OUR PROCESS
WHAT IS AN ARCHITECT AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
Myth Vs. reality
What do architects really do?
An Architect's role is more broad than typically believed. When an Architect manages your project, they become your guide, facilitating the complex process of design, construction documentation and construction completion. As a Builder, your project is one of the biggest forms of Capital Investments possible. The right Architect greatly increases your odds that your project will run according to your set plans and vision. The Architect also provides insight in to approval process requirements which if not guided, you could run in to common pitfalls that could easily be avoided if you hire the right consulting team i.e. Conservation Limitations, Official Plan Amendments, Variances required C of A Applications, etc. This information is crucial as it allows for a more realistic project timeline.
Myth:
DRAWING aesthetic design sketches that gets sent to builders for construction.
WORKS alone for the entire project.
rEALITY:
REVIEWING the title, zoning, survey, and any easements that may restrict what or where or could build and what type of approvals are required.
MANAGING COMPLIANCE with building and safety regulations, local planning regulations and restrictions. There may be surrounding the preservation of the local environment or any historic parts of a building.
LEADERSHIP - heading up the team of professionals who will work on the project, which include the consulting team and engineers.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT - site visits and meetings, reviewing design intent is met during construction and validating quality of work, negotiating with contractors, and dealing with and resolving any problems that arise.
CONSTRUCTION/PERMIT DOCUMENTATION - translates the design into instructions and technical specifications for contractors and construction experts. If requested, the Architect can assist with budgeting by specifying proposed materials and details to fit in addition to value-engineering projects, so the Client’s budget can be met.
PROCESS DIAGRAM
The value of the architect
Cost of Design and Construction as a Percentage of Total Asset Life Cycle Costs
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
Architecture is the sole profession whose members are qualified to design and provide advice.
Architects add value to building projects by creating a design and layout that is functional., durable, and energy-efficient.
Design services are usually 10% of the total of all design and construction costs. Therefore, the architect’s fee can be as low as 0.01% of the life cycle costs for design, constructing, and operating a facility.
Clients and architects need to discuss the value of architectural services and how an architect’s ideas and knowledge can result in significant increases to the real estate value of a building, as well as savings in the building’s operating and maintenance costs.
The pie chart to the left illustrates that the architect’s fees are a very small fraction of the total costs for constructing and owning a building.
Strategic thinking that is informed, integrated, and builds on intelligent pre-design and decision-making will have a positive impact on project quality, costs, and schedule.
Clients that invest in integrated early design will realize increased value by significantly reducing the risk of project shortfalls.
The MacLeamy Curve to the right illustrates that the early design-based decision-making can lever resources to achieve successful project outcomes and operational efficiency. Reducing the project costs by reducing the resources available for an effective design acts to work against the client’s and user’s best interests.
MacLeamy Curve: Influence of Early Effective Decision-making on Project Outcomes
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
Service fee breakdown
Typical Breakdown of Fees Over Design Project Phases
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
Traditional percentage-based fee sample
A percentage-based fee is a method of compensation which links the fee for the architect’s services to a percentage of the construction cost of the project.
Percentage-based fees are based on sliding scales considering both size and complexity of the project and the construction costs.
The fee indicated on the sliding scale is the starting point for discussion, and the baseline fee that must then be revised using the various fee adjustment factors to determine the appropriate fee for architectural services for the unique project.
Complex projects, such as extensive renovations or heritage conservation, may require addition resources during the construction documentation and construction (contract administration) phases, thus changing the balance of fees across the phases.
The table and chart above and to the right, indicates the typical breakdown fees over the traditional five phases of simple and average projects.
Typical Allocation of Fees for a “Traditional” Architectural Project
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
Service fee breakdown (BIM)
The table to the right reflects a range of fee breakdowns for projects with intense early phases. For specific projects, it may be appropriate to vary theses percentages, subject to agreement with the client.
Percentage-Based Fee for projects using building information modeling(BIM)
Emerging forms of project design and documentation, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), require more documentation and design in the early phases compared to the Traditional Architectural Projects .
Which made a change of the fee breakdown schedule during the phases.
Range of Fee Breakdowns for Projects with Intensive Early Phases Including Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
Construction Costs
Construction Cost Estimation by Project Phase
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
It is important for the client to have a full understanding of the definition of construction costs. This is the basis for calculating the fee using a percentage that has been negotiated.
The basis for calculating the percentage fee should typically be as follows:
before a construction cost estimate is available, the fee is based on the construction budget at the time of the invoice;
After a construction cost estimate is available, the fee is based on the current construction cost estimate at the time of the invoice;
After the construction contract is entered into, the fee is based on the current construction cost estimate at the time of the invoice.
Basic Architectural services
Basic Architectural Services
Credit: Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC.ORG)
The phases described in the chart to the left, list the basic services for each phase.
Note that “Pre-design” and “Post-construction” services are additional services and are therefore not included in the chart. Neither are “Pre-design” or “Post-construction” services included in the percentage fee listed in the chart.