QUALITY + VELOCITY = AFFORDABILITY
As a young architect, I would hear the older architects and seasoned contractors explain the following to their clients:
"A project can be done GOOD, FAST, or CHEAP. You can't have all 3, so you'll need to pick two of the three."
This statement often left me puzzled perplexed, disappointed, and with a general feeling that I was not getting it done for my clients.
But now, I understand that a few more things on how to actually make things work so you can get all three. The secret lies in planning properly and having the right engagement with a client.
Here's the situation:
A Rotary buddy of mine asked for some help with understanding the differences about hiring a cheap drafter vs. an architect. This is what I wrote to him:
1) full service:
2) abridged design service + site managed
pro's and cons:
full service allows you to work on many more projects at a time, but each takes much longer in the studio... with lots of research and thinking.
abridged design + site management requires a lot of field communication and working with a great contractor who knows that there aren't a lot of drawings. This is great as long as there is nothing REALLY special going on that the contractor does not understand... then you'll need to draw or show pictures of what you want.
In this case, detailing and the construction seems pretty straight forward, so you can get by with having a draftsman prepare basic drawings: in this case you can budget about 3-5K for that. Of course you will need to spend lots of time in the field managing the construction and working through details. Doing this, however, has the risk of runaway budgets as you have a harder time controlling the contractor's costs since most of the time he will work on a T&M basis when they see drawings with little detail. This is where experience comes in. Since the designer has been doing this a while, this is probably how you are used to doing these projects.
Moving to full service is only necc. if you have very unique designs that are difficult to communicate, or if you really want to control costs and stick to a set budget. the more details and understanding of what the contractor will build, the better he can stick to a set price....
in the end, you have costs up front for design, or costs later in construction as you design in the field. both are OK, - but historically higher quality drawings lead to faster construction times, less changes and lower costs for the project... although planning is higher. so in terms of design: most people say - you can have two of the 3: a great deal, quality, or speed. but if you really plan well with great drawing communication, the formula comes out more like this: speed + quality = a great deal."
So that's the explanation as to why drawing and planning can actually get you to save money. The reality is that you won't save the money... Most clients spend their money on more scope, or more features. So the trick for the architect is to help clients save money and let them spend it on things they REALLY can enjoy or use.
So this begs the question: how does one go fast with good quality. The answer to this is loaded with information. So stay tuned. This solution is looking at the details, and using design processes that are foreign to the bricks and mortar industry, but highly successful in manufacturing cars, software, and many other things. Keep you eyes open - I'll reveal this in the next report.
"A project can be done GOOD, FAST, or CHEAP. You can't have all 3, so you'll need to pick two of the three."
This statement often left me puzzled perplexed, disappointed, and with a general feeling that I was not getting it done for my clients.
But now, I understand that a few more things on how to actually make things work so you can get all three. The secret lies in planning properly and having the right engagement with a client.
Here's the situation:
A Rotary buddy of mine asked for some help with understanding the differences about hiring a cheap drafter vs. an architect. This is what I wrote to him:
1) full service:
- demo + existing plans: provide measured plans, one showing demolition and existing. add notes to all areas affected down to the light fixture, walls, and finishes removed.
- new floor plans: show new walls as dark and existing light. show dimensions for all new walls, and add notes to give instructions to the contractor on what needs to be added along with clarifying details.
- furniture plan: show your furnisings here...
- reflected ceiling plan: show the ceiling plan, materials and references to any details such as cove lighting, soffits, etc.
- interior elevations: show all interior elevations of each wall - particularly walls with special finishes, millwork, plumbing, or other accessories. show all mounting heights
- finish plan and specifications: this is where you can indicate the finishes on the plan... flooring, walls, base, trims, and references to details.
- details: this is where you want to show the profiles for things like wall base, ceiling trims, door jambs, window details (particularly if you have a certain sill or depth that you want to have), special glass details or drain details in the bath. Pretty much anything that the contractor may have questions on.
2) abridged design service + site managed
- demo + existing plans: you must show this, and make sure to call out all existing plumbing fixtures.
- floor plans: only show general locations and basic scope of work on the plans. don't need to call out finishes unless they are code required.
- interior elevations: only walls with plumbing
- details: only new walls
pro's and cons:
full service allows you to work on many more projects at a time, but each takes much longer in the studio... with lots of research and thinking.
abridged design + site management requires a lot of field communication and working with a great contractor who knows that there aren't a lot of drawings. This is great as long as there is nothing REALLY special going on that the contractor does not understand... then you'll need to draw or show pictures of what you want.
In this case, detailing and the construction seems pretty straight forward, so you can get by with having a draftsman prepare basic drawings: in this case you can budget about 3-5K for that. Of course you will need to spend lots of time in the field managing the construction and working through details. Doing this, however, has the risk of runaway budgets as you have a harder time controlling the contractor's costs since most of the time he will work on a T&M basis when they see drawings with little detail. This is where experience comes in. Since the designer has been doing this a while, this is probably how you are used to doing these projects.
Moving to full service is only necc. if you have very unique designs that are difficult to communicate, or if you really want to control costs and stick to a set budget. the more details and understanding of what the contractor will build, the better he can stick to a set price....
in the end, you have costs up front for design, or costs later in construction as you design in the field. both are OK, - but historically higher quality drawings lead to faster construction times, less changes and lower costs for the project... although planning is higher. so in terms of design: most people say - you can have two of the 3: a great deal, quality, or speed. but if you really plan well with great drawing communication, the formula comes out more like this: speed + quality = a great deal."
So that's the explanation as to why drawing and planning can actually get you to save money. The reality is that you won't save the money... Most clients spend their money on more scope, or more features. So the trick for the architect is to help clients save money and let them spend it on things they REALLY can enjoy or use.
So this begs the question: how does one go fast with good quality. The answer to this is loaded with information. So stay tuned. This solution is looking at the details, and using design processes that are foreign to the bricks and mortar industry, but highly successful in manufacturing cars, software, and many other things. Keep you eyes open - I'll reveal this in the next report.