Finding The Right Architecture Firm For Your Dream Project

Thinking of hiring an architect for your dream project? Unsure on how to navigate finding the right candidate? We take a closer look at the importance of an architect in a construction project, what they do, how they operate and why it’s so essential to find the right person for you.

Read on for all you need to know about finding the right architecture firm for your dream project.

What’s An Architect?

Derived from the Ancient Greek term for “chief builder”, an architect is a skilled individual, who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. Often responsible for a whole team of people, an architect is the first point of contact in any construction project. Finding the right architect for your project is a vital step in your construction process; from the earliest design, right up to the final build, their job is to turn your concepts into a reality.

Why Hire An Architect?

Believe it or not; but there’s not any specific law that requires you to hire an architect for your project, so you may be thinking, is it really necessary for me to have one? The short answer, I’m afraid, is yes.

Although you can technically, and legally, redesign your project yourself, it will have to meet strict regulations, standards and procedures. Aside from that; you’d also have to be a fairly competent artist. So yes, even though it is technically possible, you’d find yourself jumping through hoops pretty quickly. Hiring an architect will help you navigate the procedures, the red tape and the detailed planning. It's great to have an idea in your head going in, but when it comes to the specifics, it’s important to hand over the keys to the professionals. Although it can fill a large part of your budget you’ll quickly realise just how much knowledge and technical experience they can provide.

Not to dismiss your talents entirely, but it’s almost guaranteed that your final project will be significantly better if an architect is on hand from the earliest phases of construction. After all, they're the professionals and know all the tricks, tools and equipment required to make your house a home. They also know and work with a whole host of builders, and can contact the absolute best people available for your project. Architects have personal relationships with professionals across the sector, from builders to electricians, to property developers, they’ll have the inside information and skillset to keep your project moving. On top of this; your builders tend to work just that little bit harder when there’s an architect around to keep the schedule tight and intact, with the chief builder on-site, there’s no denying everyone steps up their game.

What to Consider During Your Search

So you’ve made the executive decision to bring in an architect, but how are you supposed to know which one to hire? Hiring the right architect is equal to finding the appropriate legal counsel, doctor or midwife, they have to tick boxes in the professional column and the personal one. You want them to do their job, but you need them to be personable and good-natured, as a positive working relationship is essential. Remember; everything begins with a detailed search.

Review Their Portfolio

A great way to gather information is to search online for potential candidates for your construction job and then review some of their previous projects. Look closely; is their work inspiring? Does it move you? Is it well designed or well-built? Spend as much time as you need during this part of the process, be thorough, make notes, or even a Pinterest board of concepts and designs, don’t be afraid to bring your identity to the table, if you find the right architect, they’ll know exactly how to bring it to life.

Do Your Research

Now you’ve narrowed your choices down to a handful of architecture firms, you’ll want to start reaching out, making contact with the specific firms of your choice. It’s important at this stage you have your initial ideas ready, as an architect will want to know some of the key details, to offer an assessment and potential cost analysis. What's the square footage of the room? What’s your budget? What’s the schedule? These are all vital questions to answer early on.

Meet and Greet

So, you’ve found a handful of potential architect firms for your project; brilliant! Now it’s time to meet them. Start by making an appointment for face-to-face meetings with your potential firms. You want a positive, solid rapport with the lead architect, and should share similar ideas and passions for your project. Can they offer you what you’re looking for? If not, are they offering up creative solutions? Do they understand exactly what you want? Are they the person leading the project, and if so, what’s their team like? If you feel confident in their answers and have struck a comfortable, engaging relationship, then it’s time to move forward with the project.

The Cost

Though it’s not possible to provide an exact figure, as this depends on several different factors, you can expect to budget around 15-20% of your project budget for the architect. At first glance, that may appear a touch high, but when you consider how much money they can save you by simply making a few tweaks to the design, and offering some professional advice, it often ends up being incredibly cost-effective.

It’s a good idea to communicate regularly with your architect, particularly in the early stages of development, to generate some form of cost analysis or estimation, as this will offer you a rough guide, as well as a clear direction of where you’re heading.

The Contractor

Now that you’ve agreed upon your fees, it’s time for your architect to get to work. At this stage, they’ll put you in contact with some of the finest contractors on their books. Typically, it’s the property owner’s responsibility to hire them outright, but an experienced architect will no doubt point you in the right direction. At the pre-construction stage, it’s a smart idea to bring in a contractor to weigh up the costs and provide you with some estimates. Remember to get multiple quotes on the project, not only is this the industry standard, it’ll provide you with real leverage at the bargaining table.

Whether you’re building your dream home or starting a portfolio of commercial buildings, you need a reliable architect who can make your ideas a reality. At Integrated Designs & Associates, we have over 27 years of experience in architectural projects across the UK so you can rely on us to provide expert support from beginning to end.

Our fully trained team is ready to design, manage and complete your architectural work to the best possible standard. All projects are done with compliance in mind as well as staying aware of your budget throughout the work no matter how big or small. Are you looking for an architecture firm in Birmingham? Look no further than our professional team of architects for various types of work including extensions, restaurants, commercial shops and more. Get in touch with us today for more information.