5 Must-Have Features on an Architect's Website

A strong website design gives you a competitive advantage that'll help potential clients discover your architecture business and give them an easy way to explore your services. When you put your value proposition and brand identity at the forefront of your website design, it can also help you build your firm’s brand.

There are five core items every architecture website should have. To help you create the best website for your architectural studio or design company, ensure your website has: 

1. A design that reflects your personal style and brand

2. An email marketing sign-up form

3. Your portfolio page

4. A scheduling tool 

5. Custom client intake forms

1. A template designed for your needs 

Templates are a great starting point to inspire your website design, so it’s important to choose one that meets the needs and style of your architectural work. You can build your site faster if the layout you choose fits the goal of your website. 

For example, if your goal is to get more clients, put some of your architectural or interior design projects front and center with a layout designed to show off your images. 

All Squarespace templates are fully customizable, from fonts and colors to included pages, so go with one that has a layout that appeals to you. After you’ve decided on the right template for your architect website design, you can customize it by adding any pages you need or tailoring it to your branding. 

You can even build your own template using Squarespace Blueprint. You’ll answer a few questions about your needs and get the pages and design customizations you need from the very start. 

Learn about when to use a template vs. Squarespace Blueprint

2. Email sign-up field 

Email sign-ups are a key part of any website for architects because they’re a part of your marketing strategy. Building an email list with email sign-ups helps you stay in contact with people who are excited to hear updates from you. They’re also a valuable resource to maintain contact with new and existing clients.  

Add a pop-up or a section on your homepage to sign up for your newsletter so anyone can ‌opt in. You can use the list to share recent projects, updates, and promotions like referral discounts.

As you build an email list, you can start to segment the contacts into different groups based on specific traits so you can strategically deliver valuable content to the right audiences. For example, you may want to share completed projects and client testimonials only with potential clients and share major updates and promotions only with past or existing clients.

3. Portfolio page

Your portfolio page is like your resume. It’s necessary for any architect’s website design because it showcases your work and tells your story to customers and potential clients. Including a portfolio page in your architecture website’s design is a great way to show off past projects, highlight your specialties, and demonstrate what customers can expect when working with you. 

Highlight client testimonials, photo galleries, and case studies, so your customers can see how you work and decide if you’re a good fit for them. You can also use detail pages for individual projects to share more in depth information about the client, the project goals, and how you achieved the finished product.

See seven portfolio website examples

4. A scheduling tool

We recommend adding a scheduling tool to your architecture firm’s website. A scheduling tool is a two-fold resource that supports both you and your customers. 

With scheduling built into your architecture firm’s website potential clients can self-schedule a consultation with you. You can set your availability, incorporate intake forms, and embed it into your website. 

By offering consultations and one-on-one meetings, clients can get a feel for what working with you is like before paying for any services.  That’ll give customers the opportunity to ask questions and focus on their specific needs. 

A scheduling tool can also save you time by automating appointment confirmations and reminders. That convenience also empowers customers by giving them the freedom to choose meetings and reschedule on their own. 

Learn how to save time with Acuity Scheduling

5. Custom intake forms

Custom intake forms built into your website will help you gather valuable insights from the customer. Whether you make them part of your consultation booking process or require an intake form before any consultation, a thorough form will help you understand whether a potential client is the right fit for you or your design firm.

Decide what you want to get out of your intake form. You might use your form to:

• Prepare for client meetings: Open-ended questions, like “Tell us more about why you’re reaching out,” will help you get more context ahead of your initial consultation.

• Rule out clients: Specific questions, like questions about timeline or budget, can help you decide whether a client is the right fit for you.

• Better understand potential clients: Multiple-choice questions can help you get a better picture of who your website is reaching and what makes your work appealing to them. If this is your goal, you can ask questions about how someone discovered you and what industry they’re in.

Including a form in your architect website design can save time for both your business and a potential client. 

Learn about adding forms to your site