Commercial Design Process

Whether you’re renovating an existing space, adapting a building for new use, or designing new construction, A3G guides you through a proven 9-step process. Our collaborative approach ensures clear communication, realistic budgeting, and designs that work beautifully for how your business operates.

Step 1: Consultation

We begin by listening. For existing buildings, we conduct an on-site consultation to understand the space and its constraints. For new construction, we meet in-office to explore your vision. We ask detailed questions about your scope of work, timeline, and budget—information that allows us to understand your project fully and assemble the right team of consultants and specialists from the start.

Step 2: Proposal

Based on the consultation, A3G develops a detailed proposal outlining the scope of work, project phases, consultant fees, and expected timeline. This proposal gives you a clear roadmap and ensures we’re aligned on expectations before we begin.

Step 3: As-Built Documentation

For projects within existing buildings, we visit the site to measure existing conditions and document the current structure. We create detailed plans showing the existing layout, systems, and structural elements. This documentation reveals constraints and opportunities that will inform every design decision moving forward.

Step 4: Programming

We develop a detailed program that outlines the size, number, and type of spaces your business needs. Programming considers workflow, circulation, adjacencies, and future growth. Whether you need private offices, open workstations, meeting spaces, or specialized areas, we create a blueprint for how your space will function.

Step 5: Schematic Design

We translate the program into design options. Our team creates multiple schematic design approaches, complete with floor plans, elevations, and conceptual visuals. These designs explore different ways to solve your space challenges, and we present them to you for feedback and direction.

Step 6: Design Development

Once you’ve selected a design direction, our full consultant team—structural engineers, MEP specialists, and other consultants—joins the process. They overlay mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural systems onto the schematic design. A3G integrates these systems thoughtfully, ensuring your building is functional, efficient, and compliant with all codes.

Step 7: Construction Documentation

A3G and our consultant team prepare comprehensive drawings and specifications for construction and permitting. These documents communicate every detail to contractors, from material specifications to system requirements to dimensional precision. We create the “instruction manual” for building your project correctly.

Step 8: Permitting

We manage the permit process, either providing stamped plans directly to your contractor or facilitating the submittal process with the city. When the city has comments or requests, A3G coordinates responses from our consultant team to address them efficiently.

Step 9: Construction Administration

Throughout construction, A3G observes the building process, creates field reports, responds to contractor requests for information, reviews shop drawings, and monitors payment applications. We’re your advocate on site, ensuring the contractor is building according to the design and addressing issues as they arise.

Beyond the 9 Steps: Additional Commercial Services

A3G offers specialized services to support your commercial project:

  • BOMA Calculations – Accurate building measurements for leasing and valuation
  • Master Planning – Long-term strategic planning for multi-phase projects or campus developments
  • Space Planning – Detailed analysis of how to organize and use your space most effectively
  • Furniture Selection – Coordination of furniture systems that integrate with architectural design
  • Life-Cycle Cost Analysis – Evaluation of long-term costs and benefits of design and material choices
  • Variance Applications – Navigation of zoning variances when needed
  • Rezoning Applications – Support for rezoning requests to enable your project vision

Ready to Begin?

Whether you’re at the early vision stage or ready to move forward, we’d love to discuss your commercial project and show you how our process delivers results.