Selecting an Architect

With the explosion of building projects on all levels of construction in recent years, there has been a rise of incredible talent, education, and experience available to the smart developer or construction manager. Architects and designers from all types of backgrounds are now available and ready to get to work. So how does one wade through the variety of personalities that are claiming to be a "good fit" for YOUR project? It's not easy but there is a way. Let's go through some criteria to take a look at.

1. License. The first item one would want to look at is whether or not an architectural license will be required for the project. A phone call to the local zoning and/or building board will clear this up in a few minutes. Generally, only residential projects smaller than 3,500 sq. ft. do NOT require an architectural license. Again, check with the local zoning and/or building board. If a license is not required, then the options open up a great deal and one can begin to consider designers and/or contractors.  If a license is required then move on to our next step.
2. Expertise.  This will be one of the most important steps in the process of selecting an architect.  What one is looking for here is familiarity and experience with the type of building one needs to create.  For the same reason one would not go to a foot doctor for an examine of ones teeth, one would not employ a residential architect to do an industrial type building design.  Nor would one use a criminal attorney to help develop a tax plan.  The point being that architects who have experience in the type of building one is looking to create are going to be the best suited for the job.  Firms and individuals tend to specialize in certain areas of work.  Schools, industrial plants, cultural buildings, office building each have a particular set of codes that they need to be designed to.  An architect, who is licensed, but unfamiliar with the design behind these various expressions while need to spend additional time researching in the design phase.  Add to that the exposure of risk of a poor design that an experienced firm would be able to avoid.  So, this step is about identifying firms and/or individuals that have the expertise in the type of building one is creating.  A short list of 3-5 firms or individuals would suffice.  Once that is done, one could reach out to the various firms or individuals and begin the interview and Request For Proposal phase.
3. Request For Proposal.  Here is where one can start to identify the firm or individual best suited for the project.  There are four critical factors to look at here:

• Time:  How long will each of the design phases take?  2 to 3 months is not an applicable answer in writing.  The RFP should contain a definite, measurable time table by which each phase of the work will be complete.  In the construction industry, delays can and do happen, but in the design work, there is few reasons, short of an Act of God, that will delay the scheduling of the phases. 
• Price: "You get what you pay for" is an oft quoted staple of business.  Another applicable quote is "A fool and his money are soon parted."  Be weary of promises that are not in writing and/or in the contract.  The RFP should clearly define what the procedures are for payment, when payments are due, how much payments will be expected to be and at what intervals, and what the total cost is.  The RFP should also clearly lay out what exactly is being purchased (one complete set of construction documents for permit and extras will be charged vs. as many sets as needed though occupancy).  Going with time above, don't be afraid to ask for cost reductions if design milestones are not met.
• Contract:  The RFP should stipulate what contract will be used to document the agreement between the design firm or individual and the client.  The American Institute of Architects publishes some great ready made contracts.  Those contracts can be tailored to fit almost any size of project.  If the design firm or individual has a contract that they prefer to use, make sure a blank copy is included so as to protect one against future "oversights."
• Background:  This is not the part of the RFP where one learns what the design firms favorite color is.  Nor is it the spot to include a portfolio of head shots of the firms staff.  A licensed architect will have their background checked by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board to ensure that their education happened at an accredited and approved institution.  Ideally, this part of the RFP will include recent, completed projects, that are directly relevant to the project that is being proposed.

Beyond this, the ultimate decision lies with the client.  Running through this simple checklist will enable a client to effectively "weed" out a variety of contenders to identify the firm or individual that best fits the mold.  Asking for recommendations from friends, family, co-workers will help as well.  It's also important to point out that one does not have to limit their search to their individual state, as the process of getting licensed in different states is not altogether difficult.  As long as the firm meets the criteria outlined above, one will be a good path to a successful project.  Thank you for your time.  God bless.