1. AIA Document B101™-2017, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect.
Article 5, Owner’s Responsibilities, Section 5.4: "The Owner shall furnish surveys to describe physical characteristics, legal limitations and utility locations for the site of the Project..." This clause establishes that providing site information, including updated plans prepared by a civil engineer, is the owner's responsibility, not the architect's.
Article 4, Supplemental and Additional Services, Section 4.1.1.5: Civil engineering is explicitly listed as a Supplemental Service that is not part of the Architect's Basic Services unless specifically designated.
2. The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, 15th Edition. Wiley, 2013.
Chapter 9.2, "Owner-Architect Agreements," page 368: Discusses the owner's responsibilities, stating, "The owner is responsible for providing the architect with the program, site information, and a budget for the cost of the work... The owner is also required to provide a variety of services that may include surveying, geotechnical engineering, and testing and inspection services." This reinforces that the client, not the architect, is responsible for procuring site-related engineering.
3. Demkin, J. A. (Ed.). (2008). The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, 14th Edition. Wiley.
Chapter 11.3, "Managing Project Risks," page 488: "The architect should advise the owner of the need for consultants... The owner should contract directly with these consultants." This guidance emphasizes the architect's role as an advisor and the importance of maintaining clear contractual lines where the owner engages site-specific experts directly.