How much does it cost to work with ESP Architects?

We believe the financial side of a project should be discussed early, not discovered at the end of the proposal process.

For full architectural services, ESP Architects' professional investment generally ranges from 7–10% of construction cost. For projects ESP accepts, professional services generally begin with a minimum fee of $6,000.

Every project is different. Project type, complexity, existing conditions, jurisdiction, consultants, schedule and the level of service required can all affect the final fee.

For some projects, ESP Architects may offer multiple levels of service based on the needs of the project. Lower levels of service may reduce the professional investment, but they also shift additional coordination, responsibility and risk to the owner or contractor.

These numbers aren't a quote. They're a realistic starting point so you can determine whether ESP Architects may be the right fit before either of us invests significant time in the process.

What Types of Projects Does ESP Architects Work On?

ESP Architects works with owners, developers, operators and organizations planning new construction, renovations, expansions and adaptive reuse projects.

Our primary areas of work include multifamily and apartments, mixed-use development, senior and assisted living, commercial and workplace, healthcare and medical facilities, and select custom homes.

We are especially well suited for projects where important decisions still need to be made — whether evaluating a property, determining what an existing building can become, establishing project scope and investment, planning for growth, or deciding how a building can better serve the people who use it.

Not every project needs to start with a design. Sometimes the first question is whether the project makes sense at all.

What Is the First Step in the Process?

The first step is to Request a Project Fit Conversation.

Tell us a little about your project, where you are in the process, what is driving the investment, and what you hope to accomplish. We'll review the information to determine whether the project appears to be a good fit for ESP Architects.

If there is potential alignment, we'll schedule a brief Project Fit Conversation to better understand the opportunity and determine the appropriate next step.

That next step may be a Strategy Session, additional feasibility work, or architectural services depending on where you are in the process.

You don't need to have everything figured out before contacting us. Sometimes figuring out the right next step is the first decision we need to make.

What Is the ESP Strategy Session?

The ESP Strategy Session is a focused, two-hour working session designed to help owners and decision-makers better understand their project before design begins.

Using the ESP Method, we work through the project's Purpose, Mission, People and Environment to identify priorities, uncover potential conflicts, and clarify the decisions that will shape the project moving forward.

The goal isn't to design the building during the session. It's to establish a stronger foundation for the decisions that come next — scope, investment, priorities, property or building opportunities, and ultimately design.

The Strategy Session is a $1,000 professional service and includes an ESP Strategy Toolkit provided in advance to help prepare for the session.

Strategy First. Design Second.

Do I Need to Know Exactly What I Want Before Contacting ESP Architects?

No. In fact, many projects begin before all of the answers are known.

You may have a property, an existing building, a need for more space, an investment opportunity, or simply an idea that needs to be explored.

ESP Architects helps you work through those early questions before jumping into design. That may include understanding what the project needs to accomplish, evaluating opportunities and constraints, establishing priorities, and determining the appropriate next step.

You don't need to come to us with all the answers. You need to know there is a decision worth making.

When Should I Involve an Architect in My Project?

Ideally, before major project decisions have already been made.

An architect can provide the most value when there is still an opportunity to evaluate the property or existing building, establish priorities, understand constraints, consider the investment, and determine what the project actually needs to accomplish.

That doesn't mean you need to be ready to design. Involving ESP Architects early may simply mean evaluating an opportunity or helping determine whether a project makes sense before committing significant time or money.

If you've already purchased a property, hired a contractor, or started making decisions, it isn't necessarily too late. The important thing is to understand where the project stands and what decisions still need to be made.

The earlier we understand the decisions, the more opportunity we have to influence the outcome.

How Long Does the Architectural Process Take?

There isn't one standard timeline for every project.

The schedule depends on the project's size and complexity, how quickly decisions can be made, existing conditions, consultant coordination, permitting requirements, and the level of architectural services required.

A smaller project may move through design and permitting relatively quickly, while a larger development, renovation, adaptive reuse project, or project requiring zoning approvals may take considerably longer.

One of the reasons ESP Architects emphasizes Strategy First is to identify important decisions, constraints and potential obstacles early — before they become delays later in the process.

Once we better understand your project, we can establish a realistic schedule and identify the milestones and decisions necessary to keep it moving forward.

A good schedule isn't simply about moving fast. It's about knowing what needs to happen next.

Can ESP Architects Help Me Evaluate a Property or Existing Building Before I Buy It?

Yes. In many cases, before you buy is one of the best times to involve an architect.

A property or existing building may look like a good opportunity, but its real value depends on what you can actually do with it. Zoning, existing conditions, building configuration, accessibility, code requirements, utilities, site constraints and the intended use can all affect whether the property supports your plans.

ESP Architects can help evaluate those conditions and identify opportunities, constraints and potential concerns before you make a larger financial commitment.

This can be especially valuable with existing buildings. An older property may have characteristics that would be difficult or impossible to recreate under today's zoning requirements, creating opportunities for renovation or adaptive reuse. At the same time, existing conditions can introduce costs and limitations that aren't obvious during a walkthrough.

The goal isn't simply to determine whether a property is good or bad. It's to better understand what the property can become and whether that supports the investment you're considering.

Before you invest in the property, understand what you're actually investing in.

What Does an Architect Actually Do?

Architects do not DRAW PLANS.

We make decisions. The plans document those decisions.

Every line on a drawing represents a decision that had to be made first — about how a building functions, how people use it, what can be built, what it will cost, how building systems work together, and how hundreds of individual choices affect the project as a whole.

Depending on the project, an architect may help evaluate a property or existing building, establish project requirements, develop the design, coordinate engineers and other consultants, prepare construction documents, navigate permitting, assist with contractor questions, and remain involved during construction.

The drawings are important, but they are the result of hundreds of decisions made along the way.

At ESP Architects, we believe the greatest value often comes from helping make those decisions before they become expensive to change.

Architecture isn't simply about drawing the building. It's about making better decisions about what you're building and why.

Still Have Questions About Your Project?

You don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

If you're considering a project, property, renovation, or investment opportunity, tell us a little about it. We'll review the information and determine whether ESP Architects may be the right fit and what the next step should be.

REQUEST A PROJECT FIT CONVERSATION