Imagine: A single source of responsibility for interior design and construction.
K2 Studios is a full-service design firm. Our talented team of architects and designers work closely with project owners providing an iterative process that allows the owner’s vision to be fully realized. Additionally, our two plus decades of experience building our designs gives us a unique perspective; the knowledge of how things are built allows us to design them so that they can be built more cost effectively. We’ve been fortunate to work with some extraordinary clients on a wide range of captivating projects, and over 95% of our work is repeat work (new projects) for existing clients or from word-of-mouth referrals from our clients.
Our design/build process is different than some others as each piece is independent. At the end of the design process, full construction drawings are provided so that the client can obtain bids from other contractors. This empowers clients with the best of both worlds – price transparency and the option to have one party with complete accountability.
Building requires contractors to interpret 2D construction drawings in order to create a 3D space. To do this correctly there is a constant line of communication between the architect/designer and the builder. When these two parties are under the same roof this communication is streamlined exponentially. Further, typically the architect/designer and the contractor have divergent interests. The designer’s priority is keeping the design intent as intact as possible. The builder’s priority is building at the lowest cost possible to increase their profit margin. When the designer is also the builder, that tug of war doesn’t exist. Both factors – the communication dynamic and potentially divergent interests – become amplified when a hiccup occurs on the jobsite. And no matter the job, hiccups always occur. Our unique situation has provided us with a wealth of experience getting creative to resolve issues while retaining as much of the design intent as possible. In addition to a finished product that is more faithful to the original design, having the designer as the “Master Builder” saves the client time, money, and a great deal of stress.
Design-Bid-Build = Contractor is selected from bids based on completed construction documents, allowing for price transparency.
CM@R (Construction Manager at Risk) = Contractor is brought aboard at the same time as Architect, allowing for greater collaboration and sharing of expertise during the design phase.