architect's scope of services

[solidred]

I was wondering where others stand on the range of services an architect should provide. As far as I know, there’s a split between those who would focus on pushing unique selling points or specialisms – for example, design ability up to planning stage – and those who would prefer to retain a generalist agenda and bemoan the fact the health & safety managers (CDM co-ordinators in the UK) and project managers and sustainability consultants etc. etc. seem to be picking up significant paychecks for tasks that we could / should / used-to perform?

And what's the main drive behind your preference: variety / job satisfaction / power / respect / fees / creative enjoyment / alignment with original ambitions etc.?

[csintexas]

That is the conundrum isn't it?

Those other things are not really the part of architecture most students are trained to believe in or to want.

On the other hand I would have to guess that a fair number of architectural graduates are filling those sorts of jobs.

Specialization seems to be quality of the modern world.

[88]

If it is a real business to make profit, architects should provide any services that can make them money. This can be from green design to construction.
If it is to save the world and making money or losing money is not an issue, I guess one can just do whatever one feels like without watching the clock and fees.
Personally, I like to have a super tight scope making sure there is some profit at the end of each scope/ phase . I stayed away from things that the client is uneasy or can be indecisive .

[Richard Haut]

good question.

historically it often depended on the nature of the practice, so a firm in, say, a market town would undertake a very broad range of work but tended to stay on their home patch.

others found that success in a particular building type resulted in it becoming their specialization - whether they wanted that or not.

it is now that it matters so if - for example - a practice became known for schools design within the UK, suddenly their market virtually evaporates.

similarly with specific skills - as an add-on they can be very valuable, but all specializations can become a trap.

it is a tricky balance and I would suggest that it is something which a practice needs to keep constantly in mind so that they do not become over-general (which can give a vague impression of their work) or too market-specific.

and yes, the practice should make a profit !

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

ARCHITECTS DELIVER A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES

The AIA Phase/ Service Matrix fully captures all nine phases of architectural service; This is a big menu of services which you can choose from, a copy is presented below for your use, cut and paste from our Client Assistance Memo.

We are happy to share this with you.


The Walker Architects outline below describes & explains the services and tasks included in the matrix that are most commonly used by our clients.

The detailed scope & Sequence will typically be attached as well, it is a copy of the (example) detailed scope of service and sequence document which is typically custom modified and made a part of our contracts to define our deliverables to our clients. A word document version is available for your use.

The outline below is provided to clearly define some of the services Walker Architects may be contracted to provide. You will discover upon examination that the outline below does not fully represent the Phase/ Service Matrix attached. As presented here the outline is applicable only to residential projects such as yours. You will typically not need the full range of services we provide.

We want you to use the tools provided to assist us in defining the right scope of services for your project.

The following areas of service are always included:
• Project Administration is assumed as a required task in every phase in this outline.
• Inter-discipline coordination and document checking is always included where consultants are engaged by architect to assist with the project work.
• Agency Consulting & review is a required task throughout the design and construction of the project, and the scope of architectural services proposed includes architects consultation with government agencies.
• Architect will always review Owner Supplied Data and will coordinate with the owner’s consultants.
• Design Project Scheduling
• Meetings and Presentations to client
The following consulting tasks are available upon request as additional services:

• Marketing studies & Feasibility studies,
• Project financing,
• Project Budgeting & Estimating and
• Presentations to third parties.
• Environmental studies

PHASE 1
Pre-Design Phase: the stage in which the owner's program, the financial and time requirements, and the scope of a project are established. Owner and Architect must work together to accomplish this task, which to some extent precedes the contract for architectural services.
Programming - consultation with the client to establish and document the following detailed requirements for a project:
• Design objectives, limitations and criteria
• Development of initial approximate total facility areas and space requirements
• Space relationships and adjacencies
• Number of occupants and related functional responsibilities.
• Flexibility, adaptability and expandability, (planning for future changes)
• Special equipment and systems
• Site requirements
• Development of a preliminary budget for the work based on programming and scheduling studies
• Operating procedures
• Security criteria
• Communications relationships
• The Design Project Schedule
Space Schematics/Flow Diagrams: - diagrammatic studies and pertinent descriptive text for:
• Conversion of programmed requirements to net area requirements
• Internal functions
• Human, vehicular and material flow patterns
• General space allocations
• Analysis of operating functions
• Adjacency
• Special facilities and equipment
• Flexibility and expandability
Existing Facilities Surveys - researching, assembling, reviewing and supplementing information for projects involving alterations and additions to existing facilities or determining new space usage in conjunction with a new building program and including:
• Photography
• Field measurements
• Review of existing design data
• Analysis of existing structural capabilities
• Analysis of existing mechanical capabilities
• Analysis of existing electrical capabilities
• Review of existing drawings for critical inaccuracies, and the development of required measured drawings.

PHASE 2
Site Analysis Phase: the stage in which site-related limitations and requirements for a project are established.
Site Analysis and Selection - consisting of:
• Identification of site potential
• On-site observations
• Movement systems, traffic and parking studies
• Topography analysis
• Analysis of deed, zoning and other legal restrictions
• Studies of availability of labor force to staff owner's facility
• Studies of availability of construction materials, equipment and labor
• Studies of construction market
• Overall site analysis and evaluation
• Comparative site studies
Site Development Planning - preliminary site analysis, and preparation and comparative evaluation of conceptual site development designs, based on:
• Land utilization
• Structures placement
• Facilities development
• Development phasing
• Movement systems, circulation and parking
• Utilities systems
• Surface and subsurface conditions
• Ecological requirements
• Deeds, zoning and other legal restrictions
• Landscape concepts and forms
Detailed Site Utilization - detailed site analyses, based on the approved conceptual site development design, including:
• Land utilization
• Structures placement
• Facilities development
• Development phasing
• Movement systems, circulation and parking
• Utilities systems
• Surface and subsurface conditions
• Review of soils report
• Vegetation
• Slope analysis
• Ecological studies
• Deeds, zoning and other restrictions
• Landscape forms and materials
On-Site Utility Studies - establishing requirements and preparing initial designs for on-site:
• Electrical service and distribution
• Gas service and distribution
• Water supply and distribution
• Site drainage
• Sanitary sewer collection and disposal
• Process waste water treatment
• Storm water collection and disposal
• Central-plant mechanical systems
• Fire systems
• Emergency systems
• Security
• Pollution control
• Site Illumination
• Communications systems
Zoning Processing Assistance - consisting of:
• Assistance in preparing applications
• Development of supporting data
• Preparation of presentation materials
• Attendance at public meetings and hearings.
PHASE 3
Schematic Design Phase: the stage in which the general scope, conceptual design, and the scale and relationship of components of a project are established.
Architectural Design/Documentation - responding to program requirements and preparing:
• Review of Owner's Program and Budget
• Conceptual site and building plans
• Preliminary sections and elevations
• Preliminary selection of building systems and materials
• Development of approximate dimensions, areas and volumes
• Perspective sketch(es)
• Study model(s) Landscape Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Consideration of alternate materials, systems and equipment and development of conceptual design solutions for land forms, lawns and plantings based on program requirements, physical site characteristics, design objectives, and environmental determinants. Structural Design/Documentation - recommendations regarding basic structural materials and systems, analyses, and development of conceptual design solutions for:
o A predetermined structural system
o Alternate structural systems
Mechanical Design/Documentation - consideration of alternate materials, systems and equipment, and development of conceptual design solutions for:
• Energy source(s)
• Energy conservation
• Heating and ventilation
• Air conditioning
• Plumbing
• Fire protection
• General space requirements
Electrical Design/Documentation - consideration of alternate systems, recommendations regarding basic electrical materials, systems and equipment, analyses, and development of conceptual solutions for:
• Power service and distribution
• Lighting
• Telephones
• Fire detection and alarms
• Security systems
• Electronic communications
• Special electrical systems
• General space requirements
Civil Design/Documentation - consideration of alternate materials and systems and development of conceptual design solutions for:
• On-site utility systems
• Fire protection systems
• Drainage systems
• Paving
Interior Design/Documentation - space allocation and utilization plans based on functional relationships, consideration of alternate materials, systems and equipment and development of conceptual design solutions for architectural, mechanical, electrical and equipment requirements in order to establish:
• Partition locations
• Furniture and equipment layouts
• Types and qualities of finishes and materials for furniture, furnishings and equipment.

Materials Research/Specifications - consisting of:
• Identification of potential architectural materials, systems and equipment and their criteria
• and quality standards consistent with the conceptual design
• Investigation of availability and suitability of alternative architectural materials, systems and equipment
• Coordination of similar activities of other disciplines.
PHASE 4
Design Development Phase: the stage in which the size and character of a project are further refined and described, including architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical systems, materials, and such other elements as may be appropriate.
Architectural Design/Documentation - continued development and expansion of architectural Schematic Design documents to establish the final scope, relationships, forms, size and appearance of a project through:
• Plans, sections and elevations
• Typical construction details
• Three-dimensional sketch(es)
• Study model(s)
• Final materials selection
• Equipment layouts.

Structural Design/Documentation - continued development of the specific structural system(s) and Schematic Design documents in sufficient detail to establish:
• Basic structural system and dimensions
• Final structural design criteria
• Foundation design criteria
• Preliminary sizing of major structural components
• Critical coordination clearances
• Outline specifications or materials lists.
Mechanical Design/Documentation - continued development and expansion of mechanical Schematic Design documents and development of outline specifications or materials lists to establish:
• Approximate equipment sizes and capacities
• Preliminary equipment layouts
• Required space for equipment
• Required chases and clearances
• Acoustical and vibration control
• Visual impacts
• Energy conservation measures.
Electrical Design/Documentation - continued development and expansion of electrical Schematic Design documents and development of outline specifications or materials lists to establish:
• Criteria for lighting, electrical and communications systems
• Approximate sizes and capacities of major components
• Preliminary equipment layouts
• Required space for equipment
• Required chases and clearances.
Civil Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Continued development and expansion of civil Schematic Design documents and development of outline specifications or materials lists to establish the final scope of and preliminary details for on-site and off-site civil engineering work.
Landscape Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Continued development and expansion of landscape Schematic Design documents and development of outline specifications or materials lists to establish final scope and preliminary details for landscape work.
Interior Design/Documentation - continued development and expansion of interior Schematic Design documents and development of outline specificaitons or materials lists to establish final scope and preliminary details relative to:
• Interior construction of a project
• Special interior design features
• Furniture, furnishings and equipment selections
• Materials, finishes and colors.

Materials Research/Specifications - consisting of:
• Development of architectural outline specifications or itemized lists and brief form identification of significant architectural materials, systems and equipment, including their criteria and quality standards
• Coordination of similar activities of other disciplines
• Production of design manual including design criteria and outline specifications or materials lists.
PHASE 5
Contract Documents Phase: stage in which the requirements for the work are set forth in detail.
Architectural Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of drawings based on approved Design Development documents setting forth in detail the architectural construction requirements for a project.
Structural Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of final structural engineering calculations, drawings and specifications based on approved Design Development documents, setting forth in detail the structural construction requirements for a project.
Mechanical Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of final mechanical engineering calculations, drawings and specifications based on approved Design Development documents, setting forth in detail the mechanical construction requirements for a project.
Electrical Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of final electrical engineering calculations, drawings and specifications based on approved Design Development documents, setting forth in detail the electrical requirements for a project.
Civil Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of final civil-engineering calculations, drawings and specifications based on approved Design Development documents, setting forth in detail the civil construction requirements for a project.
Landscape Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of drawings and specifications based on approved Design Development documents, setting forth in detail the landscape requirements for a project.

Interior Design/Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation of drawings, specifications and other documents based on approved Design Development documents, setting forth in detail the requirements for interior construction and for furniture, furnishings and equipment for a project.
Materials Research/Specifications - consisting of:
• Assistance to the owner in development and preparation of bidding and procurement information which describes the time, place and conditions of bidding, bidding forms, and the form(s) of Agreement between the owner and contractor(s)
• Development and preparation of architectural specifications describing materials, systems and equipment, workmanship, quality and performance criteria required for the construction of a project
• Coordination of the development of specifications by other disciplines
• Compilation of a project manual including conditions of the contract, bidding and procurement information and specifications.
PHASE 6
Bidding or Negotiation Phase: the stage in which bids or negotiated proposals are solicited and obtained and in which contracts are awarded. (General contractor may engaged by bidding process or negotiation process or both)
Bidding Materials - organizing and handling bidding documents for:
• Coordination
• Reproduction
• Completeness review
• Distribution
• Distribution records
• Retrieval
• Receipt and return of document deposits
• Review, repair, and reassembly of returned materials.
Bidding/Negotiation - consisting of:
• Assistance to owner in establishing list of bidders or proposers
• Prequalification of bidders or proposers
• Participation in pre-bid conferences
• Responses to questions from bidders or proposers and clarifications or interpretations of the bidding documents
• Attendance at bid opening(s)
• Documentation and distribution of bidding results
Analysis of Alternates/Substitutions - consisting of:
• Consideration, analyses, comparisons, and recommendations relative to alternates or substitutions proposed by bidders or proposers either prior or subsequent to receipt of bids or proposals.

Bid Evaluation - consisting of:
• Validation of bids or proposals
• Participation in reviews of bids or proposals
• Evaluation of bids or proposals
• Recommendation on award of contract(s)
• Participation in negotiations prior to or following decisions on award of the contract(s)
Contract Award - consisting of:
• Notification of contract award(s)
• Assistance in preparation of construction contract agreement forms for approval by owner
• Preparation and distribution of sets of contract documents for execution by parties to the contracts
• Receipt, distribution and processing, for owner's approval, of required certificates of insurance, bonds and similar documents
• Preparation and distribution to contractor(s), on behalf of the owner, of notice(s) to proceed with the work.
PHASE 7
Contract Administration Phase: the stage in which the work is performed by one of more contractors.
Submittal Services - consisting of:
• Processing of submittals, including receipt, review of, and appropriate action on shop drawings, product data, samples and other submittals required by the contract documents
• Distribution of submittals to owner, contractor and/or architect's field representative as required
• Maintenance of master file of submittals
• Related communications
Observation Services - consisting of:
• Visits to the site at intervals appropriate to the stage of the work or as otherwise agreed by the owner and architect in writing to become generally familiar with the progress and quality of the work completed and to determine in general if the work when completed will be in accordance with the contract documents; preparing related reports and communications.
Testing and Inspection Administration - relating to independent inspection and testing agencies, consisting of:
• Administration and coordination of field testing required by the contract documents
• Recommending scope, standards, procedures and frequency of testing and inspections
• Arranging for testing and inspection on owner's behalf
• Notifying inspection and testing agencies of status of work requiring testing and inspection
• Evaluating compliance by testing and inspection agencies with required scope, standards, procedures and frequency
• Review of reports on inspections and tests and notifications to owner and contractor(s) of observed deficiencies in the work

Supplemental Documentation - consisting of:
• Preparation, reproduction and distribution of supplemental drawings, specifications and interpretations in response to requests for clarification by contractor(s) or the owner
• Forwarding owner's instructions and providing guidance to the contractor(s) on the owner's behalf relative to changed requirements and schedule revisions.
Quotation Requests/Change Orders - consisting of:
• Preparation, reproduction and distribution of drawings and specifications to describe work to be added, deleted or modified
• Review of proposals from contractor(s) for reasonableness of quantities and costs of labor and materials
• Review and recommendations relative to changes in time for substantial completion
• Negotiations with contractor(s) on owner's behalf relative to costs of work proposed to be added, deleted or modified
• Assisting in the preparation of appropriate modifications of the contract(s) of construction
• Coordination of communications, approvals, notifications and record-keeping relative to changes in the work.
Contract Cost Accounting - consisting of:
• Maintenance of records of payments on account of the contract sum and all changes thereto
• Evaluation of applications for payment and certification thereof
• Review and evaluation of expense data submitted by the contractor(s) for work performed under cost-plus-fee arrangements.
Project Closeout - services initiated upon notice from the contractor(s) that the work, or a designated portion thereof which is acceptable to the owner, is sufficiently complete, in accordance with the contract documents, to permit occupancy or utilization for the use for which it is intended, and consisting of:
• A detailed inspection with the owner's representative for conformity of the work to the contract documents to verify the list submitted by the contractor(s) of items to be completed or corrected
• Determination of the amounts to be withheld until final completion
• Securing and receipt of consent of surety or sureties, if any, to reduction in or partial release of retainage of the making of final payment(s)
• Issuance of certificate(s) of substantial completion
• Inspection(s) upon notice by contractor(s) that work is ready for final inspection and acceptance
• Notification to owner and contractor(s) of deficiencies found in follow-up inspection(s), if any
• Final inspection with the owner's representative to verify final completion of the work
• Receipt and transmittal of warranties, affidavits, receipts, releases and waivers of liens of bonds indemnifying the owner against liens
• Securing and receipt of consent of surety or sureties, if any, to the making of final payments
• Issuance of final certificate(s) for payment.
PHASE 8
Post-Contract Phase: the stage in which assistance in an owner's use and occupancy of a project is provided.
Maintenance and Operational Programming - consisting of:
• Assistance in the establishment by the owner of in-house or contract program(s) of operation and maintenance of the physical plant and equipment
• Arranging for and coordinating instructions on operations and maintenance of equipment in conjunction with manufacturer's representatives
• Assistance in the preparation of operations and maintenance manual(s) for the owner's use.
Start-Up Assistance - consisting of:
• On-site assistance in the operation of the building systems during initial occupancy
• Assistance in the training of the owner's operation and maintenance personnel in proper operations, schedules and procedures
• Administration and coordination of remedial work by the contractor(s) after final completion.
Record Drawing - consisting of:
• Making arrangements for obtaining from contractor(s) information in the form of marked-up prints, drawings and other data certified by them on changes made during performance of the work
• Review of general accuracy of information submitted and certified by the contractor(s)
• Preparation of record drawings base on certified information furnished by contractor(s)
• Transmittal of record drawings and general data, appropriately identified, to the owner and others as directed.
Warranty Review - consisting of:
• Consultation with and recommendation to the owner during the duration of warranties in connection with inadequate performance of materials, systems and equipment under warranty
• Inspection(s) prior to expiration of the warranty period(s) to ascertain adquacy of performance of materials, systems and equipment
• Documenting defects or deficiencies and assisting the owner in preparing instructions to the contractor(s) for correction of noted defects.
Post-Contract Evaluation - project inspection at least one year after completion of the work; review with appropriate supervisory, operating and maintenance personnel, and analysis of operating costs and related data for evaluation of:
• The initial project programming versus actual facility use
• The functional effectiveness of planned spaces and relationships
• The operational effectiveness of systems and materials installed.

PHASE 9
Supplemental Services Phase: This Phase captures a wide variety of services that clients may want included in a contract for architectural services or as additional services to a contract. Supplemental services are typically added by owners after a contract has been made with the architect as additional services to the contract. Additional services are typically compensated on an hourly basis and must be requested in writing by the owner. (See Phase/ Service Matrix)

For Your Use

[solidred]

WalkerArchitects I didn't actually read that all the way through
I suppose that begs the question: if someone wanders into a shop on Rodeo drive after an overpriced pair of Manolo Blahnik slingbacks, is she after heel design / materials technology / morphological engineering / space-anatomy-pedestrial concepts or... a pair of cool shoes?

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

Solidred
Cut and paste that to a word document save it and stuff it in a file folder. Someday you will want that! Also there is a pdf of a document we use that I could send by email if you want to see what the original looked like. It is cool!

or better yet see if you can get a copy of the AIA Phase/ Service Matrix from the AIA.

We believe that the workplace of the Future will exist at the intersection of collaboration and performance.

PEACE
TLW

[RickBalkins]

Looks like a Building Design project to me. With the change of "architectural" (or similar A-word) to "building design" or any other appropriate way to describe it without the A-word.

I simply break it down to:

PRE-DESIGN/DESIGN STAGE SERVICES ie. PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

Pre-Design Services (which combines -

Phase 1 & 2 essentially. Site Analysis is prepatory to Design. At this stage, it is not about the program and the work to be designed. It is about gathering the information about what is. Some aspects of Site Analysis continues into Schematic Design. Some of this feathers in vs. necessarily crisp lines of delineation.)

Long and spelled out.


Schematic Design (Rough Conceptual)

- quite self-explanatory and already well explained in the list by Terry.


Design Development (Conceptual Refinement)


Construction Documents / Bidding & Negotiations / permits and close-out of Design and entrance into Construction phase.

* Coordination with consultants and such is an integral part of the project and always included when there is consultants. Otherwise, the work is coordinated by me in relation to all the other elements of the design. I tend to combined the Bidding & Negotiations - as part of how I divide up the stages. You might say that it is a sub-phase near the end including permits and related stuff.

CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES

Construction Administration / Observation and related services

- Services within each phase can be broken down but they are more a unit of the stages.


I don't necessarily consider ADDITIONAL SERVICES or SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES as a different phase per se. Some such services may fall into Pre-design, schematic, design development, CDs, and construction-phase and some cases - post-construction phase.

There is sometime POST-CONSTRUCTION services such as As-Builts to be prepared and so on. It all depends. They are more often than not - simply considered an additional service in my book.

I delineate things a little different but that is more a matter of preference vs. any absolute rule. There is none. It is a matter of preference, schooling, philosophy and just personal preference (did I not just say that). Kind of like ways to draw a set of plans. There is many ways to compose information on a set of plans. Just mostly standards of information placed into the drawings.

There is no way this can be competently done in 14 hours.

[solidred]

WalkerArchitects: I guess the extreme itemisation is useful for a) clearly demonstrating all that is actually involved and b) for billing for each of those tasks or omitting the tasks that aren't being explicitly paid for. I guess that is appropriate to certain forms of practice, especially those where interaction with hard-nosed bean-counter committees are involved. Which is a large part of modern practice.
I guess, however, my personal preference would be akin to seeing that as one might walk into a restaurant and seeing 100 dishes on the menu, as opposed to seeing only - say - three choices for each course. I make an instant assumption that the latter restaurant serves better food.

Thing is, the word 'architect' covers both sorts of approach. Therefore, is the description 'architect' really any use these days or is it - in fact - counter-productive? A source of confusion rather than clarity? And if people are thinking of paying other people to do something, isn't absolute clarity at the very outset what everyone's more comfortable with? Sure, that exhaustive scope of services offers such clarity. But your potential clients will first of all had to approach you - in particular - before they read it. Architects fees - in general - are based upon what others *think* an architect does which is - often as not - one heck of a lot less than what most actually do.

I agree with Chris that specialism is the feature that defines our age in this context. When it comes to earning money, the notion of 'architect as renaissance gentleman' is pretty much obsolete. Yet this is the version of architect largely taught in schools. I know why: it's much more interesting and rewarding to approach life in that way. But carried into business practice, it's the reason architects so often struggle to survive, let alone prosper.

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

We agree, the most common trend lately is we do not use the matrix to define the scope of work in most of our contracts. We do it both ways where applicable.
We use the matrix to separate the services included from the services not included when we engage fixed fee contracts, on larger projects to circumvent potential argument over fees.

TLW

[dytecture]

As buildings become more complex and specialized, the role of architect is diminished, and in extreme cases merely for CAD coordination while most design work are being dictated by these specialists. It's important for architects to focus on certain types of buildings, and not try to be everything.

[Landy]

it depends on the area of strength of the architect

[WalkerARCHITECTS]

Architects have a wide range of services that span numerous capacities and value creation opportunities. Yet, the perception of architects as delivery agents of design intelligence remains limited to the basics. As professionals we may find recourse in difficult economies by expanding the scope of our services.

[susandixon]

Now a days having a certain specialization is really important not just in architecture but also in several profession.


House Plans Houston

[Richard Haut]

Susan is right - in a market as tough as this, architects need to concentrate on what makes them different as a practice.

my own view is that this is not just in terms of standard categories, but also the combination of experience, skills and the enthusiasm of the firm.

it is often possible to find an unusual approach to a market or type of project in which the architects are particularly strong and this enables them to come out in front with the right clients.

it is this approach which I use in putting together a brief for finding work for practices. Otherwise one risks being unnoticed as part of the crowd, and in this market the crowd can be large.

I covered a delightful project earlier this year in southern Europe - a local won it, only 18 firms applied. Why did no British architect win ? Because only locals applied.

http://archintel.over-blog.com