Printable Version

Hiring an Architect

The school's project team first needs to agree on several key issues: the functional requirements of the new building; a possible site; approximate budget; and a general timeline. A good resource for finding an architect knowledgeable about green building design is The American Institute of Architects (AIA) online database. AIA recommends that three to five architectural firms be interviewed, depending on the size of the project. Each candidate should be provided with the same estimates and information so that the bids received are comparable.

Here are some questions to ask:

• What experience does the architect have in designing energy-efficient schools?

• What kind of training do the firm's architects have in high-performance design? Is the primary architect on this project experienced in whole building design?

• Which member of the firm will communicate with school district personnel? Who will design the project? Are they the same person?

• How will the architect establish priorities and make decisions?

• How interested is the architect in this project? How busy?

• What is the architect's fee structure and what is the fee for this project?

• What are the steps in the design process and what is the school project team expected to provide?

• What is the architect's design philosophy?

• What is the architect's track record with cost estimating?

• If the scope of the project changes, will there be additional fees? How will those fees be justified and handled?

• What will the architect provide to explain the project? Will there be models, drawings or sketches?

• What services does the architect provide during construction?

• Can the architect provide client references?

• Does the architect have a good working relationship with a particular contractor or other construction specialists?