A construction estimate that goes unchecked from schematic design through construction documents is a project waiting to blow its budget. The architect's role in reviewing cost estimates is not about doing the math yourself. It is about knowing what questions to ask, when to ask them, and how to evaluate the answers.

Every design phase produces a more detailed picture of the project, and the estimate should evolve right alongside it. At schematic design, you are working with rough square-foot costs. By design development, estimates should break down by building system. By construction documents, the estimate should be traceable to specific scope items using a Work Breakdown Structure or Uniformat classification.

Four qualities define a reliable estimate: it must be well-documented, so anyone can trace the numbers back to their sources. It must be complete, accounting for all scope without omissions or double-counting. It must be accurate, reflecting unbiased and realistic costs. And it must be credible, meaning it addresses uncertainty and has been cross-checked against independent benchmarks.

When estimates drift from budget targets, the architect needs to understand why. Was new scope added? Did market conditions shift? Are material costs escalating faster than predicted? Answering these questions at each phase checkpoint, rather than at bid day, gives the team time to adjust scope, systems, or delivery strategy before it is too late.

For the ARE, expect questions that test your ability to evaluate an estimate's reliability, identify when an independent review is needed, and determine appropriate corrective actions when estimates exceed budget limits.