What services does an architect offer?

What is an Architect?

An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that have human occupancy or use as their principal purpose.

Building Design

Professional and effective creation of new building or remodeling plans that satisfy the space planning and design demands of a customer.

Facility/Building Analysis/ Existing Conditions Report

An existing building is evaluated, including its walls, windows, roofs, floor plans, room layouts, building science audits, and equipment, and the results are summarized in a report.

Code Analysis

Review of all relevant laws and regulations, including land use plans, zoning laws, accessibility standards, and building rules, for the project.

Energy-Efficiency Assessments:

To evaluate existing performance levels and prospects for energy savings, a review of building components, insulation levels, heating and lighting systems, and operating aspects is conducted.

Feasibility Study with Cost Estimating

A report presenting various options and related expenses for achieving a certain project goal, like changing the usage of an existing structure. Frequently includes simple sketches or drawings that describe the answers.

Space Planning

Diagram illustrating the placement of the areas, room configurations, and activities that make up a floor plan. Studies will display the sizes and shapes of the rooms, the quantity and variety of spaces, and the linkages (adjacencies) between all planned areas. It is possible to create a variety of layouts and assess their effectiveness in terms of functionality.

Site Planning

Building locations, access points for pedestrians, sidewalks, parking, landscaping, lighting, prospective development borders, and other characteristics are developed in site plan alternatives.

Permitting

Drawings and permit applications must be created to submit requests for zoning or construction permits. It could also involve informally negotiating with regulators, zoning/planning administrators, fire marshals, and other officials. It might also involve formal presentations to review boards.

Contractor Selection/Construction Administration Assistance:

Help choosing reputable general contractors or construction managers with expertise and professionalism. Creating competitive bid packages, reviewing bids, making recommendations for awarding bids, creating owner-contractor agreements, and managing construction are a few examples of this.

Creative, Artistic & Technological Design:

Imaginative answers to a client's needs that are also practical and aesthetically pleasing. assistance in coming up with fresh, original answers to issues that have previously been challenging.

Other services offered by an architect

• Historic preservation research, evaluation, and design

• Existing building measurement; preparation of existing building drawings

• As-Built record drawings documenting existing or recently completed work

• Master planning research and analysis

• Cost estimating related to design options

• Project information surveys

• Design team and process/integration management

• Conceptual design and regional/cultural context

• Sustainability and energy use/production analysis and design

• Water and wastewater use analysis and design

• Project programming, pre-design planning

• Rating system (LEED, WELL, Passive House, etc.) coordination and management

• Space utilization, functionality, economic and pre-design analysis

• Indoor air quality and interior analysis

• Interior design

• Accessibility (ADA, Vermont Access Rules) reviews and design

• Site selection, studies, and design

• Land use analysis and design

• Landscape design

• Specifications writing, bid package preparation

• Consultant coordination and management

• Construction administration, time, cost, and quality management

• Public hearing and data collection assistance

• Contractor bidding, negotiation, contract, and process assistance to the owner

• Project-related public agency coordination and management

• Illustration rendering and 3D design modelling