What does an architect do?

There are four stages in a typical architectural service provision.

1 DESIGN CONCEPT

Pre-design

• obtain the client's brief.
• recommend fees & appointment of consultants.
• assess site.
• review regulatory & code requirements.

Sketch Design

• organise & attend client & other meetings as required.
• prepare sketches, diagrams & information to explain the design.
• brief consultants.
• do preliminary costings.
• select materials & finishes.
• proceed with client approval to final detailed design.

2 DETAILED DESIGN

• develop sketch design to final design with drawings & appropriate documents to explain the design.
• co-ordinate consultant inputs.
• provide schedules.
• review design against budget.
• organise & attend client & other meetings as required.
• planning & development approval.
• proceed with client approval to documentation.

3 CONTRACT DOCUMENTATION

• provide recommendations on tendering process.
• prepare drawings at appropriate scale including plans, elevations & sections together with details & schedules to enable the project to be tendered.
• co-ordinate input of other consultants.
• prepare specification.
• submit documents for building approval & tendering.
• proceed with client approval to call tenders.

4 CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

Tendering

• call tenders & respond to enquiries from tenderers.
• close & assess tenders.
• negotiate with preferred tenderer.

Administration

• prepare contract documents.
• site inspections.
• check work in progress.
• review shop drawings & other submissions.
• supplement details & information as appropriate.
• arrange site & other meetings as required.
• provide reports.
• assess progress claims etc.
• prepare defects list.
• inspect & issue notice of practical completion.

Post Construction

• assess final contract account.
• inspect works.
• issue final certificate.

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