Resources & Frequently Asked Questions

We work across a wide range of project types including commercial buildings, civic and government facilities (fire stations, schools, municipal buildings), houses of worship, residential homes, restaurant and hospitality spaces, healthcare offices, and mixed-use developments. We are equally comfortable with ground-up construction and renovation/adaptive reuse projects.

Yes, we do. While a significant portion of our portfolio is commercial and civic work, we have extensive residential design experience including custom homes, townhomes, and high-rise condominiums. We bring the same level of care and attention to detail to residential clients as we do to large institutional projects.

We are based in Tampa, Florida and are licensed to practice architecture in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan. We have completed projects across multiple states and are open to projects in other jurisdictions where reciprocal licensure applies.

The best way to begin is to reach out through our Contact page or call us directly at 813-812-9120. We will schedule an initial consultation to discuss your project, goals, budget, and timeline. This first conversation is complimentary and helps us both determine whether we are a good fit.

Yes. Our initial discovery consultation is complimentary. During this meeting, we learn about your project, answer your questions, and provide a general sense of scope, timeline, and process. If we both wish to move forward, we will provide a formal proposal and fee agreement.

If you have them, bring any existing site plans, surveys, or property information; images or examples of designs you find inspiring; a general budget range; and your desired timeline or key milestone dates. Do not worry if you have none of these — we can start from scratch and guide you through what is needed.

The earlier, the better. Bringing an architect in at the start — before you have purchased land, signed a lease, or committed to a contractor — gives you the most flexibility and often saves money. An architect can assess feasibility, identify zoning or regulatory constraints, and help you understand the true cost of your project before you are locked into decisions.

Several things set us apart. First, Jerel McCants is personally involved in every project from kickoff through construction completion. Second, we are a published author and national keynote speaker on architecture and urban design. Third, our SBA 8(a), DBE, and MBE certifications give government and institutional clients a streamlined path to contracting. Finally, our team brings multilingual capability and diverse international backgrounds.

We provide a full range of architectural services including: programming and feasibility studies, schematic design, design development, construction documents, permit assistance, bid administration, and construction administration. We can engage for the full scope or for specific phases depending on your needs.

Timelines vary significantly based on project complexity. A small commercial renovation may take 3–6 months from start to construction. A mid-size new construction civic project typically runs 12–24 months including permitting. Larger institutional projects can take 2–4 years. We provide a detailed project schedule as part of every proposal.

Jerel McCants is personally involved in the design direction and key decisions of every project. As a boutique firm, we do not assign your project to a junior team and disappear. You will have direct access to Jerel and the senior team throughout the engagement.

Yes, permit assistance and submission is included in our standard service scope. We prepare the permit application documents and coordinate with the applicable authorities having jurisdiction. The client is responsible for permit fees unless otherwise agreed in the project scope.

Construction administration means the architect visits the site during construction to verify that the work is being built in accordance with the design documents. We strongly recommend CA for all projects. Without it, discrepancies between the documents and the finished work can go unnoticed, leading to costly corrections.

Yes. We produce 3D renderings and visualizations as part of our design process using tools including Revit, Lumion, and CAD-based modeling to create realistic interior and exterior views. Renderings are particularly valuable during the design development phase when materials, finishes, and spatial relationships are being finalized.

Our process follows standard architectural phases: programming (understanding needs and goals), schematic design (big ideas and options), design development (refining the preferred direction), construction documents (complete technical drawings), bid administration, and construction administration. We keep you informed and involved at every decision point.

Architectural fees are typically calculated as either a percentage of construction cost (common for larger projects), a fixed lump sum (common for defined scopes), or an hourly rate (common for consultation or undefined scopes). We discuss fee structure during the initial consultation and formalize it in our proposal so there are no surprises.

Key cost factors include: project size and square footage, complexity of the program, site conditions, material and finish selections, sustainable design targets, regulatory requirements, and whether existing structures are being renovated or new construction is planned.

Yes. Most projects will also require fees from engineers (structural, MEP, civil), surveyors, geotechnical firms, and permit authorities. These are third-party costs separate from our fee. We identify the likely consultants your project will need as early as possible.

Yes. Budget alignment is one of our core responsibilities as your architect. We discuss your budget at the very first meeting and revisit it at every major design milestone. If preliminary cost estimates suggest the design is trending over budget, we identify adjustments early — before you are in construction and changes are expensive.

SBA 8(a) certification is a business development program administered by the Small Business Administration for small, disadvantaged businesses. For government clients, it means we can be awarded contracts on a sole-source or set-aside basis without going through the standard competitive bidding process for contracts under certain dollar thresholds. This can significantly speed up procurement.

DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification applies to state and local government contracts using federal transportation funds. MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) certification is used by many municipalities and private companies with supplier diversity programs. Both can count toward diversity requirements on larger projects.

We are currently licensed in Florida (License #AA26002030), Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan. If your project is in a state not listed here, contact us — we may be able to obtain reciprocal licensure depending on the jurisdiction and project scope.

Jerel McCants holds LEED Green Associate credentials and we apply LEED-informed principles to all of our projects. We can pursue formal LEED certification if required by the project program or client, which involves documentation and third-party verification through the U.S. Green Building Council.

Sustainable strategies vary widely in their cost implications. Passive design strategies — orientation, natural ventilation, daylighting — often add no cost or can reduce it. High-performance mechanical systems and renewable energy installations have upfront costs but typically deliver long-term operational savings. We help clients identify sustainability investments that deliver the best return.