Finding a Bank Architect

Hiring an Architect, Finding a Bank Architect

I’m an ex-architect, retired now for two years. It occurred to me that my ex-firm could use a recommendation. These guys (three of them) are the architects who took over when my partner and I retired, all three were trained by us to be more competent than we were.

When you hire an architect, you are also committing to a relationship that will last for months, sometimes years. So you need to make sure they’re willing to put up with you for awhile, and that you can live with them for as long.

Working with a new architect is going to be much easier if you are comfortable with their skills and experience. Maybe the personalities don’t match perfectly, but…

I was a pilot in the Navy for a few years (Vietnam era) and finally I figured out that personalities went out the window when you needed a wingman to trust your life to. Competence means a lot.

All three of my ex-partners are of that mettle. You can trust them to figure out your priorities and act in your best interest. Plus, they are different personalities so that you can select the one whom you like. Dave, Scott or Eric. Ask them all to show up for your interview.

Here’s the best part (my opinion). These three bought into the idea that having a specialty is an asset. They are now the EXPERTS in Bank and Credit Union design. They came into the firm knowing that’s what we did exclusively, and they stuck around for years to learn how to convert a banker’s vision into a branch or headquarters building. First priority, make the banker happy.

It was these three who believed in the vision that Dale McCleary and I created. And they were the three who passed our test of who would carry on our tradition of quality buildings and ‘client is first’ philosophy. Their company is McCleary-German Architects.

It took me and my partner over 20 years (’93 was when we announced that we were specialists) to recognize that having a unique knowledge of the banking/ credit union business was a value to our clients. We had a difficult time saying no to other project types for years. However, once we ‘got religion’, our business only improved and our clients became more loyal than ever. Banks and Credit Unions.

It’s my opinion that if you hire McCleary-German Architects, you will inherit the benefit of 40 years experience passed on from me and my partner, and even better the advantage of working with architects we personally trained, who believe in your industry and are trying to make you succeed over your competitors with your building design. (Sorry about the run-on sentence)

The mantra was, and is, we help you succeed, you will be back to MGA.

Before you hire any Architect, here are a few more recommendations:

• Ask your banker contemporaries who’ve built a bldg recently about their architect. Identify someone with a project similar to yours, and visit the job site or finished building if possible. If you’re thinking about MGA, find a project near you to visit.
• Interview more than one architect (Make sure they have designed many buildings similar to what you’re looking for).
• Ask lots of questions. Straightforward answers, or evasive? Listens to your ideas? Creative solutions?
• Call their references.
• Don’t select by fee alone – consider life-cost of bldg.
• Ask a local contractor about the architects you are considering, preferably a contractor who has built a bank.
• Fees? Fixed amount, percentage of construction cost, or hourly basis. Get an answer.
• Contract? Ask for an example. If they waffle, quietly retire.

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