Architecture Outsourcing Services: What Architecture Firms Can Outsource and How It Works
Architecture firms often reach a point where the challenge is not finding more projects, It is finding enough production capacity to deliver those projects without overloading the existing team. Deadlines overlap, redlines need to be incorporated, Revit models need updating and drawing packages move from Schematic Design (SD) into Design Development (DD) to Construction Documents. Permit sets need to be completed while new projects are already starting. This is where architecture outsourcing services can become part of an architecture firm's production strategy.
Architecture outsourcing allows firms to bring in an external architectural production team to support drafting, Revit modeling, AutoCAD documentation, BIM production, 3D modeling, construction documents and other project production requirements. Instead of outsourcing only an isolated drawing, firms can use an experienced remote architecture team as additional production capacity throughout different stages of a project.
What Is Architecture Outsourcing?
Architecture outsourcing is the use of an external architectural production team to support drafting, modeling, documentation and other project production requirements without adding permanent in-house staff. The architecture firm maintains control of the project, design direction, client relationship, local regulatory decisions and final approvals.
The outsourced team supports the production work required to move the project forward which can include everything from updating a few AutoCAD drawings to providing a dedicated team supporting multiple projects. Current architecture outsourcing providers commonly describe services around CAD drafting, Revit/BIM modeling, construction documentation, permit drawings, as-builts and visualization.
What Architectural Services Can Be Outsourced?
One of the biggest misconceptions about architectural outsourcing is that it is limited to basic drafting, when in reality, it can cover a much broader portion of the architectural production process.
1. Architectural Drafting Services
Architectural drafting is one of the most commonly outsourced services, with a remote architectural drafting team able to assist with floor plans, elevations, sections, details, reflected ceiling plans, schedules, drawing updates, redline incorporation, existing-condition drawings, as-built drawings, permit drawings and complete construction drawing packages. The objective is not to change the architect’s design intent, but to provide the production capacity needed to develop, document and deliver it.
2. AutoCAD Drafting Services
Many architecture and interior design firms still rely heavily on AutoCAD. Outsourced AutoCAD drafting services can support firms with drawing creation, revisions, redlines, plans, elevations, sections, details and complete documentation packages. This is particularly useful when a firm needs additional CAD production capacity but does not want to increase permanent staffing.
3. Revit Outsourcing Services
For firms working in Revit, outsourcing can provide additional resources for both modeling and documentation, including Revit model development, drawing production, sheet setup, plans, sections and elevations, family creation, model updates, as-built models, construction documentation and Design Development (DD) documentation. Lynx Professional Services uses both Revit and AutoCAD rather than positioning its architectural outsourcing services around a single software platform, with broader software capabilities that also include SketchUp, Archicad, Lumion, Twinmotion and 3ds Max.
4. BIM Modeling and BIM Production
BIM outsourcing services can provide architecture firms with additional resources for developing and maintaining building information models. Depending on the project, outsourced BIM support can include model development, BIM production, model updates, families, templates, drawing extraction and model coordination. BIM coordination can also assist teams in identifying conflicts between building systems earlier in the documentation process.
5. Construction Documentation
Construction Documentation (CD) is one of the areas where architecture firms can experience substantial workload pressure, particularly as projects move into documentation intensive stages. An outsourced architectural production team can assist with Construction Documents (CD), floor plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, drawing sheets, drawing revisions and permit documentation, allowing firms to increase their production resources when project demands require additional support.
6. Permit Drawing Support
Permit packages often require significant drafting and documentation time. An external architectural team can assist with preparing and updating the drawings required for a permit submission while the architecture firm remains responsible for local requirements, code decisions, professional review and submission.
7. As-Built Drawings and Existing Conditions
Existing buildings frequently require drawings or models to be recreated from surveys, field information, scans, PDFs or existing documentation. Architecture outsourcing teams can assist with PDF to CAD, CAD to Revit, existing condition drawings, as-built drawings, scan to BIM and existing condition Revit models.
8. 3D Modeling and Architectural Visualization
Architecture firms can also outsource visual production to support both project development and client presentations. Depending on the project requirements, this can include SketchUp and Revit modeling, exterior and interior modeling, concept massing, architectural rendering, and visualization using Lumion, Twinmotion and 3ds Max. These services can provide additional production capacity while helping firms develop clear visual material for design reviews, presentations and client communication.
Can Architecture Firms Outsource Different Project Stages?
Yes, Architectural outsourcing does not have to begin only when a project reaches construction documents. At Lynx Professional Services, our architectural production team can support projects through the major architectural stages:
Concept Design → Schematic Design (SD) → Design Development (DD) → Construction Documents (CD) → Permit Documentation → Drawing Revisions
This is important because it allows the same team to develop familiarity with the project as it progresses. Lynx's existing architecture outsourcing service describes support across Conceptual Design, SD, DD and CD.
Why Do Architecture Firms Outsource Architectural Production?
The reason is usually capacity. An architecture practice may have enough staff to manage its normal workload but suddenly have three projects enter Design Development (DD) or Construction Documentation (CD) at the same time. Hiring another permanent employee to manage a temporary production peak may not make sense.
Architectural outsourcing gives the practice another option by providing additional production capacity when it is needed. Additional architectural professionals can be assigned as workloads increase, helping firms manage overlapping project deadlines without placing excessive pressure on their existing staff. This also allows senior staff to remain focused on design, client communication and project management rather than becoming overwhelmed by production demands.
Principals, project architects and senior team members can spend more time on design direction, project decisions and client relationships while production work continues.
Scale resources around workload
Resources can increase as project demand increases rather than requiring permanent staffing for every workload peak. These are recurring reasons firms and outsourcing providers give for using external architectural production resources.
Architecture Outsourcing vs Hiring Another Employee
The two models solve different problems. Hiring can make sense when a firm has a permanent position and predictable long term workload. Architecture outsourcing can make sense when production demand changes between projects or when a firm needs access to additional drafting, Revit, AutoCAD or documentation capacity without immediately increasing permanent headcount.
It does not necessarily have to be one or the other. Many firms can maintain their core internal team while using outsourced architectural production resources when project workloads increase.
Project-Based Outsourcing or a Dedicated Remote Architecture Team?
There are two common approaches to architectural outsourcing.
Project based architectural outsourcing: A defined project or specific portion of a project is outsourced to an external team. This approach can work well for firms that need additional production capacity on an occasional or project by project basis.
Dedicated architectural production support: A dedicated architectural professional or team works repeatedly with the same firm across multiple projects. Over time, the team becomes familiar with the firm’s workflows, standards, software, documentation practices and expectations, including drawing standards, Revit templates, AutoCAD standards, sheet organization, graphic standards, project requirements, documentation preferences and internal workflows.
This is where outsourcing can move beyond simply sending work to an outside drafting company. The external team can begin functioning as an extension of the architecture firm’s production team, with a better understanding of how the firm works and how it expects projects to be documented.
How Does Lynx Professional Services Approach Architecture Outsourcing?
At Lynx, we believe architecture outsourcing should not mean repeatedly explaining your standards to a different person every time you have a project. Our approach is built around learning how your practice works, starting with an agreed portion of actual project work so your team can see how we work before increasing the level of support.
As we work together, our team becomes familiar with your drawing standards, templates, project requirements and preferred ways of working, allowing that knowledge to carry from one project to the next. When workloads increase, additional production resources can then be added without having to rebuild the working relationship from the beginning.
Start with a project, build a team and scale when you need it. Lynx Professional Services has more than 15 years of architectural experience and supports architecture and interior design firms across the USA and Canada using Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Archicad, Lumion, Twinmotion and 3ds Max. Our team also follows an internal quality review process before project delivery.
What Should You Look for in an Architecture Outsourcing Company?
Do not choose an architectural outsourcing provider based only on whether someone knows Revit or AutoCAD but rather look at how the company will actually work with your practice, consider:
Architectural production experience
Revit and AutoCAD capability
Construction documentation experience
Ability to work across SD, DD and CD
Quality-control procedures
Communication process
Ability to follow your standards
Ability to maintain a dedicated team
Experience with your project type
Ability to increase resources when workloads change
A good architecture outsourcing relationship should become easier over time because the external team is learning how your practice operates.
What Should Architecture Firms Keep In-House?
Outsourcing architectural production does not mean outsourcing responsibility for the project. The architecture firm should retain control over areas such as design intent, client communication, professional decisions, applicable local code and regulatory decisions, final review, approval and professional sign off where required. The outsourced team provides production support under the direction and standards established by the architecture practice, that distinction is important.
Why Architecture Firms Choose Lynx Professional Services
Lynx Professional Services brings 15+ years of architectural experience supporting architecture and interior design firms. Our architectural production team works across Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Archicad, Lumion, Twinmotion and 3ds Max, supporting projects from Concept Design through SD, DD and Construction Documentation. We work with architecture firms across the USA and Canada, following client specific standards, templates and project requirements, with an internal quality review process before delivery.
Architecture Outsourcing FAQs
What is architecture outsourcing?
Architecture outsourcing is the use of an external architectural production team to support tasks such as CAD drafting, Revit modeling, BIM production, construction documentation, permit drawings, as-built drawings and 3D modeling while the architecture firm maintains control of the project.
What architectural services can be outsourced?
Architecture firms can outsource architectural drafting, AutoCAD drafting, Revit modeling, BIM production, construction documents, Design Development drawings, permit documentation, as-built drawings, 3D modeling and architectural visualization.
Can I outsource architectural drafting?
Yes. Architectural drafting is one of the most commonly outsourced architectural services. External drafting teams can assist with floor plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules, redlines, drawing updates and documentation packages.
Can an architecture firm outsource Revit work?
Yes. Revit outsourcing can include model development, drawing production, families, model updates, documentation, as-built modeling and project production support.
Can AutoCAD drafting be outsourced?
Yes. Architecture firms can outsource AutoCAD drafting for plans, elevations, sections, details, drawing revisions, permit documentation and construction documents.
What is BIM outsourcing?
BIM outsourcing involves using an external team to assist with building information modeling, model development, documentation, model updates and BIM production or coordination.
Can construction documents be outsourced?
Yes. An external architectural production team can support the development of Construction Documents while the architecture firm maintains design control, professional review and final responsibility.
Can an outsourced architecture team follow our standards?
Yes. A dedicated team can work with a firm's templates, drawing standards, file structures and documentation requirements. This is particularly valuable in longer-term outsourcing relationships.
Is architecture outsourcing only for large architecture firms?
No. Small practices, growing studios and larger architecture firms can all use outsourced production support. The amount of support can range from one project or task to an ongoing dedicated production team.
What software can be used for architecture outsourcing?
Depending on the provider and project, common platforms include Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Archicad, Lumion, Twinmotion and 3ds Max.
How do I start outsourcing architectural work?
Begin with a clearly defined project or portion of a project. Provide the relevant drawings, templates, standards and project requirements. This allows the outsourced team to understand how your practice works before support is expanded.
Need Additional Architectural Production Capacity?
Whether you need help with a single project or want to build a dedicated remote architectural production team, Lynx Professional Services can support your practice with architectural drafting, AutoCAD, Revit, BIM, Design Development, Construction Documents, permit documentation, 3D modeling and visualization. Start with a project, build a team and scale when you need it.
