TOP QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE ENGAGING AN ARCHITECT

At Andrew Wallace Architects, we understand that hiring an architect can be a big decision. Depending on the size of your project, you may work with the same team for months or even years. As a result, it’s crucial that you hire a partner who understands your vision and needs. So, how do you determine which architect is right for your project?

With over 20 years of experience, we know that finding an architect is about finding somebody who aligns with your values and understands your vision. To help with your search, we’ve put together a list of helpful questions you should ask before hiring an architect.

Keep reading to learn more about the most useful questions to ask before hiring an architect.

Good Questions To Ask an Architect

In this section, we outline some of the most common questions we get asked by potential clients. Asking these all-important questions can prove incredibly useful when deliberating which architect to hire.

What Will The Design Process Look Like?

Understanding the design process is crucial for a successful project. Each architect may have a slightly different approach, so it’s important to ask how they intend to manage your project and which consultants should be involved at each stage.

Ultimately, this comes down to the Plan of Work developed by the Royal Institute of British Architects and whether your architect works to these factors.

As set out by the RIBA, the design process includes the following steps:

Preparation & briefing
Concept design
Spatial design including planning permissions
Technical design including construction documents
Manufacturing & construction (includes architect overseeing the construction process and final handover).

Therefore, it helps to understand how your architect plans to handle these steps and ensure they align with your needs, preferences and cashflow. You have to consider how often you will meet to discuss the progress and client’s feedback as well as the frequency of meetings on site during the construction process.

What Is The Estimated Timeline For My Project?

Understanding a realistic timeline is key to the success of any architectural project. We recommend that you ask potential architects when they can start and how long they estimate the project will take from the start of the design process to completion and tendering.

Discuss how long approximately each stage of design will take including time for obtaining a planning approval. Knowing the timeline at the beginning of the project will help you manage expectations and plan your cash flow and budgeting accordingly. If you have specific deadlines or timing concerns, share them with the architect from the beginning. Don’t forget to factor in your time to make considered decisions.

An experienced architect will provide a timeline that takes into account design, planning permissions, and technical phase of design. Obviously, regardless of the architect’s experience, it is difficult to predict how long the construction process will take, as it depends on the management of the individual contractor. Some prefer to work longer with a small team, while others can bring several teams of workers to site and complete the project faster, which may involve higher fees for the contractor management.

What Is Included In Your Fee?

Budget is one of the most important aspects of any building project. Before hiring an architect, it’s crucial to understand their fee structure. Fees can vary depending on the project’s scope, location, site constraints, required complexity, services included and the architect’s experience. Ask the architect to explain what’s included in their fee. This might include the following questions:

Do they simply offer the basics, like design and planning, or maybe the full service with technical design and overseeing construction on site
Do they include extras like a measured survey of the existing building?
Contract Administration or Principal Designer role?
How do they charge – by the hour, a fixed rate, or a percentage of the construction cost?

Read our article here for more information about fees structures and factors that influence fees.

What’s Your Experience With Solving Our Particular Problems?

Every architectural project has its own set of opportunities, constraints and challenges. Whether it’s a tricky site (i.e. on a slope, of complicated shape or building with close proximity to neighbours), a tight budget, a difficult construction (with complicated technical details required) or specific regulations (i.e. location in a green belt, overshadowing issues or party wall issues), it’s important to find an architect like Andrew Wallace Architects who has experience solving similar problems.

Ask potential architects about their experience with projects like yours.

Have they dealt with the same type of building or site conditions?
Have they faced and overcome similar challenges?

An architect with relevant experience will be better prepared to handle issues before they arise and offer solutions that match your needs. See how Andrew Wallace Architects overcame site constraints in the house 235 project.

How Will You Bring Value To The Project?

This is one of the most important questions to ask your architect during the concept stage of design. It will help you understand how much the architect has thought about your project since your initial meetings and brief preparation, what they can bring to the table, and what they think about your project opportunities.

A good architect should provide a detailed response that shows they understand your unique needs, your project’s opportunities and constraints. Whether it’s through innovative design, cost-effective solutions, or sustainable practices, the architect should demonstrate how they will add value to your project not only by creating functional plans but by making the design tailored to your needs.

See how Andrew Wallace Architects created an innovative and cost-effective design in the house 134 project.

How Would You Describe Your Design Approach?

An architect’s design approach can tell you a lot about how they will handle your project. Some architects might focus on practicality and efficiency, while others might emphasise aesthetics or sustainability.

Ask how they typically approach a new project. How do they balance creativity with practicality and what inspires them? Reviewing their past projects and understanding their design approach may help you decide if their style matches your vision.

See how Andrew Wallace Architects achieved a balance between functionality and aesthetics in the house 141 project.

What Is Your Experience With Sustainable Design?

Sustainability is becoming more and more important in the architecture / construction industry. In fact, many clients now look for ways to reduce their environmental impact and improve their carbon footprint. Another drawing factor is that sustainable architecture can help improve building thermal efficiency to reduce electric bills.

Ask about their experience with sustainable design and how they might integrate green building practices into your project. This could include:

Energy-efficient systems
Sustainable materials
Building orientation
Green technology
Effective thermal insulation (including Passive House strategies or water conservation strategies).

Discussing sustainability early in the design process ensures that these considerations are part of the project from the beginning and that all consultants can implement desired features / strategies in their design. This approach can lead to long-term cost savings and a reduced environmental footprint.

Find out how Andrew Wallace Architects achieved a sustainable design in the house 196 project.

How Much of Your Business Is Gained From Referrals?

A good indicator of an architect’s reputation and quality of work is the number of clients they gain through referrals. At Andrew Wallace Architects, we are proud of the volume of referrals we receive from past clients as it shows a high level of satisfaction with both the design process and final outcome.

This kind of word-of-mouth endorsement speaks volumes about the architect’s ability to deliver on promises and build lasting relationships, fulfilling client’s needs and requirements.

What Is Your Process For Receiving Feedback?

Feedback is crucial to any successful project. It ensures that the architect can adjust their approach based on your preferences so the design is tailored to your needs. A good architect will have a clear process for gathering and using client feedback.

At Andrew Wallace Architects, we have regular meetings with clients at every stage of design to ensure that we are meeting their needs and requirements. It’s worth asking an architect the following questions:

How they handle feedback and how they make sure your input is considered at every stage.
Do they hold regular reviews with clients?
How do they manage changes to the design once the project is underway?
Do they accommodate all your desired changes?

Architects who are committed to client satisfaction will be open to feedback and willing to make adjustments as needed.

How Will You Engage My Team?

Successful projects often involve collaboration between different stakeholders, consultants, specialists and manufacturers including your consultants team. It’s important to choose an architect who can effectively engage with everyone involved in the project to use specific consultant’s expertise. Ask how the architect plans to work with your team, and how will they help you set the brief and make sure everyone’s voice is heard throughout the design process?

Effective communication is just as important as design skills, and your architect should be good at managing relationships and encouraging teamwork. At Andrew Wallace Architects, we have developed good working relationships with other design consultants so that as a team, we can efficiently develop the project through the design stages and on to site and completion.

Set Yourself Up For Success

Choosing the right architect is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting a building project. By asking the right questions, you can set your project up for success from the beginning

When selecting an architect, choose someone you feel comfortable communicating with, someone who will keep the lines of communication open throughout the project and keep you updated. Building a strong partnership with your architect will help ensure your vision is realised, your budget is respected, and your design is completed in a timely manner.

Hire Andrew Wallace Architects For Your Project

At Andrew Wallace Architects, we take the time to understand your unique needs and preferences, ensuring every design is tailored to you. We are committed to client satisfaction by creating aesthetically pleasing, sustainable and functional designs.

With over 20 years of experience, we have the skills and passion to bring your dream project to life overseeing its construction on site. Choosing Andrew Wallace Architects means getting a team dedicated to turning your vision into reality with expertise and creativity.

Contact Andrew Wallace Architects