The First 90 Days: What to Expect When Starting a Design Project with an Architecture Firm

Weeks 1-2: Project Initiation and Discovery

The journey toward creating transformative hospitality spaces begins with thorough discovery and alignment. The first two weeks of your architectural project lay crucial groundwork through structured engagement that sets the tone for everything that follows.

Your kickoff meeting establishes project parameters, introduces key team members, and outlines communication protocols. Come prepared to share your vision, operational requirements, and project constraints. This initial conversation helps us understand not just what you need, but why it matters to your business and guests.

Following kickoff, we’ll gather and review existing documentation—from building plans and site surveys to brand guidelines and operational workflows. Simultaneously, our team conducts comprehensive site analysis, documenting existing conditions that influence design decisions. This investigative work uncovers both challenges and opportunities that inform conceptual development.

Weeks 3-4: Deep Dive Discovery and Visioning

The second phase deepens our understanding of your vision through interactive workshops and focused discussions. These collaborative sessions explore the conceptual drivers behind your project—the story you want your space to tell and the experiences you aim to create.

We’ll examine operational requirements in detail, mapping user journeys and functionality needs across your hospitality environment. How do staff move through kitchen spaces? How do guests experience arrival sequences? These operational insights ensure designs are not just beautiful but functional.

Brand and experiential considerations receive particular attention during this phase. We explore how architectural elements can reinforce your brand identity and create memorable moments that differentiate your hospitality experience from competitors. This exploration lays the groundwork for authentic spaces that resonate with your target audience.

Weeks 5-8: Concept Development and Exploration

With discovery insights as our foundation, weeks 5-8 focus on translating vision into tangible design concepts. Our team explores multiple approaches, testing ideas that respond to your goals while pushing creative boundaries.

Initial concept presentations include high-level spatial strategies, mood imagery, and preliminary sketches that visualize potential directions. Your feedback during this period is invaluable—guiding refinement and helping identify the most promising approaches.

Space planning exercises establish functional layouts that optimize flow and operational efficiency while creating compelling guest experiences. Simultaneously, we begin exploring aesthetic direction through material palettes, lighting concepts, and architectural language that supports your brand story.

Weeks 9-12: Concept Refinement and Direction Setting

The final 30 days of this initial period focus on refining the chosen direction into a cohesive concept that will guide subsequent development. Through iterative design and regular feedback loops, we sharpen the vision and resolve outstanding questions.

During this phase, preliminary budget and schedule alignment ensures the developing concept remains feasible within project constraints. This reality check helps balance aspirational design with practical considerations, preventing costly redirections later.

By day 90, we establish a clear framework for moving into design development—the next phase where concepts gain technical depth and specificity. This transition point provides an opportunity to confirm alignment before detailed design work begins.

Client Responsibilities in the First 90 Days

A successful first 90 days requires client engagement as much as architectural expertise. Prepare by gathering brand guidelines, operational requirements, budgetary parameters, and existing facility documentation before kickoff.

Several critical decisions significantly impact project direction: approving concept direction, establishing budget priorities, confirming programmatic requirements, and defining quality expectations. Having decision-makers identified and available for these milestones prevents delays.

Establishing clear decision-making protocols early facilitates smooth progress. Define who has final approval authority, what stakeholders must be consulted, and how feedback will be collected and incorporated into the developing design.

Building the Foundation for Success

The first 90 days of an architectural project set the trajectory for everything that follows. This intensive period of discovery, exploration, and alignment creates a shared vision and framework that guides all subsequent design decisions.

At Remick Architecture, we view this foundational phase as an opportunity to develop not just design concepts but strong partnerships. By investing in thorough exploration and clear communication during these critical early days, we establish the conditions for creating hospitality spaces that tell meaningful stories, facilitate authentic connections, and deliver exceptional experiences for both operators and guests.