How do I find out how an architecture firm’s staff split time between design and site visits?

Start with the records the firm already keeps. Many firms track hours by project and phase, and some separate office time from field time. Ask for a few recent projects with hours by person and by phase. If nothing is tracked, that is itself an answer about how the firm prices and manages its work.

Then compare the records with the people. Speak with a junior designer, a project lead and a principal separately, and ask each to describe a typical week. Ask who attends site meetings, who answers contractor questions, and what slips when someone is away. Notice whether site visits are planned or squeezed in whenever a problem arises.

Finally, connect the split to the business. If principals do most site work, the firm may rely on them more than the org chart suggests. If site visits are billed separately, check how often clients dispute them. Ask your accountant to review the hours against the fees so you can see where time goes unbilled. Ask also whether staff feel the balance suits them, because a split that burns people out may not last under a new owner.

Key takeaways

• Ask for hours by person and phase on a few recent projects.
• Interview staff at different levels and compare their weeks with the records.
• Check whether site time is billed or absorbed, and who ends up doing most of it.
• Ask whether staff are comfortable with the balance, since strain can lead to departures.