Why do you need an
architect to help you? The main
reason is that an architect understands architecture. Decisions
and designs are only as good as the understanding used in making
them. In many States, there are legal
"thresholds" that establish when a licensed architect
must be retained to design and manage a construction project.
This means that you must, by law, hire an architect for your
project if certain criteria are met. In New York State for example,
these are a few of the criteria that illustrate when you must
hire an architect:
For any building that is not used for
farming or agricultural purposes, plus all Commercial, Health
Care, Industrial, Transportation projects and all other building
types except residential types listed below.
For residential buildings larger than
1,500 square feet (not including garages, carports, porches,
cellars or uninhabitable basements or attics).
For all alterations costing $10,000.00
or more within New York City and $20,000.00 or more outside New
York City if these alterations involve changes affecting structural
safety or public safety of the building or structure.
In Connecticut, the dollar threshold
for residential construction is 3,000 square feet and $300,000.00
(Which means builders can design and build houses under these
size and dollar limitations and you don't need an architect).
However, the building and insurance officials will still demand
a signed and sealed set of drawings from a licensed architect
to obtain an Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and Insurance
on this home. You will be better served to employ the architect
rather than have a builder employ the architect because of the
architect's fiduciary responsibilities to the hiring individual.
You will pay for the architect's service in one way or another,
so why not hire him directly and control the building process
the way you want it, and not as a builder wants it?
What does an architect
"sell" you?
I "sell" creative ideas and
artistic concepts that are tailored to meet your needs. I sell
wisdom born from years of experience and specific knowledge of
relevant laws obtained by constant training, education about
the built environment plus many years of training in various
offices and with diverse clients. Please keep in mind that all
licensed professionals have one thing in common: they provide
services for a fee, not a product. For example,
the drawings and specifications that I produce are copyrighted
documents, under American Copyright Law, and are given to the
builder and client to build each project, individually, as a
part of my service, but I own them. Traditionally, architects
do NOT "bid" on design projects. Building contractors
bid on the design projects that I as an architect create, as
a professional service for you, my client.
I provide professional services that
you ask for via a written contract. The more or less service
you request, the more or less money you will pay for this professional
service. After all, this is the American way, you get what you
pay for.
I play a vital role as the building industry's
lead person to serve your genuine needs. I can turn your design
idea's into a reality, while protecting you fiscally and legally.
If you are uncertain of what you need,
what I can provide and what it may cost, contact me and we can
discuss your project informally to see if we will be a compatible
mix with each other.
What are some of the
professional services an architect can provide for you during
a typical building project?
All design and construction projects
have many phases and knowing what they are is one subject, having
the knowledge and experience that I have to direct them, is a
different subject all together. The more experience you can purchase
for your dollar, the better off you are and that is a fact! I
have over 35 years of design experience.
There are at least 5 basic steps to any
architectural design project. For this discussion I shall describe
them as follows: Schematic Design, Design Development,
Construction Documents, Bidding, and Construction
Services. Each project is unique and therefore it is possible
that not all clients will want nor need all of these services.
Please discuss this with me in some depth and I will offer you
guidance on this very important subject matter.
Schematic Design
is the first step you and I will take together to realize your
dreams. This is what architects call programming and it is the
fact-gathering portion of the project where we define what is
to be built. Please do not underestimate the significance of
the step, because it is crucial to the successful completion
of your project. This is the time that we will discuss the project
requirements, such as how many rooms do you want, what functions
will each of them have, who will use what and how. This is the
time when you start to test the fit between what you want, what
you need and what you can spend. Coming to me with solutions
already determined will not help you, because then I can not
give you the very best professional service you deserve. Be prepared
to explore with me new and creative ideas. Please be straight
up front and frank about how you want the end result to feel
and work and leave the actual design to me. I will ask you many
questions to get a sense of your goals and needs and to determine
if your expectations match your budget. I may suggest changes
based upon my knowledge, experience and your budget. After thoroughly
discussing your functional requirements, I will prepare a statement
outlining the scope of your project and from this we shall create
an list of all the things you want or, the programming for your
project. Next I will do a series of rough sketches that will
show you the general arrangement of your rooms or of your site.
These are not finished construction documents, but rather an
aid to help all of us reach an understanding of the project physical
needs and they are meant to illustrate possible approaches for
you to consider. I will refine these until a solution is developed
that you agree meets your needs. Then I will give you a rough
preliminary estimate of the potential construction costs. Please
keep in mind that there are still many more details to be established
for your project and that this rough cost estimate is very general
in nature and will be developed and refined in later steps. It
is hard to predict market conditions, the availability of materials,
and other situations that you or I can not control and therefore
could drive up costs. Accordingly, this figure must include a
healthy contingency (I recommend 15% minimum) to cover cost changes
that arise as the design matures. Please do not panic if these
first sketches appear different from what you first envisioned.
Rather ask me how these designs satisfy the requirements you
discussed with me in the programming stage. I can not emphasize
how important it is that you and I clearly understand what you
want and what it is that I intend to design. It is much easier
and far more cost effective to make changes now when the project
is on paper, than later on, when foundations have been poured
and the building is being erected. Before we proceed to the next
phase, I will request your written approval of the programming
and sketches.
Design Development is when I prepare more detailed drawings to illustrate
other aspects of the proposed design. For example, the floor
plans will show all the rooms in the correct size and shape.
Outline specifications will start to be prepared listing the
major materials and room finishes to assure quality and quantity,
which will later become costs. I will prepare another cost estimate
based upon the additional detailed information we have obtained
in this phase. Please remember that final costs will actually
depend on market conditions and that I neither warrant, nor guarantee
any cost estimates. Only the contractor can do this for he is
the only individual who purchases materials and labor for your
benefit. Please consider my information as a professional "guess-ta-mate"
based upon over 35 years of experience in this profession, and
in this regional area. Before we proceed to the next phase, I
will request your written approval again of the program and sketches.
Construction Documents is where I sit down at the drawing board and
draw all the required documents to fully illustrate to the builder
what will be required from him. This will include a written specification
list of all items and materials, level of workmanship required
and project quality control measures. These will become a part
of the contract between you and me, and between you and the contractor.
When these documents are completed, you are ready to hire a contractor.
This is also a service that I will be happy to assist you with.
Before we proceed to the next phase, I will request your written
approval for a third time of the drawings and specifications.
Bidding
is where you hire a contractor to build your project. There are
numerous ways to select a reputable contractor. Perhaps you know
of a contractor and you wish to have them build your project?
I will be happy to send a set of the construction documents to
this contractor for him to negotiate fees and costs with you.
Or, we can include this contractor as a part of the selected
group I will suggest to you for your consideration. I will prepare
the bidding documents, which consist of the drawings and specifications
as well as the invitations to bid and the instructions to all
bidders. The bidding documents will then be sent to the selected
individuals. They within a given period of time, must reply with
bids which include the cost of building your project. The lowest
bidder is not always recommended by me, but rather the most qualified
firm based upon the best value to you is. Please keep in mind
that while I will be happy to assist you in the selection process,
the final choice is up to you. Some clients will want to speak
with me about acting as their own "General Contractor"
or to complete a portion of the work themselves. While this may
appear like it will save you some small amount of money at first
look, it is much more probable for example that, if you lack
the experience and contacts of a professional contractor in today's'
booming housing market place, you will get stung financially
by a sub contractor who does not show up on schedule. His work
will stop other sub contractors work and soon your project may
stop. Contracting is some what like a fine ballet that must be
orchestrated by a knowing and talented individual if you expect
to get professional results. I will be happy to discuss this
rather delicate and very important subject in confidence with
any client of mine.
Construction Services is the final step toward your dreams realization.
This can also be a rather anxiety-producing part of the process
because up until now, your project has been confined to intense
discussion, planning, and two-dimensional drawings with me. When
construction begins, your project moves from the abstract to
reality and we gain a new team member, the builder. My responsibility
and the professional assistance I can provide to you should also
continue on with the construction phase, and indeed it may be
imperative that it does. I will provide construction administration
services that can include assisting you to hire a contractor,
making site visits to check for conformance to my design documents
and quality assurance issues that can arise during construction.
I will review and approve the contractor's applications for payment
while keeping you informed of the project's progress. I observe
the contractor only. Please keep in mind that the contractor
is solely responsible for all construction methods, means, techniques,
schedules and all procedures. However, under our contract, I
can speak with the legal authority of actually representing you
and this means I can influence how the contractor responds to
our requests, in a very positive manner. We both understand that
any complicated project that demands the unique talents of a
licensed professional will have lots of challenges to be met
and this is why I am there. There will be hundreds of critical
decisions that I can help direct you toward a cost effective
resolution. This will determine how the project looks and functions
over time. I can help you to avoid costly mistakes, wrong turns
and decisions that do not have the professional architectural
advantage of education, knowledge and experience behind them.
When you are done, you will have a unique building that was created
to meet your needs, express your individuality, and provide enjoyment
for everyone who uses it in the future.
Why do you
want an architect to help you?
I look ahead, past your immediate needs
when designing for you. Designing for your family's or business's
changing needs are what in the long term sustains your project
investment and individual life style and this is what I do for
you. There will be hundreds of decisions to be made and each
will have a deep impact upon the end result you value so highly.
Utilizing my years of education, training and experience in design,
combined with my broad based knowledge of construction, I can
assist you to get the most value from your investment dollar.
I will sort out complex local zoning
issues, building codes and site related individual concerns then
organize them into a coherent and logical sequence of events
to insure a successfully completed project for you. Think of
me as the individual with the organization required to successfully
complete your project.
I, working with you, will help you design
your idea of how you want to live or work in the environment,
not some one else's idea of how you should live or work. All
the spaces designed will be specifically for you, not some "generic"
family that does not have your particular needs. I will clarify
and refine all of your individual building requirements through
a process called programming. Your spatial needs and requirements
will be brought into harmony with your budget and then an effective
design can be produced to accommodate these.
Selecting the appropriate materials and
standards of workmanship will mandate longevity of your investment.
Choosing energy efficient products and incorporating materials
and finishes that endure and stay beautiful will save you replacement
costs, energy loss and maintenance. We all know that architect
designed buildings have a higher resale value, now you understand
why.
I protect YOUR interests and actively
pursue and design methods to make the design and construction
process run smoothly. Keep in mind that an architect becomes
you under law as he represents your interests when speaking to
builders, code officials, lawyers, insurance professionals and
others. You can utilize my unique knowledge of who is a qualified
contractor for your building based on your individual project
needs. I will even assist you in creating a contract between
you and the builder that works in harmony with all of your legal
responsibilities and insures that the builder works in harmony
with you.
When construction begins, I can visit
the site and can verify that all is being constructed as per
the drawings and specifications that you approved for design,
quality, finish and cost. I can monitor the construction payments
to the contractor for you to insure that what the contractor
invoices you for is actually installed in your building. You
will get what you pay for and I will be there to assure this
for you!
If your site or design requirements require
other specialized professional assistance, I am the perfect person
to coordinate this team for you and I will do this with a written
contract where all activities are documented.
Lets face facts here! Building projects
are very complex and expensive. There are hundreds, some times
even thousands of choices to be made by you and others that will
work with you so your needs are filled to the fullest. At this
level, you can not afford to make costly mistakes.
When you hire me, you have already made
the best first choice to help you get through this unfamiliar
and confusing maze, successfully!
What will my fee for
services be?
There is no set fee arrangement for any
particular type of project, because each and every project is
unique-just as you are unique. The fee is established in a number
of various manners depending on the complexity of the project,
nature of services required and the duration of the project.
The more common methods of compensation
include: an hourly rate, a stipulated (Lump) sum based upon my
compensation proposal, a stipulated sum (Lump) per unit based
upon what will be built (for example by the square foot), a percentage
of the end construction cost, any combination of these. I will
explain in detail when I meet you how a fee is established for
your individual project once the project is defined. This means
I must meet you and understand what you need to accomplish first.
I will not give you "ball-park" estimates over the
telephone to solve your basic project curiosity, this is not
professional so please do not ask me to do this.
My fee is considered actually quite small
and reasonable as a cost of the entire building project, including
the estimated construction cost (Upon which the fee may be computed),
the furnishings and all equipment, and the interest you will
pay on your mortgage.
When you consider the cost of your house
over a 25 year period, your actual expenditure may amount to
2 and 1/2 times what you paid for the house, all the new construction,
furnishings etc., including my fee. I do not think there is another
licensed profession that saves you so much at such reasonable
rates for service.
