Who Does What on a Building Project?
A building project can involve far more people than the client, architect and builder. Some roles are creative, some technical, some statutory and some contractual. One person may perform more than one role, but the responsibilities should still be clearly defined.
ARCHITECTS
WHAT IS AN ARCHITECT?
“Architect” is a protected title in Australia. In Victoria, a practising architect must be registered with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria and covered by appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
The usual registration pathway includes an accredited architecture qualification, commonly completed over five years of university study, relevant practical experience and the Architectural Practice Examination. Registration must then be maintained.
WHAT DOES AN ARCHITECT DO?
An architect can help define the brief, test strategic options, design the building, coordinate consultants, navigate approvals, prepare documentation, support procurement and administer a construction contract. The exact role depends on the agreed scope. Appointing an architect does not automatically mean every one of those services is included.
The architect usually holds the overall design intent and coordinates how the different parts of the project fit together. Engineers and other specialists remain responsible for their own technical advice and designs.
DO I NEED AN ARCHITECT?
Not every project needs a full architectural service. An architect becomes particularly useful when the site, brief, approvals, budget or existing building create competing demands, or when the client wants a genuinely tailored outcome rather than documentation of a predetermined solution.
The right question is not only “Do I need an architect?” It is “What decisions and risks does this project contain, and which professional is best equipped to help with them?”
DRAFTSPERSONS, BUILDING DESIGNERS, DOCUMENTERS AND TECHNICIANS
These terms are often used as though they describe the same role, but they do not necessarily indicate the same qualifications, registration or scope.
In Victoria, Building Designer is a registered building-practitioner category administered by the Building and Plumbing Commission. The classes include Building Design (architectural), Building Design (interior) and Building Design (services). A registered Building Designer (architectural) may prepare plans and documentation, assist with permit applications and prepare information for builder pricing, within the scope of their registration.
Drafting, documenting and technical pathways vary. Some practitioners work independently within an authorised scope. Others work under the supervision of an architect, registered building designer, engineer or builder. A title alone will not tell you whether someone is registered, insured or authorised for the work you need. Check the practitioner and the proposed scope.
The education pathways also vary. Architects generally complete the accredited university, experience and examination pathway required for registration. Building designers and drafting professionals may come through vocational, university or industry-based pathways and must demonstrate the knowledge and experience required for any registration class they hold.
If your project is relatively straightforward and you have already resolved the brief and design direction, a registered building designer may be a proportionate choice. If you need the brief, options and design strategy developed as part of the service, ask each practitioner how much of that work they actually provide.
Your home should be made to measure.
Ever bought a suit or blazer that didn’t quite fit but told yourself it was worth it because it was on sale? Maybe it was even a designer label.
But the truth? It pulled at the shoulders. The sleeves were just a bit off. And you didn’t wear it much because it never really felt like you.
Imagine instead you’d had a few sketches drawn up, some fabric samples reviewed, maybe even a rough budget laid out all before deciding how to proceed.
That’s what a custom suit does. And it’s exactly what a good architect does for your home.
Because even the best materials can’t save a poor fit. And even the most beautiful house won’t feel right if it wasn’t shaped for you.
ENGINEERS
Engineers design and advise on particular technical systems. A structural engineer may design footings, framing and structural alterations. Civil engineers may address drainage, levels and external infrastructure. Building-services engineers may design mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or fire systems.
The architect may coordinate these inputs, but each engineer remains responsible for their specialist advice and documentation.
BUILDING SURVEYORS
A building surveyor performs a statutory role in the building-permit process. They assess whether the proposed work complies with relevant building legislation, issue the building permit where appropriate and arrange the mandatory inspections associated with that permit.
The building surveyor is not the project designer, clerk of works or general quality inspector. A building permit also does not mean every aspect of the design has been checked for quality, buildability or compliance with the construction contract.
QUANTITY SURVEYORS AND COST CONSULTANTS
A quantity surveyor or cost consultant prepares independent cost advice. Depending on the appointment, this may include order-of-cost estimates, elemental estimates, tender analysis, progress-claim advice or assessment of variations.
An architect can help align scope and design decisions with the budget, but an architect’s service is not a substitute for specialist cost advice when a project needs it.
TOWN PLANNERS, HERITAGE CONSULTANTS AND OTHER SPECIALISTS
Planning consultants advise on planning controls, applications and strategy. Heritage consultants provide specialist advice where a heritage place or overlay is involved. Projects may also require land surveyors, arborists, energy assessors, access consultants, acoustic consultants, geotechnical engineers, landscape architects or other specialists.
Not every project needs every consultant. Part of early project planning is identifying which advice is proportionate and when it is needed.
PROJECT MANAGERS
A project manager may coordinate the client’s program, budget, procurement, reporting and consultant team. Their authority depends on their appointment. They do not automatically design the building, certify statutory compliance or administer the building contract.
Project managers come from varied professional backgrounds. Ask what they are responsible for, what they are not responsible for and how their role overlaps with the architect.
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERINTENDENTS
The building contract may appoint an architect or another suitably experienced person to administer its procedures. Depending on the contract, that role can include assessing progress claims, variations, extensions of time, practical completion and defects.
The contract administrator or superintendent must act in accordance with the contract. They are not simply the client’s project manager or advocate in every decision. The terminology and obligations vary between contracts, so the appointment needs to be clear.
BUILDERS AND TRADES
The builder is responsible for carrying out and managing the construction work under the building contract. This commonly includes programming the works, coordinating subcontractors, ordering materials, managing the site and delivering the work described by the contract documents.
Builders must hold the registration appropriate to the work they undertake. In Victoria, clients can check relevant practitioners through the Building and Plumbing Commission. Many builders subcontract most trade packages, even where the builder maintains its own carpentry or site-management team.
A builder may offer an in-house designer, but that person may be an architect, building designer, draftsperson or salesperson. Ask who is responsible for the design, what registration they hold and whether their advice is independent of the construction sale.
THE CLIENT
The client is also part of the project team. Clients set priorities, provide information, approve decisions, appoint consultants and builders, and meet the financial obligations of the project. Good professionals should make those decisions easier to understand, but they cannot make every value judgement on the client’s behalf.
A successful team is not one where everyone does everything. It is one where responsibilities are explicit, the right expertise is engaged at the right time and gaps are identified before they become construction problems.
If you are unsure which professional services your project needs, start with a free 20-minute Clarity Call. We can discuss the likely decisions, approvals and risks, then identify a proportionate first step.
The aim is not to assemble the largest possible consultant team. It is to make sure the necessary roles are covered and that everyone understands who is responsible for what.
