The Process
AC Architectural Design Inc. guides you through a straightforward process, from initial planning to producing the technical drawing for your building permit!
1. Initial Planning and Compliance
• Step by Step Guide
• Zoning bylaws Compliance
• Authorities Consideration
• Minor Variance Application
• Building Code Review
The initial step is identifying your overall needs and wants, discussing potential challenges, and assess your budget. Once we’ve collected, organized, and analyzed everything during the initial planning process, we’ll create a comprehensive roadmap that outlines each phase of the project to ensure a smooth and transparent process.
Once we understand your goals, we will investigate the zoning bylaws that outline the minimum and maximum requirements in the design. This includes but is not limited to, building height, setbacks, permissible uses, easements, parking, and building area. These requirements act as constraints for the design, ensuring the building fits seamlessly within its surroundings.
If your land falls under the jurisdiction of regulatory organizations that oversee land, water, or natural resources—such as the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) or the Hamilton Conservation Authority—you will need additional permits to move forward. We’ll help to identify their specific requirements and integrate them into your architectural drawings, ensuring your project aligns with all necessary guidelines for a smooth approval process.
If the architectural drawings exceed zoning regulations, we can apply for a minor variance to request permission to go beyond the required limits. This process enables us to meet your goals while staying compliant with local guidelines.
The Ontario Building Code (OBC) outlines the minimum safety standards and acceptable solutions for the design and construction of buildings in Ontario. We will ensure that all architectural drawings fully comply with the OBC.
2. Concept Design and Visualization
• As-Built Drawings
• Concept Design
• Site Plan
• 3D Modelling
If your project involves a renovation, we will measure and create as-built drawings, essentially serving as the blueprint of your property. Using this, we can design new architectural drawings that reflect your vision while respecting the original structure.
At this stage, we'll present either hand-drawn or digital sketches of the floor plan layout, followed by the exterior design. This phase is crucial for visualizing the project, gathering feedback, and aligning expectations. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the building's assemblies, materials, and the need for consultants to address systems, structures, and site-specific conditions.
We'll study the site to understand its surroundings—landscape, streets, and neighboring structures—while ensuring the materials and designs we select are appropriate for the region. Once we've developed the architectural drawings, we'll make sure they fit within the site's physical and regulatory constraints to create a site plan.
Once the concept design is approved, we can create realistic 3D renderings of the architectural drawings to visualize how it will look in real life before we proceed to the technical drawings.
3. Comprehensive Technical Drawing
• Building Assemblies
The technical drawing serves as the definitive blueprint guiding the construction process, encompassing specifications for building assemblies like walls, floors, roofs, doors, windows, and other key components. These specifications include the careful selection of materials, types of finishes, insulation designed to meet or exceed energy efficiency standards, waterproofing strategies, and more, ensuring a comprehensive approach to quality, durability, and sustainability in construction.
• HVAC & Structural Design
Structural design and HVAC layout are critical elements where we invest considerable effort to optimize, given their significant impact on overall project costs. We develop the structural design, detailing the foundations, floors, walls, roofs, columns, and beams. Concurrently, we plan the HVAC layout, recognizing that its design can substantially influence the structural configurations, ensuring both efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the project's execution.
• Precise Dimensions
The technical drawing will include precise measurements across floor plans, elevations, sections, and details.
• Consultant Coordination
Before finalizing the technical drawing, we might need to collaborate with a diverse group of specialists such as surveyors, grading experts, septic professionals, mechanical and electrical consultants, plumbers, structural engineers, truss suppliers, arborists, and interior designers. This collaboration ensures that all systems are compatible with the architectural drawings
• Precise Detailing
We excel in detailing our architectural drawings so they accurately depict geometries, structural connections, product integration, and any other elements that demand precision for builders to execute with perfection.
4. Safety and Accessibility Integration
• Fire and Sound Resistance
For small commercial and multi-unit developments, the architectural drawings incorporate essential safety measures. This means ensuring the building assemblies function as barriers to prevent the spread of fire and minimize noise transmission between spaces. These fire and sound resistance methods are further detailed in the technical drawing.
• Barrier-Free Design
Barrier-Free Design, also known as Accessibility Design, is integrated into the architectural drawings to make spaces usable for everyone. These designs include features like ramps, wide doorways, accessible signage, universal washrooms, wheelchair spaces, and adaptable seating to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
• Means of Egress
Means of egress refers to designated routes that enable occupants to safely exit a building in an emergency. The architectural drawings must provide clear, well-planned egress routes with enough exits, adequate width, and accessible paths to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
5. Permitting and Ongoing Support
• Building Permit
Once the architectural drawings are completed, we can assist with submitting and managing the permit application process. This includes Building Permits, Conditional Permits, Demolition Permits, Site Alteration Permits, Excavation Permits, Tree Permits, Septic Permits, Lot Severance, and Access Permits.
• Speedy Permit Resolution
• Visits throughout Construction
If the municipality has any concerns, we quickly address them by submitting a formal response letter. We'll outline any updates made to the architectural drawings and explain how they resolve the issues, helping to keep your project on track for approval.
Site visits during construction are essential to ensure the project is being built according to the approved architectural drawings and to address any issues that may arise. By staying involved, we can help prevent costly mistakes, keep the project on schedule, and ensure the final result meets your vision and expectations.