The Players' Roles
The architect's role: The architect/client/contractor relationship
This three-way relationship is both contractual and interpersonal.
Contractually,
the owner has two separate contracts, one with the architect
to design the project and one with the contractor to build
it. The architect and builder have no contractual relationship
with each other. When an architect is hired for construction
supervision (phase 5), s/he works as the owner's agent,
but the ultimate authority rests with the owner. Thus, while
the architect can ask the contractor to do something, s/he
has no legal standing to compel him.
Interpersonally, this contractual arrangement can create some tension. While each of the three parties have their own interests, the architect's and owner's tend to be more aligned, creating a two-against-one scenario. Contractors sometimes resent architects, whom they may feel don't know enough about building to supervise them. They also worry that the architect will blame them for mistakes that are really the architect's responsibility. Architects are sometimes wary of contractors, concerned that they will run roughshod over the fine points of the design.
David's Comment
Owners are often worried about both - afraid the architect is driving up the cost by designing impractical, picayune details, while the contractor is cutting corners, or off working on a different job.
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