LSSA is a different kind of architectural practice; one dedicated to energy and resource efficiency and also to something called value engineering, a method that both controls and reduces costs while still delivering a beautifully designed and well-crafted custom home. In fact, by value engineering the client generally saves enough money to cover their architectural fee.

Let’s look at this method in more detail. In typical custom construction, an architect draws a set of plans he or she believes will fit the client’s budget. However, because most architects are not trained in costs, nor do they normally work with their contractor during the design period, the building may well overbid. Moreover, costs generally continue to rise during the construction process. The result: construction quality goes down and the project can become unnecessarily difficult.

We, however, approach the project from a very different perspective: the architect and contractor work together, collaboratively, from the start. Thus, the unnatural division in such a dynamic process is eliminated and problems are addressed with a creative effort. The result: the client is assured accountability in terms of quality and cost and the project runs smoothly.

Another way to view value engineering is to think of it as a process of cost control from the very start. Beginning with the client’s desires and input, a budgetary number is determined. From that point on, every change can be examined monetarily in terms of construction techniques, product choices, etc. Because the cumulative effect of client’s choices remain transparent throughout the design process, costs truly become the right of the client, not that of the architect or contractor. You, the client, are in control. Moreover, before final drawings are initiated, a "detailed costing” is executed to aid the architect, contractor and client to, once again, value engineer costs. The final FIXED bid can then be guaranteed to be within the client’s budgetary expectations and groundbreaking can begin with ease.