Good communication between Owner and Architect is the basis for a successful project. In addition to listening well and being very responsive to our clients, we also have developed a proven design process that forms a framework for Owner and Architect during the project. Key elements in our design process include:

•  Scheduling – We prepare a project schedule that includes key dates for design meetings, completion of each design phase, construction document completion, bidding, start of construction and completion of construction. The project schedule is prepared immediately upon inception of the project and is updated as the project proceeds.

•  Cost Estimating - We provide building cost estimates for your project, and update them as the project becomes more refined throughout the design process. This will help to inform your design choices and make sure that your project ends up on budget.

•  Phasing – We have worked in many settings where it is critical to keep a facility running while construction is under way. We know how to work with the Contractor and Owner to plan for minimal interruption. Additionally, many projects must be broken into more than one construction phase. We are good at planning for efficiency of effort so that work done during phase one does not have to be redone in phase two.

•  Construction Documents – We take pride in preparing clear, complete and accurate contract documents. By making the project requirements as clear as possible, the bidding and construction processes are simplified.

•  Communication - We provide you with meeting notes and other documentation to keep communication between us clear and precise during design and construction.

In our firm, the principal architect that you hire is in charge of the day to day supervision of your project from initial programming to the final punch list at project completion. The client communicates directly with the principal-in-charge in all phases of the project. We believe that open communication between the Owner, the Architect and the Contractor is essential to bring good projects together.

Design

In addition to quality service, MacArthur, Means & Wells is committed to design excellence in our projects. Important elements of our design philosophy are as follows:

•  Functional Planning – All of our projects are designed to meet the functional requirements of the project. We strive to make our floor plans efficient and to be responsive to all the necessary adjacencies of use.

•  Appropriate Aesthetic Expression – We design projects that are contextual. Our buildings fit their surroundings – the neighboring buildings, the climate, the community, the times, and most importantly the client's vision. Fireweed Court, in Missoula , won a national housing award for design excellence. Specifically mentioned in the award was the project's innovative planning, its sensitivity to the context and the use of alternative building technologies.

•  Resource Efficiency – Where possible, we work with our engineers to design systems that use the least energy. This lowers long term operating costs for the owner and reduces the building's impact on global resources. Recent remodeling projects have included waste management specifications that have proven, at no cost to the owner, to significantly reduce dumping of demolished materials. Additionally we have investigated recycled materials and specify them where economic and durability constraints are met.

•  Daylighting – Natural light enlivens a space and is a critical element of any building design. People are drawn to spaces that have sunlight entering them, with glare controlled, particularly in the cloudy Missoula winter. Additionally, part of resource efficiency in any building is to design for daylighting to reduce the costs of artificial lighting during the day.

Identifying design goals is one of the first steps that we take with our clients. Each project has different criteria and we enjoy the challenge of working within these criteria to create projects that work exceptionally well at all levels.