Architectural Articles
Architects Do More Than Blueprints
Occasionally I will get a telephone call asking, "Do you do blueprints?" By asking that question the caller is requesting, perhaps without realizing it, the minimum range of architectural services. The question is sort of like asking a novelist if he or she does typing. Incidentally, the dark blue sheets with white lines on "blueprints" have receded into history along with ink ruling pens. Today's digital technology reproduces black and white prints that are easier to read.
The casual viewer may erroneously believe that architects are merely sketch artists who illustrate a few ideas on restaurant napkins and then present a beautiful rendering of a proposed building. Others may think architects are advanced draftsmen who crank out reams of technical "blueprints."
What do architects really do? What do you want them to do? Site selection? Energy analysis? Historical restoration? Interiors? Cost estimating? Construction management? Although sketching and drafting, by hand or computer, are part of the artistic and technical skills required to produce an efficiently functioning building, much more is involved to assure a successful construction project, even if it is a small addition to your home.
The architect's services can be divided into five phases:
1. Schematic design: In this initial phase, a building concept is created to determine the size, shape and location of the new building or addition that meets the functional needs and budget of the client. This design concept will comply with local zoning and planning regulations.
2. Design development: This phase determines the size, scale, structure, choices of materials and construction methods.
3. Construction documents: This is the most time consuming phase during which the architect produces the drawings ("blueprints") and specifications required to communicate to the contractor exactly what to build, assuring compliance with the Uniform Building Code.
4. Bidding: The architect can assist the owner in negotiations with a preselected contractor or review price quotes from competing contractors.
5. Construction administration: Most architects prefer to follow through and observe construction to assure that their drawings are being followed, answer questions from the contractor, make changes requested by the owner, and approve contractor invoices as the owner's agent.
The architect can be hired for some or all of these services. And if everyone is still smiling at the end, and a quality project has been built, it can be considered a successful enterprise.
Published in The Californian
