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Places & Spaces
So what does all of this mean for those who seek to build their dream house or offices much less an extension to in terms of value for money, safety and to adequately their homes? Using professionals is often the best route meet your needs. There are many factors that must be
• Many planning agencies like the National
Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) submissions.
require a registered architect’s seal on building
considered by anyone aspiring to develop a building; the Registered Architect for all their development needs • Architectural training is an intense period of study, averaging about 6 years that typically study, covering the entire building process, management, contract administration and maintenance. extends beyond design - their primary area of from planning through to construction, project
following are some of the major reasons one should use a
• The role of the architect is to plan, design
and administer the development of buildings from inception to completion. This involves the coordination of other professionals – civil, structural & mechanical engineers, quantity surveyors, builders and sub-contractors and the the building.
integration of their services in the development of
• Architects are trained to recognise and
understand the fiscal and contractual implications of the decisions taken throughout a project.
• The architect is experienced in providing expert advice on the feasibility of a development. Feasibility includes helping to determine what the budget will be, the possible return on investment, whether the project type will suit the intended purpose and so on.
• There are no projects too big or too small for a Registered Architect. Whether you want to renovate your kitchen, upgrade your bathroom
or develop a multi story office complex, a trained professional who can successfully manifest your intentions is the right way to go.
• For many types of projects, buildings for public use, etc, architects are the only ones who can legally design them.
• It is a misconception that architects are
expensive. To quote Dr. Rohan Bailey, Head of the Caribbean School of Architecture in his 2012 May 07 article entitled, “Want Maximum Value? Hire an Architect” published in the Jamaica Gleaner,
“the client who decides to use an architect will not necessarily pay more for their building than he or she would otherwise if someone else was hired. a plan’, the client who hires an architect pays
Contrary to the client who hires a person to ‘draw fees for the architect’s involvement in the whole not just the production of a ‘plan’.”
process - conception to the delivery of the project,
Well designed buildings that are successfully executed
can enrich our lives and those around us in many ways. aspirations from start to finish.
The architect is trained and experienced to deliver these
David Cuthbert is a Registered Architect, lecturer at the Caribbean School of Architecture and the Registrar of the Architects Registration Board of Jamaica