When an architect talks about “scope,” they mean the work they will do for your project. “Deliverables” are the things you receive, like drawings, schedules, specifications, and documents for council or builders. If these are clear from the start, it is easier to make decisions, keep approvals moving, and reduce confusion once construction begins.
What Services Do Architects Provide From Concept To Construction?
Architects help you move from ideas to a design that can be approved and built. They do more than create a nice layout. They look at the site, the rules, how the home will work day to day, and what a builder will need to price and build it properly.
Architectural services typically include:
- Site analysis and feasibility assessment
- Concept and spatial design
- Design development and material selection
- Town planning and council coordination (if required)
- Construction documentation for accurate builder pricing
- Consultant coordination, including engineering and energy reports
- Optional construction phase support and contract administration
What You Can Expect From Deliverables At Each Stage
Deliverables change depending on what you need and how complex the project is. Below is a practical guide to what is commonly included at each stage, so you can understand why the scope grows on some projects and stays lean on others.
Concept Design Deliverables
This stage is about testing the best direction before you commit to detail. It helps you avoid spending time documenting a layout that does not suit the site or the way you live.
Typical deliverables include:
- A clear summary of your brief (must-haves, nice-to-haves, priorities)
- One or more layout options that show different ways to plan the home
- Early site response notes (sun, privacy, access, views)
- A basic planning check (setbacks, heights, overlooking, likely triggers)
- A list of key decisions to lock in before moving forward
Design Development Deliverables
This stage is where the selected concept becomes more resolved. Spaces, sizes, and relationships between rooms are refined, and the overall look of the home becomes clearer.
Typical deliverables include:
- Refined floor plans with key dimensions confirmed
- Elevations or 3D views to show the form and street presence
- Material direction and how major finishes will work together
- Coordination with consultants whose advice affects the design
- Updated drawings ready for planning (if needed) or construction documentation
Planning Deliverables (If Required)
If your project needs council approval, deliverables focus on presenting the design clearly and showing how it responds to local controls. This is often where extra time is needed, especially if the council requests changes or more information.
Typical deliverables include:
- Planning drawings prepared for submission
- Updates or revisions based on council feedback (as agreed in scope)
- Coordination with a town planner when required
- Support to address common planning issues like privacy, bulk, and overshadowing
Construction Documentation Deliverables
This is the most detailed stage because the documents need to support accurate builder pricing and guide the build on-site. The more complex the design, the more detail is needed to avoid assumptions.
Typical deliverables include:
- A coordinated drawing set for pricing and construction
- Key details that explain junctions and tricky build areas
- Schedules (doors, windows, finishes) if included in your scope
- Joinery drawings when custom cabinetry is part of the design
- Coordination between architectural and engineering documentation
- Notes and specifications that define materials and performance requirements
Construction Phase Deliverables (Optional)
Some clients engage their architect during construction to help protect the design intent and reduce stress when questions come up. This support can also help when changes are proposed mid-build.
Typical deliverables include:
- Responses to builder questions and clarification of intent
- Review of proposed variations and design impacts
- Site meetings at agreed milestones
- Shop drawings review
- Contract administration support (if included)
Complete List of Architectural Services
Key Factors That Influence Scope and Deliverables
The scope usually changes because real-life conditions create extra steps. These are the most common factors that increase coordination and documentation.
Site Constraints Such As Slope, Access, And Orientation
A block can create design limits that need careful planning. Steep sites often require split levels, retaining solutions, and drainage planning. Tight access can affect construction staging and layout. Poor orientation can require more design work to bring in light while keeping the home comfortable and private.
Planning Overlays And Council Approval Complexity
Council pathways can add extra deliverables, especially when overlays apply. You may need more drawings, stronger written responses, or extra consultant input to address privacy, neighbourhood character, height, or overshadowing. A clear scope should explain what is included if the council requests changes.
Heritage Or Neighbourhood Character Controls
Older homes and established streets often require a more careful approach. The design may need to respond to existing features, protect certain elements, and show how new and old work together. This usually means more checking, more detailing, and more documentation to reduce surprises during construction.
Level Of Design Customisation
Custom homes and high-detail renovations typically need more time in design development and documentation. Complex forms, bespoke joinery, detailed material transitions, and unique façade elements all require clearer drawings so the builder can price and build accurately.
Documentation Depth Required For Builder Certainty
Documentation is where many projects win or lose clarity. A light drawing set can leave too much open to interpretation. More complete documentation helps builders quote on the same information, reduces confusion on site, and lowers the risk of unexpected variations.
Client Decision Timelines And Revision Frequency
The scope can expand when major decisions shift late in the process. If layouts change after documentation starts, drawings need to be reworked, and consultants may need to update their documents too. A good scope sets clear decision points so you know what must be confirmed before moving forward.
What Is Included In A Full Architectural Service Fee?
A full architectural service typically covers the key stages from early design through to build-ready documentation, with the option to stay involved during construction. This approach suits clients who want one team guiding the project from start to finish, keeping the design consistent and resolving details before they become on-site problems.
- Concept design and site analysis
- Design development and refined layouts
- Planning drawings and approval submissions (if required)
- Detailed construction documentation
- Optional construction phase involvement
At Wang Architects, services are structured so that early design decisions improve certainty and reduce downstream risk.
Can Hiring An Architect Reduce Construction Issues And Variations?
A well-run architectural process helps reduce avoidable problems during construction. When key decisions are resolved early, and drawings clearly explain what is being built, builders can price more accurately and trades have fewer grey areas on site. This improves coordination, reduces delays caused by unanswered questions, and helps avoid changes that happen simply because something was not defined earlier.
Architect-led projects often benefit from practical detailing, considered material selection, and early coordination with builders and consultants, which supports smoother delivery and stronger long-term outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Architectural Scope And Deliverables
What Deliverables Should I Expect From An Architect?
Most projects include concept drawings, developed design drawings, and construction documentation if you want accurate builder pricing and a clearer build process. If council approval is needed, planning drawings and submission support are also common.
Can I Hire An Architect Just For Early Design?
Yes. Many people begin with feasibility and concept design. Once the direction is confirmed, you can extend the scope into planning, documentation, and construction support if needed.
What Is The Difference Between Planning Drawings And Construction Drawings?
Planning drawings focus on showing the design intent and how it meets council requirements. Construction drawings include the details builders need to quote accurately and build correctly.
Why Does Documentation Detail Matter?
When details are missing, builders and trades must guess. Clear documents reduce assumptions and help avoid delays, disputes, and variations that could have been prevented with better information upfront.
What Should I Ask An Architect Before Signing?
Ask what is included at each stage, how revisions are handled, what consultant coordination covers, and whether construction phase involvement is available.
