Harmon Architecture and Development (HAD) is primarily an architecture firm which includes a dual role on certain projects as the architect and developer. We have a special almost obsessive interest in financial advantages for clients and buyers in the creation of architecture. We study means and methods and won’t consider design successful unless the process of building is logical, efficient and affordable. ( For example, the design of this project has eliminated the need for exterior scaffolding allowing for exterior walls to be produced from within or within the confines of the building footprint, a construction management plan that eliminates risk and cost operating on adjacent properties using riskier methods.)

An architectural success, however, is always much more — a multilevel solution attained by attentive consideration of what’s important to the client, responding to a place and working productively within the constraints of contemporary practice.

Worthwhile solutions are found through a design process which is our core skill. Anybody can decide to make a building - it always looks sort of matter of fact, but in reality the process is the mark of the professional as only when the important things are identified and integrated over some time using the skills and knowledge of the professional architect does the client receive a solution that’s elevated in efficiency and value. If that’s not done opportunities are often left undiscovered—opaque to the owner—-a hidden price for not looking deep enough or long enough for their optimal plan. The price to study the why and how of design and construction is in general a great R.O.I. as this small percentage of the construction cost will pay for itself with less work and a design strategically organized for maximum value.

The design of a building directs construction work—-which means the architect has power to control cost. How much power? That’s not always predictable but it always yields measurable results - enough usually to make the cost of the architect negligible when you look at where you could have ended up.

It’s exciting to build something and expensive. It makes no sense to short-circuit the process. No doubt a client must see design value or the architect as an asset. But anyone understands a least cost solution and that requires design - designing for efficiency. That’s a basic first order kind of result. Driven by economy, no one will regret a solution rooted in practicality. However, the best solutions consider multiple ideas including aesthetic opportunities which take commonplace results into a much higher realm. We can’t always get people to climb that high, but sometimes…

David Harmon reg. architect , ME, MA 2025

.