Overview
As lease negotiations are progressing, and you have received acceptance of your location, you will want to engage an architect to begin working on your plans and specifications (construction documents) for your center. It is recommended that you engage the architect to begin work on these plans, as you get close to lease signing for your space.
As a critical step to moving towards opening your center, this phase is to ensure that the design and development of your center is in
accordance with the BHRC brand and design standards. Your architect will develop drawings of your center to be used for building permit and construction.
The prototype center drawings, computer aided design (CAD Files) will aid the architect by providing all design and brand standards for building a BHRC Center that includes all finish, lighting and equipment schedules, as well as addendum for exterior sign standards and interior signage and graphics standards.
Design & Planning Flow Chart
Federal & Local Regulations
Depending on your local regulations and ordinances, certain permits, licenses, and approvals will be required related to building out your site. Your contractor should know what’s required and obtain these or provide you direction.
As a BHRC Franchisee, you are responsible for learning about and abiding by all federal, state, and local laws and regulations that apply to the operation of your business.
You must furnish the following to us before beginning construction:
- Copies of all permits, licenses, contractors’ liability insurance certificates, or other items required for the construction, remodeling, equipping and operation of your location.
- Copies of all construction or remodeling contracts and documents, and waivers.
- These permits and licenses may include but are not limited to:
- Zoning
- Construction
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Your architect must certify to us that the plans and specifications for your BHRC location comply with the ADA, the architectural guidelines under the ADA, and all applicable state and local laws, rules and regulations for accessible facilities.
In addition to building-related regulations, you must determine and abide by medical, weight management and aesthetician-related federal, state and local regulations. These include but are not limited to:
- The Stark Law
- HIPAA Privacy Rule
- Security Standards
- Medical licenses, corporate practice of medicine, and medical entity ownership and management
There are numerous other regulations related to operating a business you must learn about and abide by including but not limited to:
- The Fair Labor Standards Act
- EEOC
- OSHA
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
- The Patriot Act
- Federal Truth in Lending and other laws dealing with credit transactions and collections Digital Millennium Copyright Act
- Regulations governing MMS, SMS, emails and telemarketing
Selecting An Architect
You must hire an architect to develop the building permit drawing set, as well as a landlord approval set, bid set and construction documents. Your architect must be licensed in the state where your site is located. We also require that you engage your architect in implementing and obtaining all permits for the design and construction process. Using your architect for permitting will save you time and typically gets the doors open sooner.
Franchisees are required to get a complete set of plans, which includes engineered drawings, additional work and time will need to be allowed. Engineered drawings are drawn by a specific engineer, such as an electrical, mechanical, or structural engineer, and will normally require additional time and expenses. Some municipalities require engineered plans for permitting.
The local building department may require a full set of engineered drawings to issue a building permit. Please consult with the local government agency responsible for issuing the permit before submitting plans.
Architect Drawings
The architectural plans are to include a floor plan, reflective ceiling plan, interior elevation plan, and exterior storefront showing the proposed sign. The plans may require the addition of engineered drawings (i.e. electrical, mechanical, plumbing) for permitting purposes. The architectural plans must be completed and approved BHRC construction representative prior to the generation of a materials list.
Your architect should know all local codes for construction and ones that ensure your space is within codes for naturally occurring events such as earthquakes, hurricane etc.
Example CAD Drawings
Creating Bid Documents
The construction bid documents will be needed for you to receive bids from contractors for the construction of your center, and also to gain a building permit from the municipalities for development of your center. A general outline of production timing for the Construction Documents is outlined.
- 50% review set – 2 weeks
- Landlord Review set (90% complete documents) – 4 weeks
- Permit and bid documents (100% complete documents) – 1 week from landlord approval, incorporates landlord comments
