010110
Process · One One Ten

How One One Ten works.

Design is the process — Architecture is the result.

One One Ten makes that distinction deliberately. The work that happens before construction is design: the planning and preparing, the decision-making, the risk management, the questions resolved on paper before they become problems on site. The building that emerges when that work meets the physical world: that is architecture.

The aim of the design process, in every decision and at every scale, is a result that is simultaneously necessary, functional, and beautiful, fitting the character of its place and the genuine aspirations of the people who will inhabit it.

The six stages below are the structure of that process. The first four stages are related to research, concept design and production effort. The fifth is where design meets reality. The sixth is where the architecture is lived in.

The six stages
01
Discover
Listen with interest and empathy to define requirements, discover opportunities and roadblocks.
02
Design
Transform ideas and a vision into space.
03
Detail
Select appropriate materials and detail connections.
04
Document
Translate design work into contract form; obtain competitive bids.
05
Build
Provide oversight, lead communication and ensure quality assurance.
06
Celebrate
Together, the team toasts a job well done.
01

Discover

Before design begins, understanding begins.

One One Ten conducts a structured Discovery Consultation with every client, a two-part engagement that produces a formal Pre-Design Report. This document is the foundation of everything that follows. It is not a brief summary of a meeting. It is a professional analysis of the project's site, parameters, feasibility, and potential, typically running to fifty or more pages.

The Discovery Consultation is mandatory. It applies to every project at every scale. Its purpose is to ensure that when design begins, it begins correctly.

Full details on the Discovery Consultation →
02

Design

With the Pre-Design Report in hand, the design begins. Schematic Design is where the fundamental spatial decisions are made: site orientation, massing, program organization, and the initial expression of the project's character.

One One Ten produces schematic drawings and, at the Bespoke — Atelier level, physical 3D models that allow clients to understand the building in three dimensions before it is committed to paper.

The schematic phase produces a design concept, not a finished proposal. It is the beginning of a conversation, not the end of one.

03

Detail

Schematic Design becomes Design Development when the broad decisions are made and the refinement begins. Every element is examined: materials, assemblies, systems integration, coordination with structural and mechanical consultants.

This is where the studio's design intelligence shows most clearly, in the resolved relationship between the large idea and the specific detail.

"
I've collaborated with Spencer on several projects now and consistently find him to be a thoughtful and collaborative design partner. His electrical coordination is always well-considered — lighting, power, low voltage — all addressed in the drawings before we ever break ground. That level of preparation is rare and makes our work significantly easier.
Dale Krall · Nodal Electrical Engineering Lethbridge, Alberta
04

Document

Construction documentation is where most architecture practices reveal the distance between their design ambition and their technical execution. One One Ten's construction drawings are complete. Every element is drawn and specified. Contractors consistently note that the studio's documentation is unlike what they typically receive, not because the bar is low but because the standard is high.

"Contractors never see construction drawings like ours."

Thorough documentation is a form of care for the client: it reduces ambiguity, reduces change orders, and protects the design intent through the construction phase.

The bidding phase follows: One One Ten manages the tender process, reviews contractor submissions, and recommends award.

"
His plans are drawn meticulously, making the process from estimation to building more accurate and clear. With thorough planning done on his part, it has made managing a project very straightforward.
Cal DeJager · Touchstone Homes Lethbridge, Alberta
"
Working alongside One One Ten has been a genuine pleasure. Their technical expertise and understanding of the project as a whole is evident in everything they produce — detailed, concise, and easy to act on. We work with many architectural firms and would highly recommend One One Ten without hesitation.
Kent Halluk · FensterTek Ltd. Lethbridge, Alberta
05

Build

This is where design meets reality.

The drawing package has left the studio. The contractor is on site. Every decision made in the previous four stages — every resolved detail, every specified material, every coordination between structure and mechanical and architectural intent — is now being tested against the physical world.

One One Ten stays close. The studio conducts regular site reviews, including fortnightly visits at the Bespoke Atelier tier, reviewing progress against the documents, responding to contractor questions, and protecting the design intent through to completion.

Construction is where a thorough Document phase pays its dividend. The quality of the drawings determines the quality of the build.

"
We've built a number of homes designed by One One Ten. Spencer's designs challenge us in the best way — they push us to bring our best craftsmanship to every project. The drawings are thorough and the details are resolved. When questions come up on site, Spencer is always available and always helpful.
Herman Verduijn · Verduijn Homes Ltd. Lethbridge, Alberta
06

Celebrate

The project is complete. The client moves in.

At the Bespoke Atelier level, the studio schedules a formal one-year warranty review after occupancy, a final assessment of the building's performance against the original intent.

One One Ten treats the day of occupancy as a beginning, not an ending.

Going further

The Preferred Client program.

One One Ten offers a Project Completion Rebate for clients who complete the full scope of engagement — including access for project photography, a testimonial, and signage during construction. Clients who qualify are automatically enrolled in the Preferred Client program.

Ready to begin?

Every project starts with a Discovery Consultation.

It is not a sales meeting. It is the first piece of work — mandatory for every project at every scale.