about

I founded Rachel Ravitch Studio in 2021 to provide practical design services for permitting and construction to the Puget Sound region. I have successfully permitted projects across the region in Bellevue, Mercer Island, Edmonds, Seattle, Shoreline, Tacoma, Mason County, King County, and Island County.

I apply a standardized design process to break your project into manageable milestones. At the end of the process, our work will result in a set of buildable documents for your general contractor to work from. The more we incorporate your goals into the design documents ahead of construction, the more efficiently your general contractor can perform the work.

Here’s what you can expect along the way:

1. Concept Design

   In the concept design process, we begin a collaborative conversation to understand your goals by providing preliminary sketches, material studies, imagery, and floor plans. From these conversations, the project schedule is drafted along with preliminary building and zoning code analysis, systems analysis, and floor plans. By the end of the Concept Design, we are ready to prepare final drawings for permitting and construction.

2. Permitting

   Almost any project in the Puget Sound area that involves modifications to the interior or exterior walls of your home will require a building permit. The designer prepares the required documents and secures the building permit. The permit docynebts include a detailed site plan, zoning diagrams, floor plans, exterior elevations, building sections and exterior envelope details. Often there is a team of professionals in addition to the designer who will have parts to play in the permitting process. The designer sources and manages the project team required to complete the permitting process which depending on the scope can include a civil engineer, structural engineer, geo technical engineer, land surveyor, and arborist. Once the permit is issued, construction can begin.

3. Construction Documents
   While the permit is in process, we will work collaboratively to specify all the finishes and fixtures to be installed once the permit is issued so that you are ready to go once the permit is issued. In addition to the base plan set required for permitting, the construction documents include detailed interior elevations, lighting and electrical plans.

4. Construction Administration

   During the construction process, it is common for questions to arise. Keep the project moving smoothly with a partner in the process. Common reasons you may want to engage our services during the construction process: 

   • Field questions: There will be times on site where the general contractor may require additional detailing or information. Keeping work on your project running smoothly keeps your overall project costs down. 

   • Material availability: Depending on the length of the design and permitting process, it is possible that some of the specifications will no longer be available or may have long lead times that could lead to project delays when it comes time to place the material order. Having the ability to readily come up with alternatives is key to keeping the work on your project running efficiently.

   • Decision making: You may want input along the way as the construction process advances. Scheduling walk throughs to confirm details proactively ensures work is being performed to meet your expectations.