You get what you want

Services

Convincing the potential client that the service you provide requires a monetary exchange rates number 1 among the required assets of an architect’s arsenal of required skills. My thought is that we (architects and designers) artistically intellectualize, usually while trying to explain our design, resulting in a confusing conversation for the client. So what I’ve proposed is a Rosetta Stone , so to speak, of some of the services we provide. First I’ll explain what one gets for what one has paid for followed by how that translates into real world action.

Type # 1, Traditional Fee Structure

Soup to Nuts (Full service)

The Process
(Architect Speak)

Schematic Design: Rough drawings are created and dialogue is had between Consultants and Owners to flush out the design goals and intent.

Preliminary Design: The development of rough drawings and dialogue between Consultants and Owners to flush out the design goals and intent.

Design development: Rough drawings are further developed. A significant amount of detail has been established and design goals have been reached between Consultants and Owners. At this point a clear understanding of what the project goals has been established.

Construction Documents: Detailed drawings are created to communicate to the contractor the design intent.

Construction Administration: The architect and contractor work together to bring the Owners vision to fruition.

Construction Management: The architect works with the contractor in more of a managerial position. It is considered a much more labor intensive position usually requiring additional fees because of the additional project oversight.


The Process:
(Owner Speak)

You tell us what you want
You tell us what you want again and we tell you if it’s possible
You tell us what you want we make it possible
We tell the contractor what you want
We tell the contractor what you want again
We tell the contractor what you want contractor again and again and again
We beg, plead and bribe the contractor while telling them what you want again
We tell the contractor what you want and they tell us if it’s possible
We tell the contractor what you want again and they make it possible
You get what you want



Type # 2, Abbreviated Fee Structure

The Process
(Architect Speak)


Schematic design: Rough drawings are created and dialogue is had between Consultants and Owners to flush out the design goals and intent. Changes are limited changes

Construction documents: Detailed drawings are created to communicate to the contractor the design intent. There is no interior design/ coordination

No cabinetry design, appliances specification, plumbing specification, lighting specification etc. All are additional services and usually done by the contractor.

Additional Services: Project Management is considered an additional service

The Process:
(Owner Speak)


You tell us what you want
You tell us what you want again and we tell you if it’s possible
You tell us what you want we make it possible
We tell the contractor what you want
The contractor may make it possible, may not
You get some of what you want


Type # 3, Alternate Fee Structure

The Process
(Architect Speak)

Design/ Build Services

Architects with the chutzpa are taking the challenge of becoming builders. The Architect works with the Owner to realize their vision. In lieu of now giving the project to a third party the Architect executes the work creating all manner of cost saving for the Owner. Bear in mind this can also be done with a method of construction call turn-key. The difference being that the contractor professional is involved at the end of each phase and executes the work as the third party as the direction is being given. Example: the architect finishes the drawing showing the building footprint. The contractor begins building the footprint immediately. This would happen at every stage of the job in a turn-key application

The Process:
(Owner speak)

You tell us ( the contractor and the architect) what you want
You tell us ( the contractor and the architect) what you want again and we tell you if it’s possible
You tell us ( the contractor and the architect) what you want we make it possible
We make it possible
You get what you want

I think you get the idea. Your wish is our command. In the end all are happy as long as you get what you want.