There are so many choices to make when it comes to building and designing schools. But perhaps one of the biggest choices you will make is your first. Selecting the right architect will play a major role in assuring that your project is completed on time, within budget, and to a high degree of quality.
A good architect should serve as advisor, coordinator, and technical manager, as well as creative inspiration for your school project. He or she should be trained to help you achieve your goals and guide you through the design and construction process. In particular, architects will help you through some of the most complex issues such as zoning bylaws, building codes, and contractors’ bids. You are relying on their expertise, so it is important to choose an architect that is knowledgeable about laws and regulations not only at the national or state level, but at the municipal level as well.
It is the architect’s primary job to ensure your district and your community’s dreams are realized. Therefore, it is critical that the board or district choose an architect or architectural firm that is not only educated, trained and professional, but well informed about the philosophy of the district and the overall community vision for the project. This is a major responsibility and one that should be made carefully, thoroughly and thoughtfully with as much education as possible.
One of the first tips for choosing an architect is to check credentials. But this involves much more than one might think. Before you make a final decision on an architect, explore more than the obvious such as education and licensing. Find out if the firm has designed schools before and where they were built. Then, investigate what kind of schools they were and choose someone with experience building schools like the one you imagine – in areas similar to yours. Look at photos and plans, visit the schools yourself, and question the architects and their clients about the entire process.
But don’t stop your questions there. Instead of relying solely on the architect’s client list, ask for a list of contractors and subcontractors that an architect has worked with, and contact them for information on how well they worked together. After that, check with your county or city officials to see how successful the architect has been in getting designs approved. This can be an early good indicator of how smoothly your project will run.
And most importantly, make sure the architect understands and respects your schools needs and vision. Most architects have the ability to create beautiful structures, but that is not the most important consideration for a school. Ask architects tough questions about how functional their designs are. For example, find out how their design incorporates the flow of bodies within a facility, the location of classrooms and administrative space, the size of entry areas, the use of high ceilings, the placement of lockers and restrooms, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and the many other issues that are key to making a school operate as efficiently as possible.
Although some architects may try to sell you on a basic design, do not settle for a concept that does not meet your community’s needs. Find an architect who has plenty of ideas of their own, but is willing to listen to and incorporate the ideas of administrators, teachers, parents and students. And make sure his or her ideas are financially and otherwise reasonable under your circumstances.
Given unlimited resources, outcomes can be very different. A good architect must understand the financial restrictions of your particular school or district, and should be able to come up with creative suggestions to make the school functional and attractive within the district’s financials limitations.
In the end, there are so many variables that can affect the outcome of your new school or addition. But ultimately, the architectural design of the school may have far more to do with its success than anything else. Making an informed, justified decision when choosing an architect is the first step toward ensuring your project lives up to the dreams your community and district have vested in for long.
Top 10 Tips For Choosing A School Architect
1. Choose an architect who is knowledgeable about laws and regulations not only at the national or state level, but at the municipal level as well.
2. Choose an architect or architectural firm that is not only educated, trained and professional, but well informed about the philosophy of the district and the overall community vision for the project.
3. Find out if the firm has designed schools before and where they were built. Then, investigate what kind of schools they were and choose someone with experience building schools like the one you imagine – in areas similar to yours.
4. Look at photos and plans of other schools the architect has designed or visit the schools yourself. Question the architects and their clients about the entire process including any problems or issues that may have occurred.
5. Ask for a list of contractors and subcontractors an architect has worked with, and contact them for information on how well they worked together.
6. Check with your county or city officials to see how successful the architect has been in getting designs approved in the area.
7. Make sure the architect understands and respects your school’s personal needs and does not push you into choosing a basic concept that does not work for your students and staff.
8. Find an architect who has plenty of ideas of their own, but is willing to listen to and incorporate the ideas of administrators, teachers, parents and students.
9. Ask architects tough questions about how functional their designs are. For example, find out how their design incorporates the flow of bodies within a facility, the location of classrooms and administrative space, etc.
10. Make sure your architect understands the financial limitations of your school or district, and has creative suggestions for making the school functional and attractive within the district’s budget.