What Exactly Does a Building Architect Do?
The primary responsibility of a building architect is to protect and increase a building’s value. We achieve this through capital improvement planning, preservation and or renovation of common areas, routine maintenance of the building infrastructure and review of proposed work by building residents.
Building boards usually have an idea of what work they need to do, but they will work with a building architect to help them prioritize. If a building is run properly, they have a certain amount of savings to be used for unforeseen emergencies and general building maintenance. This is in addition to aesthetic improvements such as lobby renovation or new amenities such as a gym or roof deck. A capital improvement plan helps to lay out a prioritized timeline of what work should be done when, along with a cost projection. This way the board can better prepare financially and prioritize work.
Both condominium owners and co-op shareholders are allowed to modify their apartments. But before they do, they must submit a set of drawings or written scope of work to the board and management for approval. A building architect makes sure the changes to an individual apartment won’t negatively impact the building in any way. We review the documents and work with the resident’s design professional on the job to offer comments that address the rules and regulations of the individual building.
