Our Services

Commercial Architecture

Pre-Design and Programming
Imprint Architects works closely with each client to identify, quantify, qualify and describe the scope of work, along with the existing and optimal spatial requirements, and functional relationships. For each project, Imprint Architects offers personalized facilities planning, programming, adjacency studies, scope of work development, project scheduling, budgeting, budget analysis, project management plan development and site analysis services. Imprint Architects conducts site visits, user group meetings, site inventory and investigation, and reviews the existing resources, regulatory codes, owner design and documentation standards, budget, and physical and social constraints.

Schematic Design and Design Development

During the bid process, Imprint Architects answers contractor questions, prepares addenda, reviews substitutions, attends the pre-bid conference and executes other typical architectural criteria. Imprint Architects then works with the Owner to select the "Lowest Responsible Bidder" and/or negotiating the contract for construction.

Construction Documents

Imprint Architects will create a design that accomplishes the goals of the project set forth during the programming phase while also exciting the imagination. Imprint Architects designs buildings meant to be woven into the fabric of the community they will be located in. Imprint Architects integrates the factors that influence each project, communicating with the client throughout the design process to assure the client's goals and ideas are represented. The Imprint Architects refine the schematic design and identifies, resolves, develops and addresses all the project specific details, systems, governing regulatory codes, preliminary cost estimate and construction criteria required to document the project for construction.

Bidding and Negotiation

Imprint Architects works closely with each client to identify, quantify, qualify and describe the scope of work, along with the existing and optimal spatial requirements, and functional relationships. For each project, Imprint Architects offers personalized facilities planning, programming, adjacency studies, scope of work development, project scheduling, budgeting, budget analysis, project management plan development and site analysis services. Imprint Architects conducts site visits, user group meetings, site inventory and investigation, and reviews the existing resources, regulatory codes, owner design and documentation standards, budget, and physical and social constraints.

Contract Administration

During construction, Imprint Architects attends the pre-construction conference and progress meetings, and monitors the construction for compliance with criteria contained in the construction documents. We also resolve unexpected issues and facilitate construction progress to assure completion in a timely manner and within budget. Imprint Architects issue change orders and directives; reviews alternates, shop drawings, mock-ups and samples; and monitors contractor's payments for completed work. Imprint Architects anticipates conflicts and resolves them before they translate into expenses or lost time through a "one step ahead of real time construction process" analysis. Imprint Architects conducts site visits and prepares progress reports, meeting agenda and meeting minutes for distribution.

Project Closeout

Imprint Architects will perform a pre-final inspection with the Owner and Contractor to identify building code deficiencies and defects in the construction and establish a final schedule for project completion and occupancy. We will then perform a final inspection with the Owner and Contractor and develop a punch-list the Contractor will need to complete prior to final payment. Imprint Architects and our consultants will coordinate with the Contractor and the Sub-contractors on assembling the equipment and operating manuals and ensure the Owner's building engineers know how to operate the building.
Our Services

Interior Design

Project Execution

Interior design projects follow the same order of design as delineated in the architectural services. Programming through Project Close-Out may integrate with the concurrent architectural design or as the process for an independent interior design project. Interior design projects include new or renovated interior architectural space that does not affect the structural or exterior architectural elements. Because of the importance of how people experience an interior environment, supplementary services are described below in more depth.

Workplace strategy

Workplace strategy aligns the organization’s work patterns and future expectations, while accommodating the business goals of a company. Implementing how individuals work, enabling the highest level of performance in the appropriate space requirements, creates efficiency that often reduces square footage and overall operation cost. The workplace strategy is developed with the owner and appointed users to determine the way each entity within the company operates. Independent field observations and interviews by Imprint supplement the owner derived information. Compiling these studies will determine work methods such as mobile working, collaboration or resident workstations that will then help translate into space allocations and furniture needs.

Change Management

Change management aligns with Workplace Strategy when a company re establishes physical space requirements and work goals. Change can be difficult for people within an organization when disrupting the traditional pattern of work. Managing the change involves gaining acceptance from those directly impacted by the transition. Imprint’s involvement provides a buffer between the company leadership and employees by establishing an outside perspective to present reason for change. The change management process also includes conversations about different furniture solutions that best support each job description. With many generations in the workforce, each may perceive change based on their work history and future expectations. Sensitivity to this when presenting new workplace ideas is crucial to gaining employee support.

Furniture layout, Specifications, and Procurement

Aligning with Programming and Workplace Strategy, furniture layouts bring those organizational ideas to fruition. Furniture design layouts per work activity or function, articulates visual concepts for implementing change. Designing and specifying furniture with Imprint, provides an owner the opportunity to receive competitive pricing without sacrificing quality standards. Without an alignment to any particular furniture line, Imprint objectively selects furniture, fabrics and finishes to cohesively integrate design intention maintaining owner objectives and budget. Imprint will then issue a complete furniture specification document to selected furniture providers to acquire competitive pricing. Imprint will assist with evaluation of the bids and monitor order and installation on behalf of the owner.

Interior Design Selections

Interior design selections reflect the image and aesthetic language of the business through color, texture, materials, form and light. Coordination with the architectural components creates a cohesive impression to all who experience the space. Attention to detail, such as lighting design and selection, creates a ambiance that not only provides function but also enhances the feeling and human response to any space. Natural light and exposure to exterior site lines equally impacts the well-being of those who inhabit the interior. These interior design selections contribute to employee health and welfare

Health, Safety and Welfare

Interior design extends far beyond the demands and aesthetics of a space. The interior spaces of a building integrate universal design throughout the project as a fundamental composition of the environment. Building codes and regulations are seamlessly incorporated from materials selected to space allocation and safe egress of a building. Consideration to sustainable materials and local resources recognizes the ecological importance of natural resources as well as health of all who experience the building.

Signage and Wayfinding

Providing wayfinding through interior finishes, lighting and graphics foster intuitive navigation of a building. Environmental graphics not only distinguish areas, they provide a canvas for goals, values and mission statements whether through text or images. The idea graphics incorporate the business into inherent artwork and inspiration. Signage supplements wayfinding as simple delineation of rooms and direction

3D Space Study

Three dimensional space studies provide an owner an understanding of the volume of a space beyond elevations and plans used for documentation. Responses to design become more specific when viewed in a realistic way. Implementation of color, materials, textures, lighting and furniture, equip an owner to make decisions with more confidence. Producing renderings also becomes a communication tool for stakeholders outside the design process.

Our Services

Residential Design

Why Imprint Architects?

Designing and building your home may be the most exciting, interesting, and complex process you’ll ever undertake. As architects, we have been trained to assist you in the decision making process required to design your new home. We can help you weigh alternatives as well as recommend solutions you may never have considered on your own. Working with a licensed architect insures that you will get the maximum value for what will probably be your biggest investment.

Imprint Architects has been designing homes in Central Iowa since 1994. No other architect, home designer, or home builder is more qualified to assist you with the design and construction of your home. Imprint Architects blends the following areas of the home design and construction into every project we complete:

DESIGN of Building

Imprint Architects is passionate about residential design. Incorporating fundamental design elements such as hierarchy, balance, scale, rhythm, etc. to both contemporary and historical architectural styles and applying these to our client's building program creates homes that are both functional and beautiful.

SCIENCE of Building

Imprint Architects understands the science that makes buildings perform. We study energy loss and consumption, water and moisture migration, material performance characteristics, thermodynamics, environmental lighting, and building acoustics to make sure the homes we design surpass the minimums required by the building code.

CRAFT of Building

The process building a home requires dozens of subcontractors and thousands of decisions. Each piece of the project needs to be understood and coordinated between the individual subcontractors. Imprint will be involved in every step of the process to ensure the project complies with the plans and specifications and is constructed to the highest industry standards.

BUSINESS of Building

The success of any building project is contingent upon the level of communication between the parties. Starting with complete building plans, specifications, product cut sheets, and material selections Imprint Architects will establish a fee and schedule to complete the project. Changes to the contract, if requested or required, will be immediately documented and communicated with the all parties involved.

Residential Design Process

Pre-Design (Design Programming)

What do we want

The design process often begins with something as little as a photograph clipped from a magazine or a picture taken of a house or lodge while on vacation. Other images and floor plan ideas are added over time and categorized into a home design portfolio. As the time for construction draws near, you may decide you need to sit down with an architect to begin the formal design process. We refer to this initial meeting as the Design Programming meeting. It is at this meeting that we begin to understand not only what your functional requirements are, but also what aesthetic goals you may want included in your new home. We will also talk about site and budget constraints as well as features you would like to have incorporated.

The old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” carries a lot of meaning at this meeting. We encourage you to bring in photographs, plan sketches, and magazine clippings that you may have been collecting. We may also have you complete a “Needs, Wants, Desires” list. We may discuss your existing home and features that you like as well as those you don’t like.

We will also talk about programming requirements such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas you would like to have. How many levels should your house have as well as the preferred location of the owner’s suite. The sizes of these rooms and any functional relationships that you require. The project budget will be discussed as well as what possible fees can be expected. All of this information will be used as we begin the formal design process of your new home.

After the meeting and before we begin designing, we will complete a space analysis that lists all of the rooms you want in your new home along with their approximate sizes. These net square footages are then increased approximately 15% to include wall thicknesses, circulation, and ancillary spaces. This final estimated gross square footage is then used to develop some preliminary cost estimates.

Schematic Design

Order to the Chaos

Once we have decided on what you want to build, we will begin to sort through the written program requirements to ascertain a more precise target square footage. Once this has been determined, a designer will begin designing your home with a series of rough sketches that show the general room sizes and relationships. If a final site has been selected, these sketches are placed over the site plan to insure the plan footprint fits within the site constraints. These sketches are further refined to include doors, windows, cabinets, and other details and arrangements that help to develop the design.

Once we have completed the sketches and/or models, a meeting will be set up to review the design with you. This design will still be very schematic in nature and we expect to have both positive and negative feedback at this meeting. Remember, it is your home, if there is anything you are not happy with, now is the time to let your designer know. It is much easier and more cost effective to make changes now, than later in the design process.

The design will be very preliminary at this meeting. It will have enough detail to express the design intent, but will lack much of the information and details necessary to get a firm estimate or bid. These drawings will be completed in subsequent design phases.

Design Development

Refining the Order

The next step in the process, called design development, involves taking the schematic design sketches from the previous phase and incorporating your comments we received at the schematic design meeting. Additional details are added to the plans and the exterior elevations are developed showing doors, windows, and materials.

This is also the time we add volume to the spaces and work through not only the horizontal relationships of the spaces, but how the spaces relate to each other vertically. Much of this information is communicated through building sections and further development of the virtual model.

Technical issues such as structural layouts, mechanical systems, and thermal/moisture protection need to resolved at this time. All decisions that are to be documented in the final working drawings also need to be made at this time. Design Development drawings are often completed to the point where general contractors and suppliers can begin to get material take-offs and determine project scope for more accurate pricing.

Construction Documents

Communicating your design

The Construction Documents Phase of the project is that time when the drawings are completed and dimensions and notes are added to the documents. A basic set of construction documents includes floor plans, exterior elevations, wall sections, stair sections, and roof plans. For additional fees we can also complete interior elevations, millwork details, building sections, finish plans, full kitchen and bath design, and any other drawings needed to communicate the design to the builder. These drawings along with a project specification become the basis for the general contract. The project specifications can be completed either by you, the owner, as an outline of requirements or they may be completed by the contractor as part of their proposal. On larger custom home projects, the specification is typically completed by the architect and is included with the drawings as part of the bidding and contract documents. Remember, the more complete the construction documents are the more accurate your bids will be. Full construction documentation will also result in fewer problems and less change orders throughout the construction phase of your new home.

Bidding Phase

Choosing your builder

There are a number of ways to select who will build your home. Many people will have already decided on a builder prior to the design phase while others prefer to complete the design process first and have two or three selected contractors submit bids. As your architect, we can assist you early on in choosing which method works for you as well as facilitate the process to insure accurate and complete bids.

Imprint Architects also provides full Design/Build services that provides are clients with a one stop shop for the design and construction of their project. There are many advantages to design/build including shorter project timeline and greater budget control. Click HERE to learn more about the design/build process.

Construction Observation

Our expertise applied to the construction of your home.

Our involvement does not have to stop with at the completion of the design phase. We can act as your representative by monitoring the contractors work for conformance with the construction documents. As the designers of your residence, no one is more qualified to ensure your home is built as it was designed. From the first shovel of earth turned to the final walk through and punch list, we can be there to help facilitate the construction process.