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What is a Building Designer?
A Building Designer is first and foremost a professional familiar with all facets of the building trade, whose plans and designs
represent the particular needs, style and budget of the client.
The work of a Building Designer is varied and may consist of residential, both single and multi-unit, and commercial structures
as permitted by the architectural statutes of each state. A Building Designer's approach to any problem is based on the practical,
functional and economical solutions that will best fulfill the client's requirements, while translating these factors into a concept
that is both aesthetic and utilitarian.
A qualified Building Designer offers a complete array of professional services. The Building Designer's prime task is to furnish
preliminary and detailed designs for the proposed structure, ranging from the initial concept to complete working drawings and
specifications that will comply with all applicable building codes and regulations.
A member of the American Institute of Building Design has met the requirements of the AIBD By-Laws and the work experience
standards deemed necessary to gain comprehensive knowledge of the profession of building design.
The American Institute of Building Design maintains a registry of Building Designers who have demonstrated outstanding
competence in the field. Those persons so certified are permitted to use the title of Certified Professional Building Designer,
which can only be appointed by the National Council of Building Designer Certification. Certified members deemed qualified to
perform services required in any portion of planning, design and construction, as permitted in their state of residence or practice.
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Why Should You Use a Professional Building Designer?
Building a home incurs the greatest financial burden most people will face in a lifetime and few envision how complex the process
is until they are tangled in a jungle of restrictive covenants, building codes, zoning ordinances, design options, vendor and contractor
s and so on. Yet, most states do not have a licensing requirement for residential building designers. When a new home or addition is
in the future, a specialist in the discipline of residential design is your best choice to guide you through the design/building
experience. Accordingly, it makes sense to secure design services from a qualified, experienced source - a professional member of
the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD).
Since 1950, AIBD has provided building designers with educational resources, and has developed nationwide design standards and a
code of ethics for the building design profession. Today, AIBD is a nationally recognized association with professional and associate
members in 46 states and throughout Canada. Its chartered state societies are active in their respective legislative arenas and work
to promote public awareness of the building design profession.
AIBD is also meeting the challenge of the future by educating members about new and improved building materials and 21st century
technology that will impact how we live in the future. In response to the ever changing needs of the design profession, the AIBD
Board of Directors has recently established the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC), and has charged its
leadership with overseeing the Designer Certification Program. For those who have chosen the profession of building design, there is
no greater evidence of competency than achieving the status of Certified Professional Building Designer (CPBD). Application of this
credential is available to building designers - both professional members of the AIBD and non-AIBD members - who qualify.
Alternately, the credential of Professional Building Designer is the highest classification level which a professional member of the
AIBD can attain. To qualify, an individual must first possess a minimum of five years of educational and professional design
experience. As with the CPBD credential, a Professional Building Designer must subscribe to a scrupulous code of professional
ethics. Equally significant, both require a commitment to professional development through a continuing education policy.
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How to Find the Right Building Designer?
You need more living space and have decided it's time to get serious about a second-level addition. Or perhaps you've purchased a
lot with an eye toward building your "dream home" in the near future. As you sit back and consider the scope of the project, you're
besieged with a whirl of questions. A professional member of AIBD can guide you through this maze. They are specialists in the
discipline of residential building design. From planning and design, through construction, to eventual occupancy, a Professional
Building Designer can help your dreams become reality in ways you never thought possible.
No two construction projects are wholly alike. The same is true for building designers. Each have their own approach to
design - a unique "signature" style, if you will - and a preferred method of operation. Some will limit their practice strictly
to the planning and design of buildings, while others may offer construction administration services, as well. So, how do you
determine which building designer is right for your project?
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Your Role in the Design
Hiring a professional member of AIBD was your best decision thus far, but work on your new home or addition has only just begun.
As the project owner, you'll play an important role in reviewing and approving design proposals and revisions. The materials
selection process is equally important - cabinets, carpets, doors, plumbing fixtures, hardware, windows and much more. Don't be
overwhelmed. Your Professional Building Designer is there for advice and will guide you each step of the way.
Perhaps the most telling time spent with a building designer is in the first few meetings. Your needs, budget, taste,
life-style and goals will be discussed in depth. The information garnered from these conversations will become the source
inspiration for which a building designer will prepare preliminary design sketches. So, it's a good idea for you, and others who
live with you to do some "homework" first.
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The Design Process
Working with a Professional Building Designer, your dreams and ideas are transformed into a refined set of construction documents
which accurately reflect the scope of the project. This step-by-step process is outlined below.
- Establish Goals and Prepare a Program: The building designer and client meet to discuss and outline the client's expectations,
needs and construction budget.
- Preliminary Design Phase: The building designer will present rough sketches of floor plans, site plans and usually,
exterior elevation studies for the client's review and approval. The time needed to work through this phase depends on the
complexity of the proposed design. At the request of a client, exterior and interior perspective renderings can be prepared,
or even a scale study model of the design. The goal here is for a client to fully understand a proposed design and to make any
possible alterations.
- Design Development Phase: Scaled drawings are created and revised as necessary; specifications are outlined.
The client "sees" the project pull together as the design evolves. Now's the time to address any lingering questions
you may have relating to the layout, size or function of the space.
- Construction Document Phase: Final drawings and specifications are prepared for client approval. Door, window and cabinet
selections have been made; detailed drawings of floor, wall and ceiling treatments are prepared. It's at this point that budgets
must be carefully monitored. Carpet, tile, hardwood, plumbing and electrical fixtures, cabinets, moldings, etc. - all are
available in a wide price/quality range. It's important that the building designer supplies detailed specifications for specific
construction products/brands that will be used to keep the construction budget intact and to ensure the quality materials are used.
- The Bidding Process: Some building designers may offer services to oversee the bidding process. First, this involves the
preparation of bidding instructions - a set of guidelines to contractors, the intent of which is to secure an "apples-for-apples"
quote within an allotted time from each bidder.
Next, a select group of potential contractors are given an opportunity to bid on your project. Each is issued a complete set
of drawings, specifications and bid instructions. Unfortunately, things can get confusing from this point on.
Clients can find themselves in a sea of unintelligible jargon as each contractor attempts to woo them into their camp.
And furthermore, a low bid doesn't necessarily mean a contractor is best suited to do the job. Making sense out of all this
is where a Professional Building Designer can prove to be your best ally. As an experienced construction councilor, a designer's
comments and recommendations will better prepare you to select the best contractor for the job.
- Construction Phase: May building designers also provide project administration services for their clients during construction.
Project administration typically involves monitoring the work in progress, approving contractor shop drawings, and coordinating
specially consultants such as engineers or interior decorators - in general, acting as their client's agent during construction.
The contractor awarded the bid is in charge of construction and accordingly, is responsible for the work, which includes
accountability for workmanship and materials. A building designer providing project administration services will observe the
contractor's methods and progress and report back to his or her client.
Additionally, when the client receives a request for payment from the contractor, the building designer will be dispatched to
inspect the work before a check is issued. They will certify that work has been completed as indicated on the requisition for
payment; that any conditions spelled out in the contract documents relating to this particular payment have been satisfied;
and that a progress payment can be released to the contractor.
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