Renovation Question
I’m trawling through the last couple of weeks of posts (always try to build up some good karma when I’m posting a question of my own). We did a renovations last year, and our architects were pretty bloody good on the project management side (no one is perfect, but we were really happy at the end of the day). Scope included most of what you’re talking about – not removing an entire rear wall but adding large french windows; and we didn’t add speaker wiring but when we inquired about the implications of doing so they didn’t blink. If you’re interested in following up with them, they are Braude Pankiewicz Architects; 55 Windsor Place, Brooklyn, NY 11215 email@bparc.com 347.871.8597 Ben
aussieben
in About Brooklyn 11 years ago
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6 replies
brooklynnative78 | 11 years and 1 month ago
I am about to embark on some renovations listed below and curious what the right path is to do so wrt architects and/or designers can a good architect handle all the design aspects of the kitchen or do i need to get a seperate designer to do that? what level of project management can you expect from architect? – gut kitchen renovation down to the walls and floors, removing butlers pantry to extend kitchen and converting a full bath in the kitchen to a powder room – opening up back of house at ground level for rear glass wall – adding a bathroom on top floor where one has not existed along same line as existing plumbing stack – network wiring throughout house – speaker wiring and in wall installation throughout the house – additional electric outlets throughout house – wired smoke alarms / carbon monoxide detectors
JorgeF | 11 years and 1 month ago
Yes the architect can design all aspects of the kitchen, you should not need a separate designer unless you want one. I am an architect if you need help on this we can discuss the project. jorge@jorgefontan.com
slopefarm | 11 years and 1 month ago
In our limited experience, we found that architects vary with respect to their strengths. Some are stronger on the guts of a building, supervising the soundness of the GC’s “behind the walls” work, but are less oriented to the finished design elements. Others were the opposite, very design-oriented but seemed more likely to defer to the GC on building and construction issues. Interview prospectivce architects, look at a portfolio of their projects and discuss with them their approach to design.
brucef | 11 years and 1 month ago
Slopefarm’s answer above is correct, but doesn’t go far enough. The architect’s much more important job is in the design phase, in terms of prioritizing your wants. I can tell from reading your list, that it contains a mixture of minor upgrades with life-changing alterations that are massive, triggering a multitude of ramifications. I’ve seen this all the time. You, a friend, a “designer” come up with really neat ideas. Mucho money later, you discover that the DOB is a wacky world in which no reasonable request is left un-denied. You want another bathroom, we make you install sprinklers. You want a new opening in the masonry, we decide to make you spend another 20K on structural engineers and their egocentric paranoia. I will make it as plain as I can. Everything you want is forbidden. Everything you don’t want is mandatory. I understand that it makes little sense, and spending a lot of money should “feather your nest”. Save your self headaches and find an architect with CURRENT knowledge of what the DOB feels like approving. Not what they approved last year or what any reasonable professional reading the code would think OK. New construction, rubber stamp. Gut reno following new code, ditto. Improving an old home, not so fast. Learn to pick your battles.
Augustiner | 11 years and 1 month ago
can a good architect handle all the design aspects of the kitchen or do i need to get a seperate designer to do that? —-> YES, IT´S THE EASIEST PART OF THE JOB what level of project management can you expect from architect? —-> NONE UNLESS SPECIFIED BY CONTRACT AND PAID ON TOP. MAKE SURE DETAIL CONSTRUCTION PLANS ARE PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION, OTHERWISE YOU´LL ONLY GET FILING PLANS THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR BUILDING OR BIDDING – opening up back of house at ground level for rear glass wall —-> YOU NEED A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND OBTAIN AN EXTRA PERMITS. – adding a bathroom on top floor where one has not existed along same line as existing plumbing stack —-> IF IT TIES INTO THE EXISTING STACK THE ARCHITECT CAN DRAW THAT – network wiring throughout house – speaker wiring and in wall installation throughout the house – additional electric outlets throughout house —-> MAKE SURE YOUR ARCHITECT/EXPEDITER CAN DRAW SUITABLE ELECTRICAL PLANS, NOT JUST ‘PLANS TO PASS DOB’ – wired smoke alarms / carbon monoxide detectors —-> MANDATORY PART OF ELECTRICAL PLANS
brooklynnative78 | 11 years and 1 month ago
thank you all for your replies.