Uplift Design StudioAni Manuk

Approach

We consult alongside the architect of record. We do not replace them.

Clients often assume a neuroinclusive consultant competes with their design team. We don't. We are engaged either by the owner or by the design firm, and our work makes the architect of record's drawings stronger.

The partnership model

The architect of record leads

They hold the design, the seal and the coordination. We add a specialist point of view inside their process.

We can be engaged either way

Owners bring us on to protect a requirement. Firms bring us on to deliver expertise they don't staff internally.

Our deliverable is decisions

Written criteria, marked-up sets and resolved coordination — not a parallel design.

A four-step process

  1. 1

    Orientation

    We read the drawings, the program and the constraints, then agree what a good sensory outcome means for this building and who has to sign off on it.

  2. 2

    Sensory criteria

    We write measurable criteria for lighting, acoustics, finishes, wayfinding and retreat space, tied to specific rooms and drawing sheets.

  3. 3

    Design input

    We work with the architect of record through each phase, reviewing sets, attending coordination and resolving conflicts before they reach a change order.

  4. 4

    Verification

    We review submittals and mock-ups, walk the building before handover, and confirm what was designed is what got built.

Questions architects and owners ask

Who holds the contract?
Either the owner or the design firm. Both are common. [ANSWER TO CONFIRM WITH ANI — preferred contracting structure and any owner-direct requirements.]
At what phase should we bring you in?
The earlier the better; programming or schematic design gives the most leverage. [ANSWER TO CONFIRM WITH ANI — latest useful phase and what changes after CDs.]
Does this add schedule risk?
The intent is the opposite: sensory issues found late become change orders. [ANSWER TO CONFIRM WITH ANI — typical review turnaround and how input aligns with milestones.]
How is the fee structured?
[ANSWER TO CONFIRM WITH ANI — fixed fee per phase, hourly, or percentage basis, plus reimbursables and travel.]

See what each engagement includes

Tell us about the project.

Design review, embedded partnership, or a conversation about where to start — we answer every inquiry ourselves.

Start a conversation