EMKAYDS

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Frequently
Asked Question's

This section addresses common questions related to our architectural documentation, BIM, engineering modeling, visualization, and construction deliverables—providing insight into our processes, capabilities, and commitment to quality, accuracy, and project excellence.

Ready to Work Your Next Project.

+1 416 878 6559

info@emkayds.com

Mississauga, Ontario Canada

    Getting Started:

    Onboarding at Emkay is designed to be fast and friction-free. Once a scope, execution
    model, and an agreement is in place, an intake session is scheduled within 48 hours. Most
    engagements are in full production within five to seven business days.

    No. Many clients come to us mid-project or mid-crisis without a clean scope document.
    We will work with you during the discovery call to define the scope, deliverable list, and
    timeline collaboratively. We ask for enough information to price and staff accurately — we
    handle the rest.

    We work with engagements of varying sizes. For scope-based fixed fee projects, there is no
    minimum project value, though we do focus on engagements where we can add
    meaningful impact. For time-based and dedicated studio models, minimum commitments
    are discussed during discovery and are structured around your actual production needs.

    Yes. We assign a dedicated Project Manager to each client relationship, not each individual
    project. This continuity is intentional, your Project Manager builds institutional knowledge
    of your firm's standards, communication preferences, and project portfolio over time.

    Your Project Manager operates in North American business hours aligned to your time
    zone, whether you are in Toronto, Vancouver, New York, or Los Angeles. Real-time
    communication is available during your core working day.

    Production Team & Oversight:

    Our production team is located overseas in Delhi, India. They are trained to North American documentation standards and are directly supervised by North American–trained architects and engineers at Emkay Design Solutions. The Project Manager layer exists specifically so that the geographic distance between your firm and our production team is never felt in the quality, timing, or communication of deliverables.
    Production staff are trained and continuously overseen by North American–trained discipline leads. Training covers North American building codes, BIM standards, drawing conventions, and QA/QC protocols. Every team member working on your project is briefed on your firm's specific standards before work begins.
    Under the Dedicated Studio model, a team is assembled and retained specifically for your firm. Over time, those individuals become deeply familiar with your standards and function as a true extension of your practice. Under scope-based and time-based models, we staff appropriately by discipline and experience level and introduce the team members involved in your project during onboarding.

    Confidentiality & Intellectual Property:

    Confidentiality is taken seriously at every level of the organization. All team members;
    including overseas production staff, operate under non-disclosure obligations. Project files
    are managed in secure, cloud-based environments with access controls limited to
    personnel assigned to your engagement. Client names, project addresses, and proprietary
    design information are never shared externally.

    All deliverables produced under any engagement model are the exclusive intellectual
    property of the client.

    Yes. We sign NDA’s as a standard step in the onboarding process. If your firm has a
    standard NDA template, we will review and execute it. We can also provide our own NDA
    template if preferred.

    Software, Standards & File Formats:

    Our production team is proficient in the full suite of AEC production tools, including Revit,
    AutoCAD, Navisworks, Civil 3D, Rhino, SketchUp, ArchiCAD, 3ds Max, V-Ray, Lumion,
    Twinmotion, and Adobe Creative Suite. If your firm uses a specific software or version,
    confirm it during onboarding and we will staff accordingly.

    Yes, always. We begin every engagement by ingesting your firm's .rte template, shared
    parameters file, object styles, and naming conventions. The output is indistinguishable
    from your in-house team's work. If your firm does not yet have a refined template, we offer
    Revit template and family creation as a standalone service.

    We deliver in any format required by your workflow — .rvt, .dwg, .dxf, .pdf, .ifc, .nwc, and
    image or video formats for visualization work. File delivery protocols, naming conventions,
    and folder structures are confirmed at intake.

    Codes & Compliance:

    Our teams regularly work within the following North American code frameworks:

    • OBC — Ontario Building Code

    • IBC — International Building Code

    • IEBC — International Existing Building Code

    • IPC — International Plumbing Code

    • IMC — International Mechanical Code

    • IEC — International Energy Conservation Code

    • NEC/CEC — National/Canadian Electrical Code

    Yes. Our teams document to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and AODA (Accessibility
    for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) standards, including washroom layouts, ramp detailing,
    parking counts, and turning radii.

    Pricing & Billing:

    Pricing is based on a detailed review of the scope of work- including the size and
    complexity of the project, the phase of documentation, the number of disciplines involved,
    the condition of the background model or drawings, and the delivery timeline. We provide a
    clear, written fee proposal before any work begins.

    Not without your approval. If scope changes arise during the engagement, we will flag the
    impact and present a change order before proceeding. We do not absorb undisclosed
    scope changes, and we do not present surprise invoices.

    Time-based engagements are billed on a fixed monthly basis corresponding to the agreed
    weekly hour commitment. Billing is predictable and does not fluctuate based on task type.
    If your firm needs to adjust the team size or hour commitment, changes are made at the
    start of the next billing cycle with reasonable notice.

    Communication & Workflow:

    Your primary communication channel is with your dedicated Project Manager. We adapt to
    your preferred tools — whether that is email, Microsoft Teams, Slack, or scheduled calls.
    We provide regular written updates, open issues logs, and delivery summaries so that
    communication is documented and traceable.

    The cadence of formal updates is established at the start of the engagement. Most clients
    receive a brief written progress update at mid-week and again before each scheduled
    delivery. For fast-moving engagements, daily check-ins with the Project Manager are
    common and always available.

    We assesses the impact on timeline, staffing, and cost. If the change is additive, a written
    change order is presented for approval before work proceeds. If the change replaces
    existing scope, we restructure the work plan and confirms the revised deliverables list in
    writing.

    Our QA/QC process is designed to prevent dissatisfaction at delivery. However, if a
    deliverable does not meet the agreed scope or quality standard, we own the resolution.
    Revisions within the original scope are completed at no additional cost. We identify the
    root cause and adjusts the internal process to prevent recurrence.

    Working With Us Long Term:

    Absolutely. Many of our most established partnerships began with a single permit set or a time-based trial engagement. We welcome pilot projects and treat them with the same standards and attention as long-term accounts.
    The Emkay model is built for long-term partnership. Over time, your Project Manager and production team build deep familiarity with your firm's standards, preferences, and clients. Workflows become more efficient, onboarding time for new projects shrinks, and output quality improves. Dedicated Studio clients often find that within three to six months, the external team functions indistinguishably from an internal studio.
    Our primary markets are Canada and the United States, and our code expertise, geographic location, and time zone alignment are optimized for North American firms. Firms operating in other markets are welcome to inquire and we will assess fit during discovery.

    Have a question that is not answered here? Contact us to speak directly with a member of our team. We respond to all inquiries within one business day.

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