Small Firms Ideas Exchange

I’m now at the beach (my family camps for two weeks on the beach; we are very “earthy”) and I’m wondering what the environment would “look” like if architects were front and center, not just relegated to one cog in the wheel of development? (We're at Myrtle Beach, far enough away from the overly "touristy" parts as we could get, while still having some creature comforts close by.) There are lots of people to watch, natural environments to observe, and some excesses (which vacations bring on to notice) as well.  The local paper has a feature story of some vacationing architects and engineers who come to this area to build sand castles for their vacation (see www.myrtlebeachonline.com/entertainment/story/543322.html). I like it when architects are in the news.

It seems like with all the talk of gas prices and energy costs, architects have a unique opportunity to step up and make that difference which most of us muttered to ourselves while we were still very idealistic while in college. I have one of those goof ball “what if” ideas that I would really like to pursue. But it is a Big Idea and I’m not sure how one little architect could ever make that much of a difference. Then I look around and realize that a lot of my colleagues (I love that word, colleagues; it sounds so strong) are already doing so in their neck of the woods. Laura Montllor is taking on accessibility issues in the Port Washington/Long Island area with her Home Free Home group (they assist folks with disabilities to make their homes more livable, not only the architecture side of it but all the stuff that folks are too overwhelmed to figure out: raising funds for the labor and materials of construction, getting the design services donated, hooking up the folks with local service-oriented groups, i.e. Rotary, for additional funding assistance; see www.homefreehome.org). I think of Louis Smith who is pushing the “middle class design initiative” at the federal level so architects' fees can be included in the loan process to get better design available to many, not just the select few who "think" they should call an architect. 

I want to hear more of your stories on the

• What you’re doing
• How you’re doing it
• Why it matters to you

I have one more week to ponder and “recharge my batteries.” I’m looking forward to your stories and experiences. Who knows, I might just find the answer while searching for the perfect wave to ride. I hope that Mother Earth and Sister Sea will help me see the way to some answers instead of only questions… how about you?

My family and I are still at the beach (I’m still searching for answers to life’s great questions in the waves of Sister Sea; I haven’t found them yet but we have found some really testy waves). During our travels, I always take the time to notice how different local environments are and how that environment affects/shapes building forms. I try to keep in mind that “environment” is not only the physical climate but also the political structure, citizen’s involvement and awareness, availability of local materials, construction craftsmen and artisans, etc. It seems that within each of these environments, the force of government has a stronger impact (or lack there of) than we realize (or are willing to admit). After all, I believe that “The People” earn the type of government that they earn or deserve.

So, in that context, it appears that the architect's roles in various environments run the gamut from “first stop/last word” to “another piece of the puzzle” to “in the margins.” I’d like to think that if architects as a whole were more integrated into the common context and vocabulary, better built environments would result.  During our travels in and around the South Carolina coastline, I came across a billboard on Highway US17 where ARCHITECT is front and center on a billboard for Rotary International. I have to admit I did a doubletake at seeing my profession on a highway billboard. The funny part is the billboard is not advertising directly for a product or good; it is apparently advertising the goodness and virtues of what the organization does—and it headlines that the member is an architect. We turned around so I could get my camera ready and snap a quick photo.

I’d like to thank Susan E. of Dunedin, Fla., for this topic suggestion. Susan is a sole practitioner in Florida doing a lot of residential (new and renovation) work and has asked for an open discussion of “the going rate” for noncommercial architects. I need to put a few warnings on this discussion.

First, the AIA must comply fully with all laws, rules, and regulations of the federal and our state governments specifically for antitrust implications; that is, we can’t say how much we charge, only how we calculated it.  When I’ve given presentations at conventions, I can use copies of my actual spreadsheets but I must blank out the actual fee (or hourly rate) that the fee was based on.

So, to be in full compliance and keep us all out of trouble, the AIA Antitrust Compliance reminder: “It is the practice of the American Institute of Architects and its members to comply strictly with all laws, including federal and state antitrust laws, that apply to AIA operations and activities. Accordingly this meeting (discussion) will be conducted in full compliance with those laws.”

I guess my first comment is what a drag that we can’t speak freely.  My second comment is my two bits on how I calculate fees. On a residential project, I have standard things I do and then crunch some numbers to get to my “bottom line”:

• Figure out how much time for Concepts, SD, DD and CD, with CDs based on the jurisdiction.
• Set my proposal (and written contract; yes, all are written, at least a letter form of agreement) with retainer to cover the Conceptual portion; that way if the client and I don’t mesh, we can part ways no harm done.
• Set a range for SD, DD, and CD based on my estimated time expenditure bounced off the anticipated construction cost with a nod to the client’s budget (ever notice how they can be farther apart than a simple 10% construction contingency will cover?). Historically the fee range can be as low as 4% or as high as 12% depending on services offered.
• After the Conceptual work is completed and we gel (and agree that we can work together), I’ll provide a fixed fee for SD, DD and CDs in a formal contract. I usually list estimated for CCA, indicating that the owner and/or general contractor will request meetings; I won’t just show up. (I try to leave some extra funds in my CDs calculation for 1 site visit and 3 to 4 phone calls depending on size/scope of the project).
• To work with a client’s budget (and get the happy signal from my insurance carrier) on residential projects, I always get a Limit of Liability clause. Lately I’ve learned that the LOL holds up better during litigation if the architect specifies an amount but gives the client the option to attain higher LOL by negotiation (they can buy it). Apparently it has legal implications and more strength if the option to negotiate for higher limits and the client chooses not to—the choice is the biggest factor.
• Invoice in a timely manner
• Collect in a timely manner (or stop work and lien the project… sorry it does happen). I’ve found that by letting folks know that I have a strong defense I rarely need to rely on it.

I’m a big proponent of architects knowing how buildings get put together. I spent an extra few years in school to earn a postbaccalaureate degree in building construction because I think architects also need more “credibility” when working with the guys in the field who are actually building our design. I was reviewing some older posts from the What’s on Your Mind blog, and came across one where the architect “got a talkin’ to” from the tile setter because the beautiful tile design used tiles of different thicknesses.    

Alas, I already knew tile thickness is a bigger issue than only the aesthetics. You see, my kids love taking on building experiments with me. We recently tiled the top of an old wicker table to make a new checkerboard for the living room. We had some 2 x 2 gloss black tiles left over from a previous hearth project (I’m too cheap to buy everything new for an “experiment”). We bought two sheets of tumbled stone mosaics and determined that if it was cut into 2 x 2 sizes, the pattern works great. Contrasting large with small sizes, different surfaces, we know it would be wonderful—except for the tile thickness and the substrate. It was a wicker table and I thought it would “act” like lath. It didn’t; it got really wet from the mortar and the grout and buckled. On the tile thickness, when we realized it, we buttered the back of the thinner tiles with a little more mortar so it could be squished down. It worked, sort of, until the wicker wanted to buckle. So after it settled a little bit, and we got all the tiles in place, we put a few boards over it and weighted it with books. When the directions said it was okay to grout, we did but the  buckling problem came back and cracked the grout. We sprayed it and weighted it again and left the “experiment” to bake for a few days. After a week it “healed” itself.  We sealed the tile and are using the table for chess/checkers, etc.

My kids (13, 10, and 7 years old) really like experimenting. It gives us additional ways to stay close as a family; it lets them see how else to “learn”; and hopefully teaches them that even when you’re grown up you still always need to learn.  We want to rebuild our deck next.

—Lisa Stacholy, AIA