Architect's Essentials of Starting, Assessing and Transitioning a Design Firm

by Peter Piven

Architect's Essentials of Starting a Design Firm presents a thorough, organized approach to building your own design firm or expanding an existing firm. Written by two leading experts in the field, this authoritative resource offers real-world tips and guidance, as well as pitfalls to avoid, to give your practice the best chance for success. Coverage addresses all aspects of getting started, from preliminary analysis of personal skills and resources preceding a startup (including creating a business plan and evaluating initial costs) to business and marketing strategies to keep your firm going. This complete reference also gives the solid, hands-on advice you need to manage such nuts-and-bolts issues as firm organization, personnel requirements, fee setting, contract negotiation, creating a budget, legal considerations, and much more.

Genres: Architecture, Business

464 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2003

About the author

Peter Piven is a principal consultant at Peter Piven Management Consultants, continuing a professional path that began at The Coxe Group. For more than three decades he has advised design professionals on organizational structure, strategic planning, leadership transition, financial management, mergers and acquisitions, and practice growth. Recognized as a leading authority on management issues in the design professions, he works with architects, engineers, planners, landscape architects, and related organizations. Piven holds advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, with additional management training from Harvard University. He was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects for his contributions to the field. A respected educator, writer, and editor, he has taught widely, served in numerous leadership roles within the AIA, and co authored influential books on starting, managing, and transitioning design firms.

Reviews

[Justus · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good intro to the subject....good to get info from several directions (ie compare to the other starting archi firm book). Its most interesting insight is the appendix where they have a six square matrix
strong idea
strong delivery
strong process
Practiced Centered Business centered

It was also nice to see sample (simple also) income statements for a hypothetical firm. Interesting read but nothing mind blowing