a designated professional.

Some renovations require permit plans to get approval from the city for construction to begin. The most common permit requests are for renovations that need structural changes, such as removing a wall, enlarging openings (e.g., higher floor-to-ceiling windows), finishing a basement, and relocating plumbing (e.g., major kitchen and bathroom work).