Their work involves:
preparing and presenting design proposals to clients
preparing tender and planning applications and presentations
advising clients on the practicality of their project
producing detailed drawings from which costings are made
negotiating with contractors and other professionals
attending regular meetings with clients, contractors and other specialists
co-ordinating the work of contractors
making site visits to check on progress
making sure that the project is running within the agreed time frame
dealing with problems that might come up during building.
The design process begins with developing initial ideas with the client. The architect asks detailed questions to find out exactly what the client wants and how much money is available for the project. The needs of people who will use the building, and the impact of the building on the local community and the environment must also be taken into account.
The architect then produces designs using computer-aided design (CAD), showing how the spaces in the building will be organised, what the building will look like in its environment and how it will be built. On a large project, a team of architects produce the designs.
Most designs need approval from bodies such as local planning and building control departments, as well as from the client. Once the designs have been accepted, the architect produces detailed drawings for the builder to use. When building is under way, the architect visits the site to check progress and inspect the work.
Architects work closely with other professionals on every project, including engineers, surveyors, architectural technicians and technologists, to make sure that their buildings meet the necessary standards. They also work closely with construction specialists on site and oversee the project from beginning to end.