There are many benefits of hiring an architect to design your property. These services are outlined in this article. They include Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding and Negotiation, and Construction contract administration. Depending on the complexity of your project, these services may cover all or part of your project. The bidding process should be self-explanatory. The architect will answer contractor questions and provide any additional documentation they request. Typically, this project phase takes up about 5% of an architect's time.

In the design development phase, an architect or designer will translate concept design concepts into a physical form. In addition to preparing detailed drawings, this phase involves coordinating the work of specialist consultants, providing a schedule of materials and finishes, consulting the appropriate authorities, and attending preliminary meetings. This phase also includes reviewing the design against the approved budget and coordinating an updated estimate of the cost of the works. A brief of the project is provided at the start of the Design Development phase, but the entire process is much shorter than the last stage of the construction phase.

Design development takes the results of the schematic design phase and refines the design by specifying materials and window and door locations. It also entails providing general structural details. It is often followed by creating a detailed floor plan, elevations, section drawings, and site plan. As the process moves forward, the client may have to make minor modifications, but this does not mean the entire process is finished. It is a critical part of the process, which is essential for the project's success.

Is Construction documents for architectural services?

Construction documents for architectural services contain a variety of information. Typical construction documentation includes plans, specifications, and schedules. While plans are illustrative, specifications have more detailed information. They contain the specifications for building materials, equipment, and construction systems. Specifications describe the quality of the work to be performed. When they're produced, these documents serve as a reference for contractors and other parties involved in the construction process.

While construction drawings are usually categorized according to the discipline, some are not. These documents may contain incorrect dimensions or assembly details. While many errors are unique to pictures, others are common across construction documents. Some may even violate best practices. Here are some common mistakes that may appear in construction drawings and specifications:

According to AIA B101, the terms "architecture" and "architecture services" describe the work performed by an architect. Architects perform design work and prepare bid packages to solicit the lowest price for a construction project. The resulting bid is then awarded to the contractor who offers the lowest price. An architect assists the owner with the design and specifications throughout the construction process. The owner is generally not exposed to the actual construction process and does not understand how the architect's work will affect his or her project.

How to help Construction contract administration?

The bidding process has inherent demands and problems, including differences in overhead costs, employee building experience, and design experience. To make an informed comparison between bids, architects must provide all the detailed information to each bidder. However, providing incomplete information can lead to a high degree of uncertainty in pricing and can even make the process more difficult. Therefore, an architect must develop a list of comparable contracting firms to compare and contrast the bids properly.

Architects are typically the prime consultant for architectural projects, which requires them to coordinate field functions and distribute general review reports to clients. These reviews help architects determine the value and percentage of work performed. However, the architect may also be responsible for approving payments to contractors. For example, an architect may authorise payments based on on-site visits. In such a scenario, the architect would be a prime consultant who oversees the construction process.

Conclusion:-

Contract administration includes monitoring the project's progress and monitoring and confirming compliance with the building contract documents. This includes conducting periodic site visits, responding to RFIs, issuing Architects Instructions, and assessing claims for adjustments. A client should look to the architect's Client Architect Agreement for a detailed list of services. Moreover, the client architect must ensure that the final payment due to the architect is inspected and certified.