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design build /

Across Northern Colorado

design build

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WHERE INSPIRED DESIGN AND PRECISE BUILDING BECOME ONE.

Forge & Bow delivers a fully tailored residential experience where thoughtful design and quality construction converge. From the earliest stages of pre-construction, we lay the foundation for excellence—collaborating closely with clients to shape every architectural and interior detail with intention and precision. Our integrated approach ensures each home is not only beautifully designed and masterfully built, but also a deeply personal and lasting reflection of individuality that endures in both form and craftsmanship. By uniting licensed architects, interior designers, and construction professionals under one roof, we eliminate the communication gaps and compromises inherent in traditional delivery methods.

PROJECT IN MIND? Submit a project inquiry here.

PORTFOLIO ABOUT US

The Architect-Led Design-Build Advantage

Our integrated design-build model is the pinnacle of the Forge & Bow residential experience, specifically crafted for homeowners who value a single point of accountability and a unified vision. By uniting licensed architects, interior designers, and master builders from the earliest stages of pre-construction, we ensure that the soul of your design is never compromised by the realities of construction.

While traditional methods often lead to communication gaps between designers and contractors, our approach treats every architectural detail as a sacred component of your home’s story. We don’t just build structures; we curate living experiences where every finish and floor plan is a deeply personal reflection of your individuality

Architectural Fidelity

We protect your design intent from concept to site, ensuring architectural details are executed with absolute precision.

Quality & Timebound

We manage logistics with total transparency, ensuring your investment is delivered with precision and respect for the timeline.

Enduring Standards

Utilizing premium materials and methods, we craft tailored residences designed as a testament to generational craftsmanship.

THE WHEDBEE GARAGE

THE MULLBERRY HOUSE

Collaborative Project Management

We act as a trusted advisor and a bridge between your design team and the physical build. Our process is rooted in clear communication and professional accountability.

Pre-Construction Review

We conduct a deep dive into existinG plans to identify potential hurdles before breaking ground.

Transparent Reporting

You receive regular updates and budget tracking so you always know the status of your investment.

On-Site Leadership

A dedicated project manager oversees every craftsman to maintain our standard of excellence.

the process

PHASE 01

OWNERS CRITERIA

An owners criteria is a focused evaluation phase where we analyze your goals, needs, and priorities, along with feasibility factors, to understand what’s possible within your existing space, budget, and constraints. This process clarifies the problem, identifies limitations, and explores viable solutions. It includes meeting to define your needs, reviewing existing conditions, researching relevant building codes, and developing an early vision and corresponding budget to guide the project forward.

PHASE 02

Schematic Design.

Once we substantiate your property information and project feasibility, our creative process begins. Our designers develop initial space planning and massing, and progress them to almost-complete floor plans and elevations. Additionally, concepts for your home’s motif are explored during this phase. Our team of designers work with you to capture the vision you have for your home, while also exploring systems and the home’s utility. We complete this phase be creating our Schematic Estimate, ensuring that we stay on track financially.

PHASE 03

Design Development

During this phase, our Design Team presents curated interior concepts and room themes that establish the overall look and feel of your home. Simultaneously, our Architectural Designers finalize the floor plans and elevations (if necessary)—refining layouts, confirming architectural details, and coordinating with any necessary third-party consultants, such as engineers, to ensure every element is thoughtfully planned and build-ready. Depending on the project, we may also be able to submit for building permits; However, this step requires the payment of your non-refundable construction deposit. Once we have a final understanding of your vision, as well as the requirements from third parties (like engineering), we finalize the creative design by making all interior selections and ensuring that all design elements are coordinated together. We conclude this phase by creating an updated Developed Estimate.

PHASE 04

bidding and estimating

During the bidding and estimating phase, we finalize your project scope outline, clearly defining the work to be performed. We then engage our trusted third-party trade partners in a competitive bidding process to ensure all pricing is accurate and fair. At the same time, we complete detailed material takeoffs based on the architectural and interior plans, with the goal of aligning them with the previously established allowances. Once all information is compiled, we present our comprehensive Builder Proposal at your Summit Meeting, outlining the total project cost. If needed, we conduct a Value Engineering review to ensure the project scope and selections align with your desired investment and overall value. After the final scope is approved, we execute a contract amendment incorporating the completed design and finalized budget.

PHASE 05

Construction documents

With all parties agreeing to the scope and budget, the plan set will be edited in order to accurately represent the scope, culminating in a complete set of Construction Documents.. If building permits haven’t been applied for yet, they will now (non-refundable construction deposit required). From there, the plans are handed off to our build team so they can familiarize themselves with the project and begin preparing the site.

PHASE 06

Construction

Time to build! During construction, our Project Managers provide full support, overseeing budget, schedule, and quality. Our Designers handle Construction Administration to ensure every detail we envisioned together comes to life. Once complete, we hand over your finished project-ready for years of enjoyment and memories.

The Front Range Corridor

Forge & Bow is headquartered in Fort Collins at 120 W. Olive Street. Our luxury design-build projects span Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, and the greater Front Range. If you are seeking a team that manages every architectural and interior detail with intention and precision, we welcome the invitation to discuss your vision.

PROJECT IN MIND? Submit a project inquiry here.

Award-Winning Craftsmanship as Seen In...

Forge & Bow was founded by licensed architect Jordan Obermann and interior designer Annie Obermann and has been recognized by Forbes for our distinctive approach to architect-led design-build across Northern Colorado. press.

FAQS /

Our full-service offerings include Architectural, Interior, Pre-Construction, and Construction Project Management. For a detailed breakdown, see below:  

    1. Architectural & Interior:  Criteria Report, As-built drawings, Third Party Coordination (Historical, Structural, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Landscaping & HOA), permit-ready Architectural drawing set with integrated third-party engineered plans, Architectural and Interior Material Selections, Jurisdictional Coordination.  
    2. Pre-Construction:  Scope Outline, Project Bidding, Value Engineering & Material Procurement.  
    3. Construction: Architectural and Interior Construction Administration, Project Management, Scheduling, Budgeting, Material procurement continues, quality control, and reporting.

Architect-led design-build offers a customized solution for your project by combining design and construction management into a single point of responsibility, thereby offering an integrated design-build service. Our approach features a distinctive and unclouded Architect-led design-build process that prioritizes design while utilizing an agile management strategy, ensuring a smooth integration of design concepts and construction knowledge, resulting in satisfaction of design.

We are pleased to collaborate with the Architect you have chosen. Please refer to our build services for further information on how we can assist you with your project.

  1. We are a boutique Architectural Design-Build firm that understands that custom work requires custom project processes and schedules. In our discovery together, we will discuss your project and needs in detail so that we can establish a project timeline and process that works for you. Please read on to learn more about our typical process.
  2. Following our consultation, we will prepare a proposal outlining our scope of work and design fees.
  3. If the proposal looks good to you, we will review our team’s schedules and share our next available start date for the Criteria Study. We are typically 30-60 days out from starting these. We often have several proposals out to potential clients, so we cannot confirm a start date until we have a signed proposal. *Please note that your proposal is good for 30 days.
  4. Once we have our Criteria Study target date established, we will send out our Agreement for signatures and kick off the project.
  5. Within the Criteria Study, we will be exploring scope, reviewing your inspiration and programming requirements, conducting an as-built survey, investigating jurisdictional requirements, considering construction practicality, and gathering budget awareness of your project. This is a crucial step that sets the project up for success, providing you with the resources and awareness you need to greenlight continued design work.
  6. Assuming we have the established direction from the Criteria Study, we will continue into a progressive AIA design approach, working from Schematic Design to Design Development, resulting in a developed and engineer-coordinated plan set ready for bidding with our subcontractors, trade partners, and vendors. Additionally, it is at this phase where we have enough information to submit for building permits, which requires your payment of our construction deposit. Though we don’t have to submit quite yet, this often becomes a pinch point in the overall schedule.
  7. Once we have received our bids back, we will make interior selections, perfecting the design. From there, we will present our Builder Proposal to perform the work and a proposed construction start date, which will then be memorialized through an amendment to the contract. If necessary, we can value-engineer the project, finding ways to reduce the scope and cost. Completing the final phase of design will involve updating construction documents and permit submission (if it hasn’t already been submitted).

Your timeline will vary depending on the size and scope of your project. Our process involves regular meetings to update you on the timeline, budget, and design. Once we understand your vision, we can offer a more specific estimated timeline. But most importantly, quality and vision take time; providing the space for the design to breathe will create a home that reflects yourself and fulfills your lifestyle.

During the design process, we will learn details about the project, your lifestyle, and your goals for the project. That means we will work together to come up with an initial budget only AFTER we have a conceptual design. Your involvement will be essential, as your ideas and feedback will guide us. Once the architectural and interior design is complete, we will then determine a final budget.  It is important to note that we cannot determine the project’s cost until we fully comprehend the details of your design.