i appreciate your response. I should probably have been more clear in my question. The contractor is actually a friend. I am aware of his work and am confident that he is perfect for me. I know he has my best interest at hand. He actually was the one who recommended one of the architects to me. He understands that the architect is going to receive a percentage on the cost of his construction and he has no issue with this. However, he also told me he does not need the architect to manage him. So my question is, why do i have to pay the architect when the contractor feels it is not necessary? The architect is also doing the design phase. It is a large sum of money and I am hearing one person say it is not necessary and the other saying that is how he structures his fee and he will not carve that out of his contract. Thank you for helping and forgive me if I am still unclear. I am a bit overwhelmed

There are different levels of involvement from the architect in any project. Highest level is as project administrator. All applications for payment from the contractor and all requests for material change or substitution go through the architect, along with any change order directives coming to the contractor. Most contractors will live with this arrangement..but the fact is it alienates clients from the people doing the work on their home and can foment an adversarial relationship. Discuss with the recommended architects what level of involvement their fee covers. We recommend a team approach in which the architect and contractor are both involved in the early stages, the architect to design and dream, the contractor to watch the budget and suggest affordable alternatives or practical solutions to achieve design goals. Communication and respect (egos at the door or preferably left at home) are all-important

I agree with Ironwood. There are a number of levels of involvement your architect can play with regard to the design and construction of your project. However, since it sounds like you have a good and trusting contractor I feel you should be well served by getting an accurate and detailed set of construction documents. If your contractor finds and discrepencies, comes up with alternative materials or means of achieving the same end result, or just needs to communicate he can call and discuss them with the architect. This assumes the architect is willing to work this way. Check references.

Very good question, and one that exists because our profession doesn't do a very good job of explaining this to the general public. I apologize in advance for the long post, but there's a lot to cover, and I hope you can see to reading this through to the end!

I'm repeating myself, having just posted this on another thread, but it bears repeating:
"A good Architect will help you understand all the sides of an issue enough for you to confidently make an informed decision about it yourself. "

The role of an Architect on site can be boiled down to two roles:
1) If you value the service of an Architect enough for the design & documentation process, logically you should retain it for the realization of that design in construction. Drawings are not perfect, and don't tell the whole story. A set of drawings are in our parlance "an instrument of service". The Architect on site during construction does not "oversee the contractor". The Architect on site during construction "oversees the design" to assure it is correctly and appropriately realized. Builders don't know what the Architect's intent was in a drawing, nor are they trained or licensed to do what an Architect does if it needs to be changed. Without an Architect's on site services, you are actually letting the *General Contractor* oversee the *design* without the Architect present which seems to make even less sense than the other way around.

2) Construction is a process in which all the other players are speaking a language in which most people are at best marginally proficient, but usually, functionally illiterate. In no other situation would we invest so much money in something where we don't know the language people are speaking while they spend it for us. An Architect understands the construction process, the language of that process and how to orchestrate all the players to assure everyone does what they are contractually obligated to do, but in your service does all this on *your* behalf. Even the most honest GC is still working for himself first, then you. You want an Architect on the construction phase to act as *your* advocate and *your* translator. This may not be as relevant to you given your trust in your GC, but it still bears explanation.

The key is hiring players that work well with each other. And that can be accomplished best by asking for mutual references; GC recommending an Architect, Architect recommending a GC. In your case, if you value and trust your GC to such a level, I'd go with his recommendations, and just be sure the two players have good chemistry.

You are right to feel overwhelmed. It is a complex process, with many moving parts, and many choices to make that are not easy to make even when you've had experience making them. Stay positive! You're not the first to do this, and you are on the right track to be asking for advice in as many places as you can!

One piece of advice is to recognize that Architects generally specialize; make an effort to stick with Architects with a fair amount of experience in the sort of work you are doing. A famous name Architect that did that museum you love may not be even remotely suited for your home.

I wish you the best!

With respect to contract types, there are many, and you should really go over these with your Architects you are shopping for (and the builder you have already decided upon) to get a sense of which they are most comfortable with. Unless you have some over-riding reason to go with a particular contract type, you have the best chance of success if all the players are comfortable with the contract type being used.

http://www.pcl.com/Services-that-Deliver/Contract-Types/Pages/default.aspx

Most all types of construction contract approaches have the Owner hiring the Architect and the GC in separate contracts that are written in conjunction with each other to assure their defined roles (along with that of the Owner!) are coordinated. The Architect is basically the Owner's representative, and assures that the GC and any other players abide by their contracts (including the Owner!) Some are more geared toward collaborative design than others.

The standard contract set-up is what's called a "Lump Sum" (LS). In this set up the Architect has prepared a full set of documents that have as fully as possible described the work, are used to solicit bids, and then a bid is awarded using those documents as a basis for the contract. This way is not specifically anti-collaborative, but is also only adversarial if the players don't get along or one or more don't abide by their roles.

Another that may work for you is the "Guaranteed Maximum Price" (GMP). This one is set up the same way contractually as far as roles, but leaves more room for earlier collaboration of the GC because his fee is defined and he can be on board very early in design development. Given your relationship with the GC, this may be a god approach for you.

The AIA has contract documents designed to do this for most all types of costruction approaches, most Architects will (I think rightly) encourage you to use them, and most GC are familiar with them and have no problem with them.


Again, good luck with this! You are embarking on a great adventure, and even though I do this on a daily basis, I envy you! You are setting out to define your own space, and that is a trip!

:-D

Okay, I'm going to play the "Devil's Advocate" here.......friendship is friendship and business is business. Are you willing to put your friendship at risk here? I ask that, because that's exactly what you're dong when you sign that contract.....you're not signing a contract with your friend, you're signing a contract with a contractor that you are paying X amount of dollars for a scope of work that is defined in the construction documents. Doesn't really matter whether it's Lump Sum, Guaranteed Maximum Price or Cost Plus, it is purely a contractual business deal and as long as everything goes accordingly and in a business like manner and you and your friend can leave that friendship hat in the field office..........everything might come out okay.

Let's see the number of Pros here who have had a project that everything went accordingly and there were no "hidden discoveries" or surprises (especially in a remodel)...........go ahead just raise your hands (or pipe in) and tells us how many projects you've been involved with that didn't have change orders, field directives or some other conflict that had to be resolved where somebody didn't get their nose bent out of shape in some manner or another.

While most here have varying ideologies on the roles of Design Architect, Construction Administrator and Contractor, I think we're all pretty much saying the same things from the view points our backgrounds have shaped and from which side of the fence we're most comfortable with.

Here's an idea.........I told you I was going to play the Devil's Advocate here...........Hire your Architect to design your project, engage a contractor recommended by your friend and hire your friend as your Construction Administrator. What better person to "have your back" than a trusted friend ........... just a thought.

Of course the contractor is going to say he doesnt need an Architect!! Who would want to be supervised and picked on for his work! He wants to do what he wants to do especially inside the walls when it's going to be covered and deosn't want anyone to bring issues to the surface. If you have decided you want to trust your friend, go for it. If you have all the time to spend for design decisions don't hire an architect. It also depends on the level changes you are making and the level of risk you anticipate. If it is a same kind remodel, perhaps the risk would be less. If you are making a lot of changes in the layout and also if you feel there may be unforeseen conditions once the walls are open, hire the Architect or hire an inspector and bring it in as a friend. What most people dont realize is that the architect's role is most critical during construction administration. The architect is owner's representative during CA. Hope your contractor is submitting drawings to the Building Dept so at least you have the City inspector to ensure the construction is being performed according to the code. If not, have someone besides you, the architect to inspect the job periodically. Depending on your scope of work, I would sign him up and ask him to come during certain increments to ensure design is performed per what is intended and also, construction (where you don't see) is performed per code.

Thank you so much for all your responses. They were so valuable
I can't believe the help that is available here on Houzz

Hello tsda. Just curious, have you made any decision on this yet?

Have not made a final decision. Reviewing 2 different architects at the moment. Both very different in their approach but equally capable

OK. There are so many variables to your question that are specific to your project it's hard to give good informed advice. My best -guess- is to choose the Architect with the most reasonable project oversee fees and use him in that capacity. Good Luck