Architect of Record

Architect of Record

Architect of Record

The architect of record is licensed in the project jurisdiction, seals the construction documents, and bears professional responsibility for design adequacy. The role may include construction administration.

Delegated design shifts portions to specialty engineers.

Alternative Names:

AOR|Architect of Record (Project)

Why it Matters?

Sealing drawings creates professional liability regardless of who performed the underlying work, which matters where an architect of record sealed documents prepared by others including a design-build partner or an out-of-state firm. Delegated design provisions shift responsibility for specific systems to specialty engineers, but the architect retains coordination responsibility. Construction administration scope determines exposure for observation and certification duties.

Frequently Confused with

Frequently asked questions

What does sealing create?

What does sealing create?

Professional liability for the design regardless of who performed the underlying work, including drawings prepared by others.

What does delegated design shift?

What does delegated design shift?

Responsibility for specific systems to specialty engineers, though the architect retains coordination responsibility.