ABOUT
Design Helping All Neighborhoods Develop.
DesignHAND Architects was started in January of 2018 with the idea that architecture is an essential part of everyday life. Our mission is to be part of the efforts to resolve today’s challenges of contemporary living through a marketplace that is available to all. DesignHAND Architects has moved forward with the belief that great design is an essential right that should be accessible to everyone. From the start, we have worked with community institutions, nonprofits, small businesses and investors as well as large developers to achieve our goal. We pursue opportunities in neighborhoods and seek clients with varying levels of resources. In this way we believe that we will continue to achieve our goal of Helping ALL Neighborhoods Develop.
Qualities
DesignHAND Architects is a full service DBE / MBE architectural practice based out of Baltimore City. We are engaged in every aspect of your project from concept to completion. We strive to be:
Great Problem Solvers: We can assist in Pre-design efforts including Programming, Conceptual Designs, and Feasibility Studies through a design thinking process.
Complete Architectural Designers: We can deliver all levels of architectural phases including Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documentation.
Considerable Visualizers: We can communicate your projects through 3D imaging, Photo realistic renderings and Virtual Reality (VR) tours.
Hard Hat Ready: We can help complete the construction of your project through Project Management and Construction Administration.
Process
Our process ensures that we enable the creation of environments that facilitates the desires of our clients. This process includes:
Discovery: We work with you to gain an understanding of your desires and needs, both the philosophical
and the practical. We uncover what is important to you and focus on that throughout the life of the project.
Envisioning: We compose ideas through representations that capture the results of our discovery conceptually
through a design thinking exercise.
Refinement: We hone in on the best ideas from our collaboration efforts and develop a final concept that
becomes the spring board for final documentation and budget estimation.
Development: At this time we prepare formal drawings that are submitted for permit to the municipality.We also
complete the detailed construction documentation required for the builder while waiting for municipality approval.
Construction: We provide construction administration, which ensures that the general contractor is building what
we’ve designed and has been approved by the municipality. We work together on solutions for conditions that could not have been foreseen and are in keeping with the original intent of the project.
Leadership
Calvin McCargo, Jr. is principal at DesignHAND Architects. He has a Master's of Architecture degree from Morgan State University and over 18 years of experience in the architectural field. Mr. McCargo has a love and passion for architecture and people. His personal goal is to help create an accessible practice that can become a household name, known for excellent and inspiring architecture that is focused on community empowerment.
