Website redesign for an architecture firm in Boston: budget, timeline and risks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

A Boston architecture firm whose site still hides its best work behind slow galleries and outdated project pages can expect a redesign budget of roughly USD 15,000 to 70,000 with local studios, or USD 4,900 to 8,900 on the Kolonell fixed grid. The real risk is losing the project pages that already rank, so a URL inventory and a 301 redirect map come before any design work. Plan 3 to 4 weeks of build once project texts, credits and client permissions are ready, and keep the BIM extranet and client portals on quote.

Is it time to redesign?

These signals come up again and again with practices in Back Bay, the Seaport or Cambridge:

• Project pages take several seconds to load on a phone because images are uploaded as full-size JPEGs.
• The portfolio no longer reflects the work you want to win (institutional, residential or lab projects) and cannot be filtered by sector.
• Team bios use titles loosely: "architect" is a protected title in Massachusetts, licensed by the Board of Registration of Architects, and should appear only for people who hold it. AIA membership is shown only where the firm or person is entitled to it.
• Recruitment depends on a PDF job ad instead of a careers page that candidates can find.
• Nobody on staff can update a project without calling the original developer.
• An accessibility review has never been done, while ADA Title III website suits are frequent in the US.

What does a redesign cost in Boston?

2026 ballpark, from typical agency quotes and public studio rate pages:

Kolonell tiers include a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. Maintenance afterwards is on quote. Compare the scope on the international offer page before comparing prices.

What does the timeline look like, phase by phase?

The firm's preparation is usually the longest phase. Start it while you collect quotes.

Which risks matter most, and how do you contain them?

• Losing ranked project pages. Export every URL, note which pages bring visits in Search Console, and map each one to its new address with a 301 redirect. Check the redirects the day of go-live and again after two weeks.
• Image weight. Portfolio pages are heavy by nature. Convert to WebP or AVIF, set sizes per template and lazy-load below the fold.
• Credits and permissions. Each project needs the client's agreement to publication, photographer credits and partner firm credits. Missing permissions delay the migration more than any technical issue.
• Unverified claims. Awards, competitions and press mentions appear only if real and supplied by the firm. Planning and permit processes are described in general terms.
• Broken links to the extranet. If clients reach a BIM extranet or project portal from the site, list each link and test it. The extranet itself stays on quote.
• Downtime. Switch DNS on a quiet day, keep the old site available on a staging address for one week.

A partner should review all marketing text before go-live.

What stays on quote, and what should you ask?

On quote: BIM or project extranet, client portals, CRM and recruitment software integrations, custom applications and SEO work beyond the migration.

Questions to ask any provider:

• Who builds the 301 map, and is it in the price?
• How are project images optimised, and what page weight do you target?
• Can our team add a project without help, and how long does it take?
• Who owns the domain, hosting and analytics accounts?
• What is included after go-live, and for how long?

When is a local agency the better choice?

Choose a Boston studio if you need a full identity rebrand with in-person workshops, art-directed photo shoots on your sites, or a procurement process that requires a local vendor. A remote studio fits best when the brand is settled and the priority is a fast, well-structured portfolio.

Mini case study

Illustrative example. "Fenwick Lane Studio" is a fictional Back Bay practice whose principals are registered architects. Its site has 40 project pages, 12 of which bring regular visits.

Preparation: 40 pages × 45 minutes of text and credit checks = 30 hours of internal time. Images: 40 projects × 20 images at about 2.5 MB each is roughly 2 GB; converted to WebP at around 300 KB, that falls to about 240 MB. The firm picks Growth at USD 4,900, with the extranet link kept as is and no rebuild. All 40 old URLs get a 301 redirect, with the 12 ranked pages checked first.

The rules on the architect title and on accessibility mentioned here are described in general terms. This is not legal advice.

FAQ

How long does an architecture firm redesign take?

Count 2 to 4 weeks of preparation by the firm, then 3 to 4 weeks of Kolonell build. Local agencies usually plan 8 to 20 weeks end to end.

Will we lose search traffic on our project pages?

Not if every URL gets a 301 redirect and Search Console is updated on day one. Check the redirects again after 2 weeks.

Can we show awards and competitions?

Yes, if they are real and you supply the details. Kolonell writes no award, project or press mention the firm has not provided.

Is the BIM extranet included in the Growth tier at USD 4,900?

No, the site links to it and the extranet stays on quote. Rebuilding an extranet inside a fixed-grid site is not part of any tier.

Which tier suits a portfolio of 40 projects?

Growth at USD 4,900 usually fits, with Premium at USD 8,900 if you want advanced animation or more than one language.

Let's scope your project. Send your current URL list and the number of projects to migrate, and we will confirm the tier, from USD 4,900 to 8,900, and a 3 to 4 week build plan. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.