An orientation to Designed & Built
Understand the process.
Find your next step.
Buildings are designed, documented, priced, permitted, and constructed. Start with the question you have today, then follow the related guides and working tools.
What brings you here?
Planning a project
Design phases, project teams, layouts, and decisions to make before construction.
Explore design ↗Reading the drawings
Plans, elevations, sections, details, permits, and the information in a drawing set.
Understand drawings ↗Building a budget
Construction costs, allowances, contingencies, and comparing proposal scope.
Explore costs ↗Understanding the work
Foundations, structure, enclosure, building systems, and interior construction.
Explore construction ↗Managing construction
Bidding, schedules, RFIs, submittals, changes, and project closeout.
Manage the project ↗Looking for a working tool
Checklists and spreadsheets for owners, students, builders, and emerging professionals.
Browse resources ↗A place to keep your questions
Start with a project checklist.
Organize early decisions and track what still needs an answer. The Project Planning Checklist follows a project from planning through closeout.
Foundations for the rest of the site
Three guides to read first.
How to Read Construction Drawings ↗
Connect plans, sections, elevations, and details.
Architectural Design Phases Explained ↗
Follow the sequence from early design to construction.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a House? ↗
Understand the assumptions behind a construction budget.