KIRAN JEET KAUR

What is architect???
• An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees
the construction of buildings.

• They are licensed and professionally trained in the art and

science of building design
 Roles and Responsibilities of Architect in Construction
• Architects in construction plays an important role and they are responsible
for visual appearance of the buildings and structures before final structural
design.
• Architect is a person appointed by the client, who develops a facility as per
the design concept and the requirements specified by the client. The
architects develop design that are more creative in aesthetics.
• The architect makes use of vision and creative ideas to satisfy the client. But
the design evolved by the architects have to satisfy with the building laws
and the regulations of the state.

Role of Architects in Construction

• An architect both artistic and functional mind for the design of structures.
Once an architect is approached by a client or a sponsor, he calls a meeting to
know the needs and the wants of the construction work or project.

• An edifice is designed by the architect that will satisfy the client. The architect
brings more of creativity and artistic elements on the building. This creation of
design will be repeated till both the parties i.e. the client and the designer are
satisfied.
Responsibilities of Architects in Construction

The work carried out by the architect have to be properly organized. This
demands to keep the records of different contracts, the details of the project,
the cost and the budget details, the time limit and the day by day progress
report.
Most of the cases the architects have to work with the civil or structural
engineers for communication and discussion relating the technical issues faced
in the design and the implementation.

The key responsibilities of an architect in construction projects are

mentioned below:
Role of Architects in Project Discussion

Meeting and discussions have to be kept with different members and

professionals of the organization before approval of the project design. This
helps in realizing different technical difficulties that would be faced, opinions
and economical ideas. This can help in moving the team together for the
completion of the project.
The project discussion carried out by the architect includes the following
works:

The initial step involves understanding the client’s requirement through a detailed
discussion. A careful note on his/her objectives and the expectations are taken.
Quantifying and qualifying the project will involve the discussion about the
expected budget, the characteristics of the site and other planning regulation of
the area under consideration.
Next is the difference sequence of operations, guarantees, and responsibilities
offered by the architect. This will include:

• Understanding the limitations and potential of the site.

• Discussing about the financial targets
• Suggesting and studying all possible solutions if the work is renovation or
rehabilitation or a new construction
• Bringing and presenting the feasibility study
• Different choice of site or building based on the requirement
• Provision of different options to overcome different administrative
procedures
• Procedures planned and prepared are kept in line to make communication
easier.
Role of Architects in Preparation of Drawings
• A construction project has enormous design drawings that have to be prepared all
before the execution of the work on site. Any errors have to be pre-checked before
implementing it.
• This early submission of drawings helps in avoiding the delaying of the project. The
drawings are the basis on which detailed estimation, material procurement and work
at site is carried out.
• Initially, the sketch designs are prepared which will shows the building location. This
gives an idea about the layout of different spaces within and nearby as well as
different links to the sit. The overall massing and the appearance of the project too is
reflected on the sketch design.
• The sketch design is the basis on which the client agrees to certain principles and
agreements. The end of sketch design will follow the contract proposal that will move
to the next phase of cost estimation and the timescale of the project.
• The construction of a building or a structure is now performed by both the architect
and a civil engineer provided they have adequate experience and skill. The different
drawings an architect can render will include the floor plan, the site plan, the
elevation and the isometric vies, Other detailed structural drawings, 3D models and
3D views.
• Mainly these works or details provided by the architect will depend on the work
provided to him. Sometimes there comes situations where we have a structural
designer to design the plan and the structural building.
• We need to have a good elevation for the given plan. Here, we will approach the
architect to deal with the front elevation and the landscaping details. This will hence
ask for cooperation and discussion between the engineer and the architect.
Role of Architects in Cost Estimation of Construction Project

• The estimation of the costs at different stages of the project progress helps
in having a control over the budget. This keeps the client and the project
team alert before a bigger budget issue is faced.

• The architects do have an important role in visualizing top to down of the

whole building structure, that results in emerging with new ideas and
designs. This brings difficulty in their implementation without the help of
engineers and without understanding the practicality of construction.

• Hence, the greatest challenge or the responsibility of the architect is not

to underestimate the cost of materials and the construction time. This
point helps in bringing out effective cost estimation.

• The extent and details of cost estimation conducted by the architect too is
dependent on the extent of work is carrying out. If the client is completely
providing the project over to him, where the engineers comes later or
under, the complete construction estimation is performed by the architect.

• Now, if the architect is placed only for the façade improvement or for
landscaping modeling and implementation, he brings a cost estimation for
the same.
Role of Architects in Construction Contracts

If the whole size of the project is known, it is able to understand the different sectors of
the project that can be divided and provided to the contractors. Contractors take over
the project and implement it with their labors as instructed by the architects/engineers.

The bidding of the tender and allowing the building contract can be carried out with the
architect’s assistance. This helps the client to choose the correct procurement form. This
way the whole contract procedure is well coordinated.

The activity of contract agreement must be transparent and fair. The architects have role
in suggesting and choosing the contractors for different activities of construction.

After receiving the tender, the architect carries out a tender analysis report. These
results are compared with the client’s expectations and budget.

What type of work the architect is engaged is based on the contract agreement. Most of
the project, the architect takes in hand with civil structural engineers is to move the
construction. Huge construction will of course demand somebody with huge technical
knowledge to know about the stability and strength factors.

The contract with the architect by the client will decide what trade the architect must
focus on. Based on the demand the architect will coordinate the construction activity as
per the standard codes and regulations.

The architect has the role of checking the invoices at the month end to check the
payment requested is corresponding to the completed works at the site.
Role of Architects in Marketing

Architects gain popularity through marketing their works to the public. They bid new
works and designs based on the creativity developed in the form of buildings. This helps
in developing their career.

The design to the construction process also includes the following responsibilities for the
architect:

• Clarification of the details of design with the construction team

• The design can be redesigned if necessary. This can also bring change to the scope in
order to satisfy any rules or regulations
• Certification to know that the work has been completed in the correct manner
The role of architect from the construction process to the maintenance will insist the
architect to handover an owner’s manual that will have recommendations for the future
maintenance and repairs.

It is not a practice everywhere, but there are architects who offers such a facility. The
architect has to be contacted in future if any issues arise, and it’s the duty of the
architect to be available when needed.

The responsibilities of the architectural engineer are somewhat similar to that of

structural engineer. The difference is that the architects take more effort on how the
building looks and its aesthetics, while the structural engineer focus on the construction
type and durability of the structure. But both have a common goal of bringing a well-
structured building.
Software relevant to construction management is indicated below:

1. Microsoft Project :Project is available in two editions, Standard and Professional.

• The Professional edition includes all the features of the Standard version, and
additionally includes the features identified separately below.
2D, 3D Drafting and Modeling
AutoCAD LT
• AutoCAD LT is the lower cost version of AutoCAD, with reduced capabilities, first
released in November 1993.
• AutoCAD WS
• is a mobile application enabling registered users to view, edit, and share AutoCAD files
via mobile device using a limited AutoCAD feature set.
• Student versions
• AutoCAD is licensed at a significant discount over commercial retail pricing to qualifying
students and teachers, with a 36-month license available.
Revit Architecture is a powerful, complex piece of BIM
• The most robust Tools
• 3D modeling and rendering
• Revit version 1.0 was released on April 5, 2000
• The latest released version is Revit Architecture / Structure / MEP
2014 (April, 2013) and the
corresponding suites
• Works with families and Templates
It is used for interiors, rendering , walkthrough's,
elevational rendering and interior lighting