Choosing the right architect isn’t just about style — it’s about alignment.

Start with listening. The right firm should be deeply curious about how you live, what you value, and how your project fits into the Montana landscape — functionally, financially, and aesthetically.

Look for three essentials:

Process clarity. A strong architect can clearly explain how your project moves from vision through design, documentation, and construction — with no guesswork about what comes next.

Budget discipline. Great design must align with your investment goals. Ask how costs are managed, how builders are engaged, and how financial expectations are protected.

Local experience. Designing in Bozeman, Big Sky, and across Montana requires understanding snow loads, climate, permitting, and construction realities.

Most importantly, choose someone you trust. You’ll be working closely together for months — sometimes years. The right architect feels steady, collaborative, and capable of guiding your vision into reality.

Bringing an architect into your project at the very beginning — even before purchasing land or selecting a builder — creates clarity that saves time and money. Early involvement allows us to evaluate site conditions, views, solar orientation, snow loads, access, and local zoning or HOA requirements across Bozeman, Big Sky, and greater Montana.

It also helps align your vision with a realistic budget before major decisions are made. Too often, projects begin with assumptions that later require redesign. When an architect is involved early, we can guide feasibility, coordinate consultants, and help assemble the right team from the start.

Architecture is more than drawings — it’s strategic planning. Early collaboration allows design, cost, and constructability to move forward together, rather than in conflict.

If you’re thinking about land, investment range, or long-term goals, that’s the right time to start the conversation.

45 Architecture & Interiors provides full-service architectural and interior design services for custom residential, civic, and commercial projects in Bozeman and beyond. Our work spans from early visioning and feasibility through construction completion, with interiors integrated from the start to ensure a cohesive result.

Our interior design services are client focused—bringing natural light, organic patterns, and materials indoors to create harmony with the surroundings.

Schematic Design (SD) is where vision takes shape. We explore site opportunities, views, solar orientation, spatial organization, and overall character. This phase establishes scale, massing, and preliminary budget alignment.

Design Development (DD) refines the concept. Floor plans, exterior systems, structural coordination, and key interior selections become more detailed. Materials, millwork concepts, lighting direction, and performance strategies are clarified.

Construction Documents (CD) translate the design into precise drawings and specifications used for pricing, permitting, and construction. Coordination with consultants is fully integrated.

Permitting includes preparation and submission to local jurisdictions and HOAs, addressing comments and securing approvals.

Construction Administration (CA) provides ongoing collaboration with the builder — reviewing submittals, responding to RFIs, and ensuring the design intent is realized.

Throughout every phase, architecture and interiors are developed together to deliver spaces that are cohesive, durable, and thoughtfully crafted.

45 Architecture & Interiors combines design craft with disciplined process.

We believe great architecture begins with listening — understanding how you live, what you value, and how your project should respond to Montana’s landscape and climate. Whether it’s a custom home in Bozeman, a retreat in Big Sky, or a civic project that serves the broader community, our work is grounded in place and purpose.

What sets us apart is the balance between creativity and accountability. We pair strong conceptual design with clear project phases, proactive cost coordination, and close collaboration with builders and consultants. Our clients don’t just receive drawings — they gain a steady guide through permitting, budgeting, and construction.

As a Montana-based firm, we understand local conditions: snow loads, solar orientation, HOAs, and regional construction realities. Most importantly, we approach every project with ownership, high standards, and a commitment to building spaces that matter — for our clients and for our communities.

Yes. While 45 Architecture & Interiors is rooted in Bozeman and deeply connected to the Montana landscape, we regularly work on projects beyond the state.

Our experience spans residential, civic, and mixed-use work in markets throughout the Mountain West and beyond. What remains consistent is our approach: thoughtful design grounded in place, climate responsiveness, and disciplined project management.

When working outside Montana, we collaborate closely with local consultants and builders to ensure code compliance, permitting alignment, and regional construction expertise. Our process — from schematic design through construction administration — remains structured and transparent regardless of location.

Many of our out-of-state clients are drawn to the same qualities that define our Montana work: strong architectural identity, attention to craft, and a steady guide through complex decisions.

If your project aligns with our expertise and values, geography does not limit the partnership.

Project timelines vary based on size, complexity, permitting, and site conditions, but most custom residential projects in Montana take 18–30 months from initial design through construction completion.

The architectural design process typically spans 4–8 months. Schematic Design and Design Development establish vision, budget alignment, and material direction. Construction Documents and permitting can take an additional 2–4 months, depending on jurisdiction and HOA review timelines in places like Bozeman or surrounding counties.

Construction duration often ranges from 12–18 months, influenced by project scale, contractor availability, weather, and material lead times. Montana winters, snow loads, and site access can affect scheduling, especially in mountain environments.

Civic or commercial projects may require longer timelines due to additional coordination and approvals.

Bringing your architect and builder into the process early helps align expectations and avoid delays. A well-structured timeline — with clear milestones and communication — is one of the strongest predictors of a successful outcome.