Three questions to ask a prospective architect
When embarking on a renovation, selecting an architectural firm is a crucial decision. "It’s so important to get an experienced architectural firm you feel comfortable with and can talk with easily, that understands your needs," says Kim Colonnelli, nurse manager for emergency services at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Englewood, Calif. It’s a good idea to interview several prospective candidates and involve a broad cross section of ED staff in the selection process. Here are three key questions to ask when interviewing architects:
1. How many EDs have you built? "I think architects should be experienced in the specific facility they are building," says Merlin Lickhalter, an architecht with Cannon, an architecture, engineering and planning firm that specializes in health care. "Some people say they would then bring a lot of baggage to the assignment, but you need to have a feeling for the operations."
It’s important to choose a firm with plenty of experience in doing exactly what you plan. "We wanted architects who not only had experience building new EDs from scratch, but also renovating existing ones, since that is our situation," says Colonnelli.
2. Are you a team player? "It’s important the firm works as members of a team," says Lickhalter. "You don’t want an architect who is just going to take orders, you want someone who will contribute valuable input also."
However, you also don’t want architects who will give you orders. The staff at Daniel Freeman interviewed five firms before making a final decision and selected one with a collaborative approach. "We didn’t want a firm who would just take over," says Colonnelli. "They’re not going to be living in the ED when the project is over."
3. Who will we be working with? "Realize that corporations and firms don’t do the work individuals do," says Lickhalter. "It’s important that you have a good relationship from the get-go with the person you’ll be dealing with on a day-to-day basis."
It’s important that individual personalities don’t clash. "Whoever ends up as the project manager for the renovation needs to be able to communicate well with the architects," says Colonnelli.
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