ARCHITECT OFFICE & ITS MANAGEMENT

ARCHITECTURE OFFICE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

PRINCIPAL:
A) DRAWING/ DESIGN OFFICE

FUNCTIONS:

1. Development of design concept

2. Scheme drawing
3. Municipal drawing
4. Working drawing
5. Details
6. Presentation drawings
7. Views etc.

POSTS:
1. Senior architect
2. Project architect
3. Assistant architect
4. Junior architect
5. Drafts man
6. Trainee FUNCTION

B) STRUCTURAL / SURVEY DEPARTMENT

FUNCTIONS:
1. Structural design
2. Inputs
3. Land survey
4. Quantity survey
5. Specifications
6. Estimation
7. Preparation of contract papers
8. Bill checking & checking of item rates etc
POSTS:
1. Structural designer
2. Quantity surveyor
3. Civil engineer
4. Draftsman

C) ADMINISTRATION

FUNCTIONS:

1. Office correspondence
2. Book keeping
3. Accounts
4. Observation of government tax, rules
5. Stationery purchase
6. Maintenance of office equipment
7. House keeping
POSTS:
1. Manager/Secretary
2. Accounts clerk
3. Clerk/typist
4. Receptionist
5. Peon

ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE – SETTING UP THE OFFICE

 Office is an entity different from yourself
 Capital invested is a loan to office
 The office should pay back the money in the form of profit with interest too.
1. Start your proprietary firm
2. Open a Fresh Bank Account apart from ongoing personal account
3. Office Account (strictly office account)
4. Capital is deposited in this account
5. All office expense is taken care by this account
6. Fees will also be deposited in this account
7. Detailed Pay in Slip Book should be maintained for all cheque with proper Bill No
8. Office account is usually Current Account, so no need to keep huge amount, you won’t get
interest as it’s not a saving account.

ARCHITECT OFFICE & ITS MANAGEMENT

1. Office location should be in a prominent and convenient place for easy accessibility
2. Architects office need to be designed in a functional manner
3. All inmates should get proper ventilation and lighting
4. Care should be taken that no overcrowding takes place
5. Architect should itself be methodical, then only he can expect discipline from his office
staffs
6. His cabin should bear evidence of his professional status
7. He should arrange appointments with his clients in a proper way to avoid long waiting time
8. He should be ready for the clients meeting as per the appointment with all necessary
requirements
9. Catalogue and samples should be properly arranged
10. sufficient time and care should be allotted for all the office staff members
11. Office should possess a good library
Before discussing the problem of management and administration of an architect’s
office, it will be worthwhile to recapitulate his functions which will have a close bearing to
the said problem of management. His functions are:
1. Collection and analysis of client’s instructions to understand what he needs.
2. Discussion with the client on appointment of consultants, contract procedure, target
cost and time period.
3. Schematics to translate client’s requirements on papers (script writing).
4. Preparing detailed plans and getting the same approved from local authority.
5. Preparing working drawings.
6. Tender work and contract stage.
7. Site supervision, discussion, etc.
8. Final completion stage and record plan.