Roles and Responsibilities of Architects in Construction Projects Architects are in charge of design and project planning, and they are also responsible for the visual appearance of buildings and structures. The term “architect” refers only to individuals who are registered with a local governing body.

To become licensed, architects must meet specific professional training requirements and pass an exam. Architectural services can be obtained from individuals without licenses, but they cannot call themselves architects and cannot sign construction documents. Architects work hand-in-hand with other professionals such as civil and to deliver qualified designs.

Architects have several responsibilities during all stages of a project, from the initial drafts and meetings to the inauguration of a building. Architects are appointed by the client, and they have the duty of gathering all the information and ideas necessary to create a functional space that meets client needs while being code compliant.

What does an architect do during the design stage?

Design Development Phase (DD) – The Design Development Phase is going to be approximately 20% of the architects work and fees. In Design Development the architect and owner will work together to select materials including interior finishes and products such as windows.

Doors, fixtures, appliances, etc The architect will revise the drawings with more specificity and detail than in Schematic Design. Engineering will commence on the structure, plumbing, electrical, heating/ventilation systems, energy analysis and any other project specific systems. At the end of design development, a good deal of product selection and systems design should be progressing.

This phase concludes when the interior and exterior design of the building is locked in by the owner and architect. Below is a 3D rendering of a house at completion of design development. The following image is a diagram of the house showing some of the systems and materials in place. Design Development Rendering Architect’s Drawings Design Development

What are the roles of architect?

Architects design new buildings and suggest alterations to existing ones. What does an architect do? | Qualifications and training | Part-qualified salaries | Typical employers | Key skills Architects create designs for new construction projects, alterations and redevelopments.

• They use their specialist construction knowledge and high-level drawing skills to design buildings that are functional, safe, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.
• Architects stay involved throughout the construction process, adapting their plans according to budget constraints, environmental factors and client needs.

That means they’re part of an overall project design team, working closely with a range of construction professionals from quantity surveyors to building services engineers. Typical work activities include:

creating building designs and highly detailed drawings both by hand and by using specialist computer-aided design (CAD) applications liaising with construction professionals about the feasibility of potential projects taking into account constraints such as town planning legislation, environmental impacts and project budgets working closely with a team of other professionals such as project managers, building service engineers, construction managers, quantity surveyors and architectural technologists completing planning applications and taking advice from local authorities, legal professionals and governmental new build departments writing and presenting reports, proposals, applications and contracts specifying the requirements for each project adapting plans according to circumstances and resolving any problems that may arise during construction playing a role in project and team management viewing building sites, proposed locations and client meetings.

For the most part an architect’s working day will be office or desk based. However, site visits and meetings with clients are frequent, so you will be expected to travel. Working hours are typically standard office hours (eg 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday) but you may work longer hours, evenings and weekends if there are tight project deadlines to meet.

What are 4 responsibilities task of architects?

Responsibilities –

Control project from start to finish to ensure high quality, innovative and functional design Take the “brief” to identify clients’ needs and put together feasibility reports and design proposals Develop ideas keeping in mind client’s needs, building’s usage and environmental impact Produce detailed blueprints and make any necessary corrections Compile project specifications Keep within budgets and timelines Ensure that all works are carried out to specific standards, building codes, guidelines and regulations Make on site visits to check on project status and report on project Cooperate and liaise with construction professionals Follow architectural trends and advancements

What are the 3 rules of architecture?

The Jorge M. Perez Architecture Centre by Leon Krier — The Roman Architect Vitruvius in his treatise on architecture, De Architectura in the first century BC got it right when he asserted that there were three principles of good architecture: Firmitas (Firmness, Durability) – It should stand up robustly and remain in good condition. Any Architect or Architectural Technologist ” worth their salt ” can easily see the value of the first two principles when it comes to architecture. Firmitas and Utilitas: It will last and it will do the job. Some, however, may scoff at the third principle which is beauty.

Before scoffing, consider that architecture does not stop at say the foundations or the structural framing. Architecture is about the whole deal. You don’t look at an ugly building that has impressive structural framing and clever plumbing and admire the architecture. By the same token, a beautiful building that collapses after five minutes or overheats from too much glazing is not admired either, at least not for very long.

Whilst most Architectural Technologists may easily believe that the first two principles are their responsibility and the third is just optional, it is strongly argued that the third principle, Venustas, is as important culturally as the first two. Venustas is about architectural beauty, which in Vitruvius’ classical universe meant the building’s ability to mime natural cosmic order.

1. Vitruvius believed that nature is an expression of cosmic order based on universal laws, and he believed, that architectural quality is achieved when architectural design is based on these laws and when architecture thereby ‘mimics’ natural cosmic order.
2. A more contemporary understanding of the concept may be architecture’s spatial and aesthetic conditions – proportion, scale, the play between light and shade, the contrasts between heaviness and lightness, textural qualities, structural patterns, rhythm, etc.

These universal principles of good architecture: Durability, Utility and Beauty, can help us all be better at what we do. The difference between a good architect and a great architect is the ability to craft an elegant solution in a way that truly delights the user.

What are the 5 stages of architectural design process?

Architecture Explained: The Phases of Designing & Building a Project — WC STUDIO architects Designing and building a home or planning and constructing a space for a new or growing business is a complex task. One way to make a complex task seem more manageable is to break it up into smaller tasks, and architects apply a similar strategy to the design and construction process.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) defines Five Phases of Architecture that are commonly referred to throughout the industry: Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documents, Bidding, Contract Administration. Having a basic understanding of what happens during each of these work phases will help you communicate with your architect.

Being familiar with each phase’s milestones and deliverables is also important because architects typically organize contracts and project schedules around them. Here at WC STUDIO, we value clarity and want the experience of working with us to be as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Pre-design is an information gathering phase that will be the foundation for the design phases to follow. The main goal during this phase is to learn everything possible about our clients’ personality, lifestyle, and needs as well as determine how much space you need now and likely to need in the future, and how that space should be used, organized, and arranged.

This information is organized into a document called the Program, which describes all the rooms and spaces for the project, their approximate sizes and any specific qualities or unique features you are looking for. The other part of Pre-design phase is observing and documenting the existing conditions at the project site.

This usually entails a survey of the land to determine the property line locations and/or measurements of any existing structures. We also do background research to better understand how the site relates to the surrounding area, climate, people, and the regulations that affect the project.

• We track these regulations in a Zoning Summary document and talk to city planning staff if questions arise.
• Clients should expect to be very involved and ready to answer personal questions during this phase.
• We sometimes give “homework” assignments to get to know you better.
• Collaborating in this way allows us to better understand your values and needs, resulting in a design that reflects your individuality with optimal functionality.

PD Deliverables: Program, Zoning Summary, Exisiting Condition drawing(s) PD Duration: usually 2-4 weeks In this phase, we begin the process of translating the Program into an efficient building design. This is when we start exploring design concepts; it is the time for testing options and getting a general idea of the look and feel. The floor plans and shape of the project will begin to take form, but the specifics about materials and details will come later.

• The Schematic Design phase includes several meetings where we present ideas to our clients using images of other projects, hand sketches, and models to help visualize the size, shape, and relationship of spaces to each other.
• We listen and observe your reactions, then refine the ideas according to your feedback until we reach an agreed upon design direction to develop further in the following phases.

Clients can expect to be quite engaged throughout this phase and to be asked for approval of the Schematic Design before work proceeds. Make sure to let your design professional know if you don’t understand something and take the time necessary to give thoughtful feedback. During Design Development, we advance the design significantly based on the floor plan and exterior concept approved in the previous phase. The first priority of this phase is to define and develop all the important aspects of the project and produce a set of drawings and outline specification to show potential contractors for preliminary cost estimating.

If adjustments are necessary to bring the project scope in line with the construction budget, it is most efficient to do this sooner than later. Once we know we are on track, we will talk more specifically about the interior and exterior materials and functionality. As we dial in the layout of the indoor and outdoor spaces we will refine the window and door placements and make adjustments to the building form.

This phase is usually when our clients feel the project coming to life and it becomes possible to see themselves in the new space. By the end of the Design Development phase, the building exterior will be more fully designed, the interior layout completed, dimensions of all spaces finalized, and most materials selected.

A structural engineer will be added to the team, and consultants for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems may be needed depending on the complexity of the project. The deliverable will be a more detailed set of drawings that communicates the overall layout and volume of the building or space, all significant equipment, and the type of material or finish for every surface of the project.

DD Deliverables: Drawing Set and Outline Specification document DD Duration: usually 8-12 weeks In this phase we develop the Design Drawings into a thorough and precise set of Construction Documents. These drawings and specifications have all of the details, dimensions, and notes necessary to communicate the entire design intent to the builder.

We show how the building components should be connected, specify all of the materials, finishes, fixtures, equipment, and appliances to be installed, and coordinate our drawings with the structural engineer’s and any other consultant drawings. The Construction Documents phase often requires the most time, which can surprise clients because the design seems complete after Design Development.

However, this is a critical step in the process of successfully and accurately executing the design you have invested in. Early in this phase there may still be options on the table for some of the items to be specified. Clients should be prepared to make decisions during this phase.

It is our job to make recommendations and educate you about the options, but ultimately you will be the one occupying and maintaining the home or building and you have the final say. CD Deliverables: Drawings and Specification for Construction CD Duration: usually 8-12 weeks During this phase we add to the Construction Documents any additional information required to get a building permit.

This is the information needed to show the project complies with the applicable land use, building, and energy codes, and any other applicable guidelines and regulations required by the city or jurisdiction issuing the permit. We submit these drawings along with the various forms required for the permit application to the local plans reviewer, monitor the progress during the review period, and give additional information or clarifications as requested.

1. Little, if anything is needed from the client during this phase—except patience.
2. Our goal is to shepherd your project through as quickly and painlessly as possible, but the length and cost of this phase can vary greatly depending on the jurisdiction, complexity of the project, and any special historic district or community design review processes.

BP Deliverables: Drawings and Forms for Building Permit Application BP Duration : usually 12-24 weeks (varies widely) We are happy to introduce our clients to a number of reputable builders we work with and trust. We can also be available to attend interviews and walk-throughs, help you evaluate contractor qualifications, and provide assistance with obtaining and reviewing bids.

Some clients already have a contractor in mind when they come to us, but many take advantage of our extensive contractor rolodex and relationships to find their builder. BP Deliverables: Drawings and Specifications for Bidding BP Duration: usually 3-6 weeks While most of the architect’s work is done before any building begins, our consistent presence during the construction phase is equally important.

During this phase we visit the jobsite at regular intervals to answer questions from the builder and proactively address potential issues. The frequency of our site visits could be weekly or monthly depending on the project and your needs, but it is vital to have us keeping an eye on things to ensure the finished project meets your expectations.

Inevitably, some decisions must be made or modified in the field, and our involvement and ability to work quickly with your contractor to solve problems is essential for helping you avoid costly delays and change orders. During Construction Administration, the architect’s role is advisor to the owner.

At our site visits we will take photos and write field reports to document the progress, confirm the materials and workmanship are of the quality you agreed to, and verify your contractor’s billings accurately reflect the amount of work completed. At the end of the project, we help you develop your final Punch List to ensure all work is completed to your satisfaction.

CA Deliverables: Field Observation Reports CA Duration: concurrent with construction timeframe SUMMARY Knowing that a significant investment of time and resources will be required to complete a project can make it feel like an intimidating undertaking. However, experience tells us that the biggest hurdle to starting or moving forward on a project is more often the anxiety around what we do not yet know.

To help eliminate some of the unknowns about working with an architect, we put together this guide and downloadable tip sheet outlining each step in the process. We hope it gives a clear picture of what to expect as one of our clients and that you feel more prepared to discuss your project with an architect when the time is right.