If you’re planning a building project — whether it’s a new church, a commercial facility, a medical office, or a public building — understanding the architectural process can be the difference between a project that exceeds expectations and one that drains your budget with surprises. Here’s what to expect when you work with an architect, from the first conversation through move-in day.
Phase 1: Discovery and Needs Assessment
Every project at A Beazley Architecture begins with our Needs & Options Review. Before we design anything, we need to understand your mission, your operations, and your goals. This isn’t a questionnaire — it’s a deep conversation about how your organization works, who uses your facility, and where you want to be in 10 to 20 years.
During this phase, we evaluate site conditions, zoning requirements, environmental factors, and budget parameters. For church projects, this often includes understanding congregation growth patterns, ministry programs, and phased building plans. For commercial projects, it means mapping customer flow, staffing models, and brand positioning.
The output is a clear project program — a written document that defines scope, budget alignment, and design priorities before the first sketch is drawn.
Phase 2: Conceptual Design
With the program in hand, our design team begins exploring concepts. At A Beazley Architecture, we use a proprietary approach called the ARK Design System — Accountable, Relational, Kingdom-minded — to guide our conceptual development.
We start by crafting a poetic framework — a conceptual narrative rooted in the unique characteristics of the client, the site, and the program. From that narrative, we develop gesture models and initial sketches that capture the core design idea in form, movement, and spatial relationships.
This is the most creative phase of the project, and it’s where client collaboration is most critical. Expect to see multiple concepts, participate in design reviews, and provide feedback that shapes the direction. Nothing is finalized here — everything is open for exploration.
Phase 3: Schematic Design and Master Planning
Once a concept is selected, we develop it into a schematic design — detailed floor plans, exterior elevations, site plans, and spatial relationships. This is where the building starts to feel real.
For organizations with phased growth plans, this is also when master planning comes into play. We map out how your facility can expand over time — what gets built now, what infrastructure needs to be in place for the future, and how each phase connects architecturally.
Our Saviour’s Church is a great example — we’ve designed multiple campuses across Louisiana, each one master-planned to accommodate future growth while maintaining a cohesive design language.
Phase 4: 3D Visualization
Before a single construction document is produced, we bring your building to life through 3D renderings, flythroughs, and virtual reality walkthroughs. These photorealistic visualizations let you experience your building — walk through the lobby, sit in the sanctuary, see the exterior at twilight — before ground is ever broken.
For Pathway Church in Lafayette, our visualization package was instrumental in their capital campaign — congregation members could see exactly what they were investing in, which accelerated fundraising and built overwhelming support for the $10.4M project.
Phase 5: Design Development and Construction Documents
This is the technical heart of the project. Our architectural design team produces detailed construction drawings and specifications — the legal documents that tell the contractor exactly what to build, how to build it, and what materials to use.
Construction documents include architectural plans, structural engineering, mechanical/electrical/plumbing coordination, interior finishes, custom furniture and fixture details, and a comprehensive specification book. These documents protect your investment by eliminating ambiguity — every dimension, every material, every connection is defined.
Poor construction documents are the number one cause of change orders and cost overruns. At A Beazley Architecture, we invest heavily in this phase because it saves our clients tens of thousands during construction.
Phase 6: Bidding and Contractor Selection
With documents complete, the project goes out for bids. We help you evaluate contractor proposals — not just on price, but on qualifications, schedule, references, and approach. For some projects, a design-build delivery method may make more sense, pairing architect and contractor into a single team from the start.
We’ve managed this process for projects ranging from $730,000 to $12.3 million — the principles are the same regardless of scale.
Phase 7: Construction Administration
Once construction begins, your architect becomes your advocate on the job site. Our construction administration services include reviewing submittals, responding to RFIs, evaluating change orders, conducting site observations, and ensuring the contractor builds what we designed.
This phase is where many owners try to cut costs by skipping architectural oversight — and it’s the most expensive mistake they can make. Without CA, design intent gets lost, substitutions go unchallenged, and quality drops.
Phase 8: Project Completion and Beyond
At completion, we conduct a final punch list walkthrough, verify that everything meets the design intent and code requirements, and hand over a building that’s ready for your mission. But our relationship doesn’t end at move-in — we provide ongoing support and are always available when questions arise down the road.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Whether you’re a church planning a new campus, a business building a new facility, or a municipality designing an animal shelter, the process starts with a conversation. Schedule a free consultation and let’s discuss your vision.
Adam Beazley, AIA, LEED AP is the founder and principal architect of A Beazley Architecture, an award-winning firm based in Broussard, Louisiana. With over 22 years of professional experience in commercial, institutional, and religious architecture, Adam specializes in contemporary, resilient design across the Gulf Coast. Licensed in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida with an NCARB certificate. Adam leads a kingdom-minded firm committed to designing buildings that serve clients missions, strengthen communities, and stand the test of time.