ASK AWAY : SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE ARCHITECT

You will get the chance to learn about the architect's design philosophy and style during the initial consultation with an architect. It's a perfect opportunity to ask questions and talk about your ideas as well as fees, timelines, and expectations.

  1. Why did you decide to specialize in accessibility focused architecture? This is a great question to open with, as it gets the architect talking about his/her passion and motivation to work with people with accessibility issues. It sets the mood, allowing you to share your concerns, hopes and dreams for your home.
  2. Availability? How will the architect address your concerns and requests? An architect may have a great design philosophy and a stellar portfolio, but if he/she’s unreachable most of the time, or insensitive to your needs, he/she may not be the right person for the job.
  3. Projects on budget and schedule? There are many issues related to construction that may affect finishing a project on schedule and within budget i.e., permit delays, unexpected conditions, builder/vendor, product availability etc. A good architect should be confident in his/her ability to design a project within the allocated budget and schedule, ensuring there are few surprises or delays.
  4. Involvement during the construction phase? Depending on your project, you may hire an architect to draw up plans that your contractor will implement independently, or you may want the architect to work with the contractor from the project’s inception through to completion.
  5. Can I see project samples? This is a great opportunity to see an architect’s overall style. The work portfolio may include photos/ drawings and may include testimonials from past clients. Review everything carefully and ask questions about the projects that look similar to your own. Contact the architect’s previous clients for more insight.
  6. Contract: Once you’ve decided to hire a home accessibility specialized architect, ask him/her to prepare an American Institute of Architects (AIA) developed professional services contract for review and execution. This contract details both your responsibilities and the architect’s responsibilities.

    Be sure to have an attorney review the contract for modifications of conditions, if any, pertinent to the scope of professional services. Here are some key conditions that should be addressed:
    • The scope of work is defined in sufficient detail.
    • A project development phase schedule is included.
    • The fee payment schedule is tied to project phases and completion
    • Project delivery & architect involvement (Design, Design/Build, Construction Management etc.) is clearly spelled out.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Planning for a new home or a remodeling project can be both exciting and daunting. An architect experienced in home accessibility can be just the right resource to help you and your family live comfortably in the home of your dreams. The scope of design services varies slightly depending on new construction or remodeling. However, they include generally the following stages.

Design/Development (hourly basis until sign off): An order of magnitude cost estimate can be prepared at the completion of this stage.

Documents Preparation (permitting and bidding) Fee basis on estimated/projected cost of construction.

Construction: The Architect's involvement can be limited to observation and/or full oversight including project administration and management, for an hourly or fee percentage.

PROJECT DELIVERY

There are several delivery methodologies to choose from depending on the scope of work, i.e. new construction or remodeling an existing home.

The optimal choice may depend on the level of your knowhow, involvement, input, availability, and ability to manage the process.

Experience has shown that sometimes a construction management delivery methodology may offer benefits of cost savings and greater project control. This allows a construction manager to engage in negotiations and manage the various trades with the understanding that savings in cost and time schedule are shared based on agreement between you and the manager. This agreement can be based on phased completion or on a monthly basis. •

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ramesh Gulatee, LifeCare Design Studio, LLC is an Illinois based architect with focus on home accessibility. Ramesh has practice licensures in USA and Canada where he has worked on numerous residential and housing projects. His knowhow is recognized by the regulatory, and professional bodies where he is either appointed as accessibility specialist and/or serve on various advisory boards at state and national levels. Contact him at rgulatee@lifecaredesignstudio.com or visit his website at lifecaredesignstudio.com