Architects design the vast majority of the built environment around us - hospitals, malls, office buildings, skyscrapers, retail stores, housing developments, spec homes, custom homes and everything in between. In fact, an architect is required for the design of many types of structures and buildings where the size, use, public exposure, complexity, or historical relevance are critical attributes of the project.

Building Designers, like Reflective Designworks, are qualified to design single family homes, additions to single family homes, accessory dwelling units, and in many cases duplexes. Each state has specific laws regulating architecture, but almost all states offer exceptions for the design of the structures listed above. We have years of experience designing and building residential projects in ME, NH and VT including new construction, tiny houses, remodels, ADU’s, modular construction, and high performance homes.

For another perspective, we asked ChatGPT who to hire, and we got this response which makes a lot of sense. No matter if you end up hiring a Building Designer or an Architect, here are some important items to consider:

Chemistry - do these seem like good folks to work with?

Experience - what similar design projects they have completed in the past?

Cost - how much will design services end up costing when all is said and done?

Schedule - when can they start and how long will their work take?

Deliverables - when their design work is complete, what have you paid for? Ask for a sample set of drawings to see what they typically include and don’t include. Reach out to us anytime and we’ll send you an example of what we deliver.

If you are still wondering if you need an architect, below are a list of situations where you’d definitely want an architect: