Friday, June 29, 2012
Hiring an Architect
Hiring an architect, one of my favorite subjects since I am an architect. The state of Texas is very clear about the process for hiring an architect or an architectural firm. You must base your selection on the qualifications of the firm, not the fee. Even though this legislation has been around for years, we still get asked (not often) what our fee is during an interview. We respectfully decline to answer that question because I could have my license revoked if proven to have violated the regulation.
I always suggest to get an architect engaged as early as possible for a project. Even to the point of site selections as their expertise can be very valuable in helping determine if a site is feasible or not for your school.
To start, determine what it is that you want the architect to do. There are many services that an architect can perform and you need to be specific in your Request for Qualifications (RFQ) about what it is you need. For example, you might need a facility study done on a bldg that you are considering renovating. You might want a master plan designed for a new campus, or a site analysis for several plots of land.
Ask in the RFQ for examples of work that are similar to your needs, who the team will be that will be working on your project. Make sure to ask that question in the interview so that you understand if the team interviewing is the team that will be working with you. You will most likely get multiple responses to the RFQ so develop a process to cull the number down to the top 3 or 5 firms and invite those firms to interview. The selection committee may want to go tour some campuses that have been designed by the firms you are most interested in. Always check references. Call past clients and also check with the General Contractors that have worked with these firms.
Finally, make the selection based upon the qualifications of the firm. Then you can negotiate a fee with the most qualified firm. If you can't negotiate with your number 1 selection, then you go to the second firm and so on. Remember, you can be engaged with an architect for quite a while, the entire design and construction process can encompass any where from 1 to 4 years. You want to be certain it is someone you can trust and work with for an extended period of time.
Michael King AIA
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I have a question. What if, after the architect is hired, there are concerns that come up in regards to how the architect is designing and/or making decisions? What is the recourse for the School District?
ReplyDeleteMelissa Bryan
Tarleton State University
The recourse would be to look and see what your contract says about termination. There is a specific procedure to follow about notification, etc when terminating the contract. The district could go out for RFQ's (request for qualifications) to hire a new architect or go to the firm that was previously ranked as the #2 provider. There are a number of factors to consider however before terminating your architect. The most important is to consider the schedule of the project. It will take time to make the change and possibly cost the district more in fees. Depending what phase the design is in, the new architect will not be able to use the documents of another architect and this could be costly for the district.
DeleteI can't imagine how an architectural firm could commit to a knowing a fee in the early stages of the process until you know exactly what it is a district is asking for. Even a fee schedule would be difficult to have given that there are many different needs to be met, no one could possibly know them all. Your advice is sound...as with any kind of transaction, it is best to investigate as much as you can - especially when the district is subject to community involvement and their investment.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Schwalls
Tarleton State University
I know that when Dublin ISD was looking for an architect we had several bids to look at as well as blue prints to decide on whether we wanted to renovate the building we had or to build new. This is a very time consuming task and it is very important that you find the right architect for the specific job needing done.
ReplyDeleteIt has been suggested that school districts consider obtaining consultants to assist with th ebond planning process. I am curious as to why school districts would not follow this recommendation. The request for qualifications (RFQ) process to evaluate architect qualifications is often practiced in school districts. Some districts wait until the bond election has been voted for by the community. I wonder which avenue is the best for school districts.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Lewis,
DeleteI think that is a great idea to have a consultant to assist with the bond planning process. I'm not for sure that Dublin has hired a consultant, but that might be something to check into so that we might have a better chance of getting a bond passed.
we believe the best procedure is to hire the architect prior to the bond election. As a professional they can give advice as to the design, cost, schedule etc of the project that can be very useful. The contract can be written so that the district is only obligated for a minimal fee to cover the costs of the information from the architect and not a full fee if the bond does not pass.
DeleteThroughout our facilities coursework, it has been suggested that district personnel do not provide enough information for an architect to create any more than a typical school building. When an architect begins this process with a district planning committee, what is something that an architect could say or do that would set their designs off from other competitors...something that might lead district personnel to a more forward-thinking approach?
ReplyDeleteInterestingly though, the more forward-thinking the design, often times the higher the cost. With that in mind, it is hard for me to reconcile how to achieve that cutting-edge design without knowing the fees to build that particular design upfront. Once the cost is calculated, design plans may have to change. Perhaps that is why the typical school design continues to be built....its basic, simple...and least expensive to design and build.
Of course you also point out that that is why you have first, second, and third options in place as you go through the process, too. Selecting the architect is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle in my opinion because it sets the stage for the project. With the community so invested, it's vitally important to choose the firm that best serves the needs and interests of the district.
A. Stewart (TSU)
I find it interesting that the architects are hired primarily on qualifications and not on fees. I guess that helps to insure top quality and to make sure you get the right person for the job at hand. So, if the final firm ends up being to expensive, does the district start from square one does the runner get a shot?
ReplyDeleteM Nelson (TSU)
I am curious what the benefits to removing pricing from the bidding process could possibly be. This makes no sense to me. While I have not been in negotiation with an architect for a school, I was on a church board when we were searching for an architect to design the facility in Arizona, and pricing was a part of process. Obviously, the architect needed a great deal of information in order to submit a bid, some include engineering, some did not, and we all became quite versed in the ways of the architectural world. It seems to me that this criteria would waste time. What are the positive benefits?
ReplyDeleteJerry Racioppi
Tarleton State University
the process has not removed the pricing from the process, it has simply restructured it so that the districts are basing their initial decision on who is the most qualified to do the work. the fee can be worked out in the negotiation phase of the process, if it can't, then the district simply goes to the second ranked firm. Look at it this way, if you are having surgery wouldn't you want the most qualified surgeon to work on you? or are you going to go with the cheapest doctor?
DeleteIt is interesting that qualifications are the most important factor, with cost following later. To me this is like getting to the checkout counter with an item only to realize you can't pay for it. Given the length of time needed to evaluate qualifications and then negotiate a price, it seems like much time could be wasted in the process.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think it is great that quality comes first, it makes me wonder how much extra the top companies are able to charge school districts because of their ability to not disclose prices till after they are selected.
CAndrew - Tarleton State University
I have found that the firms fees are still competitive, if we aren't, we won't be in business very long. Word travels fast in the school world.
DeleteHaving set through lengthy and impressive presentations from multiple architectural firms, we have found that the decision points (as suggested) truly arrive from calling and touring schools the companies have worked with. One firm in particular had an extraordinarily impressive presentation, but when we visited the schools they referenced, we were less than impressed. Little tid bit of info I did not know until recently...when the firms attended the board meetings to present they were not allowed to view each other's presentations. My superintendent said the presentation scheduling had something to do with competing...??
ReplyDeleteLindsay Morgan, TSU