How much does it cost to build a house or hire an architect in BC? The honest answer depends on the project: its site conditions, complexity, location, and what you are actually trying to build. Below is a plain-language breakdown of what to expect from architectural fees and construction costs.

Interior of a large unfinished commercial building with a two-story structure, metal supports, wood railing, and concrete floor.

  • We charge fees for architectural services, based on the AIBC’s tariff of fees, which requires us to charge fees of about 4-15% of construction cost depending on project type and complexity. depending on project type, we propose to charge either hourly fees or fees as a percentage of construction cost.

    before we provide a proposal, we discuss the parameters of your project and help you to understand the design process. We typically set out fees for each design phase as a percentage of the fees for the entire project, asking our clients to confirm design and budget at the conclusion of each phase, each confirmed budget serving as the basis for the next phase’s fee:

    Schematic Design (SD) 20%

    Design Development (dd) 20%

    Construction Documentation (cd) 30%

    Construction Procurement (cp) 5%

    Construction Administration (ca) 25%

    we sometimes provide sd-cd services without participating in construction. We also complete renovation design, legal consulting, furniture design, construction management, and carpentry at hourly rates.

Construction site with plywood walls, clamps, tools, and a table, surrounded by trees, during daytime.

  • It can be difficult to accurately estimate the cost of construction. Construction costs vary widely depending on the type of project, site features, project details, location, market fluctuations, and even weather patterns during construction. The efficiency with which a client communicates their goals to designers and builders can also play a part in determining project cost.

    We review all prospective clients’ budgets for feasibility as part of our pre-aggreement project review. We provide statements of probable construction cost, based on building area and known costs for similar projects, at the completion of each design phase. These estimates help you understand how your budget has evolved along with the design of your building. these estimates are generally within 5-15% of final costs but we do not guarantee their accuracy.

    It is important to have a contractor’s commitment when establishing a cost estimate. When construction documents are complete, it is important that you receive a detailed cost estimate before construction begins. This can be done by a competent contractor or a professional estimator. Contractors sometimes charge hourly fees for this work, while estimators typically charge fixed fees.