Whether you represent a public school, university, or municipality, you may need to go through a bidding process to secure a contractor. While public bidding promotes competition, it also adds a layer of complexity to a building project. You and your architect may need to check some extra boxes to ensure the process runs smoothly.

Next time you walk into a building, pay attention to the details. Every material—from the flooring to the door handle—has been carefully selected by a design team. If you start a building project of your own, you will take part in the exciting process of selecting materials.

Architects wear many hats. Their job is to manage costs, lead you through the design and construction process, and coordinate with consultants and vendors. But perhaps most importantly, architects find design solutions that work for your organization and give you the greatest value for your dollar.

The early stages of the architectural process are for research and planning. Before you can start designing, you and your architect should establish overarching project goals. One of the ways your architect can help you establish goals is by facilitating a visioning workshop.

Building projects are full of uncertainty. With many moving parts and technical elements, it’s important to implement a quality assurance process and make sure everything is operating correctly.

Sustainable design practices aim to reduce carbon emissions, minimize waste, and produce healthy environments. While the core objectives of sustainable design are the same across the globe, architects must adapt to local environments.

Design work doesn’t happen in a bubble. Like all creatives, architects look to examples of past work to generate ideas and solve problems. The process of studying past work is known as precedent research, and it’s foundational to every building project.

Physical modeling is one of the most useful tools at an architect’s disposal. For centuries, the practice has helped architects solve complex problems and express ideas.

The architectural process can last several months, and in that time, a lot can happen. Whether you experience a change in budget or operations, you may want to alter the design at some point.

Taking on a building project is a big commitment. Some building owners need to devote time to the project outside their regular working hours, a commitment that may feel like an additional part-time job.