How to work with an architect

Architects are licensed professionals trained to help you explore what appeals to you aesthetically while determining what you require functionally, but they also help you see the big picture when it comes to working with you to design your project.

Architects offer much more than just traditional services like design development. The list below highlights additional ways architects can bring value to a project.  However, the greatest benefit an architect provides is helping to solve challenges buildings may face–whether those challenges are already known or not. 
 

• Site selection/planning
• Building condition audits.
• Interior design
• Energy-efficiency assessments
• Permitting/bidding
• Construction document administration 

The ideal time to involve an architect is when you are ready to enhance your living, business, or community space.

Architects provide important pre-design services including site evaluation and can help you explore options you may not have considered. Involving an architect early in the process can help avoid costly missteps and increase the likelihood of your satisfaction with the project.

Hiring an architect can save you money and maximize the value of your investment in a number of ways:

• An architect can help prioritize your goals and focus design impact around these priorities. 
• An architect's design can reduce energy and maintenance costs, and provide an efficient layout so that you don’t overbuild what you really need.
• An architect spends time planning and fully developing your ideas to avoid changes once construction is underway. 
• An architect can turn a difficult lot into a successful building site and add value to resale opportunities. 
• Potential cost savings through efficient space planning and material selection

Finding the right architect for your project is the most important aspect of the process. AIA has over 200 local and state chapters–contact your local chapter to find resources to connect with architects in your area.  

Find your local chapter.

The first aspect to consider, is having a clear understanding of what you want. AIA has developed 20 questions to ask yourself before selecting an architect.

Once you’ve identified a short-list of possible architects, research their past work and clients. Review each architect’s portfolio to ensure their style aligns with your vision. It's common to ask for references from past clients and follow up with them to learn about their experiences. If the architect doesn’t have experience in the kind of project you are interested in, that architect is likely not a good fit. Once you’ve narrowed down some architect candidates–the next step is to meet with them to find one that makes you feel comfortable and listens intently. 

Clients should be aware of the various ways architects bill for their work. While most architects have preferred fee structures, the more a client understands about the compensation options, the better chance the client has to select the right architect for the job. Since every project is different, establishing the best fee structure will vary client-to-client and project-to-project. 

An architect's compensation is often based on time, a stipulated sum, a percentage of the cost of the work, the project's square footage or a combination of these models. You can learn more about the most common fee structures below, but once you’ve identified an appropriate fee structure, you’ll want to research agreement options. Visit aiacontracts.com to learn more about the various types of agreements that architects may use to help implement these fee structures.

• Hourly
  The simplest and perhaps most widely used fee structure by small firms is based on hourly rates. For every hour the architect works, the client gets billed. This requires the architect to fill out timesheets and provide clients with invoices at specified intervals, usually monthly. With an hourly contract, most clients set a max cap (also called GMP contract) to ensure the architect stays within budget. 

• Fixed-fee
  A fixed fee contract is one that stipulates an agreed-upon flat fee amount for the services rendered by the architect. Some architects prefer to use this fee structure for smaller-scale projects as it is generally easier to determine how much work is involved. For larger-scale projects this fee structure is less frequently used. Fixed fee arrangements are not recommended until the client and the architect have established a tightly defined scope of work.

  Some architects charge a fee for scope creation, which can be valuable for the client, as they get an educational understanding of the project and the architect learns about the problems the client wants to solve. Once the scope is agreed upon, architects can then break down the time and price allocation to present a fixed-fee proposal to the client.

• Percentage of construction costs
  Architects may alternatively be compensated based on the percentage of construction costs of the project. The primary benefit of this fee type is that it aligns the project cost risk for both the client and the architect since pricing is based on the building being produced. For this fee structure, the client must first have an understanding of construction costs. Typical rates range from 8–15 percent for new construction, and 15–20 percent for remodels (with various factors impacting independent rate determinations including experience, project complexity, geography, etc.) Learn more about how the costs of this fee structure are established. 
• Design-bid-build
  The most common fee for larger commercial architecture projects is a slightly different take on the percentage-based process called design–bid–build. In this scenario the client will hire an architect to design and produce the construction contract documents and then use those drawings for contractors to bid on. The design service fees tend to be 5-20 percent of the overall project budget, not just construction costs (with various factors impacting the independent design service fee determination including experience, project complexity, geography, etc.). Once a contractor has been selected, the owner enters into a separate contract with the contractor and the architect continues on with permitting and any change orders.
• Design-build 
  The design-build method is an integrated construction approach where both the design and construction aspects are handled by a single entity – an architect led design-build firm. During the design phase, the client and architect work together to establish communication channels, design preferences, and construction plans. Unlike other fee structures which involve hiring separate contractors, design-build eliminates this aspect. The design-build process offers an opportunity for streamlined communication, collaboration, and efficiency throughout the entire project.

Your architect will depend on you to communicate about your design preferences, functional requirements, and budget. Your timely response to questions and design submissions will help keep the project on track. It is also important for you to raise any concerns you have as the project proceeds, so they can be addressed in the earliest stages. Working in partnership with your architect, you will help achieve a successful outcome for your project.