Architects Fees Include

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A Resource For Architects

What Does An Architect's Fee Include?

2/7/2021

The short answer is Basic Services.

Well, what your fee includes is mostly up to you. But I will share my experience with fees.

The only benchmark I know of is ’Basic Services’. This is the architect’s level of involvement in the project that the standard national agreements assume, especially those developed by the American Institute of Architects [AIA].

Basic Services usually include five phases of work - Schematic Design [SD], Design Development [DD], Construction Documents [CD], Bidding [B], and Construction Administration [CA]. The only one of these five that I feel is fully detailed in contracts is Construction Administration.

No doubt the design phases are too variable to describe in detail. To oversimplify, the result of each phase is to:

SD - resolve the Owner’s program into a design concept
DD - resolve the approved concept into plans and elevations
CD - develop detailed drawings of the approved design to describe the building in enough detail that it can be built
B - obtain a firm cost from a contractor to build the building
CA - oversee the construction of the building in enough detail to determine that it substantially complies with the construction documents

Public projects usually include Basic Services at a minimum. Private projects do as well, but the Owner and Architect aren't prevented from modifying the scope of services in any way they like. Adding and deleting services to suit their objectives.

For example, the standard AIA agreements describe numerous Additional Services that might be added initially or as circumstances dictate.

Another assumption that is part of Basic Services is that the Architect will provide basic engineering services. By basic engineering is meant structural design, mechanical engineering (HVAC, plumbing, fire protection) and electrical engineering. The inclusion of civil engineering, telecommunications, interior design, and networking usually need to be addressed. Are they in or out?

Traditionally the engineering work has been assumed to be one third (1/3) of the total fee. In the last two decades this has been increasing as it becomes more typical to include civil engineering, telecommunications, networking and other disciplines as well. We have experienced as many as nine members of the design team -

Architect
Landscape Architect
Civil Engineer
Structural Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Electrical Engineer
Interior Designer
Graphic Designer
Sculptor

The breakdown of the fee was 50/50 on that project.

Other articles on fees:

Jess Epps

11/18/2014 04:59:21 am

Have you tracked the average fee per drawing?

Rick Wolnitzek

11/18/2014 05:23:41 am

No I haven't. Our work was so diverse that it didn't seem worthwhile.

When estimating how much time a sheet would take, I did a rough layout of all the components on the sheet and guessed how long my go-to drafter would need to get it drawn plus my time for design. Plus a contingency - usually 15%. Once you get some practice doing this it takes less than an hour to nail down a time estimate.

Maris DiDio

7/7/2015 10:56:39 pm

Does the Archetect usually provide a set of drawings or blueprints for permit approval included in his fee or are the final drawings usually an extra cost?

Rick Wolnitzek

7/8/2015 01:23:29 am

Maris,
The fee would usually include preparation of drawings that can be used to obtain a building permit. But that is negotiable, as is who pays for the multiple copies of the drawings that are required to obtain the permit.
There are cases, for instance, when the fee is limited to developing a concept. The concept drawing should comply with codes but they may not be sufficient to obtain a permit.
Thanks for your question.
Best,
Rick

tracy bassett

8/11/2015 05:04:17 am

is there any data to provide what % of the basic Arch services ar to the overall project?
ie, what % of the Arch fees are the exterior elevations , wall sections, floor plans , deatls, schedules, etc?

Rick Wolnitzek

8/11/2015 06:57:38 am

Tracy,
I'm not aware of any data like that. Projects and firms vary so much that it would be impossible to have standard values. I do think it could be worked out with some degree of accuracy in the case of a very specialized building type. However, even then, I think the size of the project could skew the standard percentages that you calculate.
Best,
Rick

Rob

4/29/2016 03:42:25 pm

Rick, I have seen the 8-15% of cost of construction used as a fee or the architectural fees. When this cost method is used does this normally include those fees of the structural and M/E engineers? We are adding roughly 750 square feet onto an existing dental office and have been told the high end of construction will be $200 per square foot which equates to $150,000. The guesstimate given by the architect for their fees was $40,000 to $50,000 dollars. $50k would be 33% of construction cost which seems excessive. I am naive to this process but that seems to be a high fee to add 750 square feet. Thanks, Rob

Rick Wolnitzek

4/29/2016 05:10:50 pm

Rob,
I agree that $50,000 seems high. BTW structural and M/E engineers fees are normally included.
Having said that here are some factors that could justify the fee.
Additions are more time-consuming to design and detail than a new building.
Remodeling. Usually an addition creates a need for some remodeling of the existing building. More design work. This can be substantial if you are making updates in the rest of the building.
Scope of work. Is this support space or more dental suites. If suites, who is responsible for selecting and coordinating the equipment. Even if someone like Patterson provides a layout, there are hours of coordination with the design team. What about bidding and construction administration? Is that included. Those things can take as much effort as a project much larger.
I would ask the architect for a more detailed breakdown of the fee. I would also get a proposal from one or two other firms.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

TONY RICHARD

11/16/2017 05:49:28 am

Hi Sir/Madam
My name is Tony Richard,I am hearing impaired that is the reason why contact you through via Email,I will like to have a Design for Six Bed Rooms Single Story All Suit with Two Living Rooms, foyal. master suite, playroom, kitchen, kitchenette, laundry room, and 3 car Garage and will like access the Living from the Garage also have link with the Master Bed room ,If there is anything that can suite my taste which i am yet to included . Please Advice,Hope you accept credit Card as mode of payment for the Drawing , plan and Designs ,and i will appreciate if you can get back to me with the following details Estimate of Yours
Mr Tony

Rick Wolnitzek link

11/16/2017 05:56:42 am

Tony,
Sorry. I do not offer design work.
Rick

Kay

2/19/2018 11:41:31 am

I just received an email with this same exact text, word for word, which was fortunately caught by my SPAM filter.
I am unlisted for any type of design work. The email provides no specifics a designer would require to complete the work.
Stay observant, don't get conned!
-K

Bryan Mulligan

3/12/2018 05:32:30 am

I received this exact same email and even did a full proposal which this gentleman approved within hours. No questions asked. Below was his email response, very strange and very fishy. Beware

I agree with the estimate you offered and i will like to proceed with this project as soon as possible..I have stated that i'm presently out of state on a medical trip in India, but in the mean time i would like to make an initial deposit with my credit card to let you know that i'm serious about this project.To have meeting with you is not problem but i will be need a Little Favor from you cuz Am having a little issue with the Surveyor i Only Pay Him %85 Before i Left the State.
At this point, i will send you my credit card details to charge for the sum of $5,000 as part payment deposit in order for you to have the Survey of the property and start working on the project prior before i return from my trip, then i will make a complete payment for whole services as soon as i return.Also i will need your assistance with something else, My Surveyor who will come for meeting and take to the plot does not has a credit card facility to take deposit, so i will need you to charges additional $5,000 from my card and help me forward that to the Surveyor through cash deposit to his account and charges 5% for credit card company and also $100 tip for your stress.I could have done this my self but due to my medical trip abroad, i would not be able to do that from my end, that was why am asking you for this, and i will really appreciate it if you can do this for me.
You can proceed and set up for a credit card processing merchant and let me know as soon as you've done that, so we could proceed asap.

civil engineer link

11/26/2018 11:28:59 pm

Civil engineer and Architect are the fields which go hand in hand. You have pinned down relevant points in the blog. Amazing article you have written..!!!

Civil Engineer link

1/19/2021 11:21:11 am

Very Informative Article

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