The architect down the road offers so many different kindsof services - why should I go with you?

This is a question we get from time to time, so I thought it would be helpful to address it here.

Let’s say you’re beginning the permit process for your first commercial development. It’s not a huge project, but the City says you need an architect. Because it’s a smaller project, you start talking to smaller firms.

One architect sounds especially impressive. He presents himself as a true one-stop shop. Not only can he design any kind of building, but he also has experience as a construction superintendent and is certified to perform every type of jobsite inspection you might need.

It sounds like you could save time and money. You might not even need to hire a general contractor, and your inspections could sail through the City.

Not exactly.

General Experience Is Not the Same as Specialized Expertise

Think about it this way: when you experience chest pain, you may start with your regular doctor. But when you realize it could be more serious than heartburn, do you still want a generalist handling the entire situation?

No. You turn to a heart specialist.

When the outcome matters and the work needs to be done correctly the first time, you need someone with specific expertise. You do not want to waste valuable time and resources talking to the wrong professional.

No One Can Truly Do It All

Close your eyes for a moment and picture the person you would hire to design a church, a hospital, or a high-end home. Think about the specialized knowledge and detailed decisions involved in each project.

Now erase that image and picture the person responsible for inspecting the plumbing. Consider the completely different knowledge that role requires.

How could all of these people realistically be the same person?

Every building type, discipline, and stage of construction requires its own expertise. Someone who claims to do everything may not have the depth of experience your particular project requires.

A Successful Project Requires the Right Team

What happens to your budget, schedule, and overall quality when you are working with someone who is trying to do everything?

Even the most talented one-person band cannot match the experience of a full orchestra or a Foo Fighters concert. Whatever your musical preference, the result is different when every person has mastered a specific role and understands how that role contributes to the larger composition.

A successful building project works the same way.

Architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and inspectors each bring a specific area of knowledge to the project. The best results happen when those professionals work together, communicate clearly, and remain accountable for their individual responsibilities.

Too Many Services Can Mean Too Little Focus

There is another risk to consider. Someone who says they do everything may also be doing everything for many other clients who were attracted by the same promise.

That can lead to a lack of focus, blurred responsibilities, and insufficient boundaries.

As a project manager, I have seen how important it is to clearly define the project scope, goals, schedule, and budget from the very beginning. Once those expectations are established, the team must remain committed to them.

Without clear boundaries, projects become difficult to control.

Clearly Defined Roles Protect Your Project

When your project lacks clear boundaries or clearly established roles, there may be no shared understanding of what is required.

You also lose the checks and balances that naturally exist between different disciplines. Architects, engineers, contractors, and consultants review the project from different perspectives. That collaboration often catches problems before they become expensive mistakes.

Without that structure, clarity may not arrive until it is too late. The mistake has already been built and now needs to be removed or corrected.

That costs time. More importantly, it costs money.

Every Trade Has a Specialty

Your general contractor works with a mechanical contractor, a framer, an electrician, a plumber, a roofer, and a tile installer.

Every trade has its own specialty.

The tile installer is not the roofer. The electrician is not the plumber. Even when dealing with repairs at home, you would not call an electrician to fix a plumbing problem.

The same principle applies to architecture and construction. When someone cannot clearly explain what they do best, it becomes difficult to trust that they can identify exactly what your project needs.

Be Cautious of Anyone Who Promises Everything

I would caution you against choosing someone simply because they promise the world.

When the architect down the road says they can design every type of project, provide a long list of additional services, and do it all for less money, take a closer look.

Ask where their true expertise lies. Ask who will be responsible for each part of the project. Ask how the team will communicate, review the work, and remain accountable to the schedule and budget.

You have already done as much as possible to reduce your risk. Why create additional exposure now by choosing someone whose services and responsibilities are spread too thin?

Have a Complex Building Project?

Code issues, existing conditions, permitting challenges, and competing priorities can quickly complicate a project. LKB Architecture helps bring the right people together, work through obstacles, and keep the project moving toward a buildable solution.