Expert: Paul S. Brown, AIA - 10/1/2008

Question
Dear  Paul,
I want to know about how to get design fee cost breakdown.In that, what percentage of the fee goes to the architect, to structural engineer, to sanitary engineer, to electrical engineer , to quantity and tender. Is there any world or country standard that governs the breakdown?

Addis adugna

Answer
Hi Addis:
I can give you an example from the experience I have over the past few years doing mostly public school projects.  Each project is different.  But at the beginning, for planning purposes, we usually chart out something like this:
Landscape/Civil/Site design Consultants:  10% of total fee.
Structural Engineer:  4 - 8% of total fee
M/E/P/FP Engineers:  25 - 30% of total fee
Food Service Planner:  2%
Technology Engineer:   3%
Cost Estimator:  2%
Other/ misc. consultants: 0 - 5%
Leaves about 45 - 50% of the fee for the architectural design and overall responsibility for the team.
I hope that is helpful for what you need.
Thanks,
PB