FAQs
Robert Mann Architecture & Design
Q. How do Architects typically charge for their services?
Architects typically provide their clients with fee options, providing a quote for Fixed Fees, or charged on an Hourly Rate basis as requested.
Hourly Rates are charge-out rates, covering all the expenses of the architectural company, not just the Architect’s salary.
- For more information on how Hourly Rates are calculated, click here.
- To skip ahead and find out How much an Architect may charge per hour, click here.
Fixed Fees are determined by the scope of the work required. Big or complex projects generally cost more to build, and take longer to document than small or simple projects. The Architect’s fee can therefore be equated to a percentage of the construction costs, or calculated from past experience based on an estimation of how long the project will take to complete.
- For more information on how percentage-based Fixed Fees are calculated, click here.
- To skip ahead and find out How much an Architect may charge in Fixed Fees, click here.
Personally, I understand that integrity is key. Our fees are calculated on a case-by-base basis, ensuring that we provide a service to meet your individual budget and project needs. The specific method will vary depending on the project's complexity, scope, and your service preferences.
Please contact us directly to arrange a fee-free phone consultation to discuss your project needs, using this link.
We also provide on-site design consultations for a small fee with no ongoing obligations. For more information on our Initial Design Consultation, click here.
Q. How much do Architects typically charge for their services?
The cost of Architectural services varies greatly, depending on project complexity, scope, and the level of service provided. Other factors include the Architect’s experience, expenses, and efficiency.
Architects’ fees are generally charges as Fixed Fees for core services, where the scope of the work can be quantified, or charged on an Hourly Rate where the scope of the work is hard to quantify and likely to change**:**
Fixed Fees for Architectural services may be calculated as:
- A percentage of total construction costs (Construction Cost x Architectural Services Factor)
Or
- An estimation of the work required (Hourly Rate x Estimated hours to complete project)
As there is no direct connection between the cost of construction and the Architectural services, the Architect is using the total cost of the construction in conjunction with their past experience to determine how long it will take to undertake the requested services. For this reason, percentage-based fees tend to be calculated on a sliding scale.
Before we discuss the percentage-based sliding scale of fees, we must also consider the difference between Full vs Partial Architectural Services.
Partial Architectural services may include:
Design only, or design and well as Planning & Building Approval only.
While Full Architectural Services will generally include:
Preliminary Planning
Conceptual Design
Developed Design
Planning Approval
Building Approval
Construction Documentation
Contract Administration
Construction Monitoring
Although the specific naming of these Architectural stages or services may vary between Architects, if you are not being provided all of these services, the Architect is not able to ensure the integrity of the architectural outcome.
This can not be stressed enough—Partial Architectural Services = partial job.
Or put another way, if the Architect is not responsible for managing the whole project, the Client or Contractor is intentionally or unknowingly taking over responsibility for fulfilling the Architect’s role.
Based on this explanation above, it is therefore assumed that all Fixed Fee values are based on Full Architectural Services.
Examples of sliding scale in percentage-based Architectural fees (% of Build cost):
< 1% = Extremely large projects (over $50M) - Commercial / Industrial / Multi-residential
1-5% = Large / simple projects ($10-50M) - Commercial / Industrial / Multi-residential
5-10% = Large / complex projects ($5-10M) - Small scale Commercial / Residential
5-10% = Small / simple projects ($0.5M - $5M) - Residential
10-15% = Small / complex projects ($0.5M - $5M) - Residential
15% = Small / complex projects (under $500K) - Residential Alterations & Additions
Personally, I understand that Percentage-Based Architectural Fees are often seem unfair. Many clients are concerned that linking construction costs to Architects’ fees disincentives budget adherence. This is further fuelled by construction cost hikes, as the industry has experienced recently.
To this end, I personally recommend and offer Scope-based Architectural Fees, rather than relying on Percentage-based calculations.
Scope-based Fixed Fees are calculated on a case-by-base basis, ensuring that we provide a service to meet your individual budget and project needs. The overall cost will depend on the project's scope (complexity, scale, location, and your service preferences).
Please contact us directly to arrange a fee-free phone consultation to discuss your project needs, using this link.
We also provide on-site design consultations for a small fee with no ongoing obligations. For more information on our Initial Design Consultation, click here.
ArchiEd
I have a specific project-related question. Can ArchiEd help me?
We provide personal consultation or ‘request a tutorial’ videos, depending on your project needs.
Personal consultation is real time professional tutorial using your particular project as Robert helps you navigate through troubleshooting your question.
A video tutorial is a prepared video (up to 10 minutes duration) that is sent to you along with the video transcript. This will also be made available as a video tutorial on the ArchiEd website and Youtube to assist others who may have a similar question.
Does ArchiEd provide in-house, tailored courses to suit the training needs of my business?
ArchiEd can provide an online training package tailored to your business training needs. For all business training enquiries please contact:
Australian enquiries: learning@archied.com.au
International enquiries: learning@archi-ed.com
What if I can't attend the course during the scheduled dates? Will it be offered again?
ArchiEd will be running multiple training courses each year. These courses will be updated as required with ArchiCAD updates and revisions, or as new information and practices become available. Offerings for each course are currently available every 3 to 6 months. These may be offered more frequently upon request or as need arises.
To keep in the loop, please contact us with your interest for a particular course and we will contact you when the course you're interested in is open for enrolment.
Australian enquiries: learning@archied.com.au
International enquiries: learning@archi-ed.com
How long does the course run for?
Access to the course content will be made available from enrolment close date for the 3 months following. The content can be viewed as many times as desired during this time.
What if I need to cancel my enrolment?
Please contact us with further information regarding your enrolment cancellation to:
Australian enquiries: learning@archied.com.au
International enquiries: learning@archi-ed.com
How much does a course cost?
Each course may vary in its cost, due to its content and length. Please refer to the courses page for more information on offerings and price.
Are your free video tutorials the same as your courses?
No. Although we do offer a wide variety of free video tutorials on ArchiEd and YouTube, the courses we have developed are comprehensive, step-by-step, and provide all the information in one place for the subject you have enrolled in. The courses will be delivered via video tutorials, with supplemental downloadable materials. In addition to this, ArchiEd will provide you with professional learning support and peer interaction during course time, helping you to gain the most out of your learning experience.
What makes our courses different?
Robert is highly acclaimed for his easy-to-understand approach to ArchiCAD techniques, teaching a unique methodology applicable to both beginners and advanced ArchiCAD students and professionals.
Benefits and Inclusions
- Video tutorials
- Step by step command prompts for technical procedures
- Written transcript of video tutorial
- Unlimited pause and playback of tutorials for the extent of the course enrolment dates
- Access to learning support with Robert Mann and your peers via the course forum
What is ArchiCAD?
Archicad is a marketing leading BIM tool for designing buildings from concept to construction.
What operating system does ArchiCAD require?
Archicad performs similarly on both MacOS & Windows systems.
What are the minimum system requirements for ArchiCAD?
Compatible, but not tested Operating Systems
Incompatible Operating Systems (ARCHICAD cannot be installed)
- Windows Vistaand older
- Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite and older
- The latest updates are required to be installed on all Operating Systems
- Only 64-bit Operating Systems are supported
- HiDPI display support is not available on Windows 8.1 and on older versions
What are the recommended system requirements for ArchiCAD?
Recommended Operating Systems
Notes
- The latest updates are required to be installed on all Operating Systems
- Only 64-bit Operating Systems are supported
- HiDPI display support is not available on Windows 8.1 and on older versions
What are the minimum hardware requirements for ArchiCAD?
Minimum hardware
- Processor: 64-bit processor with two cores
- RAM: 8 GB
- Hard disk space: 5 GB or more is required for the installation
- Graphics card: OpenGL 3.2 compatible graphics card
- Display: A resolution of 1366 x 768 or higher
What are the recommended hardware requirements for ArchiCAD 22?
- Processor: 64-bit processor with four or more cores
- RAM: 16 GB or more is recommended; for complex, detailed models 32 GB or more may be required
- Hard disk: installing ARCHICAD on a SSD (or Fusion) drive is recommended; 5 GB free disk space is required for the installation, 10 GB or more is required per active project
- Graphics card: Dedicated OpenGL 3.2 compatible graphics card with on board memory of 1024 MB or more is recommended to fully exploit hardware acceleration capabilities. You can find a list of recommended graphics cards at: http://www.graphisoft.com/videocards
- Display: A resolution of 1440 x 900 or higher is recommended
How frequently is ArchiCAD updated?
ArchiCAD 22 is the latest version available, with a new version expected to be released every year. New builds of each version are often updated frequently to rectify system and compatibility issues.
What is BIM?
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is the digital 3D modeling visualisation of a real-life building. It is a virtual tool for simulating physical construction information: components, services, and processes.
Who is BIM for?
BIM technologies allow a wide variety and building industry professionals, owners, and users to design, document, co-ordinate, build, and manage the ongoing maintenance of a building project from concept through its entire life cycle.