Small Project Design

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Has anyone out there had success with outsourcing in an effort to stay lean?

I was "given the opportunity" just over 3 years ago to start my own practice, and didn't know how long I'd be in survival mode. We've never been without work, and after nearly 30 years with a firm that ranged between 15 and 40 people, have enjoyed the life of a sole practitioner immensely. I'd begun to think I could just ride this into the sunset.

The good news (and the challenge) is that we've got a tremendous amount of work. I've raised fees and turned down some off-mission opportunities in response. I confess that I suffer from a kind of Depression-baby/architect's mindset that no matter how well things are going, I'm may never eat again.

I'd like to avoid hiring permanent staff if at all possible (I also love working from home, so staffing up has other traumatic implications). We've outsourced a some production work, but with mixed success. I can't help but feeling that we're paying too much for mediocre results and spending way too much time fixing it.

I believe the solution lies in adopting a franchising mentality - developing standards, checklists and templates that can be embedded in an agreement -  that will make it easier for these "ghost architects" to consistently produce what I need and expect. I'm coming up dry in my search for models. Can anyone point me to some helpful resources?

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Ronald Geyer AIA, NCIDQ, Principal
Good City Architects LLC
goodcityarch.com
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Ronald

I have been a sole proprietor for over 11 years.  The staff problem is a difficult part working alone.  I have found a drafting service and a specification writer that serve me well, but it took some time and a few projects I had to redraft myself.  I no longer want to do my own drafting and my specification writer is so good I feel my projects need her.  I found most of my resources through friends.  Ask others how they solve this problem.  Go to your State design conference and meet others with similar practices.  Ask them who they use.  No-one minds sharing their good resources. 

Developing a team of resources allows you weather the ebb and flow of work.  Staff salaries would have ended my practice in 2008.  Outsourcing let me survive and make money during that difficult time.   

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Gail Pelsue AIA
Principal
Pelsue Architecture, LLC
Denver CO
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Mr. Geyer ---
Hello

My practice is a home office also, and I love it.  With project sizes, scopes, and types, I'm able to do my own C.D.s (I always did enjoy sunrises.)  But, for you, how 'bout:
1.     Assuming there are some larger offices around you that you trust & respect...
2.     They may have "time gaps" for good employees' work flow.
3.     You get their folks for X-# of weeks, to work on your jobs.
4.     This work is done, at their homes?  Or --- ?
5.     Then, you hand 'em back when they're needed at their own offices.
6.     What one person doesn't finish, the next one does...
7.     Or --- you wrap it up, as you're checking it over.

Thanks, & good luck ---
Bill

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William Devlin AIA
William J. Devlin, AIA, Inc.
Springfield MA
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Hi Ronald,

I just had a discussion similar to this one. I just went on my own last year and while I am looking for projects I help other sole proprietors, such as yourself, in production work. Its pretty nice because we all have worked together in the past and understand each others capacity and experience. 

In terms of outsourcing, we think it be best to use it for as-builts and other more repetitive drafting tasks that we would be able to correct quickly if needed. All design and construction detailing should be handled in house or done by our local network of consulting architects. I would not outsource anything that is to complex to explain or requires a highly experienced designer.

Hope this give some insight.

Regards,

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Daniel Guich, NCARB, LEED AP, CDT
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Ronald,

You raise some good questions and have gotten somw good replies.  Here is another take.  My practice offers "out" services, though not the drafting and production part.  My point is that there are folks out there that can be very helpful.  A large firm that I was with a few years ago, connected with a company in Columbia that did very good work.  You don't have to be big and they don't have to be local.  There is another firm here in Pittsburgh that provides good CADD services to thers.

You also mentioned franchising.  That is a model that has not found popularity in our profession but is quite viable.  Look into Transforming Architecture.  Talk with Karen Pitsley at TransformingArchitecture.com.  She is a franchisor with a very interesting networ.

Best of luck,

Tom Donoghue

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Tom Donoghue, AIA, Principal
Donoghue Project Consulting, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA
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We looked into Transforming Architecture, and I had some serious concerns about how they sell "franchises" and then encourage you to claim other franchisee's work as part of your portfolio to go after projects.   Please be careful with this one, if it even still exists.

Furthermore, I have great concern about any business model that turns the practice of architecture more into a commodity rather than a professional service.  I believe one of our big picture problems today is that big business has been turning the professions into commodities so that they can manipulate them for their own business interests, thus marginalizing the reason we are licensed and not them - to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

 






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Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2015 18:49
From: Thomas Donoghue
Subject: Outsourcing

Ronald,

You raise some good questions and have gotten somw good replies.  Here is another take.  My practice offers "out" services, though not the drafting and production part.  My point is that there are folks out there that can be very helpful.  A large firm that I was with a few years ago, connected with a company in Columbia that did very good work.  You don't have to be big and they don't have to be local.  There is another firm here in Pittsburgh that provides good CADD services to thers.

You also mentioned franchising.  That is a model that has not found popularity in our profession but is quite viable.  Look into Transforming Architecture.  Talk with Karen Pitsley at TransformingArchitecture.com.  She is a franchisor with a very interesting networ.

Best of luck,

Tom Donoghue

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Tom Donoghue, AIA, Principal
Donoghue Project Consulting, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA
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Spot on, Adam!

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Robin Miller AIA
MSH Architects
Sioux Falls SD
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2015 18:43
From: Adam Trott
Subject: Outsourcing

We looked into Transforming Architecture, and I had some serious concerns about how they sell "franchises" and then encourage you to claim other franchisee's work as part of your portfolio to go after projects.   Please be careful with this one, if it even still exists.

Furthermore, I have great concern about any business model that turns the practice of architecture more into a commodity rather than a professional service.  I believe one of our big picture problems today is that big business has been turning the professions into commodities so that they can manipulate them for their own business interests, thus marginalizing the reason we are licensed and not them - to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

I am still drawing by hand all the Architectural, specs, and Interiors, observing construction daily, ...a one man show.  The projects are mainly $1 to 2 Mill.

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Nelson B. Nave AIA
Owner
Nelson Breech Nave, AIA Architect
Kalamazoo MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2015 18:43
From: Adam Trott
Subject: Outsourcing

We looked into Transforming Architecture, and I had some serious concerns about how they sell "franchises" and then encourage you to claim other franchisee's work as part of your portfolio to go after projects.   Please be careful with this one, if it even still exists.

Furthermore, I have great concern about any business model that turns the practice of architecture more into a commodity rather than a professional service.  I believe one of our big picture problems today is that big business has been turning the professions into commodities so that they can manipulate them for their own business interests, thus marginalizing the reason we are licensed and not them - to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

 






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Ron:

While "between" jobs I was working for a sole proprietor who worked out of her home.  She has a model that has worked quite well for her for some time.  She has an architectural draftsmen that works for her out of their home. (She did have two, but one moved on.)  When she needs more man power she has a strong network of folks that are willing to pitch in for some extra money.  These are all architects that she has either met or worked with at other firms through the years.

The key to this model , as I see it, is that you need to have people that have the ability to be flexible in their hours (20hrs one week 50 the next), have their own office at home, and that you know and trust their work and work ethic.  You don't want to have to do a lot of hand holding.  Ideally they should have their own copy of whatever software your using, how ever if they are going to be exclusive to you, you could provide them with the software.

Working from an office in your home can work.  Good luck with your journey.

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Douglas Eriksen AIA
Architect
Delaware City DE
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2015 18:49
From: Thomas Donoghue
Subject: Outsourcing

Ronald,

You raise some good questions and have gotten somw good replies.  Here is another take.  My practice offers "out" services, though not the drafting and production part.  My point is that there are folks out there that can be very helpful.  A large firm that I was with a few years ago, connected with a company in Columbia that did very good work.  You don't have to be big and they don't have to be local.  There is another firm here in Pittsburgh that provides good CADD services to thers.

You also mentioned franchising.  That is a model that has not found popularity in our profession but is quite viable.  Look into Transforming Architecture.  Talk with Karen Pitsley at TransformingArchitecture.com.  She is a franchisor with a very interesting networ.

Best of luck,

Tom Donoghue

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Tom Donoghue, AIA, Principal
Donoghue Project Consulting, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA
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I agree that you should use people whose talent and work you know. I mentored two people in an office 15 years ago who now work full time for others, but can put in extra evening or weekend time to do my work. Our communication is by email using written orders and redlined pdf scans. We have been able to work this way in my sole proprietor practice with trust, good quality work, and a continuing good relationship for many years.

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Edward R. Acker, AIA
Semi-retired Architect
Winchester VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-08-2015 08:35
From: Douglas Eriksen
Subject: Outsourcing

Ron:

While "between" jobs I was working for a sole proprietor who worked out of her home.  She has a model that has worked quite well for her for some time.  She has an architectural draftsmen that works for her out of their home. (She did have two, but one moved on.)  When she needs more man power she has a strong network of folks that are willing to pitch in for some extra money.  These are all architects that she has either met or worked with at other firms through the years.

The key to this model , as I see it, is that you need to have people that have the ability to be flexible in their hours (20hrs one week 50 the next), have their own office at home, and that you know and trust their work and work ethic.  You don't want to have to do a lot of hand holding.  Ideally they should have their own copy of whatever software your using, how ever if they are going to be exclusive to you, you could provide them with the software.

Working from an office in your home can work.  Good luck with your journey.

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Douglas Eriksen AIA
Architect
Delaware City DE
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Thank you, William, Gail, Daniel, Thomas, Adam, Doug and others. I appreciate your guidance and encouragement. Forgive me for not being clearer. I'm not proposing franchising services. I'm proposing a franchising mindset. Franchises succeed to the extent that they are able to replicate their model through documented processes.

Nor am I trying to discover where to find independent contractors per se. I've had some success with the models some of you are suggesting (and some disappointments) and expect time will make us better at identifying the right partners. But whether I look to a network of friends and former coworkers or go offshore, I believe I need to find the best way to describe and measure what I require. There are a handful of textbooks and checklists that may offer the best platform on which to build such a description, but I've not found anything aimed at the outsourcing relationship. Ron

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Ronald Geyer AIA, NCIDQ
Principal
Good City Architects LLC
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2015 18:49
From: Thomas Donoghue
Subject: Outsourcing

Ronald,

You raise some good questions and have gotten somw good replies.  Here is another take.  My practice offers "out" services, though not the drafting and production part.  My point is that there are folks out there that can be very helpful.  A large firm that I was with a few years ago, connected with a company in Columbia that did very good work.  You don't have to be big and they don't have to be local.  There is another firm here in Pittsburgh that provides good CADD services to thers.

You also mentioned franchising.  That is a model that has not found popularity in our profession but is quite viable.  Look into Transforming Architecture.  Talk with Karen Pitsley at TransformingArchitecture.com.  She is a franchisor with a very interesting networ.

Best of luck,

Tom Donoghue

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Tom Donoghue, AIA, Principal
Donoghue Project Consulting, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA
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All,

I completely agree with Tom, outsourcing can work, you just need to find the partner you can trust and which is a good fit for you. This became very common among architecture firms in Europe (especially after the crisis). My design firm based in Europe, Budapest, and we work both directly with developers and collaborate with other architecture teams abroad. I do believe that you can outsource also design parts of your projects. Based on the feedbacks of our clients, the most helpfull collaborations were in the past when we had the opportunity to take on complex design development tasks that made their in-house work more efficient and profitable. This works also internationally: I just returned this spring from New York, where I have been working for a year as a Visiting Senior Architect at Perkins and Will, and since than my firm has already provided this kind of services for several American companies. Sometimes they ask me how we handle the question of liability and licensure since we do have licensure in Europe, but not in the US. For this I would rather compare this approach to a mix team, where a part of the team stays in the US (they make PM, PA roles) and the other part here, in Budapest. The part that you outsource is normally also much cheaper. In the past we always find this a win win collaboration. If you are intrested in this opportunity more in detail, you can learn more about this model in the following presentation (https://youtu.be/_m4S3SubVaE).

Hope this helps!

Best,

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Tamás Niczki Assoc. AIA LEED GA
Principal, NAS - Niczki Architecture Studio
Budapest, Hungary
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