What We Do

Services and Project Types

Praxis Architecture & Integrative Design is a full-service architecture firm serving Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Marin County, Contra Costa County and projects across California. From a first feasibility study to the Certificate of Occupancy, we guide civic, community, housing, commercial and residential projects with a regenerative, community-driven approach.

Services

Every project is different, so we offer full architectural services or just the pieces you need.

Planning, Feasibility and Approvals

  • Development feasibility studies and test fits
  • Pro-formas and project budgeting
  • Programming and needs assessment
  • Zoning, code and entitlement analysis
  • Subdivisions: parcel maps, tentative maps and lot splits
  • Change of Use and Change of Occupancy
  • Historic Resource Review
  • Planning Commission and Historic Commission hearings and representation
  • Master planning and phasing
  • Grant and funding support documentation

California Housing Laws and ADUs

  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs
  • ADU legalization: bringing unpermitted units up to code
  • Certificate of Compliance for legalizing existing ADUs
  • SB 9: lot splits and up to two homes per lot in single-family zones
  • AB 1033: ADUs that can be sold separately as condominiums, where the city allows it
  • SB 684: fast-track approval for small housing developments and subdivisions of up to 10 units on multifamily-zoned lots
  • SB 1123: extends SB 684 fast-track approval to vacant single-family lots
  • SB 1211: up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing multifamily building

Community and Integrative Design

  • Story of Place research and site analysis
  • Integrative Design Process (IDP) facilitation
  • Community and stakeholder engagement workshops
  • Visioning and design charrettes
  • Public meetings and city council presentations

Full Architectural Services

  • Schematic design, design development and construction documents
  • Permitting and agency approvals
  • Site improvements
  • Bidding and contractor selection
  • Construction administration
  • Certificate of Occupancy close-out
  • Consultant team leadership: structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil and landscape

Sustainability and Regenerative Design

  • Regenerative design
  • Net-zero and energy-positive buildings
  • All-electric design and building electrification
  • Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and embodied carbon reduction
  • Bio-based and low-carbon materials
  • Water harvesting and greywater systems
  • Climate resilience and passive design
  • Green building certification support: LEED and Living Building Challenge
  • California Title 24 energy compliance coordination

Existing Buildings

  • Tenant improvements (TI), office and retail
  • Core and shell remodels
  • Adaptive reuse
  • Historic preservation and restoration
  • Facade and storefront renovation
  • Post-disaster reconstruction

Where We Work

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Praxis serves Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Marin County, Contra Costa County and Alameda County, with projects across California.

Let's start a conversation

Whether you are testing what a lot can hold, adding an ADU, improving a tenant space or planning a new civic building, Praxis can help you find the path from idea to occupancy.

If you're working on something inspiring, reach out at info@praxisarchitecture.com.

Start Your Story