Article 01

When Do You Actually Need an Architect?


One of the biggest misconceptions about architects is that we are mainly there to make a building look good or draw up a set of plans.

That is part of the job, but there is a lot more to it

For many people, the cost of hiring an architect can be difficult to justify at first. If you have never gone through a construction project, it can be hard to understand what you are actually paying for.

A big part of that value is planning.

Before a contractor can give you meaningful pricing, someone has to clearly define what is actually being built.

How big is it? What materials are being used? What level of finish is expected? What structural systems are required? What mechanical and electrical systems are involved? What is included in the project and what is not?

The clearer that scope is before construction begins, the better information you have when it comes time to make decisions and understand costs.

An architect helps work through those questions early.

Materials can be selected. Systems can be coordinated. Details can be worked through. The project scope can be clearly defined before contractors are asked to price it.

That matters because better-defined projects lead to better pricing.

Instead of different contractors making different assumptions about what is included, they can price the same drawings, materials, and scope of work. That gives the owner a much better basis for comparing bids and understanding where the money is going.

It also gives you time to explore options while they are still easy to change.

Moving a wall, changing a material, adjusting a structural approach, or reconsidering part of the design is much easier during the planning process than after materials have been ordered or construction is already underway.

When major decisions are left until construction, they often have to be made quickly. The contractor is already on site, the schedule is moving, and changing direction can mean additional labor, delays, material costs, or rework.

Those decisions are usually much more expensive to make in the field than they are on paper.

An architect helps bring the whole project together, including:

The architect also serves as an advocate for the owner.

The contractor’s job is to build the project. The architect’s role is to help make sure the project being designed and built continues to reflect the owner’s needs, priorities, budget, and original goals.

The goal is not simply to find the cheapest way to build.

It is to establish a realistic budget, understand where the money is going, make informed decisions about where it is being spent, and keep the design aligned with that budget as the project develops.

Good planning can also help reduce avoidable changes and surprises during construction, which are often where costs begin to grow.

An architect cannot control every construction cost, but a well-defined and coordinated project gives an owner a much better chance of staying on budget than making major decisions after construction is already underway.

Good architecture is not just about making something look good.

It is about creating a project that is thoughtful, coordinated, realistic, buildable, and well planned from the beginning.

At DEMI Architecture, that is how we approach the process.

Design. Evolve. Make. Inspire.

If you are thinking about building, renovating, adding on, or purchasing property for a future project, the earlier those conversations happen, the more options you usually have.


Michael Demetrios Frudakis, AIA, NCARB
 Principal Architect