Is an Architect needed for bathroom reno in coop?

Is it already ADA compliant?

No. It can be with its size. That why no layout changes.

I am not sure that you can pull permits without making the bathroom ADA compliant. Obviously I could be wrong but I thought that the permitting process was the stopgap to ensure that all bathroom renovations where a ADA compliant. I would think that you would have to do the job without pulling permits (similar to a discussion we had here recently regarding gas lines).

I guess one can just retile it for DOB purposes. Thank you.

Primer05 probably has a better answer than I do, though.

My understanding is if you don't change the layout, just retile and swap fixtures, you do not need DOB permit. However, most co-ops would like to know the exact scope of work and make you replace branch lines whenever a fixture is changed. If so perhaps the plumber would need to pull an LAA permit, which should be granted within 1-2 days if the building has no outstanding violations. Some co-op would require drawings regardless of what you do. In that case, perhaps pay a small flat fee to a designer/architect for a detailed drawing/rendering. Good luck!

Thank you Tribby.

However, once you open up the walls, won't a lot of co-ops require you to replace existing Plumbing back to the risers? And there really isn't any retiling without opening up the walls: scraping off the existing tiles and not replacing the existing substrate is a recipe for disaster.

Agree. My question was more related to DOB filing.

Most of the bathroom renovations do not require an architect or dept of building permits. The plumber should pull an LAA permit which takes a day or two.

Some buildings will not even require the LAA but some do

Thank you.

My ex-husband is an engineer. Note that many (most really, I'm trying to be nice) engineers look down upon architects. Why? Because they are all about being pretty and not about where the pipes are, etc.

With that in mind, I would first ask your coop board. I think that's obvious but doesn't seem to have been mentioned. Ultimately, if it was my property, I would hire an engineer (NOT an architect who will/should consult an engineer anyway) to ensure your desired config doesn't dork with the current set up or, if it does, will ensure any changes are copacetic.

In practice, your co-op board or management agency will tell you whether or not they expect you to hire one. If you do need an architect, please consider my firm: http://www.manhatta.net/