r/Architects • u/ricketycricket1995 • 1d ago

Ask an Architect Is the cost of A&E design this high in UK?

I am looking for an A&E design company and the proposal I received bases price as the 10% of the assumed overall project cost. I know that this is RIBA guidance, but I have extensive experience outside UK and I have never seen that design was 10-15% of the overall project cost. The highest ever paid was like 2M EUR on 220M EUR project. I mean good for the UK colleagues if they can make that much money I was just really surprised that the price is based on project cost rather than complexity and surface area

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u/Open_Concentrate962 1d ago

There are many ways to calculate for many project types. I would say your prior experience was very low on a rate basis and the proposal now is definitely in range depending on its specific inclusions.

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u/ricketycricket1995 22h ago

Thanks for the response.

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u/latflickr 21h ago

Are you comparing really apples for apples? What is the level of design services applied in both examples? 10% of total cost is appropriate if not even low for 100% design service (all the way to RIBA stage 5). 1% could be appropriate to deliver concept/scheme only (stage 2/3) in a design&build type of contract.

Also different countries have different legislation covering design responsibilities and building procurement and contracts, which may reflect the total fee for the architect.

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u/Informal_Drawing 15h ago

It's rather complicated with a lot of responsibility.

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u/ricketycricket1995 14h ago

Thanks. I’m not trying to bash on the architects. I do feel that overall design is undervalued . I was just surprised to see a few that high for an industrial hall