SMA+Design

SMA+Design · How We Work

THE

PROCESS.

Six phases. From the first conversation to the final key. Each phase builds on what was agreed before. Nothing is skipped, nothing is rushed.

01

PREDESIGN

Understanding before drawing.

Site analysis, room requirements, budget, and approvals review. We collect every constraint and opportunity before a single line is drawn: the climate, the plot, the bylaws, and your wish list of rooms. The project takes shape in words and numbers first, not form.

Deliverables

  • Site Survey & Analysis
  • Room Requirements
  • Budget Framework
  • Bylaws Review
  • Project Schedule
02

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

The rough shape of an idea.

Two or more design concepts in sketch form: loose, open, meant to start a conversation. Together we select a direction, often a mix of the best ideas. At the core of each scheme is a single ruling idea that will guide every decision that follows.

Deliverables

  • Schematic Site Plan
  • Floor Plan Options
  • Sketch Elevations
  • Preliminary Cost Estimate
03

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

The building becomes real.

The schematic concept moves into precise digital drawings. Every wall, window, door, and stair is sized and placed. Materials begin to be selected inside and out. Structural, mechanical, and lighting systems are coordinated. Consultants are brought in.

Deliverables

  • Detailed Floor Plans
  • Exterior Elevations
  • Sections & Interiors
  • Structural Concept
  • Material Palette
04

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

The complete instruction manual.

Every detail documented, every material specified. This set of drawings is what the contractor prices and builds from: a tight, fully coordinated package that leaves no room for guesswork or costly assumptions on site. Approvals are submitted in this phase.

Deliverables

  • Full Drawing Set
  • Building Specifications
  • Structural Plans
  • Permit Submission
  • Finish Schedules
05

CONTRACTOR SELECTION

Finding the right builder.

Competitive bids or a negotiated contract; we'll discuss which approach suits your project. Either way, the goal is a builder who understands the work, prices it fairly, and has the craft to execute it. The studio assists in evaluating bids, negotiating terms, and finalizing the contract.

Deliverables

  • Contractor Evaluation
  • Bid Comparison
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Signed Construction Contract
06

CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION

The vision, protected to the end.

Weekly site visits to review progress, answer questions, and make sure the drawings are being followed. Contractor payments reviewed. Changes managed and recorded. The gap between what is drawn and what is built is where projects fail. This phase closes that gap.

Deliverables

  • Weekly Site Reports
  • Progress Photography
  • Payment Certification
  • Punch List
  • Certificate of Completion

From the Sites

Every project is documented as it is built. Not for the portfolio, but for the discipline. The junction that was drawn is the junction that gets checked, on site, in brick and concrete.

Exposed concrete frame of a residence under construction, Lahore
Brick structure of a central courtyard rising through multiple levels
Carpenter installing timber formwork at a door head
Brick masonry walls with cast concrete lintels at window openings
Concrete entry steps and columns of a house under construction
Timber shoring propping a freshly cast concrete slab over brick walls
Brick corridor under construction with concrete beams overhead
Double-height brick structure around a courtyard during construction
Bathroom mid-tiling with a recessed niche cut into the brick wall
Concrete frame elevation with deep window openings

Typical Timeline

Design Duration

A few months to a year

Depends on scope and decision pace

Construction

12 – 16 months

Average custom-built project

Your role

Collaborative

You are involved at every phase

Ready to start
Phase One?

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