Is an Architect an Engineer?

While an architect can design the general space and massing of a building, we work with many engineers and consultants to develop the building construction. A structural engineer will provide calculations and designs for foundations, columns, beams, sheathing, and connections based on the architect's design. A civil engineer may coordinate the surrounding site topography and drainage, while a landscape architect could develop the exterior hardscape and planting layout. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers design and draft their respective systems based on the architect's room layouts, lighting and outlet placements, appliances, and plumbing fixture locations. Each discipline develops their own coordinated drawing sheets , and your architect will help you collate everything and submit the drawing set  for city approval.

An architect is the best professional to start with, and most projects require the coordination of many engineers to fill out the design team.

General contractors, or simply builders, will construction the building. A general contractor may hire subcontractors for specific scopes of work. The general contractor, for example, may handle the wall framing and construction themselves, and may subcontract with a separate electrician to install the electrical panels and outlets, or a roofing specialist to install the new roof. Although a building owner can hire each subcontractor and specialist directly, a general contractor will manage the team on your behalf, and take command of the building costs and construction timeline as a whole.