#Architects' rates
Minimum rates for architectural projects in Poland - what do architects think about them? Are they needed, how should they be charged and how much could they be? We asked representatives of studios, both small, medium and large, developers and lecturers. One of those who shared their opinion is Maciej Zuber. What does the architect and president of SARP Bielsko-Biala Branch think about the minimum rates for architects?
The dire situation of architectural offices in Poland is a fact. In the worst position are medium and small studios, whose profitability and viability are often on the verge of survival. At the same time, investments, especially from the residential sector, are increasing, which means there is something to design. In January 2025, more apartments were completed than a year ago, also the number of those whose construction has begun is higher (CSO data). However, the average quality of what is being built is not satisfactory. It is being built quickly, most often at a low cost, but at a record high profit. So why are architects one of the lowest-paid links in the industry?
When we discussed at this year's Budma what the quality of residential architecture in Poland depends on, the topic of architects' salaries dominated the debate. Mateusz Mastalski, a partner at the Danish studio Henning Larsen, who was present at the meeting , pointed out that in Denmark quality is due not only to tradition, good architectural education of the society or professional solidarity of architects, but also to the fact that they have more time for designing than in Poland and are better paid for their work. This correlation seems obvious.
We continue the debate on architects' salaries in Poland and ask Maciej Zuber about architects ' earnings.
Maciej ZUBER
- President of the SARP Branch in Bielsko-Biała and vice-chairman of the Regional Audit Committee of the Silesian Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland. Plenipotentiary of the SARP Main Board for BIM, co-author of the scientific study "BIM Standard PL", author of publications on the application of BIM in investment processes. Owner of the design studio Archas Design.
The problem of undervaluation of architectural projects in relation to the realities of the construction market is not new. An attempt to create a price list for design work was once made by the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland, but after it was recognized by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection as a practice restricting competition, the project did not enter into force. Nevertheless, there are laws that regulate these rates to some extent. It is, for example, the "Decree of the Minister of Development and Technology of December 20, 2021 on defining the methods and bases for preparing the investor's cost estimate, calculating the planned costs of design works and the planned costs of construction works specified in the functional-utility program."
The ordinance contains detailed percentage indicators for the cost of design works. It refers to the provisions of the "Law on Public Procurement," which means that the valuation of design work should be taken into account by public institutions, for example, when tendering for architectural projects. I believe that there is nothing to prevent the guidelines contained in the regulation from also providing a basis for the creation of a price list for architects themselves, especially since it is based on the SARP Principles for the Pricing of Design Work and the IARP Architect's Honorarium Regulations.
Its absence, and pressure from investors, fosters further undercutting of rates. This, in turn, deepens the divisions in the community, as evidenced, for example, by the differing statements in the current discussion.
Some architects, especially younger ones, believe that guaranteed rates are an interference in the free market, likely to reduce competitiveness and encourage investors to use the gray market. In my opinion, unfair practices cannot be completely eliminated. It is already common for projects to be drafted by people outside the profession and then signed by architects with licenses. Such abuses should be combated, but they should not be an argument against the introduction of transparent, unified remuneration rules.
I am of the opinion that their introduction is necessary. Otherwise, the dire situation of many architectural studios will not change, and project valuations will continue to lag far behind rising costs in the construction market. There is no justification for the position of the architect in the investment process to be - unlike other participants in it - systematically depreciated.
Should a guaranteed minimum rate per square meter of a project be introduced? Please briefly justify your answer.
It should be in effect, but not per square meter of project, but per man-hour. Many architects have a hard time realistically estimating the value of their own work, while they are able to determine how much time each project takes, if only on the basis of previous projects. If they added up the time spent on a project and multiplied it by the minimum hourly rate (currently PLN 30.50 excluding VAT), it would turn out that in many cases they worked on a project below the minimum rate. For the sake of juxtaposition: the average hourly rate of a lawyer's work is about PLN 250 (excluding VAT). This gives food for thought.
How much should the minimum rate without industry professionals be per square meter for multifamily residential architecture?
3% of the value of the project in the range of 500 thousand to 1 million zlotys. However, this depends on the category of complexity. With high complexity, the rate can be as high as 9%.
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen be per square meter for single-family houses?
250 zlotys.
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen be per square meter for office buildings?
250 zlotys.
How much should the minimum rate without tradesmen per square meter for public buildings and spaces be?
300 zlotys.
Should architects as a professional group have trade unions to deal only with the issue of architects' salaries?
The Chamber of Architects is a form of trade union. However, it should have an internal cell to monitor the number of building permits obtained by architects. Its purpose would be to curb the practice of massive signing of projects that are not their own by some architects acting unethically. Such a cell should also analyze the amount of project pricing on the market and react when abnormally low prices appear.
