Well, haven't had time to come here as much but I've been drafted to be on the building committee for redoing our marina clubhouse which will be actually kind of fun sitting on the other side of the table for a change.....Yes! My turn now to be a PITA!!!

Anyway, I drafted up a list of questions for potential architects. Keep in mind this is for a community as the client and the project is commercial and it's a straight unedited C&P but I hope this helps.

But as another architect here wrote here last year on finding an architect....

"Finding an architect is like finding a spouse. You'll know when you've found the right one. It's even easier....you don't have to sit through dinners or go to boring movies to together."

But good luck with your build. Exciting times ahead!

Questions for the Architect

1. How would you approach this project?

2. What are some of the largest obstacles on a project
like this?

3.What do you see as important issues or
considerations in our project?

4. What is your perception of Bay Ridge and how will
that influence your design concepts?

5. What architect or designer most influences your
design philosophy? How do you describe yours?

6. What do you consider to be your firm’s major
strengths and achievements in design?

7. What are the challenges of the project?

8. Based on your current knowledge of this project
what do you see as the major design issues with which you must cope?

9. How will you gather information about our needs,
goals, etc.?

10. What would you identify as a single, unique characteristic
of your firm, and its practice, that distinguishes it from others?

11. Should conflicts arise between specific requests
from the Building Committee and sound design principles how would you resolve
these situations? Could you give us an example of this kind of situation from a
previous project?

12. How will you establish priorities and make
decisions?

13.Who from your firm will we be dealing with
directly? Is that the same person who will be designing the project? Who will
be designing our project?

14. How interested are you in this project?

15. How busy are you?

16. What sets you apart from the rest?

17. Do you use the standard AIA contract? If not, can
you provide us a copy what you will use?

18. How do you set your fee?

19.What would you expect the fee to be for this
project?

20. What design software do you use?

21.What are the steps in the design process and how
often will we be meeting?

22. How do you organize the process and how
interactive is it?

23. What do you expect to provide?

24. What is your design philosophy?

25. What is your experience/track record with cost
estimating?

26. What will you show us along the way to explain the
project? Will we see models, drawings, or sketches?

27. If the scope of the project changes later in the
project, will there be additional fees?

28.What services do you provide during
construction? Will we have a regular
meeting time during construction with yourself and the builder?

29. Have you been the defendant in any past lawsuits
and, if so, what was the outcome?

30. Do you have errors and omission insurance and if
so, what are the policy limits?

31. Who will be your consultants (structural, MEP,
fire protection, etc.) and same question on E&O insurance.

32. How long will this project take for design, building permits and construction?

33. If the project construction bids exceed available
funds, how would your firm assist in determining the best ways of bringing the
project within budget? How would such work be reflected in your fee? To what
extent would you assume responsibility for the redesign of the project?

34. Describe the procedure your firm will use to minimize the necessity for change orders during construction?

35. How disruptive will construction be? How long do
you expect it to take to complete our project?

36. Do you have a list of past clients that your firm
has worked with?

37. Can we see and visit some examples of your work?

38. Can you give us referrals for contractors you
like?

39. Are we
missing anything?