What Are Major Roles And Responsibilities Of An Architect?

By Author: Garry Stacks
Total Articles: 254
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In the world of construction, the architects Berkshire are the backbone of the industry. They come up with the visual design of the building before the actual construction work is done. If any mistake is done from their end, the entire construction work will get adversely affected. The role and responsibilities of an architect are huge. If you are planning to hire an architect for your design firm, you should concentrate on the following areas:
 

Project Discussion: A reliable architect will take proper part in the project discussion. He should be a good communicator who can clearly explain the scope of the project. He needs to discuss the pros and cons of the project and what can be done to improve the overall results. Through a detailed discussion he will understand what the client wants. He needs to have a clear grasp about the specifications and requirements of the customers. This is vital because the details collected will find a reflection in the visual design. For example: if the customer is interested in a duplex, the architect should come up with a suitable design. ...
... He cannot furnish the layout of a bungalow to the client.

Drafting of Designs: The drawings and designs form a big part of the project. This needs to be completed before the actual work starts. Every project has a start and end date. The architect has to come up with the final, approved design before the date of commencement. From the drawings one can come up with the initial estimate on what kind of materials will be used, what would be the cost of the project and so on. It will give the customer a heads up on what to expect.

Budget Estimation: The architect plays a significant role in this. Since he has a clear idea about the work involved, he can break down the cost at different stages. At the same time, he will also give an explanation about why such an amount has been estimated. He is the one who is going to visualise the extensive nature of the work, the number of labourers who are going to work on the project and so on. Hence, he is the one who can furnish with a clear budget estimation of the project.

Contracts and Tenders: The architect plays a significant role in breaking down the project and assigning it to different contractors. Since he has a clear idea about how extensive the project will be, he knows whom to assign what work. He is going to be in constant touch with the project coordinator, labourers and others associated with the project. He is a one-man army. The contact person for all the others working on the project.

 
To hire a reliable architect for your company, you can give an advertisement in the local newspaper. You can also post about the opening in your social media accounts so that the interested parties can check out the post and respond to it. Once you shortlist the architects Berkshire, you need to organise a face-to-face interview with them where you need to ask them some pertinent questions. What are these questions? Here’s a list of those questions:
 

What is the overall experience of the architect? - This matters because it will show how skilled and expert they are in their area of work.
Which was the last project he worked on? - This shows their exposure and the kind of clients they have worked with. Everyone wants to hire well known architects in their firm.
What is his current salary? - You need to know this because based on this, he will ask for his salary. You need to know the basic amount as well as the perks and benefits that he gets.
What is his estimated salary? - Since, your firm will be bearing this cost, you need to know what his expectations are. Will your firm be able to afford it? In case you have a fixed budget and cannot afford the quoted amount, do let the architect know about the same. Many are willing to compromise if the firm is a good one.
Can he join immediately? - This is crucial because there are so many ongoing projects. You want the expert to join ASAP and get started with the work without any kind of delay.
Will he be able to overlook a team and get the work done as per the deadline? - Ask this during the interview. Timely delivery of work is crucial for the success of every project. You need to know about his plan of action and how he will execute the same.

 
Answers to all these questions will give you a clear idea about whether the candidate is a suitable one for your company or not. If you have more questions that you would like to ask the architect, feel free to add it to this list. Hiring the right individual for the post is crucial because at the end of the day he is the one who is going to do the job. Hence interview multiple candidates before you shortlist the one that you would like to hire.
 
About the Author: This contribution has been made by Garry Stacks who has written a number of articles on Architects Berkshire and provides fruitful information.