The verdict in three sentences
In Sandton, an architecture firm website redesign serves two audiences: clients (corporate headquarters, high-end residential developers, mixed-use schemes) and the talent the practice wants to attract. Kolonell charges USD 4,900 for Growth and USD 8,900 for Premium, against roughly ZAR 90,000 to 250,000 (about USD 5,000 to 13,900) at a boutique agency in Sandton or Rosebank, 2026 ballpark. The most underestimated risk is the careers page: badly built, it collects CVs with no POPIA framework and puts graduates off.
When does a redesign become a priority?
Three situations keep coming up in Sandton practices. First, the portfolio predates the firm's move into timber construction, low-carbon design or retrofit, and the site still tells the old story. Second, applications arrive at a generic email address with no dedicated page, and every vacancy is posted somewhere other than the website. Third, project pages load slowly on mobile and have not been refreshed for several seasons.
A practice's website is no longer just a sales window. For a graduate architect or an architectural technologist weighing several Johannesburg employers, it is often the first impression of the studio.
What budget should you plan in Sandton in 2026?
Ranges based on typical quotes from Johannesburg agencies and freelancers, 2026 ballpark, converted at roughly ZAR 18 to USD 1.
| Provider | Full redesign | Timeline | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg freelancer | ZAR 25,000 to 70,000 (about USD 1,400 to 3,900) | 5 to 10 weeks | Low cost | No structured SEO follow-up |
| Sandton or Rosebank boutique agency | ZAR 90,000 to 250,000 (about USD 5,000 to 13,900) | 8 to 16 weeks | On-site workshops | Busy schedule |
| Corporate agency | ZAR 250,000 to 600,000 (about USD 13,900 to 33,300) | 12 to 24 weeks | Large integrations | High ticket |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Fixed price | Short portfolio |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Projects, careers, blog | Integrations on quote |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | More content to prepare |
Every tier of Kolonell's international offer includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, and 3 months of support. On quote: applicant tracking system, BIM viewer, project extranet, client portal, tender document room and CRM. They are linked or embedded, never rebuilt inside a fixed-price site.
What should the careers section of the new site contain?
An employer brand is built on facts the practice can prove. No growth figure, ranking or award should appear unless it is real and supplied by the firm.
| Page | Useful content | Avoid | Suggested tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio culture | Way of working, tools, research on timber and retrofit | Superlatives, vague promises | Growth |
| Open roles | Title, duties, profile, location, working pattern | A professional title the role does not hold | Growth |
| Graduates | Onboarding path, mentoring, software | Invented hiring numbers | Growth |
| Internships | Periods, length, how to apply | Promise of a job | Growth |
| Application form | Name, contact, role, portfolio link | ID documents, sensitive data | Growth, secure upload on quote |
| Team | Real roles and titles (SACAP registration by category) | The title architect for someone not registered | Starter or above |
CVs are personal information under POPIA, overseen by the Information Regulator: a stated retention period, restricted access and a secure upload channel. Any employment equity wording is approved by your HR lead. This is not legal advice.
Which risks should you watch over the 4 weeks?
The typical schedule: week 1, URL inventory and sitemap; week 2, project and careers templates; week 3, portfolio migration, credits and compliance review; week 4, go-live and 301 redirects, followed by 6 weeks of Search Console monitoring.
- Project pages that already rank. Every old address gets a targeted 301 redirect, never a blanket redirect to the homepage.
- Sustainability ratings. A Green Star or equivalent rating appears only if the practice achieved it and can document it.
- Permissions and credits. Written client permission and photographer credit for every project, private residences without an address.
- Municipal processes. Building plan approval and heritage processes are described in general terms, never as advice.
- Downtime. DNS switch scheduled on a Tuesday morning, old version kept ready for 72 hours.
- Heavy images. Photos in WebP or AVIF, several widths, lazy loading.
Before signing, ask four questions: who writes the careers copy, who owns the redirect map, in whose name are the domain and hosting registered, and how are new vacancies billed after the 3 months of support?
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A local agency remains preferable if you want a studio video shot on site, a custom-built recruitment system or weekly in-person workshops in Sandton.
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Thabo runs Umthi Studio, a Sandton practice focused on timber construction, low-carbon design and office retrofit. The old site has 30 project pages and no careers page; three roles are open (two technologists, one intern).
Budget: Growth at USD 4,900, plus an independent photographer (third-party cost) for a half day of team portraits, about ZAR 15,000 (roughly USD 830). Total of about USD 5,730, against a hypothetical local quote of ZAR 220,000 (about USD 12,200).
On time: the office manager spent about 2 hours a week answering the same candidate questions. A careers FAQ and a structured form could free up to 96 hours a year (2 hours over 48 weeks), an estimate to check after 6 months.
FAQ
How much does a careers page cost in a redesign?
It is part of the Growth tier at USD 4,900, with vacancy, internship and culture pages. Connecting an applicant tracking system stays on quote.
Can we post vacancies without a developer?
Yes: a vacancy template takes 10 to 15 minutes to fill in from the admin panel. The project manager trains someone on your team during the 3 months of support.
How long does it take to migrate 30 projects?
Allow 1 week within Kolonell's 3 to 4 week schedule, if copy and permissions are ready. Without client permissions, plan 2 extra weeks on the practice's side.
Should the old site stay online during the redesign?
Yes, until the switch. The new version is built on staging and the old one stays available for 72 hours after go-live.
Is a Sandton agency the safer choice?
Not necessarily: a boutique agency often charges ZAR 90,000 to 250,000 for a comparable scope. It is preferable if you need filming or on-site workshops.
Let's scope your project. A Sandton redesign with portfolio and careers section, USD 4,900 to 8,900, live in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
