2007-06-14 - How to choose an Architect
Start building a list of potential architects. Find out who designed the projects in your community that you like. Read more on how to choose an architect...

Clients often appoint an architect who is known to them or who has been recommended, or whose work they admire. This can be a sound initial response, but a more structured process of selection is desirable, where matching requirements with the range of skills and services available is more precise. Each architect has his or her own style, approach to design, and method of work. So it’s important to find an architect who understands your style and needs.

Also the type of building that you are developing impacts the type of architect that you will hire.  For example, if you are looking to build a home, it is not as complex as a hospital yet requires specialization. The architect that you chose to hire should have more than five years of experience in residential work.

Start building a list of potential architects. Find out who designed the projects in your community that you like. Get recommendations from friends, relatives, or acquaintances who have worked with architects. Check to see if the architect is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Membership in the AIA means that the architect subscribes to a professional code of ethics and has access to a variety of professional and technical resources. Contact your local AIA local chapter – many have lists of member-owned architecture firms that are interested in doing various types of projects.

During the interview, ask questions. How busy is the firm? Does it have the capacity to take on your work? Who will be responsible for your project? Insist on meeting the person who will actually handle your project. What is the firm’s design philosophy? How does the architect intend to approach your project? How interested is the firm in your job? Talk about your budget and find out the range of fees that the architect would anticipate for your project. Before making a final selection, have the architect take you to one completed project. It is proper to ask your architect for references from past clients. These references are invaluable.

It is very important to discuss architectural fees and your budget in your first meeting. You will mostly get a very general answer because they have not had the opportunity to fully study your project but a ballpark figure may help you rule out some architects that are too expensive.

Be sure that you also ask about liability insurance. Some architects “go bare” and don't have it because the premiums can be very expensive. However, even the most experienced architects can make mistakes, so you should make sure that your architect has both liability and errors-and-omissions coverage. In addition, ask if all designs are routinely reviewed by a structural engineer, another safety check that protects both the client and the architect.

Once you have found the architect, you are ready to put in writing the terms of your agreement on the scope of work, services, schedule, construction budget, and architect’s compensation. This written agreement can take many forms. The American Institute of Architects has developed a variety of standard contract forms which are used commonly in the industry.