The Architect Is the Hub of the Design Team
On most projects, the architect does not deliver all design services alone. Structural engineers, mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineers, civil engineers, landscape architects, geotechnical engineers, and specialty consultants contribute to the complete set of construction documents. The architect's role as the design team leader - selecting these consultants, contracting with them, coordinating their work, and integrating it into a unified set of documents - is one of the most complex project management responsibilities tested on the ARE PjM division.
How Architects Contract with Consultants
There are two primary contract models for design consultants:
Prime-Subconsultant Model: The architect contracts directly with all subconsultants (structural, MEP, civil, etc.). The owner has only one design contract - with the architect. The architect is responsible to the owner for all consultant work and must coordinate and integrate it. This is the most common model and is reflected in AIA B101, which makes the architect responsible for coordinating consultants it retains. The architect typically retains 10–15% of the consultant's fee as a management markup for coordination and management services.
Multiple Prime Model: The owner contracts separately with each consultant. The architect coordinates but is not contractually responsible for consultant work. This is less common in private projects but appears in some public projects and large complex facilities. The CMa delivery method often uses a multiple prime structure.
Selecting Subconsultants
Architects typically select subconsultants through a qualifications-based process: evaluating firms on relevant project experience, team capabilities, workload capacity, and compatibility with the project schedule. For federal projects, subconsultant selection for the A/E team is typically disclosed in the SF 330 and subject to owner approval. On private projects, the architect generally has discretion in selecting subconsultants unless the owner reserves approval rights in the B101.
Coordination Obligations
AIA B101 Article 2 makes the architect responsible for coordination of the work of all consultants it retains. Coordination includes: ensuring consultant documents are consistent with each other, resolving conflicts between disciplines, managing submission schedules so all disciplines meet deadlines together, and integrating consultant work into the overall project documents. This coordination obligation is why BIM-based design coordination (using discipline models in a federated model) has become essential on complex projects.
Common Coordination Failures
- Structural beam depths that conflict with MEP clearance requirements
- Mechanical equipment that does not fit in the space allocated on the architectural drawings
- Civil grading that does not align with architectural site design
- Inconsistent column grid between structural and architectural drawings
- Fire protection head locations shown on MEP drawings conflicting with ceiling design
Key Exam Points
- In the prime-subconsultant model, the architect is responsible to the owner for all consultant work.
- The architect's coordination obligation is established in AIA B101 Article 2.
- The architect typically retains a management markup on subconsultant fees.
- Coordination failures in CDs lead to RFIs, change orders, and contractor claims during construction.
- BIM helps but does not eliminate the architect's coordination obligation.
Study PjM on AREprep
AREprep’s PjM flashcards cover every concept on this exam with spaced repetition, and the practice exams mirror the real question formats so the actual test feels familiar.