5 min read

·

Jul 22, 2025

We all know who Architects are and what they do. They’re the creative minds behind the stunning buildings we see every day. However, they do more than just design the physical appearance of a building; they also oversee the construction process and ensure that buildings are aesthetically pleasing, functionally sound, and safe. As a Civil Engineer myself, it pains me greatly to admit this, but Architects are essential to the completion of most construction projects.

Picking the right Architect for your project can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task, but the process is relatively simple.

There are different categories of buildings, and knowing the one your project falls under can help you decide the right Architect to use. Here’s a quick rundown:

Residential Buildings: Think Single-Family-Homes, Apartment Complexes, Retirement Homes, etc.

Commercial Buildings: Office buildings, Malls, Supermarkets, Hotels, Restaurants, Banks, Gas Stations, etc.

Industrial Buildings: Factories, Warehouses, Distribution Centers, etc.

Institutional Buildings: Schools, Universities, Hospitals, Clinics, Courthouses, Libraries, etc.

Infrastructural Buildings: Bridges, Tunnels, Water Treatment Plants, etc.

Agricultural Buildings: Barns, Silos, etc.

Once you know the type of building you want, it will help narrow down your search for an Architect, which brings us to our next step.

In one of my previous articles, I mentioned this briefly, and now we’re going deeper into it. There are a lot of places to find an Architect, the first place to start.

Your Immediate Circle: Start with the people you know! Asking family, friends, or colleagues for recommendations is the quickest and most effective way to find an Architect. This word-of-mouth method helps you find one known for the quality of their work and reliability. If no one in your immediate circle has a connection, that’s okay because there are other ways to find one.

Professional Networking Sites: LinkedIn is a good place to find an Architect. You can open the LinkedIn app on your phone or go to their site on your PC or Laptop. Go to the search bar and enter the keyword “Architect” and hit enter. That should give you a long list of Architects. Now you want to filter by location and skill. For skill, you can put down the type of building you want, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, etc. This will give you a list of nearby Architects who specialize in the kind of building you want.

Freelance Websites: You can go on freelance websites and create a job specifying you’re looking for one that’s in the same location as you and specializes in the type of building you want. It’s also a good idea to request a portfolio of relevant designs.

Google Search: You can also go on Google and simply search “Where to find an Architect,” and it will provide you with numerous options. But remember to always filter by location and expertise.

Once you’ve followed any of the steps, you should have a list of Architects to choose from. Now we have to narrow down the search to one person, which brings us to our next step.

Now that you have your list of potential Architects, it’s time to narrow it down to the one who’s just right for you. While many folks rely on budget as their main deciding factor, it’s important to remember that there’s more to the perfect match than just dollars and cents.

Design: Every Architect has a portfolio of projects they’ve worked on or a portfolio of personal designs. Even newbie Architects have a portfolio of designs. All you need to do is pick the design that resonates more with your vision for your project. If you got your list from a LinkedIn search, you’ll need to send a message to the Architects on that list requesting a portfolio of similar projects or any relevant projects. I have a sample of a message in one of my articles called Construction for Beginners. If you got your list from a freelance website, then those Architects would have already submitted their designs, and you just pick the ones that you find match the aesthetics you’re looking for.

Budget & Project Management: Money is an essential part of any project. As you narrow down your options based on the design that fits well with what you’re looking for, you need to narrow the list further by finding one that can work with your budget. It’s important to note that whatever price you’re negotiating with the Architect isn’t just for Architectural drawings but also for overseeing the construction of the building. The architect’s ability to oversee the project is also essential. You want to know of any previous experience overseeing projects of a similar nature. You want to know about any pitfalls or difficulties that came up with past projects and how they were handled. You want to make sure they’re team players and can communicate openly and effectively.

Timeline: Timeline is also an essential part of any project. Not sticking to it can lead to you surpassing your budget, which is never a good thing. You need to find an Architect who can work with the timeline you have. Find out how long it took to design the projects they submitted in their portfolios. Ask if there was anything that could have sped up the process or if there was anything that hindered it. Architects work on a lot of projects, so you need to know if their current workload will slow down your design timeline.

Once you’ve gone through this process, you shouldn’t have more than 5 people left on your list, and from that, you can decide to pick the cheapest one, the one with the best design, the most experienced one, or the one who can complete the job faster. It all depends on your preference. Happy searching!