Leo’s passion for integrative design, great attention to detail, and managerial experience have helped clients find the right fit in a one stop shop for their design needs. What started as purely design consultations has now grown into a successful business that combines the right design facilitators with expert fabricators. Always trying to make a difference, my passion doesn’t stop there. Also deeply rooted in our culture is providing great design to those constantly being overseen. Collectively, I strive to use design resources, time and assets in the search for better housing equality and the improvement of global health. A portion of design and construction fees are donated towards these causes, both locally and internationally.
As a full-service firm, LSA is present on projects from start to finish, ensuring that the ideas conceived in the beginning with clients are manifest at the end. We achieve this through close collaboration with all members of the project team, consultants, contractors, trades and artisans.
From site evaluation to the last punchlist, we guide homeowners through our design process, making sure what gets built is based on the requirements set from the very beginning. Staying involved, creating a complete set of plans, and collaborating with contractors are key advantages to realizing your new residential project with LSA.
We help clients find sensible solutions for their existing space by improving their awkward floor plan, or spaces that simply don’t work anymore.
Additionally, increasing the floor area to your existing house is a great option to add new rooms, make an existing space more comfortable and increase the re-sale value of your home.
With the help of historic photographs, documents and physical evidence of removed components, we help our costumers bring back the beauty of the original architectural style. We’re experienced in working together with local preservation authorities, and following required historic design guidelines.
Following our collaborative design approach, we look beyond single family housing dwellings as a way to integrate, improve, and best fit the needs of the community.
The main focus of this phase is exploration. We engage you in conversation from day one (*) and establish what we refer to as the ‘design problem’. This often includes wish list, expectations, goals, and even design taste! This phase also includes site visits to take measurements and study the real possibilities and expectations of your project.
Following the initial consultation, other key areas to this phase include the establishing of a program, the creating of concept plans + vignettes; culminating in our feasibility study final packet. Making sure there’s no early surprises, we also help our homeowners by establishing an initial soft budget. It is only after agreeing to move forward that we engage in a client-homeowner contract to continue to develop the design set forth thus far.
[In a conventional design phase, this would encompass pre-design and a portion of schematic design.]
(*) This initial meeting, usually lasting an hour or so, is also often referred by us as the initial (free) consultation
After engaging in contract, we begin this phase by further diving into the details of a program plan execution. Depending on the type of project, we start by creating as-built drawings, researching local municipality requirements, and setting up meetings with local city planners and design review committees as needed. Utilizing Building Informational Modeling (BIM) software, we begin preliminary building plans, elevations, sections or drawings required to communicate the design intent.
Once we have our client’s floor plan approval, we help in retaining the services of contractors, fabricators, and artisans. By the end of this stage all collaborators are signed into contract. The final delivery of plans helps to create a project schedule along with an initial cost estimate.
Regardless of project type, this stage is the longest due to its complexity
[In a conventional design phase approach, this would encompass remaining schematic design, as well as design development.]
In this phase, we start to create details, required drawings and documents for construction. As previously researched, Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing drawings are included per city requirements.
The BIM model is finalized, all deliverable drawings are completed, and a last revised cost estimate is established. With continued collaboration from client and builder(s)/ fabricators, we finalize a material’s specification document that further references materials used.
[In a conventional design phase approach, this would encompass remaining design development and construction documents.]
Once the construction documents are finished, the drawing package is submitted to the city for final city approval and construction permit. The Building Official will respond to the Architect with either notification of project approval or a request for plan revisions. In the latter case, revised drawings are resubmitted for review.
Field observation is included during the construction process. This level of detail and construction involvement will help ensure that construction is as per plans, the design intent is followed and details are understood to minimize confusion and extra costs
Continued collaboration with client, contractors, and others continues through completion.
We are a La Crosse-based studio practice focused on timeless design, interiors and client satisfaction. From our inception in 2014, we have delivered exceptional results