黑洞社区

Architectural and engineering fees are higher in Europe than anywhere else in the world, a new report has revealed. An analysis of building design fees as a percentage of overall construction costs showed that Europe鈥檚 costs were generally higher than those in Asia and the Americas.

Several European countries reported rates of 15-16%, which is four times higher than the average rate in China (see table one). The UK was among them, with a rate of 15%. Spain was the most expensive country for design, with architectural and engineering fees taking up a massive 22% of construction costs, according to the report by QS Faithful+Gould and RSMeans, a US supplier of construction cost data.

Tom Wiggins, senior associate at F+G in the US, said Europe鈥檚 higher rates were partly due to 鈥渕ore appreciation of design and what it provides鈥�. In the US, he said, 鈥渨e don鈥檛 have so much affinity for the historic nature of buildings. For example, we don鈥檛 mind pulling them down so much.鈥�

The report suggested that Europe鈥檚 higher costs were down to a stricter planning regime. It said: 鈥淟ocal requirements for planning permissions, environmental issues and government regulations affect the design effort. Western European countries will require more effort in these areas.鈥� Wiggins added that, in contrast to the UK, in the US 鈥減eople are interested in seeing things built; the neighbours don鈥檛 often come out to protest against a new building because its design is too modern鈥�.

Another factor driving up costs in certain European countries, including Belgium, Poland and Austria, was anti-trust regulations leading to the elimination of fee scales.

The report concluded that design had become a commodity: 鈥淚t appears that price 鈥� whether consumers will admit it or not 鈥� is the essential differentiator.鈥�

F+G鈥檚 research suggested that cost consulting takes up the largest percentage of overall construction costs in Singapore (see table three). Here, a range of services including cost consulting, project management and planning supervision (grouped together as 鈥渙ther鈥� in the table) accounted for 41% of fees. Architectural fees accounted for 39% of fees in Singapore, structural and civil fees 10% and mechanical and engineering fees 10%.

In the UK the 鈥渙ther鈥� set of services represented a lower slice of construction costs, just 17%. This compares to architectural services commanding 56% of costs, structural and civil engineering 13% and M&E 14%.

In the US people are interested in seeing things built; the neighbours don鈥檛 often come out to protest against a new building because its design is too modern

Tom Wiggins, Faithful+Gould

In both the US and China the 鈥渙ther鈥� category accounted for a paltry 5% of construction fees. In the US, architects were found to be taking the lion鈥檚 share of fees, 55%, while structural & civils work took up 16% and M&E 24%. In China architectural costs accounted for only 30% of fees, with structural and civil engineering commanding the largest percentage of anywhere in the world, 45%. M&E in China represented 20% of fees.

The report noted that looking at design fees alone did not tell the whole story but added that these fees were a traditional benchmark. It also said local costs and standards of living should be considered. It highlighted four key factors affecting fee levels:

鈥� 黑洞社区 type, size and design complexity

鈥� Scope of services

鈥� Procurement method

鈥� Market for design services.

The survey was based on the typical fee levels seen in each country on the construction of an 8,000m2 owner-built and occupied suburban office building, including tenant fit-out.