Looking for an Architect?

Choosing the right architect is important. We have put together a comprehensive list of considerations and questions that you may consider when interviewing and choosing an architect. This list has come from several years of contractor and personal experiences. We hope that you find this very helpful and that we save you time and money. Your architect, like your real estate agent, should be a trusted partner.

Need help or just time? Ask us about our home planning and project management services that we offer clients. We can also just share our recommendations (a short-list) based on your needs. Enjoy the journey! Make it strategic and fun!

Our Criteria for Selecting an Architect

• Communication
• Chemistry
• Trust/Judgment
• Relevant Experience - For example, experience in the Foothills -- ability to optimize/integrate your land with the design/construction (view, wind, fire, snow, wildlife, any water constraints) or "green" building experience
• No surprises -- open kimono
• Site visit to see the land is essential
• Competence & commitment of lead person & others involved
• Design approach/organization
• Design quality
• Innovation - ability to deliver fresh ideas and help us consider options and alternatives
• Experience with technology and diverse building materials (good design tools)
• Constructability/experience & past performance with local builders
• Reliability on budget and schedule control
• Reasonableness on costs and fees
• Looking for an appropriate balance between design ability, technical competence, service and cost
• If you were picking an architect, what are the top 4-5 things that would drive your selection criteria?

Questions

FIRM

1. How long in business?
2. Who are the principals/owners?
3. How long in Boise?
4. Number of employees and breakdown?
5. Design philosophy? What sets you apart?
6. Type of work -- focus of firm, strengths, "signature", proportion of commercial to residential design, etc
7. Specialty services (in-house engineering - structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, etc or design disciplines like planning, landscape architecture, interior design, etc)
8. Primary competitors? Best, most respected competitor?
9. Do you do all work/services in house with employees or outsource? Is there any portion of our work that you might outsource ? assign to consultants or subcontractors? If so, what, why and with whom?
10. Do you carry professional liability insurance?

APPROACH/DESIGN PROCESS

1. How will they approach this project? Conceptual design, detailed design?
2. How will you organize for this, gather information, establish priorities and make decisions?
3. What do you see as the important issues or considerations for this project?
4. What are the biggest challenges and why? How will you or we manage those risks?
5. What are the check points and reviews for us during design?
6. Do you get involved in any permit or zoning acquisition efforts or is that a solely the responsibility of the builder?
7. Could they provide us a map/timeline of the overall sequencing of work from design through construction completion? Will you have a Project Management Plan?
8. Once you get a green light from us, how long will this take? When could we expect to see final drawings suitable for construction?
9. How much and what specific information will you need from us?
10. Who in the firm will directly work with us and be our primary POC?
11. How will engineering or other design services be provided?
12. How does the firm provide quality control during design?
13. What is the firm´s estimating and actual construction cost experience and past performance? Are there metrics they use and will share with us? What should we expect relative to cost-estimating accuracy? Do they typically use a standard contingency %, and if so, what is it?
14. Do they recommend having as-built drawings? If so, any rule of thumb estimates of cost?
15. Do they use CAD? What if any simulations or models will they prepare for us and when in the process?
16. What deliverables can we expect? Blueprints, physical models, computer simulations, as-builts, etc?
17. What relevant project examples and references are you willing to provide us?

DESIGN TEAM

1. Proposed project manager ? lead designer?
2. How long in business?
3. How long with firm?
4. How long in Boise?
5. Experience in Foothills and knowledge of building codes, zoning requirements, & environment?
6. Others he/she will work with?
7. Certifications? (Any required or recommended?)
8. Is the PM our primary point of contact?
9. Who handles negotiations/business terms?
10. Availability of PM and team? What % of their time will be devoted to this versus other projects?
11. Is this likely to change during design? If so, then what?
12. Examples of lead PM/design team work
13. References for these examples?

WORKING WITH THE BUILDER

1. How do they integrate with the builder?
2. What is their role during construction? Do they do progress monitoring, CM or other similar services?
3. When should we expect to select a builder and are they willing/able to formally or informally participate in this?
4. Do you have suggestions on criteria for selecting a builder?
5. Do they have local preferred builders that they´ve had either good or bad experiences with in building their designs?
6. How do they manage conflict or change control with the builder? Experience with disputes and dispute resolution?
7. Do you do contract administration with the builder; i.e., evaluating work for compliance with drawings & specifications, approving shop drawings and/or materials, reviewing results of material tests and inspections, approving contractors requests for payment, handling requests for design changes during construction, administering start-up & close-out, etc?
8. Do they recommend hiring a CM during construction? If so, do they have any recommendations?

COST ESTIMATING/CHANGE CONTROL

1. What is you experience/track record with cost estimating?
2. How will scope changes be handled and when are additional fees charged?
3. What suggestions do you have for reducing unnecessary costs?
4. What process do they follow in managing changes that result in additional costs to them and therefore to us?

CONTRACT/BUSINESS TERMS

1. What do you estimate the fee to be for this project?
2. When do you get paid -- cost/fee sequence?
3. Once we select an architect, describe the process for contracting -- can we get an advance copies of boilerplate or redacted contract documents?
4. How do you establish fees? Hourly, stipulated sum, unit cost/fee based on construction cost, some combination?
5. Are we likely to face a construction cost premium based on the location?

MISC QUESTIONS

1. Ask your architect, what should we be asking or thinking about and aren´t?
2. What else can we share with you to help you understand us or our project?
3. What are the next steps for you3;? Suggestions for us3;?
4. Will you provide us a detailed proposal; approach, key people, budget (cost and fees) and schedule estimate?

AN ARCHITECT´S INPUTS

The top 10 things suggested to us at the start of one of our journeys (directly from an architect in our family...sorry, he doesn´t work in Idaho).

1. Portfolio of work. Can the architect show you the kind of work that you are comfortable with relative to your needs and desires? I would think that you would want an architect who has a focus on residential. And an architect who can demonstrate sensitivity to the style of building, the use of space and the type of materials that interest you.

2. I would spend a lot of time on process. And I would want a very clear understanding of how the architect would propose to keep budget in line...Not just the architectural budget but the final project cost. This is the area that strains almost all relationships between architects and clients. Remember that the more you go back to the well for changes and alterations the more it will cost.

3. I would also be very clear about wanting the architect to do construction supervision. There are uncounted questions that come up in building. You should not be put in a position to have to answer those questions. A thorough understanding of the architect's time commitment and a realistic estimate of budget for this phase is important. The architect should be committed to being on-site daily during construction.

4. Site planning is critical to your project. I would want an architect who was qualified to do site planning as well as design. To me, other disciplines (landscape, structural, mechanical, etc.) could be subcontracted. I would expect that your short list of architects would make the time commitment to visit the site while you are trying to make a choice so that he/she can discuss your particular needs. Of course, you would only deal with a Registered Architect who is licensed to practice in Idaho. I would be pretty insistent about wanting the work done on CAD. It is just more cost-effective in the long run.

5. It is my experience that the project gets real at the point design drawings are complete and approved by you. I would have a very clear understanding that you would expect to be able to get accurate bids for construction at that point. (This is where most projects get into trouble). Expect that the architect will not out design your house...listening to you without regard to your final budget. This happens all too often. Set the budget at the beginning of the project and do not let the architect design outside the budget...!!!) That would mean that materials, fixtures and mechanicals would have to be specified at the end of that phase. I would not be comfortable with "budgets" for various categories. It's easy to exceed budgets in a project like this. I would be clear that I would not be comfortable with any contingency over 15%. There should be plenty of room inside a 15% variable.

6. Your question about timetable is a good one. I would want a commitment as to how much time THE ARCHITECT WOULD REQUIRE for various phases. That way if you decide to hold the project for a period of time it is your responsibility if the project gets derailed as long as the architect stays within the time budget.

7. What you are going to pay for is the time it will take the architect to guide you through the decision process. If you can't come to agreement or if you can't get comfortable with design directions it will cost you more. This is why it is important to get numerous references. Speak to the clients. Visit them in their homes. Have them tell you stories about the process and how it worked for them. If you can't find an architect with plenty of past clients who you can get to...keep looking.

8. Bottom line is that it is about chemistry, experience and talent. If you are comfortable with all three it might work out.

9. Be disciplined. The more you change the more it will cost. I would do my homework. A scrapbook of things you like is important. I would go one step more and try to find complete homes you like. Even if they are the wrong size and scale...if you like the look, the flow of space, materials, the way the home is integrated into the site, etc. you will help the architect do a great job for you and you will keep costs in line.

10. One thing that I do not think you have considered is that someday you might want to expand or add to your house. I would want a final project that could easily be expanded.