Share This Article
An architect supplemental service is an architectural service that an architect provides beyond the scope of their job. Scheduled work for specific clients or projects isn’t necessarily part of the architect’s primary focus, but rather, a tool to keep her feet on the ground as she works with different clients and stakeholders. It’s not uncommon to find an architect servicing client projects with multiple sub-contractors and individual architects.
In this way, the architect is more like a contractor than an architect-only service provider. Generally, an architect supplemental service is a hybrid arrangement: a commissioned project and subcontractor work simultaneously. It’s also referred to as a subcontracting or contractor agency (e.g., an Architecture firm).
What Is an Architect Supplemental Service?
A supplemental service is an agreement between the client and an architecture firm that offers additional services beyond the scope of the job. Hiring an architect as an extra service provider can significantly add value to your project and services. An everyday use of additional architect services is handling work with multiple sub-contractors. It can also work under various jurisdictions, such as construction management or maintenance.
The components of an architect’s supplemental service can be as follows: Scheduled work for specific clients or projects isn’t necessarily part of the architect’s primary focus, but rather, a tool to keep her feet on the ground as she works with different clients and stakeholders. It’s not uncommon to find an architect servicing client projects with multiple sub-contractors and individual architects.
In this way, the architect is more like a contractor than an architect-only service provider. Generally, an architect supplemental service is a hybrid arrangement: a commissioned project and subcontractor work simultaneously. It’s also referred to as a sub-agency or contractor agency (e.g., an Architecture firm).
Common types of client work that an architect supplemental service can provide
The types of tasks that an architecture expert can help with are limited only by her imagination. There are many types of assignments that architecture can help with, including but not limited to civil engineering, environmental studies, land survey, and urban planning. Among these, the most common types of assignments are:
- – Environmental Assessment: This is one of the essential work an architect can perform for a client. The architect will play a critical role in assessing the environment and its resources. This can range from determining the wetlands, rivers, and streets to designing and laying out how the client uses the environment.
- – Land Use: This is the amount of land use the project will create. The amount will depend on several factors, such as the type of development being considered, the location of the wetlands, and the infrastructure to support the product.
- – Infrastructure: The amount of infrastructure needed for the project. Typically, this will include permanent and temporary infrastructure, such as roads and waterways, and environmental infrastructures, such as dikes and wetlands.
Other factors, such as the project team’s expertise or the time it will take to complete the task, will determine the types of assignments an architecture can provide.
Types of supplemental architect services
There are many types of architecture supplemental services that you might find appropriate for your needs. Here are some of the most common types of services offered by architecture firms:
- Consulting- A term that typically refers to short-term consulting on large-scale projects, this type of assistance is often provided as a one-time fee to help an architect evaluate a project and help guide future decisions.
- Consulting with Master Planner – While not typically part of the supplemental services category, this assistance can be provided to the master planner on behalf of a client. This type of assistance is often unrelated to design assistance but rather is a way for the architect to help guide the planning and design process of the master plan.
- Design/Design Assistance – This is usually a one-time fee to help the client design a specific structure or product without charge.
- Project Management/Project Control – This is usually provided as a one-time fee to help the client project manage multiple projects on the client’s behalf.
What happens when you manage an architect’s supplemental service?
A supplemental architecture service is managed and overseen by the managing architect. After receiving a project from a client, the managing architect will audit the work to ensure that everything is correct and that no issues need to be reported to the client. After the audit, a managing architect will follow up with the client to ensure that all is well with the project’s operation. Then, the managing architect will close the project, usually by sending it for inspection.
How to manage a supplemental service?
The majority of architect supplemental services are self-service. An architect submits a single PDF of materials to the architecture firm for her consultation. The firm then emails the materials to the client where they’re accepted, and when the client walks into the room, they’re already written and ready to be implemented. Generally, a supplemental architecture service should be managed as a regular project.
The architect submits a single document to the client before time and place. When managing a supplemental service, it’s good to note the following metrics for each project phase. They’ll help you understand which activities are the most critical and why: – Project objectives – Signing and entering contract terms – Financially contributing to client project – Payment due and satisfaction of work – Quality of work – Overall scalability – Project impact – Overall client satisfaction.
Benefits of an Architect Supplemental Service
While managing a supplemental service is not for the faint of heart, it’s a valuable skill when working with clients with various specialties. An array of clients and things can create a large volume of work, making it challenging to manage. Having this skill set of a wide variety of expertise can make managing the types of services that you provide much easier.
To Sum Up!
An architect supplemental service is a type of architectural service that an architect provides beyond the scope of her job. It’s not typically required but encouraged. It’s not always necessary, but when it’s part of the overall architecture for a project, it’s helpful to have a separate account for her non-project activities.