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1. Visit the architect's office.
An architect's office can demonstrate their design aesthetic and creativity. However, usually the initial meeting with an architect will be at the project site, so you may not have an opportunity to see the architect's office. Consider scheduling a visit at the architect's office a few days after the initial meeting.
2. A messy architect's office might be a red flag.
An architect organizes thousands of pieces of information into a coherent project, and a disorganized office might be a big red flag. However, don't confuse artist creativity with disorganization. Architectural models, trace paper and sketches can be a sign of real creativity, but project information is normally stored in binders and filing cabinets. Large piles of paper are probably not a good thing.
3. Ask if the architect is using 3D software.
The latest architectural software is called BIM (building information model) and the more sophisticated architects are using this. A house or project designed in BIM is completely or almost completely designed in 3D. In addition, in many cases the software can help eliminate errors in coordination of drawings since the 2 dimensional drawings are all 'extracted' from the 3D model. The software also keeps track of things like sizes of each door and window, and when a dimension is changed in one drawing, it is automatically updated in another. This can be a real help in reducing errors.
4. The foundation of an architect's experience is his education.
While attending a good school can help assure your architect has a good foundation, usually a better indicator is how an architect did in the school they attended. From my experience in school and teaching, only 10%-20% of students are really talented designers and very few students got significantly better as they went through school. To get a sense of how someone did in school, ask about design awards they won or exhibitions they may have participated in.
5. Know the staff member(s) you are going to work with.
If you are hiring a firm with several staff members, find out who will be working with you. Many times the person you are interviewing with won't actually be doing much work on your project. If the person you are going to be working with isn't in the initial meeting, ask to visit the architect's office (see #1) and be introduced to the people who will be on your team. Ask to see the credentials of those team members as well.
6. Architects communicate with drawings as well as words.
Take a look at some of the architect's drawings and ask the architect questions about them. It may be challenging to read or understand drawings if you haven't done this before, but if you can't understand them after an architect explains them, then either the drawings are not very good, or the architect has a hard time communicating - both might be red flags.
7. A complete set of construction drawings includes specifications.
Architects communicate with both drawings and words. Bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, decorative finishes, levels of quality and other information that is easier said in words than in drawings are communicated in written specifications. If the architect doesn't assemble specifications, then you'll likely be answering many questions during construction and may be hit with change orders.
8. Check out the architect's website.
A nicely designed, well organized website can communicate that an architect is organized and can assemble information in a clear format. If the architect doesn't have a website, this may be a sign they are not up to date with other aspects of his or her practice.
9. Ask how well the architect works with buiding departments.
When your architect submits your permit drawings to the building department, they review your drawings and issue a corrections notice. A skillful architect can easily get a residential or small commercial project through the building department with no revisions or one round of revisions. Since each round of revisions takes time to pick up drawings, revise, resubmit, and re-review, fewer rounds of revisions means you'll likely get a building permit sooner. A delayed permit could hold up construction. If you're trying to get your project framed and weather-tight before the rainy season, this could push the project into a season with unfavorable construction conditions.
Article Source: http://www.articlemotron.com
Hiring an Architect can be a challenging task. It's especially difficult when you haven't done something like this before. There are many architects to choose from, so it's important to know the right questions to ask and the right qualities to look for. Here are some tips to help you get going on the right foot.
About the author: Nazim Nice one of the Seattle Architects at Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC. This Seattle Architecture Firm specializes in residential and small commercial design.
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