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.

A good design has a sense of place. Each building type has its specific uses, character, and building materials. All can be designed to have flexibility of use due to changing requirements over time. Building materials can be used based on how they will wear, cradle to cradle material analysis, and how you plan on maintaining them. In public buildings you look for security and openness for the community to match the governing rules of your society. You can design into each project the meaning and mission of the building. The new design concepts, utility systems, and the building materials can all be used to show what is important to you. Every design decision has a psychological impact. Visuals and quality enter into each choice. The layers of life and experiences are tied to the authenticity of the choices made. What we do as Designers is manipulate space, light, structure, and the use of utilities. I address the nuances of human experiences and actions. The honesty in design should be obvious to all. The enclosure of space, being secure from the elements, maybe from others is important. What was the original use of the buildings? The design is also a statement of art. How advanced are you in your thinking of the meaning of life?

To maintain an Architectural practice, you need to review what you do as a professional and the results you achieve for your clients. This active duty will keep one relevant and better prepared for the next project. Clients will want to pass your name around and refer others to you. Feedback from your clients on your services are essential in one’s internal review. Communication is key. The clients need to know what options are available and what to expect during construction. This includes what can be incorporated into their project advancing the design and be able to work through the community approval processes. This is getting harder every day. The entire design team needs to understand all these issues. If getting an approval to build needs some up front planning, then do it. Do not wait for the big ugly issues to come up when you are ready to submit plans to the city. Start it early. Brainstorm the issues. Use the entire development and design team’s knowledge and experience to define all the problem areas. If you are lucky, once those concerns are addressed and worked through, they will meet the required guidelines to achieve permitted plans without great delay.