Whether you’re dreaming of a new home or planning commercial space, involving an architect from the start is the key to success.
No matter what kind of project you have in mind, you should speak with an architect who is a member of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) at the earliest stage of the design process. Architects have the education, training, experience and vision to maximize your construction dollar and ease the entire design and construction process. They can help you find practical solutions to your unique vision and design challenges.
AIA members also offer something more: the shared dedication to creating healthy, sustainable and livable homes, work places and communities—coupled with a means of collaboration to make those goals real.
Experience tells us that successful projects—those that achieve the desired results for owners, users, and architects—result from informed clients working with skilled architects to form professional, business, and often personal relationships. These relationships are formed early on and are nourished by clear communication, mutually understood expectations, and a willingness of both client and architect to understand and accept their responsibilities for realizing a successful project.
Building in today’s marketplace is a complex undertaking requiring many different products and skills. Your architect understands the complexities and works with you to design an appropriate response to your requirements. In turn, your architect works in your interest within the building industry and can help you greatly to transform the design into a wonderful building.
Hiring an AIA architect could be the best decision you’ll make for your residential or commercial design project.
How Design Works
If you’ve never worked with an architect before, you likely have questions. Does your project really require an architect? At what point should you involve a design team? What is it like to work with an AIA architect, and how do you get the most out of the experience?
Here you can find answers and tools to guide you through the five stages of design, and watch clients and architects describe how the process worked for them.
CRANtv: The Practice and Process of Architecture AIA’s custom residential knowledge community presents a series of short videos that walk clients through how to best work with their architect
You and Your Architect
The secret to a successful project lies in the professional, business and personal relationships between owner and architect. The American Institute of Architects publishes an excellent resource booklet called You and Your Architect which provides guidance on how to establish and benefit from those relationships.
Other Resources:
AIA Architect Finder – locate architecture firms in your area. You can search by city, state, ZIP code and surrounding area (U.S. ZIP codes only), or by firm name.
Allied Members – Allied Members support AIA Maryland and we are proud to include them among our membership. Please consider using them on your next project.
State License Lookup – Check to see if an architect is licensed to practice in the State of Maryland
