B101 Initial Information, Architect Responsibilities, and Standard of Care (Articles 1-2)

Covers the opening articles of AIA B101-2017: what initial information the owner must provide, the architect's general responsibilities and scope, the standard of care language, and the right to rely on owner-furnished data. Candidates must understand how these provisions allocate risk between owner and architect.

ARE · Practice Management

Overview

The Foundation of Every Owner-Architect Relationship

Before a single line gets drawn, the owner-architect agreement has to answer two questions: What does everyone already know about this project? And what exactly is the architect signing up to do?

That is the job of Articles 1 and 2 in AIA B101-2017. Article 1 sets the stage by documenting the project's initial information: the owner's goals, the physical parameters, the budget, the schedule, and the delivery method. Article 2 then spells out the architect's scope, general obligations, and the critical standard of care.

Why the ARE Tests This

These two articles sit at the intersection of practice management and risk management. They define who is responsible for what before design even begins. On the PcM exam, you will see questions about how initial information affects the architect's services, what happens when that information changes, and how the standard of care protects (and limits) the architect.

Connections to Other Topics

Articles 1 and 2 connect directly to compensation provisions (Article 11), additional services triggers (Article 4), and the coordination requirements found in AIA A201. Understanding these opening articles helps you reason through contract modifications, scope disputes, and professional liability scenarios that appear throughout the PcM division.

If you have ever wondered why experienced architects obsess over contract language before starting a project, Articles 1 and 2 are the answer.

Essential

Article 1: Initial Information Article 1 of AIA B101-2017 requires the owner and architect to document the project's starting conditions before design work begins. This is not a formality. The initial information becomes the baseline against which changes are measured, additional services are triggered, and compensation adjustments are justified. ### What Gets Documented The initial information typically includes: - Owner's program and project objectives (the functional requirements, aesthetic goals, and performance expectations) - Physical characteristics of the site (size, topography, existing conditions, environmental constraints) - Owner's budget for the Cost of the Work (not the total project budget, just the construction cost portion) - Anticipated procurement and delivery method (design-bid-build, CM at risk, etc.) - Project schedule and milestones (design phases, bidding, construction, occupancy targets) - Other information the owner furnishes (surveys, geotechnical reports, environmental assessments) This information is documented in Section 1.1 of B101.

Professional

When Initial Information Shifts Mid-Project Consider a firm hired to design a 40,000-square-foot medical office building. The owner provides a detailed program, a site survey, a geotechnical report, and a construction budget of $8 million. The architect completes schematic design based on that information. Then the owner announces a new tenant requirement that adds 12,000 square feet and a second elevator. That is a material change to the initial information. Under B101 Section 1.2, the architect is entitled to adjust services, schedule, and compensation. The owner must also adjust its budget and milestones. In practice, the architect should document the change in writing, reference the specific initial information that has shifted, and propose an amendment to the agreement before proceeding with redesign. Skipping that documentation step is one of the most common mistakes architects make.

TLDR

Article 1 documents the project's starting conditions: owner's program, site info, budget for Cost of the Work, delivery method, and schedule
Section 1.2 (Right to Rely): Both owner and architect may rely on initial information; material changes require adjustments to services, schedule, compensation, and budget
Section 2.2 (Standard of Care): Architect performs with the skill and care ordinarily provided by architects practicing in the same or similar locality under the same or similar circumstances
Perfection is not the standard. The law requires reasonable professional judgment, not guaranteed outcomes
Section 3.1.2: Architect is entitled to rely on owner-furnished information (surveys, geotech reports) but must give written notice of errors discovered
The standard of care is established through contract language, expert testimony, building codes, licensing statutes, and professional society standards
The standard of care evolves as technology and industry practices advance
Architect is not the owner's general agent. Authority is limited to what the contract documents grant
AIA and EJCDC both use a "reasonable practitioner" benchmark, though their wording differs slightly
Elevated standard-of-care language ("best practices," "highest standard") increases liability exposure and may void insurance coverage

ELI5

Think of hiring an architect like hiring a doctor. When you go to the doctor, you tell them your symptoms, your medical history, and what medications you are taking. The doctor relies on that information to make a diagnosis. If you leave something out or give wrong information, the doctor is not at fault for a bad result. That is what Article 1 of B101 does for the owner-architect relationship. The owner tells the architect everything about the project upfront: what the building is for, where it will go, how much money is available, and when it needs to be done. Both sides agree that this is the starting point. Now, what happens if something changes? Maybe the owner suddenly needs the building to be twice as big. Article 1 says that is fine, but the architect gets to adjust the work, the timeline, and the fee.

AREPractice Management

B101 Initial Information, Architect Responsibilities, and Standard of Care (Articles 1-2)

2 min read229 words

Why B101 Articles 1 and 2 Matter on the ARE

The Foundation of Every Owner-Architect Relationship

Before a single line gets drawn, the owner-architect agreement has to answer two questions: What does everyone already know about this project? And what exactly is the architect signing up to do?

Why the ARE Tests This

Connections to Other Topics

If you have ever wondered why experienced architects obsess over contract language before starting a project, Articles 1 and 2 are the answer.

Want to track your progress and access more study tools?

Create a free account