How to Hire an Architect
Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2009
by Nazim Nice
Motionspace Architecture + Design
If you are planning on selecting an architect you've probably read the twenty things to ask an architect article published by the AIA by now. While this is a good list to start from, there are some additional questions and suggestions that are important to add to your selection process. Some of these suggestions are from insight gained from working in actual offices and interviewing with many potential clients. Other issues arise from knowing how a well run office functions and the computer technology that is used by the best firms. So here's the list:
An architect's office can speak volumes about their design aesthetic and creativity. Unfortunately many first meetings with a client will be at the project site, so you may not have an opportunity to see the architect's office. Consider scheduling a visit at the architect's office within a few days of the initial meeting.
2. A disorganized and messy office might be a red flag.
An architect organizes thousands of pieces of information into a coherent project, and a disorganized office might be a big red flag. However, don't confuse artist creativity with disorganization. Architectural models, trace paper and sketches can be a sign of a creative architect, but project information is normally stored in binders and filing cabinets. Large piles of paper are probably not a good sign.
3. Ask if the architect is using 3D software.
The latest architectural software is called BIM (building information model) and the more sophisticated architects are using this. A house or project designed in BIM is completely or almost completely designed in 3D. In addition, in many cases the software can help eliminate errors in coordination of drawings since the 2 dimensional drawings are all 'extracted' from the 3D model. The software also keeps track of building components like sizes of each door and window, and when a dimension is changed in one drawing, it is automatically updated in another. This can be a real help in reducing errors.
4. Education is an important part of an architect's experience.
While attending a good college or university can help assure your architect has a good foundation to build upon, usually a better indicator is how an architect did in the school they attended. From my experience in school and teaching, only 10%-20% of students are really talented designers and very few students got significantly better as they went through their education. To get a sense of how someone did in school, ask about design awards they may have won or exhibitions they may have participated in.
5. Ask which staff member you will be working with.
If you are hiring a multi-person firm, find out who you will actually be working with. Many times the architect you are interviewing with won't actually be doing much production on your project. If the person you are going to be working with isn't at the interview, ask to visit the architect's office (see #1) and be introduced to the people who will be on your team. Ask to see the credentials of those team members as well.
6. Architects communicate with drawings as well as words.
Look at the architect's drawings and ask questions about them. It may be difficult at first to read or understand drawings if you haven't done this before, but if you can't understand them after an architect explains them, then either the drawings are not very clear, or the architect has a hard time communicating - both might be a serious warning sign.
7. A construction drawing set is not complete without specifications.
Not all information is communicated within drawings. Plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, finishes, expected quality levels, and other information that is easier said in words than in drawings are communicated in written specifications. If your architect doesn't write specifications, then you'll likely be answering many questions during construction and may be hit with expensive change orders.
8. Look at the architect's website.
A nicely designed, well organized website can communicate that an architect is organized and can assemble information in a clear format. If the architect doesn't have a website, this may be a sign they are not up to date with other aspects of his or her practice.
9. Ask how well the architect works with buiding departments.
When you or your architect submits your permit set of drawings to the building department, they review your drawings and issue a corrections notice. A good architect can easily get a residential or small commercial project through the building department with no revisions or a single round of revisions. Since each round of revisions takes time, fewer rounds of revisions means you get your permit sooner. This could hold up construction. If you're trying to get your project framed and weather-tight before the rainy season, this could push the project into a season with unfavorable construction conditions.
About the author: Nazim Nice one of the Seattle Architects at Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC. This Seattle Architecture Firm specializes in residential and small commercial design.
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