Originally posted by @Patrick Philip:
Originally posted by @Jared W Smith:
Originally posted by @Bob Okenwa:
As long as there are the proper markings for plumbing, room dimensions, electrical, HVAC, footers, windows, etc. it should be sufficient. You'd probably have to have the plans set on a plot map to show the dimensions of how the home would sit on a property and what the setbacks would be to see if it met city regulations before construction began.
All in all, you'd more than likely have to meet with someone in the planning department of your city and submit the floor plan, your permit application, and your plot plan.
Actually No. Depending on where you build (excluding rural areas where building rules are very laxed) the building department will not accept generic building plans and a plot plan/site plan. Generic plans are possibly a starting part, if the plans are very good/detailed. Most building departments aren't going to be able to hold your hand through the process especially for a commercial building. They will give you general info on their permit process and point you to the building codes and zoning ordinance. You will have to decipher what's required and produce it or more than likely engage and hire an architect/engineer.
I called an architect this morning. He quoted me at $1.50/sf. For an 1800 sf house, that's $2700, which seems like a good price to me.
But in the case of a large hotel, which might be 90,000 square feet, that would come to $135,000. Is it normal to have some sort of "bulk discount?" Maybe get that number down to $40k or $50k? Especially if most of the rooms are identical, or if the hotel is built with modular construction?
An architect won't touch a hotel for $40k and if he does that's the last guy I want on the project. Either they are cutting corners and you will be in trouble during construction or a lot of things will be out of scope of work and will be asking for more money.
Hotels are typically built by chain companies ie Holiday Inn. Those companies come with their own set of plans to be site adapted. This is part of their brand identity. You simply can't build a generic hotel and have a company take over. This only works for a mom and pops place to my knowledge. But I could be wrong.
My quick dirty math says 135k is a good price and to take it. One thing people don't realize is how long it takes to create "The Specification Book" aka "Project Manual" for the contractor. Typically I start with 30 different spec sections (architectural only) on project. I budget 1.5 hrs to edit them and this is lean. This translates to how fast can you read 800 pages? Can you research product information, make decisions and edits all in 45 hours. That's just over 3 minutes a page on average if you are following along at home. The architect is responsible for about 65% of the project specs. This excluded Division 01 specs handled by the project mgr or the architect.
