AIA Contract Series · ARE 5.0 Exam Prep
AIA B101 explained for ARE 5.0
A plain-language breakdown of the Owner-Architect Agreement — what it covers, how services are structured, and why it matters for your exam.
What is AIA B101?
The AIA B101 — formally titled Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect — is the contract that defines the relationship between the architect and the owner. It establishes the architect’s scope of services, compensation, and responsibilities from the beginning of a project through construction completion.
While A201 is the rulebook for construction, B101 is the architect’s employment contract. It defines what the architect is hired to do, how much they will be paid, and what happens if things go wrong. The 2017 edition is the version tested on the ARE 5.0.
Why B101 appears on PcM and PjM
B101 is most heavily tested on Practice Management and Project Management because it directly governs the business and professional side of architecture. Here is how each division connects to it:
PcM
Practice Management
Covers the architect’s standard of care, liability, insurance requirements, ownership of instruments of service, and how a firm structures its agreements with clients.
PjM
Project Management
Defines the five phases of basic services, additional services, the architect’s responsibilities during each phase, and how scope changes affect compensation.
The five phases of basic services
B101 organizes the architect’s basic services into five phases. These are heavily tested on the ARE:
Phase 1
Schematic design (SD)
The architect develops initial design concepts, prepares schematic drawings, and provides a preliminary cost estimate. The owner must approve SD documents before the architect proceeds.
Phase 2
Design development (DD)
The architect refines the design, coordinates with consultants, and develops the project in greater detail including systems, materials, and assemblies.
Phase 3
Construction documents (CD)
The architect prepares complete drawings and specifications for bidding and construction. These become part of the contract documents.
Phase 4
Procurement / bidding
The architect assists the owner in obtaining bids, answers questions from bidders, and issues addenda. The architect helps evaluate bids but the owner makes the final selection.
Phase 5
Construction administration (CA)
The architect visits the site, reviews submittals, responds to RFIs, certifies payments, and issues the certificate of substantial completion. The architect acts as the owner’s representative but does not control the contractor’s means and methods.
Key concepts to know for the exam
Instruments of service
Who owns the drawings?
The architect retains ownership of all instruments of service (drawings, specs, models) even after the owner pays for them. The owner receives a license to use them for the specific project only.
Standard of care
What standard is the architect held to?
The architect must perform services consistent with the professional skill and care ordinarily provided by architects in the same community under similar circumstances. B101 does not require perfection — only reasonable professional care.
Additional services
What falls outside basic services?
Services beyond the five basic phases — such as programming, post-occupancy evaluation, furniture selection, or extensive revisions due to owner changes — are additional services and require separate compensation.
Compensation
How is the architect paid?
B101 allows several compensation methods: stipulated sum, percentage of construction cost, or hourly rate. The method is agreed upon in the contract. Reimbursable expenses (printing, travel, consultants) are billed separately.
Common exam traps
- The architect owns the instruments of service — not the owner, even after full payment.
- The architect does not guarantee the contractor’s work or the accuracy of cost estimates.
- Additional services must be authorized in writing by the owner before the architect proceeds.
- The architect’s site visits are periodic — not continuous inspection. This is a key liability distinction.
- B101 incorporates A201 by reference for construction administration — understanding both together is essential.
Exam tip
When an ARE question asks about the architect’s obligations to the owner, check whether it involves basic services (covered by B101) or construction administration conduct (governed by A201). Many questions test whether candidates understand where one document ends and the other begins.
How B101 relates to other AIA contracts
B101 works alongside A101 (Owner-Contractor Agreement) and A201 (General Conditions). Together these three documents form the core of the AIA contract system. B101 references A201 directly — meaning the architect’s construction administration duties described in B101 are governed by the rules set out in A201. Understanding how these documents interact is one of the most important skills tested across PcM, PjM, and CE.