Architectural Client Role

The Client Role in Building Projects

How to be a Successful Architectural Client

The process of creating buildings is one of the most complex, challenging and fulfilling activities that an individual or organization can undertake. The client role is a crucial success factor in the quality of the final product. To be a successful client requires a combination of attributes and attitudes: leadership, boldness, shrewdness, excellent communication, determination and dedication.

Success Factors in Building Projects

The key success factors described here will help any client through the development process to produce an excellent building. These key skills and attributes are frequently shared by clients on successful building projects:

1. Provide strong client leadership. Great projects need great leadership to inspire a great team to a great performance. It is when you, the client, contribute your strengths, knowledge, care and commitment to quality that you will get the best out of those working for you so that together you can create wonderful buildings and exceptional environments that meet your needs.
2. Give enough time at the right time
3. Learn from your own successful projects. Experience can be a great advantage. Good clients learn from their mistakes.
4. Learn from other successful projects. Many clients do not have the benefit of experience. Some will be undertaking only a small number of projects, perhaps just one building. One way of avoiding the pitfalls and achieve an excellent outcome is to borrow from the experience of others.
5. Develop and communicate a clear brief
6. Make a realistic financial commitment from the outset. One of the first concerns is always money. There is almost never enough to spend on a project and you want to make sure you get good value. Being concerned from day one about the budget is not something to be embarrassed about – it’s good sense. Honesty about how much you’ve got to play with is always a right starting point. Your architect should be able to work with a reasonable known budget and the discipline can stimulate creativity and innovation. Sound financial management and an aspiration for excellent quality go hand in hand.
7. Find the right people for the job. Get the right team and you can expect professionalism, design skills and expertise in project delivery from the best players in the construction industries.
8. Respond and contribute to the context
9. Sign off all key stages.

Daniel Trujillano, Spanish Architect

http://www.arquitectotrujillano.com/home.html

Architectural Design, Construction Documents and General Review During Construction