What is your firm’s driving philosophy?

Our firm’s driving philosophy is our collaborative, client-centered approach to design. We are not here to serve our own egos, we are here to listen to our clients, and involve them in all phases of a project. We communicate clearly, giving client’s full personal and professional attention. We strive to ensure that there are no misunderstandings with regard to goals, expectations, service levels, budgetary requirements or timelines. While design projects can be stressful at times, the firm and its staff are creative solution focused communicators providing client advocacy to achieve the client’s and project design goals.

What type of design do you specialize in?

Rick has experience in all types of design styles. He is especially versed in Fusion Architecture which requires knowledge of all traditional and modern design styles. Rick considers each project holistically, and responds with a fresh perspective every time. He prides himself on providing each client with a unique space that has the stamp of high quality design, drama, and functionality which marks the building as a Rick Daugherty design without repeating design elements from one project to the next. Each space is unique to each client. The end result is that Rick Daugherty Architecture designs, whether traditional or modern, are loved by our clients because they are functional, elegant, and timeless and consistent with the client’s unique vision and lifestyle.

Do you also consult on an hourly basis?

Yes, we do. There are many types of assignments that allow for an hourly consultant rate instead of a fixed fee. We help find solutions for existing design plans created by others; such as design to construction integration issues and problems with elevations. We also provide prior-to-purchase design consultations of homes and commercial facilities, scouting of land purchases, and space planning. These are just a few of the types of services that might be appropriate for an hourly consultant rate.

Before hiring an architect what factors should I keep in mind?

Before hiring an architect, interview at least two or three architects. Find out if they have done the type of project you want completed for yourself. If you can, visit some of the architect’s project sites and if that’s not feasible, take a look at the drawings they’ve produced as compared to pictures of the final result. Also, speak to recent references, including clients and building industry professionals. Ask the client references questions regarding the architect’s design process. Did the client’s feel their needs and aspirations were the driving force in the architect’s vision? Ask the professionals and client references how they perceived the architect worked with the other project team members? Did the architect work collaborative to create solutions to problems? Is the architect spending all your interview time telling you about his design work or asking you about what you want in your design project? Ultimately, you need to choose an architect that you feel you can trust to provide you with a design project that meets your design goals and works to create an environment that is conducive to a cost effective and professional result.

Fees:

There are many methods architects traditionally use to calculate fees; including, price per square foot, percentage of construction, hourly or fixed fees. 

• Percentage of construction costs. This method may be construed as providing an incentive to be over budget and sometimes ends up being based on unrealistic initial construction budgets that must be adjusted once actual bid numbers are finalized.  The result in an increase of the architectural fees without any corresponding increase in the architect’s amount of work provided.
   
• Price per foot methodology. This method does not accurately represent the detailed work that may be necessary from one style to the next nor does it allow for the client to benefit from economies of scale and repetition in design elements within the project scope.
   
• Hourly Rates Only. Paying an architect on a strictly hourly rate does not provide incentives to more efficient architects who provide equal priority to creativity, cost effectiveness, and project deadlines.
   
• Fixed fee.  Fixing a fee for specific services can provide the best value for a client and provides incentives to an efficient architect with good project management skills.   This method works best when the client and architect work together throughout all stages of the project design process to ensure that the design elements approved by the client are the designs that are ultimately implemented.  Once certain milestones are passed within the design process, additional design changes may require architectural change orders to adjust renditions previously approved by a client.  These changes can sometime result in an increase in the original fixed fee price either based on an additional fixed fee or an hourly rate for the change order.  As a result, this fixed fee structure works best with an architect with clear communication skills, high functioning project management skills and an ability to educate clients regarding their options throughout the design process and before design elements are approved.
   
• For the reasons outlined above, Rick Daugherty Architecture prefers to use a fixed fee structure for most design projects.  The firm uses years of historical data from past project; adjusted for current cost trends and the client’s specific list of requirements for the proposed design project to assemble an hourly estimate for the project and, after weighing in factors of risk and liability, the firm’s total retail hourly estimate is then discounted for bulk purchase of the entire contract through a fixed fee arrangement.