Design Development: Buildable Architectural Solutions by Eric Rogers, Wagstaff + Rogers Architects

During each architectural phase, our goal is to guide clients with clarity and intention. As Bay Area architects, after the conceptual foundation of Schematic Design is developed and approved, the project transitions into buildable architectural solutions with a deeper, more technical phase known as Design Development, the second of the 5 Basic Architectural Services.

This stage represents the shift from big “pie in the sky” ideas to coordinated, buildable architectural solutions. It is where your project begins to take real shape—through precise refinement, informed material decisions, and detailed integration of engineering systems. It is also the point at which we start to align the design with your budget, ensuring that aesthetic goals and financial expectations move forward together.

Design Development is essential for both residential and commercial architecture projects, especially in the fierce Bay Area building market. It ensures that the design is not only visually satisfying but also technically sound, code compliant, and ready for accurate pricing going into Construction Documents. In regions like Marin County, where building conditions, environmental considerations, and regulatory frameworks are among the most stringent in the country, this phase is extremely critical.

“Architecture begins as vision, but becomes real through detail. Design Development is where that transformation truly happens.” — AIA Practice Guidelines.

Table of Contents
What Is the Design Development Phase?
How Architects Refine Plans After Schematic Design
1. Refining and Developing Floor Plans and Spatial Relationships
2. Material and System Selections
3. Design Review: When Local Ordinances Require Additional Review
4. Coordination With Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Consultants
5. Code Compliance, Zoning Verification, and Regional Regulations
6. Budget Alignment and Cost Evaluation
Why the Design Development Phase Matters
Where to go from here: From Design Development to Construction Documents

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