What can an Architect offer?

Who exactly is this 'ARCHITECT'? And why shall we know him?

Architecture is about people. It is about us... all of us.

We experience architecture everyday of the house that we live in, the office that we work in, the shopping malls that we enjoy in and our neighbourhoods that we walk in.

Who creates these environments for us?

How does the creator know what we want and enjoy in these environments?

Who is the person working behind the screen?

Well, he too is one of us.

His name is 'ARCHITECT'.

So, what does this 'Architect' do? What do we expect, when we meet him?

There are 101 things that an architect does in his professional life. He does all these to make the environments we live in, more enjoyable.

Today, Let's walk into an ARCHITECT's life and observe these 101 steps he takes in his profession:

Establishing an office

1. Business planning

2. Planning firm's legal structure

3. Financial planning

4. Acquiring capital

5. Acquiring premises

6. Furnishing the premises

7. Investing in required Hardware & Software

8. Registering the firm with govt departments

9. Preparing firm's documentation

10. Starting a firm

16.Planning of manpower

17.Planning of equipments

18.Motivation of employees

19.Understand and implement the laws of local  authorities

20.Understand and implement local building  bye -laws

21.Understand and implement employment law

22.Understand and implement company law

23.Understand and implement government  obligations

24.Implement staff development programs

25.Train clerical staff

26.Train technical staff

27.Train managerial staff

28.Manage productivity issues of the office

29.Data processing

30.Computing / I.T

31.Public relation policy

32.Client oriented marketing

33.Advertising and media relationship

34.Making good quality collateral

35.Making good client relationship

36.Involvement in Community projects

37.Participating in professional associations

38.Participating in competition projects

39.Participation in architectural education

Managing clients

40.Understanding client’s nature, his/her whims and aspirations

41.Selecting projects and clients to work with

42.Educating the client and his associates

43.Managing change as per project needs

44.Giving value added service to the client

45.Making clear and transparent agreements with clients

46.Keeping a good track record of documentation

47.Maintaining customer relationship with the client

   Design management

48.Planning and pre design services

49.Programming of the project requirements

50.Study and research

51.Site analysis

52.Infrastructure planning

53.3d model

54.Establish needs and resource availability

55.Establish estimate and budget of the project

56.Design the project to suit the feasibility

57.Establish viability plan and control the preparation of brief, sketch / scheme design,

58.Prepare detailed design

59.Production of final project design

60.Finalize contract methods

61.Co-ordinate the project with the clients

62.Co-ordinate with public authorities

63.Co-ordinate with other specialist like structural engineer, HVAC consultant,

64.Co-ordinate with other design professionals like interior designer, landscape designer etc.

65.Co-ordinate with contractors

66.Co-ordinate with sub-contractors

67.Code compliance and approval

68.Working out appropriate technology to use

69.Reviewing the financial aspects

70.Preparing creative visualization

71.Preparing working drawings

72.Preparing design /construction phases

Construction management

73.Preparing construction specifications

74.Advise on organizing, building procurement

75.Draft contracts & agreements

76.Review project cost

77.Review construction performance

78.Manage changes as per site condition

79.Managing the time schedule of the construction

80.Managing timely delivery of construction drawings

81.Coordinating on-site activity with building planning

Post construction services

82.Settlement of contractors’ dues

83.Settlement of consultants’ dues

84.Completion certificate/ commissioning

85.Analysis of construction defects

86.Creating as built drawings

87.Evaluation of design and construction performance

88.Approval of maintenance plans

89.Facilities management

Digital data management

90.Software and hardware installation

91.Information and data management

92.Using internet for research and managing the data

93.Production of drawings and construction data

94.Periodical evaluation of IT benefits and investments

Leadership & Management

95.Develop entrepreneurial expertise

96.Taking responsibility on planning matters

97.Research in to market conditions

98.Identify potential projects

99.Advertising and PR communication with media

100.Projecting and maintaining the image of the firm to media and clients

101.Establish policy on fee payment

These are some of the key stages any architect must go through to reach the path of success. But even after going through all of the above, how many architects are remembered as part of our life? We never forget the doctor who treated our grandfather, but we hardly remember the hard working architect who spent sleepless nights for creating the apartment we live in.

It's time we architects blow our own trumpet and get noticed for what we do.

It's time we architects deliver the best of our knowledge and demand the best of returns.

It's time we architects, master Management skills over and above the design skills.

It's time for Architectural Management !