Bold design. Zero drama.
Design with certainty. Build with confidence.
Why Certainty First?
Launching into design without a plan is like building on shifting ground -delays and budget blowouts are inevitable.
With certainty guiding every step, projects stay on track, on time, and on budget.
Our 4-week Certainty Framework maps your project’s constraints and opportunities up front, then clarifies scope, budget, and programme – so you can move forward with confidence.
You won’t be dealing with an inexperienced team. A senior architect oversees every consultant and contractor so you get one point of accountability and a cohesive, workable plan.
The result: a building that marries long-term durability with architectural clarity, built for the future.
Ready to build with confidence?
Book a 20-minute Certainty Consultation with Sally Woods today.
Book NowOur Services
Earthquake Strengthening
An ageing structure under the NBS threshold drags on value and insurance. We integrate seismic solutions with fire, access and architectural upgrades in one co-ordinated plan, mapping the consent path and staging work so tenants can keep trading. Hit your target %NBS, protect cash-flow and future-proof the asset – with certainty.
Heritage
We pair conservation specialists with design and compliance smarts to lift performance without losing the heritage fabric that gives your building its value. We coordinate council, Heritage NZ, fire, accessibility and structural advice so approvals land together, while protecting what matters. Preserve the story, protect the asset, and proceed with certainty.
Commercial Interiors
Tailored to how your teams work, our fitouts get you back in business sooner, energises staff, and lifts profit from day one – increased productivity delivered with certainty.
Adaptive Reuse
When an older building could earn more in a new role, planning rules and hidden constraints are often the hurdle. We test change-of-use scenarios against structure, services, and compliance, then develop a design strategy that respects the building’s character and context. Approvals are actively managed from the outset, so you can move from idea to income with clarity and momentum.
Due Dilligence
Buying blind is expensive. In as little as ten days we assemble seismic status, code compliance, maintenance backlog, planning overlays and red-flag risks into one clear report you can take to the bank – or to negotiations. Bid, renegotiate or walk away with certainty.
Residential
Large renovations and hillside homes need clear scope, sound numbers and tight consent management. We develop the brief with you, test design options early against cost and buildability, and lead the team through to completion. You get a home that’s truly yours – without the budget shocks. Certainty included.
Earthquake Strengthening
An ageing frame under the NBS threshold drags on value and insurance. We integrate seismic solutions with fire, access and architectural upgrades in one co-ordinated plan, mapping the consent path and staging work so tenants can keep trading. Hit your target %NBS, protect cash-flow and future-proof the asset – with certainty.
Heritage
We pair conservation specialists with design and compliance smarts to lift performance without losing the heritage fabric that gives your building its value. We coordinate council, Heritage NZ, fire, accessibility and structural advice so approvals land together, while protecting what matters. Preserve the story, protect the rent roll, proceed with certainty.
Commercial Interiors
Tailored to how your teams work, our fitouts get you back in business sooner, energises staff, and lifts profit from day one – increased productivity delivered with certainty.
Adaptive Reuse
When an older building could earn more in a new role, planning rules and hidden constraints are often the hurdle. We test change-of-use scenarios against structure, services, and compliance, then develop design strategies that respect the building’s character and context. Approvals are secured before commitment, so you move from idea to income with certainty.
Due Diligence
Buying blind is expensive. In as little as ten days we assemble seismic status, code compliance, maintenance backlog, planning overlays and red-flag risks into one clear report you can take to the bank – or to negotiations. Bid, renegotiate or walk away with certainty.
Residential
Large renovations and hillside homes need clear scope, sound numbers and tight consent management. We develop the brief with you, test design options early against cost and buildability, and lead the team through to completion. You get a home that’s truly yours – without the budget shocks. Certainty included.
Start with Discovery + Diagnosis
Clarity before commitment in a fixed-fee first step.
What it is (4 weeks, one price)
We start with a diagnostic deep-dive, building certainty into the foundation before the design takes flight. We collect all the information we can find on your site or building – then chart the risks, constraints and design opportunities in a single, plain-English brief. Scope, programme and cost bands are clear up-front, so you decide with facts, not guesses.
Why you need it
Designing without this foundation invites unnecessary friction — compliance, cost, and approval challenges surface later and disrupt the flow of the project, and strain the budget.
What you walk away with
- Site constraints exposed
- Compliance snapshot
- Planning and consent pathway outlined, timeline bands
- Early-stage design moves + cost cues for each option
- Next-step checklist and consultant map
- Confidence to commit — or to pause — before cost escalates
Know exactly what you’re getting into
Our simple four-step process lays the pathway for success.
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What we do
- Assemble existing information, compliance rules, planning overlays and site data.
- Expose risks, opportunities and must-haves before design begins.
Why it matters
- No surprise clashes, compliance hurdles or unexpected costs.
- Your project launches on facts, not wishful thinking.
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What we do
- Translate findings into a working brief, early-stage design studies and a budget band.
- Appoint the right consultants and test massing, access and structure against cost and code.
Why it matters
- Scope, roles and price cues are agreed by everyone — owner to engineer.
- The team can programme and refine with confidence.
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What we do
- Handle the regulatory essentials up-front — planning checks, compliance feasibility and Council feedback — so nothing blindsides the design later.
Why it matters
- Clears the consent path early, steadies the cost line and keeps momentum intact.
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What we do
- Lead detailed design, tender and construction.
- Track programme and spend; solve issues in real time.
Why it matters
- Hand-over lands on the date – and at the cost we expected.
Ready to build with confidence?
Book a 20-minute Certainty Consultation with Sally Woods today.
Book NowSally Woods
Registered Architect. Based in Wellington.
25 years.
Every sector.
Zero budget blow‑outs.
Clients work directly with Sally, a senior architect with decades of experience across residential, commercial, and public projects—from hillside homes to heritage retrofits and seismic upgrades.
She provides strategic oversight, coordinates engineers, planners, and contractors, and clarifies scope, budget, and programme.
The result: a single accountable partner who turns uncertainty into certainty, balances budgets with standout design, and delivers buildings that protect income, lift value, and perform as well as they look.
