SPRING! ?? For all of us in the continental United States we have endured the most unusual winter if not the most anomalous winter in a long time. Our SARA members and friends in the Northeast and East coast as far south as Florida had lost of snow and many of the great rivers of the Midwest are rising and Spring is not official until March 20th? Here on the west coast we have had more storms and rain than normal, and are still well below the state water storage capacity.
As you read in the January – February issue of SARAScope your Society has been very busy helping with Haitian earthquake relief and sponsoring the Shelter Box program. Michael Griffith will provide an article later in this publication. We are also looking into the possibility of SARA members becoming trained ShelterBox Response Team certified. I can think of no individuals better suited than Architects, helping with emergency disaster shelter programs. It would be an outstanding service that our entire membership could support. There will be more information available in the near future on this subject.
I must mention that SARA’s recognition of ShelterBoxUSA was introduced to us by our Regent – at – Large John Di Benedetto, FARA and his local Philadelphia Rotary Club. A special acknowledgment of the SARA Executive board, the SARA Pennsylvania Council and a few generous members of the SARA New York Council, our Executive Director, Cathie Moscato, and immediate Past President, Mr. Michael Griffith, FARA, who personally collected funds from many sources and on very short notice, was able to travel to Sarasota, Florida and personally deliver our financial contributions to the Founder of ShelterBox International, Mr. Tom Henderson. The decisions and fast actions by all parties mentioned above represent your Society of American Registered Architect at it’s best.
Now let’s address some SARA Philosophy mentioned in the January – February 2010 issue of this publication.
Evaluate and perpetuate professionalism in today’s construction practices.
We know this postulate was developed in the late 1950’s by our founder Wilfred J. Gregson and a group of forward thinking people.
It is apparent from most of the contemporary articles I get a chance to read and observing videos and or hearing architects speaking about their current completed projects, that no one in the whole construction process is totally pleased with the process. The outcome or final, “building” may be a beautiful “Award winner” but the Architect usually feels that someone, usually the Contractor has defiled his intent. I choose my words carefully. Then depending on the Owner, who ever that might be, private or public “Governmental” the end user did not get what the Architect originally created or intended.
Most construction projects that take place today seem to be very stressful for our profession and our prime consultants’ right from the start of Construction Documents. There is the potential in private and “Design Build” projects to have a selected Contractor involved with the Design Development phase of the project. Sometimes the analysis of major systems such as Structural and or Mechanical (HVAC) are value engineered or alternate systems may be recommended that may lower the total construction cost of the building, and in the final review may not be the most energy conservation system or best choice for long term maintenance of the building.
I am sure all architects have their favorite example of the less than optimum final solution that injured their building brought about by other players in the process.
Returning to the philosophy of: Evaluate and perpetuate professionalism in today’s construction practices how can we as Architects influence the process? Is the process a give and take? What does that mean for Architects whose goal is to maintain the integrity of their design? What do you give and what do you take from the design process to help the contractor meet the physical constraints of the project within the owner’s budget for construction? We are expert at give and take during the design process while creating place and function while meeting building code requirements but during the construction process when the contractor takes the reins we feel shut out of the process?
Well I am going to suggest that we as the Architect always present ourselves in a professional manor. That would include the architect’s and professional staff’s personal appearance, and always promote a positive attitude. We find it interesting how all the different participants we have contact with during the process of a project, whether it be approval (Governmental), Contractor, Sub Contractors, or Construction Managers and sometimes Owner, each individual group has a different personality and perspective yet professionalism can still be attained.
I would like to suggest that if we as the Architect always try to present ourselves in a positive professional manner and our work product stands up to the proper “industry standard of care” you will find that professionalism may return to your construction process. “Try it!, You’ll like it” Professionalism not elitism will help bridge the gap between architect and the process participants.
Paramount in tough economic times is not to sacrifice design intent or program, or lose sight of our professional obligations in an attempt to meet a budget and or get the job. I recall talking to a good architect friend of mine who worked for a highly respected firm in Texas that had the opportunity to provide architecture services for Gerald Hines all over the United States and abroad. My friend commented that he recalled Mr. Hines stating that “he did not mind paying for good design or hiring well known design architects. His company got it back many fold from his tenants, people (the users) wanting to be in his buildings.” By perpetuating professionalism all through the construction process, our design can fulfill the client’s goals.
We welcome your comments and ideas on all subjects relative to our profession, please contact me at the email address listed in this publication.
John M. Maple, FARA President
Message in Mar/Apr SARAScope
Read earlier President's Messages in SARAScopes archives.
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