Talent is national; codes and contractors are local. Choose the blend intentionally.
Local advantages
Jurisdiction fluency, contractor relationships, easy site visits, faster issue resolution.
Remote / specialty advantages
Rare expertise, distinctive design voice, capacity when locals are booked.
Hybrid models
Design lead elsewhere with local architect-of-record or executive architect arrangements — clarify stamps and liability.
Decision criteria
- How site-intensive is the work?
- How quirky is the jurisdiction?
- How often will you need site presence?
- Is the aesthetic specialty worth coordination cost?