arrison Isaac is doing what he always wanted to do. The founder and principal officer of HEGNI Architectural Design Services has spent a good part of his life pursuing other interests, but, time after time, he has returned to architectural design, his first love.

You may know the affable Mr. Isaac from other employment - at the Bank of Bermuda and, previously, as manager of the Co-op Supermarket. Or you may know him from any of his many community projects. Or from his work as a volunteer Scout Leader. But, at heart, he is an architectural designer.

"At the centre of every successful building project is a strong and trusting relationship between the client and his or her architectural services provider," Mr. Isaac said. "HEGNI maintains close business relationships with a large number of building contractors and other service providers in the construction industry, but we are ethically bound to represent the building or property owner."

The firm was established in 1983 as HEGNI Architecture, and changed its name in 1998 to HEGNI Architectural Design Services. HEGNI is an acronym for Mr. Isaac's full name - Harrison Eugene George Nathaniel Isaac, Sr.

The company's first architectural design submission on behalf of a client was approved by the Development Applications Board in 1983. Three other new home developments followed in short order, and since then the firm has taken on numerous renovation and addition projects throughout the Island.

The firm's services brochure has photographs of homes HEGNI has designed or renovated in almost every Parish from Sandys to St. David's. Mr. Isaac, who has been at the helm ever since the company was founded, is a member of the executive board of the Architectural Association of Bermuda and an individual allied member of the American Institute of Architects.

He is clearly something of a Renaissance man. Along with his architectural qualifications, Mr. Isaac has a degree in Business Administration, and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Certified Administrative Managers and a Certified Technical Trainer - and, on top of all that, an accomplished portrait pencil sketch artist.

"The secret of business success is to do something you like," Mr. Isaac said. "If you enjoy what you do, you do it better."

After a period of absence from Bermuda while completing his education in Canada, Mr. Isaac returned to the Island. Resuming his architectural career, he was introduced to computer-aided drawing (CAD), a sophisticated technique for producing, in this case, architectural drawings.

"CAD really opened my eyes to the possibilities of designing at a much more sophisticated level," Mr. Isaac said.

In the early days, the process for preparing a full set of architectural drawings was done completely by hand. Revisions - "and there are almost always revisions," Mr. Isaac noted - often meant redrawing entire designs and could take months to complete.

"With the new technology, it is possible to complete the same task in just a few weeks," the architectural designer pointed out. The firm offers a complete service, or will work on any particular detail a client requires.

"We take clients' instructions and assess their needs," Mr. Isaac said.

"We make a preliminary site visit and offer a client consultation, for which we do not charge. We investigate and research the proposed development, prepare preliminary sketches and working drawings, and consult with surveyors and engineers, if that is necessary."

Once the client accepts the drawings, and the details are agreed, HEGNI makes planning permission and building permit applications, prepares building specifications and cost estimates, obtains tenders and prepares construction contract documents.

The firm then provides building construction project management as work progresses.

HEGNI maintains professional relationships with a number of local and overseas architectural support service providers, including: boundary, topographic, quantity and sub-division surveyors; energy conservation specialists; mechanical, electrical, civil and structural engineers; interior decorating and design consultants; horticultural and landscaping consultants; and environmental and health specialists.

"We work with clients whose budgets vary, but over the years, we have come to specialise in creating concepts and designing drawings for under-sized lots," Mr. Isaac explained.

Latest statistics reveal that Bermuda had 62 new lots of land available for development in 2000, as the result of the sub-division of existing building lots. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to identify lots of sufficient size on which to construct a reasonable dwelling unit," Mr. Isaac said. "HEGNI is often challenged to create concepts and design drawings that will meet clients' expectations and fit within the building envelope of the lot."

Since the publication of his firm's brochure, community and professional groups have called upon Mr. Isaac to make presentations to their membership and/or staff, concerning his firm and architectural design services in general. Most recently, he made such a presentation to the entire sales staff at Coldwell Banker, JW Bermuda Realty.

Early in the New Year, he plans to hold a public forum based around two topics: "It is my property; why do I need planning permission?" and "Affordable Bermuda architectural design services".

Mr. Isaac's enthusiasm transfers to those who meet him, and as his architectural design company continues to develop its business, this smart and engaged Bermudian remains a busy man.

HEGNI Architectural Design Services may be contacted at 295-5829 or 235-5166.