SERVICES

01 PRE-DESIGN SERVICES

02 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES

03 CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

04 ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTING

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ARCHITECTURE

MDA Studio provides architectural services for custom homes, renovations, and select commercial projects throughout Mexico Beach, Cape San Blas, Port St. Joe, St. George Island, Alligator Point, Indian Pass, and Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Our approach combines thoughtful, highly personalized design with extensive experience in coastal construction, including conventional wood-frame, Insulated Concrete Form (ICF), and elevated pile-supported homes. From initial site evaluation through design, permitting, and construction, we integrate architecture, building systems, and technical coordination to create projects that respond to the individual needs of the client, the opportunities of the site, and the unique demands of building along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Our services are organized into four primary areas: Pre-Design, Architectural Design, Construction Administration, and Consulting.

01 - PRE-DESIGN SERVICES

Start With a Clear Understanding of the Property

Great architecture begins with understanding the opportunities and constraints of the site.

Our Pre-Design Services help clients make informed decisions before significant design work begins. Whether you already own property or are considering the purchase of a coastal lot, MDA Studio can evaluate the site and identify the zoning, floodplain, environmental, community, and development requirements that may influence what and how you can build.

For properties in Mexico Beach, Cape San Blas, St. George Island, Port St. Joe, and surrounding Gulf Coast communities, these considerations can significantly influence the size, placement, elevation, and design of a home.

Identifying these requirements early allows the architecture to respond to the realities of the property from the beginning, reducing the risk of discovering significant constraints later in the design process.

Depending on the project and property, pre-design services may include:

Site and property evaluation
Zoning and land development review
Setback and buildable-area analysis
Flood zone and elevation considerations
Preliminary building size and height analysis
Site planning and orientation studies
HOA, ACC, ARC, and ARB design guideline review
FDEP and Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) considerations
Preliminary coordination with surveyors, engineers, environmental consultants, and other specialists
Project programming and development of space requirements
Preliminary project feasibility studies

For complex coastal properties, identifying these requirements early allows the architecture to develop around the realities of the site rather than discovering significant constraints later in the design process.

02 - DESIGN SERVICES

From an Idea to a Fully Developed Home

Design is at the core of our practice.

MDA Studio specializes in highly personalized custom homes designed around our clients, their property, and the experience they want their home to create.

Rather than beginning with a predetermined plan or architectural formula, we develop each project individually. Views, natural light, privacy, circulation, outdoor living, materials, proportions, and the relationship between the home and its surroundings all become part of the design.

Our architectural design services typically progress through several phases.

A. CONCEPTUAL & SCHEMATIC DESIGN

This is where the architectural vision takes shape.

We explore site planning, floor plans, building form, massing, views, circulation, indoor-outdoor relationships, and the overall architectural character of the project.

Three-dimensional modeling is integrated into our design process, allowing clients to experience and understand the home as it develops rather than relying solely on two-dimensional drawings.

B. DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Once the overall direction has been established, we begin refining the architecture and resolving the details that define the project.

Exterior materials, windows and doors, roof forms, interior relationships, structural systems, building components, and other major design decisions are developed and coordinated during this phase.

C. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

The approved design is developed into a coordinated set of architectural drawings for permitting and construction.

Our drawings communicate the design intent while coordinating the architectural work with structural engineering and other required disciplines.

For coastal projects, this process may also include coordination related to floodplain requirements, pile foundations, wind-resistant construction, FDEP/CCCL permitting, environmental conditions, and other site-specific requirements.

D. PERMITTING & ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW

MDA Studio assists in navigating the approvals required to move a project toward construction.

Depending on the property, this may include coordination with local permitting authorities, FDEP and CCCL requirements, and community architectural review processes such as HOA, ACC, ARC, or ARB approval.

We identify these requirements early and integrate them into the design process rather than treating them as an afterthought.

03 - CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION

Maintaining the Architectural Vision Through Construction

The architect's role does not necessarily end when the drawings are complete.

Construction introduces questions, field conditions, product selections, shop drawings, substitutions, and decisions that can influence both the appearance and performance of the finished home.

Construction Administration allows MDA Studio to remain involved as the project moves from drawings into the built environment.

Depending on the scope of services, Construction Administration may include:

Periodic site observations
Contractor and owner coordination
Responses to Requests for Information (RFIs)
Review of applicable shop drawings and submittals
Review of proposed substitutions
Architectural clarification and supplemental information
Coordination with structural and other design consultants
Review of construction for general conformance with the design intent
Assistance with material, finish, and detailing decisions
Documentation of observed construction issues
Final project observations

Our involvement during construction provides continuity between the design process and the completed project while giving both the owner and contractor access to the architect as questions arise.

04 - ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTING

Experience Applied Where You Need It

Not every project requires a traditional full-service architectural engagement.

MDA Studio provides consulting services for property owners, contractors, developers, and other professionals who need architectural expertise for a specific issue, opportunity, or phase of a project.

Consulting services may include:

Property and development feasibility
Coastal property evaluations
Preliminary site and building studies
Existing plan reviews
Architectural design consultation
Floor plan and layout evaluation
Exterior design and architectural character studies
Building code and zoning review
Floodplain and coastal design considerations
HOA, ACC, ARC, and ARB design review assistance
FDEP and CCCL coordination
Constructability and coordination reviews
Existing building and renovation evaluations
Contractor and developer consultation

Consulting engagements can be tailored to the specific needs of the project, whether that means evaluating a property before purchase, reviewing an existing design, resolving a particular architectural challenge, or providing experienced guidance during planning or construction.

A CONTINUOUS ARCHITECTURAL APPROACH

The Best Projects Result From Continuity

Beginning with a clear understanding of the property, we develop an architectural vision, translate that vision into coordinated construction documents, and remain available during construction to help carry the design through to completion.

Whether MDA Studio is engaged for the entire process or for a specific phase, our objective remains the same: provide thoughtful architectural guidance and create solutions that respond specifically to the client, the site, and the project.

Planning a Project?

Whether you are evaluating property, beginning the design of a custom home, preparing for construction, or need architectural guidance on an existing project, we welcome the opportunity to discuss how MDA Studio can help.