Selecting the architect

Whether you are building your own home or designing a commercial complex, choosing the right architect is vital to a successful project.

Architecture firms come in a variety of sizes and types. Many firms are small (with as few as one or two architects), and there are some very large firms with staff members of 20 or more. Some firms specialize in one or more project or facility types; others do not. Some firms include in-house engineering (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.) or other design disciplines (planning, urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, etc.), many other architects introduce these disciplines into their projects through appropriate consultants. Each architecture firm brings a different combination of skills, expertise, interests, and values to its projects. An architect is trained to listen to you-the client-and to translate your ideas into a viable construction project. Look for a good listener and you'll find a good architect.

*THE RIGHT ARCHITECT*
First-time clients, and even experienced clients facing new situations, have many questions about architect selection. Some of the more common ones are addressed here.

When, in the life cycle of a project, should I bring the architect into the picture?
As early as possible. Architects can help you define the project in terms that provide meaningful guidance for design. They can also do site studies, help secure planning and zoning approvals, and perform a variety of other pre-design tasks.

Should I look at more than one firm?
Usually, yes. One exception is when you already have a good relationship with an architect and it makes little sense to change.

How do I find suitable firms to contact?
Contact other owners who have developed similar facilities and ask who they interviewed and ultimately selected. Ask who designed buildings and projects that you've admired or that seem especially appropriate. Many local chapters of a country's architects' organization (AIA in the US, RIBA in the UK, UAP in the Phil.) maintain referral lists and are available to assist you in identifying architects in your area who specialize in certain types of projects (residential, institutional, corporate, etc.).

What information should I request?
At minimum, ask prospective firms to show you projects that are similar to yours (that is, of similar size and type) or that have addressed similar issues (that is, similar siting, functional complexity or design aspirations). Ask them to indicate how they will approach your project and who will be working on it (including consultants). Ask for the names of other owners you may contact.

Why are formal interviews desirable?
An interview addresses one issue that can't be covered in brochures: the chemistry between the owner and the project team. It also allows the owner to investigate how each architect will approach the project.

How many firms should I interview, and how should they be selected?
Most people advise that you interview between three and five firms-enough to see the range of possibilities but not so many that an already tough decision will be further complicated. Select for interview
architecture firms you feel can do your project because of their expertise, their experience, or their ability to bring a fresh look to your situation. Treat each firm fairly, offering, for example, equal time and equal access to your site and existing facilities. Insist on meeting the key people who will work on your project.

What can I realistically expect to learn from an interview? How can I structure the interview to make it as informative as possible?
You can learn how the team the architect has put together will approach your project. Ask how the architect will gather information, establish priorities, and make decisions. Ask what the architect sees as the important issues of consideration in the project. Evaluate the firm's interest in your project: Will your needs be a major or minor concern? Evaluate the firm's style, personality, and approach: Are they compatible with yours?

How should I follow up?
Tell each firm what you intend to do next and when you plan to make your decision. If you haven't talked with past clients, do so now. Assess both the performance of the firm and the performance of the resulting
architecture. You may want to visit existing buildings to see them in use. Notify the selected firm as soon as possible. Remember, conditions change. The firm may not be able to offer the same project team if you
must take several weeks or months to decide.

On what should I base my decision?
Personal confidence in the architect is paramount. Then seek an appropriate balance among these factors: design ability, technical competence, professional service, and cost. Once you've selected the best firm, enter into detailed negotiations of services and compensation. The AIA/RIBA/UAP standard form documents offer an excellent starting point for contract negotiation. If you cannot agree, conclude negotiations with your first choice firm and initiate negotiations with your second choice firm.

Some say that I should select a builder or contractor before selecting an architect. When is that good advice?
It works best to select your architect first. That way you will have help in understanding how to make the builder or contractor an effective member of the building team.

What about competitive bidding?
You can ask for a fee proposal from an architect any time during the selection process that you think is appropriate. Recognize that factors in addition to cost-such as experience, technical competence, and
available staff resources-will be important to your decision. In addition, if you are considering soliciting proposals from more than one firm, you will want to make sure that you can provide all the information required for definite proposals, ensuring that the proposals you get offer the same scope of services, so that they can be evaluated on a consistent basis.

Some additional guidance:
You are engaging the services of a professional. You will work closely with the architect throughout the life of the project, and your relationship may extend to future projects. Invest at least the care it takes to select a financial or legal adviser.

Yours will also be a business relationship. Find out how prospective architects do business, how they work with their clients, how responsive they are to your management and decision styles, and how well their work stacks up against their clients' expectations. The best way to find out is to talk with other owners for whom the firm has provided professional services.

ASK QUESTIONS. Respect the architect as a professional who will bring experience and specialized knowledge to your project. At the same time, don't be afraid to ask the same questions you've asked yourself: What does the architect expect from the project? How much information does the architect need? How does the architect set priorities and make decisions? Who in the firm will work directly with the client? How will engineering or other design services be provided? How does the firm provide quality control during design? What is the firm's construction-cost experience?

BE FRANK. Tell the architect what you know and what you expect. Ask for an explanation of anything you don't understand. The more on the table at the outset, the better the chances are for a successful project.
Remember, a good architect is a good listener. Only when you have outlined your issues can the architect translate those issues to the project's schedule and budget.

*Selection Is a Mutual Process*
The most thoughtful architects are as careful in selecting their clients as owners are in selecting architects. They are as interested in a successful project as you are, and they know that good architecture results from fruitful collaboration between architects and clients.

*Design as a Condition of Selection*
What happens when you ask an architect to design a project as a condition of selection?

Even the simplest of projects are very complex. Each situation is different, including people, needs, site, financing, and regulatory requirements. Many of the owner's needs and expectations become specific
only in the process of design. As the project proceeds, priorities are clarified and new possibilities emerge. The architect's knowledge, experience, and skill become part of the project and contribute still
more possibilities. These facts suggest that back-of-the-envelope designs done as part of the architect-selection process are no substitute for the complex, time-consuming, and intensive dialogue and inquiry that characterize architectural design.

In some cases, owners know just what they need. If you feel you are one of those owners, seriously consider engaging an architect on, for example, an hourly consulting basis to review and test your decision. Detailed professional evaluations of existing buildings can be valuable in uncovering problems and possibilities that may affect your decision. The process of adapting an existing building design to a new site may be more complex than it appears, considering, for example, topography, drainage, other soil conditions, solar orientation, views, traffic patterns, and community issues.

In the right circumstances, a formal design competition may be an appropriate method of selection. A competition generates a broad search for the best solution to a particular building opportunity. It can also
be time consuming and burdensome to administer. The UIA (International Union of Architects--to which the AIA/RIBA/UAP are members of) publishes the "Standard Regulations for International Competitions" as a guide to the conduct of effective competitions.

 

Please feel free to get in touch with us for further concerns regarding the above topics or any queries that you may have.