Architectural Services Information
Organization
Architectural Services (AS) is a component of MSU Facilities Services
Paying for Architectural Services
AS personnel work on a "designated" basis, that is, all work by AS personnel must be charged out. AS may, at its discretion and on a very limited basis, participate in preliminary project discussions and provide pre-design budgetary estimates without charging for those services.
Cost of Architectural Services
We will try to give you an accurate but conservative estimate for our services based on the scope you furnish, but an estimate is still just an estimate, not a maximum price. Our actual charges will vary as the scope of the project varies. If we believe that our charges for AS are going to exceed the current estimate, we will revise the estimate, so you can take the additional cost into consideration.
Scheduling
The workload for AS varies greatly during the year, being greatest in the months preceding summer and Christmas breaks. With a limited staff, we must schedule our work to try and level our workload. We add projects to our schedule on a first-come first-serve basis with consideration given to the appropriate designer for your project. After we have an approved estimate and the "plant fund" set up, we will schedule your project.
Oversights
Even at our best, an oversight, or what you may consider to be an error or an omission will occur in our design, drawings, and specifications. Architects work to a "reasonable level of care and skill". Our architects and technicians are skilled people. A reasonable level of care is accomplished by spending a reasonable amount of time on design, documentation, review, and administration. AS is consistant with private sector design service, AS does not indemnify against design oversights - cost impacts are borne by the project funding source.
Quality Control
Our quality control consists primarily of review of the design, drawings, and specifications by peer, the university architect, and by you the client. Effective reviews take time and we hope you not only allow us, but encourage us to take the time.
Budgetary and Construction Estimates
Again, an estimate is just an estimate. The first estimates provided by AS are usually "budgetary" estimates done at a pre-design stage of the project. The purpose of this estimate is to give you a "ballpark" idea if you can or cannot proceed based on your budget. You should also ask that we do a "construction estimate" during the course of design.
Project Contingency
Our estimates include a "contingency", usually 15% of the estimated construction cost, added as part of the project cost. The purpose of the contingency is to provide your budget with the ability to absorb the "change orders" resulting from unforeseen construction conditions, design oversights, and things that you may add or change. The purpose of the contingency is not to absorb higher than estimated construction bids. If the construction bids exceed the estimated construction cost, we will discuss what will be a prudent contingency to carry into construction as part of your decision to proceed.
Construction
Your project will be built by either a private contractor or MSU´s Campus Maintenance crews. In either case the role of AS is to administer the "contract". An AS construction inspector will be the contact for all parties during the construction. If you have any questions, comments, or want something changed or added, please contact the AS construction inspector. If you don´t know who that is, call the university architect at 994-6326. Only AS may authorize change under a contract. Your conversation with a contractor may be taken by the contractor as authorization for change, therefore incurring the cost to the contract, so we encourage you to "talk" to the contractor through the inspector.
Expect construction to hold some surprises. We see them on each project, so please help us to work through them in a rational and deliberate manner.
Communication
I hope this information answers some of your questions and helps you set realistic expectations. If at any point, you still have questions or think we are not doing our job as well as you would like, please let us know. You may reach me at 994-6326.
University Architect
