Question 1

Do I need to hire an Architect for my project?

Accepted Answer

It depends! Hiring an Architect can be necessary (and at times required) to get drawings passed through permitting by the building department. In other cases however, the size/complexity of your project can also dictate if it's necessary to hire an Architect. See some common examples below:
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Custom Homes
Building a brand new home is exciting and full of a thousand different decisions (potentially overwhelming). Figuring out how you want your home to look, setting a budget, getting permits, and dealing with the inevitable delay — there are many moving parts and interdependencies. A project can quickly get derailed without an experienced and steady hand guiding the design process and handoff to construction. An Architect provides client-centered design expertise that will lessen the amount of friction with the building department and keep your project on track. Architect's also provide expertise when it comes to zoning regulations, building codes, spatial organization, sustainability, and so much more. If you're looking to build your forever home, hiring an Architect is a must!
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Remodels/Additions
Projects that involve significant changes, such as adding new rooms, expanding the house, or altering the layout, often require an architect to create detailed plans. Projects that don't involve major changes to the floor plan such as updating a shower, adding door opening, or removing a non-loadbearing wall (consult with a structural engineer first) won't require hiring an Architect.
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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
Adding an ADU to your property can be a great way to add value to your home! But do you need an Architect? This one depends on the size and complexity of what you're trying to achieve. Hiring an Architect will help ensure the project is safe, in accordance with zoning regulations, and up to building code. If you have experience designing ADUs and know what is required by the building department to get a permit, then you likely won't need an Architect. However if this is your first time or want to ensure it's done to code, hiring an Architect may be the best route.

Question 2

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

Most architects don’t rely on a single fee structure. Fees can vary depending on whether a project is residential or commercial, new construction or a remodel, simple or complex. Generally, there are four common ways architects calculate their fees:

Time Spent (Hourly)
Flat Fee
Percentage of Construction
Cost Per Square Foot

Here’s a brief look at each method and some potential pros and cons.

Time Spent (Hourly)
Hourly billing is often used for projects that don’t yet have a clearly defined scope. Rates can vary depending on the type of work and which member of the design team performs it. Hourly billing is straightforward but can feel open-ended for clients. Architects often use hourly rates for tasks such as:
As-built drawings for remodels where original plans are unavailable
Client-requested changes beyond the original project scope
Early schematic design stages, particularly for remodels

Flat Fee
A flat fee, or stipulated sum, is based on an architect’s estimate of the work required. This can provide certainty for the client, but it relies on the accuracy of the architect’s prediction. If the project ends up being more complex than anticipated, adjustments to the fee may be needed.

Percentage of Construction
Some architects calculate their fees as a percentage of the total construction cost, which can include everything from construction to finishes, and sometimes even interior design. This method can make sense when an architect is providing comprehensive services, including construction administration and specifications.

Cost Per Square Foot
This method ties fees to the size of the project. It’s commonly used for new construction, remodels, garages, outbuildings, and covered outdoor spaces. Once the scope and square footage are established, the fee generally remains consistent unless significant changes are made after approvals.

Areas with different cost per square foot pricing include:
New construction (finished square footage)
Remodel
Garage (generally included in base fee for custom homes)
Outbuildings (pool house, barn, etc.)
Covered outdoor living

If you are doing a remodel, your architect will need a copy of the plans for your existing home. If you do not have a copy of the current plans available, your architect will need to create “as-built” drawings, a fee that should be included in your budget.

Question 3

How does the design process work?

Accepted Answer

In Architecture, there are typically 5 phases to design. Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Drawings, and Construction Administration. Let's break them down and explain a little further.
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Programming
Architectural programming — it sounds complicated, but really, it’s just what we call the first step in our design process with custom home and remodeling clients. On the agenda: outlining the scope of our work together, discussing your priorities, and aligning on a vision for your project.
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You will be asked to consider:
What you desire from a lifestyle perspective — how can we create a home that lives for you?
Your expectations around time frame and schedule
Your vision for the layout of your home, both inside and out
What you wish for in terms of character and style of your home

The answers to these and other questions will provide insight into uses and living conditions; insights we will use to design a home created specifically for your family and their lifestyle. Of course, our team will have some homework of our own. As part of this initial phase, AJO will gather information on your building site or existing home (if you are remodeling), while getting organized around budgets, building codes, zoning ordinances, and consultants.

We can’t emphasize the importance of this step enough. A good custom home program that incorporates all of the above saves time, money, and countless headaches down the road — not to mention, it helps us deliver on the home of your dreams.
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Schematic Design
Once we’re in agreement on vision and direction, the design phase begins. Here, we’ll bring your vision to life through drawings called schematic designs. This is your opportunity to review your plans — to imagine yourself living in them — at different times of day (rings from your coffee mug or wine glass are welcome) as we work to create your vision.

Your input into this phase is vital, as you get the first glimpses, and then a more defined look, at how your home will take shape. It is important to establish a clear decision-making process during this phase — and we can help with that, too.
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Once approved, drawings at this stage are usually sufficient to initiate a neighborhood review process, if one exists, to ensure your plan is aligned with any covenant codes or guidelines. Regardless, we are advocates for you and your vision throughout the entire architectural design process.
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Design Development
In this phase, we translate the schematic design into a more comprehensive and detailed three-dimensional version, which will include input from consultants and additional team members. The end result? Taking your home from a set of ideas to a level of completeness that demonstrates its buildability.
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Together, we will walk through how the structure, materials and details reflect what was outlined in the schematic design concept. Does it match your goals, or is there still more work to do? Is everything in balance? At the same time, our team will dig deeper into how the systems — think HVAC or lighting, for example — complement one another to help your home work as seamlessly and efficiently as possible.
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Finally, as we’ve done in previous steps, we’ll again remind you that after the Design Development phase has been approved, any significant changes may warrant additional fees. And once construction has started, design changes, and in particular, structural components of the building, can be quite costly. Speaking up now will save time and potentially expensive changes later.
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At this point, we will prepare scaled floor plans, building elevations, and site positioning for approval to proceed to the next phase.
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Construction Drawings
Continuing the design process, we’ll finalize the drawings for permit submission and construction — called construction drawings (CDs). These drawings include all of the life and safety requirements required by the building codes and set the parameters for everyone who is tapped to work on your project, from engineering consultants to interior designers, landscapers, and more.
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Construction Administration
This phase is an optional add-on for clients, however in order to ensure you're getting the product we designed it's highly recommended. During this phase, Contractors will likely have questions for the Architect to ensure they're building per the drawing set. For example, questions can arise about a certain detail we designed that they may have an alternate method for constructing and seeing if that's acceptable. Or they may have other companies they've worked with for material specs and would like to ask if using one of those are acceptable. Many questions and concerns can arise during construction that can't be accounted for during the design process. Having the Architect available and present during the build can save the client time and money in the long run.

Question 4

How long will my project take?

Accepted Answer

Given the current market and supply chain challenges, setting realistic timelines is crucial for a smooth project. However, until we fully understand your needs and requirements, it's tough to provide an exact timeline. Each project varies in scale, complexity, and our level of involvement. The sooner you share your vision with us, the sooner we can provide an accurate timeline for our design services.

Question 5

What is included in your fees?

Accepted Answer

Our "AJO Design Process Guide" outlines everything that is included and not included in our fees. If you're interested in working together and want to know more, please contact us. We're happy to provide detailed information!

Question 6

What are Additional Services?

Accepted Answer

Additional Services (or Add Services for short) are services that are beyond the Basic Service or Original Scope of the Agreement between the Architect and Owner. They may be added and provided at an additional cost at any point in the project. And just to note, Add Services are in the owner's control. Add Services will not be brought in by the Architect unless the Owner is requesting something outside the Original Scope of Work or the Architect deems it necessary for the project. However the Owner will need to sign off and approve before additional services have been performed.

Some common examples of Additional Services are:

3D Photorealistic Renderings
Interior Design
Landscape Design
As-Constructed Record Drawings
Historic Preservations
Furniture selection and layouts

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need to hire an Architect for my project?

What are your fees?

How does the design process work?

How long will my project take?

What is included in your fees?

What are Additional Services?

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