Home & Garden : Tips on Hiring an Architect
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By: Nazim Nice
 
Date Submitted: 2009-05-22 12:16:39 - Article Views: 20100 - Word Count: 899
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If you are looking to select an architect you've probably read the twenty things to ask an architect article published by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) by now. While this is a good list, 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 good office functions and the technology that is used by the top firms. So here's the list:
1. Schedule a trip to see the architect's office.
An architect's office can say a lot 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 architect's 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. Models or model building supplies, trace paper and sketches can be a sign of real creativity, but project information is normally stored in binders and filing cabinets. Large piles of paper are probably not a good thing.
3. Ask what 3D software the architect is using.
The most sophisticated architects use software that creates a 3D Building Information Model or BIM. 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 elements like sizes of each door and window, and when a size is changed in one drawing, it is automatically updated in another. This can be a real help in reducing errors.
4. The foundation of an architect's experience is his education.
While attending a good college or university can help assure your architect has a good foundation, usually a better indicator is how an architect performed 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 performed in school, ask about design awards they won or exhibitions they may have participated in.
5. Know the staff member(s) you are going to work with.
If you are hiring a multi-person firm, find out who will be working with you. Many times the person you are interviewing with won't actually be doing much design work on your project. If the person you are going to be working with isn't in 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 and words.
Take a look at some of the architect's drawings and ask the architect questions about them. It may be difficult at first to read or understand drawings if you haven't done that before, but if you can't understand them after an architect explains them, then either the drawings are not clearly drawn, or the architect has a hard time communicating - both may be red flags.
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 the architect doesn't assemble specifications, then you'll likely be answering many questions during construction and may be hit with change orders.
8. Look at the architect's website.
A skillfully designed, clearly organized website can communicate that an architect is organized and can assemble information in a clear format. If their website is out of date or they don't have one, this might be a hint that they are behind the times.
9. How well does the architect work with the various building departments?
When your architect submits your drawings to the building department, they are typically reviewed and a revision/correction notice is issued. A skillful architect can easily get a residential or small commercial project through with no revisions or a single round of revisions. Since each round of revisions takes time to pick up drawings, revise, resubmit, and re-review, fewer rounds of revisions means you get your permit sooner. A delayed permit 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.
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About the author:
Nazim Nice is a Seattle Residential Architect at Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC and has many years of experience designing Seattle second story additions and other architectural projects.
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Article Source:
Echievements
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Hiring an Architect  Architect Architect Selection |
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