If you are wondering why you can't seem to find an industry standard for establishing an architect's fee, it's because there isn't one (you're not crazy!). In fact, almost 30 years ago, because of a consent decree with the US Justice Department, the American Institute of Architects agreed not to adopt policies of offering fee recommendations to architecture firms. This means architects must act on their own, or consult with other firms, while deciding a project's fee.
