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Selection of the right firm to carry out your
project is crucial to its success, to the satisfaction of
your requirements, and to the creation of a building of quality.
A sound working relationship between client and architect
can contribute significantly to the success of a project.
Time spent in preliminary discussion with the architect is
time well spent. It is important at the outset to identify
and agree the achievement of the project priorities in terms
of time, cost, and quality.
You might ask to see the practice portfolio or
visit completed buildings, enquire about staff expertise and
resources, establish managerial skills and professional reputation,
and above all, talk to your intended architect. It is important
that you feel you are compatible, that your architect listens
to what you say and understands your priorities. He or she
must convince you of both their creativity and their ability
to get things done. Generally speaking architects do not charge
for a preliminary discussion and will be happy to provide
details of their practice and projects which they have carried
out.
RIBA Clients' Advisory Service
The Clients' Advisory Service at the RIBA (CAS) exists to
help clients identify the right architect for a given project
and, where required, to guide the client through the procurement
process.
The RIBA Clients Advisory Service
66 Portland Place,
London W1N 4AD
Tel: 0171 307 3700
Fax: 0171 436 9112
E-Mail: cas@inst.riba.org
Database
CAS operates a computerised database which holds factual up
to date information about approximately 4,000 RIBA registered
practices and 20,000 projects they have undertaken. The CAS
database has been founded on the needs of the clients, providing
impartial and comparable information about each practice.
No other organisation holds such a depth of information about
architectural practices in the UK, or operates a comparable
database.
Nominations service
CAS offers a tailor-made nomination service to all clients.
A shortlist of architectural practices with a variety of skills
and expertise which meet the client's project requirements
is drawn from the database. The client receives a basic profile
of each practice which includes a list of the services offered
by the practice and an indication of its areas of expertise,
along with the contact name and address and other basic practice
data. This unique service is available free of charge to anyone
contemplating a building project. In addition comparable,
more detailed information about registered practices is available
on payment of a fee, either by subscription to the database,
or on a project by project basis.
RIBA Competitions Office
If a client has chosen, or is obliged by legislation to opt
for, an architectural competition, the RIBA Competitions Office
will advise on the most appropriate competitive process and
then manage the process smoothly through to the appointment
of the winning architect. Clients who are contemplating an
architectural competition are advised to read the publication
"Architectural Competitions, a handbook for promoters" jointly
published by the DETR and the DCMS, which is available through
the RIBA Bookshops.
RIBA Competitions Office
6 Melbourne Street
Leeds LS2 7PS
Tel: 0113 234 1335
Fax: 0113 2460 744
E-Mail: riba.competitions@mail.riba.org
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