ACTIVITY #1

1. What are the Regular Design Services of an Architect?

The Regular Design Services of an Architect include serving as the Owner’s or

Client’s adviser and providing the best professional service by converting the demands
and specifications of the Client into architectural spaces and forms. The Architect’s job is
to assess these things from a professional standpoint and provide information to the Client
about how things function from the architectural aspect.
The Owner or the Client specifies his/her needs to the Architect at the
commencement of the project and the Architect translates them into architectural spaces
and forms through a process. This process of the project entails assessing and studying
the project’s needs and requirements, preparing the essential instruments used in the
service, and supervising the project’s implementation. Only when the project's Contractor
passes over the finished project to the owner does the process come to an end.

2. What are the scope of services in the Regular Design Services?

The Regular Design Services include different phases in their scope of services.
These phases are the project definition phase, the schematic design phase, the design
development phase, the contract document phase, the bidding or negotiation phase, and
the construction phase.

• Project definition phase – This serves as the initial phase in which the Architect
and the Owner decide to meet and discuss the requirements of the project. After
the meeting, the Owner is then notified of the technical requirements of the project
by the Architect, as well as the associated professional expenses. In this phase,
the Architect determines the project's conceptual framework and requirements
related to the project, as well as to check those requirements with the Owner. In
addition, the Architect collects necessary facts and information, including the
scope of the Architect's services, evaluates and revises the owner's space
requirements before converting them into a design program, and lastly provides
an initial cost estimate for the construction project.

• Schematic design phase - In this phase, the Architect assesses the program,
schedule, budget, and project site, and proposes project delivery solutions. The
Architect also makes preliminary line drawings for design studies, as well as the
project's general description for the Owner's approval, and presents a Statement
of the Probable Project Construction Cost (SPPCC) to the owner which is based
on current cost parameters. The production of schematic design studies generated
from the first phase, which will lead to conceptual plans, takes place in this phase.
• Design Development Phase – In this phase, the Architect will be able to perform
the responsibilities based on approved schematics and conceptual plans. The
Architect prepares the Design Development documents (plans, elevations,
sections, etc.), outline specifications to define and show the size and character of
the complete project in terms of materials, structural, electrical, mechanical,
sanitary, electronic, and communications systems, diagrammatic layout of
construction systems, and a revised SPPCC for submission to the owner.

• Contract Document Phase – In this phase, the Architect, based on the approved
Design Development documents, prepares and does the following: (1) the
complete contract documents (detailed plans, designs, and construction drawings,
and detailing the work generated by the Architect and the individual professionals
in the field for the architectural, structural, electrical, plumbing/sanitary,
mechanical, electronic, and communication tasks), (2) technical specifications
such as the materials’ quality, finish, building methods, and general conditions
under which the project will be built, (3) seven sets of all construction designs and
technical specifications to the owner to acquire a building permit, (4) alterations in
scope, requirements, or market situations as reflected in the SPPCC, and (5)
assists the owner in obtaining approval of several government agencies by filing
the necessary documentation.

• Bidding or Negotiation Phase – During this phase, the Architect performs the
tasks that entail discussions that lead to an agreement. The Architect prepares the
bid documents (contract letting forms, construction documents, invitation forms,
instructions to bidders, bidder's proposal forms, general or specific contract terms,
and so on). The Bid Documents are the intellectual property of the Architect and
retains complete ownership and copyright to the documents (Sec. 33 of R.A. No.
9266).

The Architect also accompanies the Owner from the initial stages of generating a
list of potential contractors to the awarding of the construction contract, and, for
competitive bids, provides complete sets of the bid documents, which are loaned
to bidders for an adequate amount needed to cover the costs of preparation and
delivery of these documents. The documents must not be used for any
unauthorized purposes by the bidders and the Owner. The Architect also aids the
Owner in arranging and conducting pre-bid conferences, answering bidders'
concerns, assisting the Owner in getting offers from Contractors, analyzing bid
results, and preparing abstracts of bids, and other construction contracts.

• Construction Phase – This serves as the final phase in which the Architect carries
out the following tasks:
 (1) decides on the claims made by the Owner and the Contractors about the
execution, work progress, as well as the interpretation of the contract documents,

(2) prepares change orders, collects, and delivers the written guarantees to the
Owner that the Contractor and Subcontractors are obliged to provide,

(3) visits the project site on a regular basis to become acquainted with the overall
status and quality of work, as well as to ensure that the status and work is in
compliance with the Contract Documents,

(4) assesses the amount owing and payable to the Contractor and gives
appropriate Certificates for Payment based on his observations and the
Contractor's Applications for Payment. These Certificates will serve as
confirmation that the Contract's work quality has progressed to the point where it
follows the Contract Documents,

(5) If the Client requires a more thorough inspection or full-time (8-hour)

construction supervision, the Owner and the Architect must employ and agree on
a separate full-time supervisor which is subject to the parameters outlined in the
SPP Document on Full-Time Supervision. The Architect’s services and fees, when
requested to undertake full-time supervision by the Owner, must be paid differently
in accordance with the appropriate SPP Document.

Furthermore, the Architect will not be held liable if the Contractor fails to complete
the Construction work in agreement with the Contract Documents. During such
project site visits, the Architect shall report to the Client any deficiencies detected
in the work of Contractors, as well as condemn any work deemed to be in violation
of the Contract Documents, based on his observations.

3. What are the manners of providing Regular Design Services?

The Architect may deal and contract with the Owner as the lead professional,
collaborating with other professionals in the associated professions. In providing Regular
Design Services, there are two ways: (1) a single contract between the Architect and
Owner, and sub-consultancy contracts between the Architect and the other professionals
involved, (2) separate contracts with the Owner signed by the Architect, Engineer, and
other related professionals in the field. Each State-regulated professional's responsibilities
and civil liabilities, in both cases, are kept separated. The Architect does not take on any
of the other professionals' tasks or liabilities.
4. What are the responsibilities of the owner in the Regular Design Services?

Because the Owner plays such an important role in the overall process, he/she has
responsibilities in the Regular Design Services. These responsibilities include the
following:

(1) giving full information about his project requirements,

(2) appointing an authorized person who can represent on his behalf if needed,

(3) examining and deciding on documents, which is submitted by the Architect, as soon
as possible to evade unnecessary delays in the Architect’s work. Also, only through
the Architect should the Owner give instructions to the General Contractor,

(4) directing the Architect to get a certified survey of the site at his expense, topographical
and/or relocation surveys that include grades, boundaries, and other related
information, as well as the complete data of existing buildings, structures, vegetation,
and so on. Other improvements and full information are essential, and they should be
included as well, which includes the utility availability, public and private service lines,
zoning compliances, title restrictions and annotations, investigations, and tests for soil
conditions, etc.

(5) paying for all architectural, engineering, and allied services necessary for the project,

(6) paying for acoustic, communication, electronic, and other specialty systems design,
and consulting services,

(7) organizing and paying for any legal, auditing, insurance, counseling, or other services,

(8) being responsible for any reimbursable project expenses, according to Section 7:
"Other Conditions on Services," as well as any government-imposed taxes, such as
VAT, but excluding income tax, incurred as a result of the Architect's contributions to
the project,

(9) and lastly, notifying and giving the Architect a written notice if he/she observes
anything that could jeopardize the project's success.

5. What are the different methods of selecting an architect?

The different methods of selecting an architect include Direct Selection, Comparative

Selection, and Architectural Design Competition.
• Direct Selection – This method of selection is useful for small projects in which
the Client selects an architect based on reputation, personal/business
acquaintance, a friend's recommendation, recommendation of the Architect's
previous Client, and referral of another Client.

• Comparative Selection – This method is conducted by committees representing

institutions, corporations, or government organizations. The Architect will go
through the selection process which involves invitation, pre-qualification, interview,
verification, evaluation & ranking, and negotiation.

(1) Invitation – In this process, the Client sends out an invitation, which is based
on the Design Brief submitted by another Architect, and it includes the project’s
Terms of Reference (ToR). Representatives from other State-regulated
professions and/or the construction industry, as well as others with related
expertise, may be included on the Client's selection committee.

(2) Pre-qualification – In this process, Architects and/or PRC-registered

Architectural Firms (AFs) provide and submit details about their qualifications
and experience.

(3) Interview – The Architect will go through an interview and will be interrogated
about how he interprets the proposed project’s plan and design requirements.

(4) Verification – In this process, the selection committee will examine the site or
building planned by the Architects and investigate references such as former
clients and financial organizations for validity purposes.

(5) Evaluation and Ranking - In analyzing the entries and choosing the most
capable firm, the selection committee may use its own approach.

(6) Negotiation – In this process, the Client and the Architect will have discussions
that will lead to an agreement. The Architect explains the Scope of Services
and the Architect's Fee to the Client in accordance with the Architect's
Guidelines.

• Architectural Design Competition (ADC) – To gain more experience in the field

of architecture and to work on more civic or monumental projects, architectural
design competitions are a great help. Architects or architectural firms (AFs) submit
plan or design entries and solutions to a specific design problem, which are then
judged by the committee. These competitions will provide additional exposure in
the real world for PRC-registered and licensed Architects and PRC-registered
Architectural Firms. Clients and the committee will be able to choose who will
design for them with the use of this information.
 However, these competitions are time consuming, expensive, and may
discourage qualified contestants or firms from participating due to the time and
effort necessary for the project/competition. Also, there are instances wherein the
design competition is used for some possibly unethical potential clients who want
free services. Architects must be aware of the issues of ownership and copyright
that all architectural competition regulations must handle.

Competitions should also be conducted by the IAPOA or the integrated and

accredited professional organization of architects or one of its chapters in the
locality and organized in accordance with the Guidelines for Architects. The
participants include the client or the sponsor of the competition, the competitors,
the professional advisers who are Philippine-Registered and Licensed Architects
(RLAs) and are active IAPOA members, and the jury.