What is the Architect's responsibility to the client for life cycle costing for the design of a project?

In determining the program requirements for a project prior to submitting a proposal for services or helping the client with the analysis in determining the programming requirements for a project at the beginning of services, the architect should discuss life cycle costing issues. This can include the length of time the owner anticipates keeping the property under his or her watch.

There are also speculative and sales advantages for the owner on the sale of a project. Loan options on the development and or sale of the property may also be affected by the life cycle costing issues.

But first we must inform the owner that life cycle costing issues will not have a negative impact on the aesthetic issue of the project. A well-designed site and building using sustainable concepts and building materials can look and perform as well, and maintain better, than a development with no thought into how long the materials specified will last.

When we talk to our clients about designing a home, office or community in a sustainable or green way, what exactly do we mean?

Sustainability can mean different things. For me it starts with how my actions affect the earth and its living creatures. It means taking personal responsibility for the continued life of our natural resources. Clean air, water and earth are not things to be taken for granted.

Green design involves using natural resources, energy and building materials responsibly. The integration of the building site-ing, orientation and building materials (both outside and inside) all have an impact. A holistic approach to the design with full integration of design ideas, building systems and the governing codes, needs to be implemented from the start of the project.

The extent of sustainable or green design needs to be tied down with the client prior to starting the design process. This involves understanding the financial implications from design, to construction, to maintenance, all the way through to life cycle costing.

There are no limits to the ability to integrate current and new ideas into a design. The architect or chosen team leader then can coordinate the entire design, construction and maintenance issues for the project.

Architects Base Fees

Architectural fees are determined by the amount of time and effort that each specific project requires. The more services, oversight, and responsibility given to the architect the higher the fees will be. Those are the main factors in regard to total fees. The Architect is the team leader, the responsible party. There are types of projects that can be slammed out. The level of coordination can be low. Responsibility can be taken by the client. The projects can be drawn as a builders set in lieu of a full bid set. There are many ways to reduce fees. In each case the Owner takes on more responsibility. Who needs to document existing conditions and find the old building permits? Who is designing the new building? Is it one design concept or are there several? What level of detail is wanted on the construction documents? What kind of specifications are needed? Are interior design issues included? Who is going to process all the government approvals? Is bidding going to be involved? To what extent will the Architect and the design team be needed during construction? Will they need to be onsite? Will commissioning be part of all this? Then there are many other issues related to energy systems and value engineering that may need to be looked at including but not limited to, sustainability, low voltage systems, and acoustics. The effort extended to properly meet all the requirements to fulfill a project’s goal needs to be determined. When issues and services are defined, then the fee negotiations; fixed, hourly, or percentages; can be determined, approved, and the work can begin.

I’m a naturalist. I tend to lean more towards the organic side of things. I enjoy the variations of organic form. They are not ostentatious or contrived. They instill harmony in ones surrounding. Purity of form is the highest developed Art. This is what every artist hopes to achieve. Seeing beauty in pure form is not easy. Many people do not understand it. It might scare them. Others feel it immediately and it is praised. I have presented designs to approval committees and they have always liked and approved my design concepts. This is true even when I am pushing the limit on code issues. I bring up the various interpretations of the codes and show how what I am proposing will benefit all parties. This brings people together. Approvals are always better when everyone sees the bigger picture.

Harmonizing within the design and community is the greatest achievement. Expressions of movement and natural processes evokes a more natural flowing life. Space is not dead; it is part of your every day experiences. It adds or detracts from enriching your life energy. Design can invoke the intuitive and creative choices in you. That surge of fancy expands your soul. It up lifts you. When you really see the rational analysis of a harmonic companion, one that expresses the synthesis of nature, you appreciate where you are at and have the added advantage of knowing the difference of being in other environments. Culture, Reason, and imagination can then be expanded. This has an additive affect. The appreciation of life expands. The spaces that achieve this, as in World Heritage Sites, are sought after. People flock to them.