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I mostly do residential design now, as I make better money, but I've managed to create relationships with a few builders and working like a team is very beneficial. We do both large and small projects. We'll add a screen porch to a house or we'll build a new 5,000sf house and I model everything using BIM. The smaller the project, the more I tend to make. Simple projects still require the same drawings at the permit office, so the client pays a minimum set up charge and I'm doing less work. I think the adversarial relationships we've managed to create with others in the industry in the traditional way we find work can corner us, increase potential lawsuits, and create unnecessary animosity and distress for the client. My builders bring me unique speculative projects and we work together like a Design-Build team, though we are technically separate entities. Even when they bring me a project for an end user, I work directly with the homeowner on the design and my contracts are with the owner, but my relationship with builder is still like a teammate. Because we know how each other works and we understand what it takes to come in on budget, I work with the builder to make sure my design goals are going to work with their resources and abilities. We problem solve together before alerting the client. We make each other look good in the eyes of the client when they don't have to see the ugliness of the construction process. Making buildings is like making sausage. As long as you don't pay too much attention to what it looks like while being made, the end result seems much better. We help our clients avoid seeing the hog anus going into the work by killing the problems before they become problems. A good builder doesn't want to deliberately cause a problem that they will have to come back and fix and they appreciate you not tattling on them to the owner when you can help them fix it before it's too late. Our first reaction isn't the blame game, it's all about the team. All too often we have an adversarial relationship with the contractors and we're not working together toward a common goal. In the traditional scenario, we don't know who the builder will be when designing the building, so we don't understand their strengths and weaknesses. We don't understand which products and processes are going to be more successful and keep costs in line. Most lawsuits result from angry clients that aren't pleased with an end result and everyone starts pointing fingers. When you have a happy builder bringing the work to you because they like the way you help them build a better product for a lower price, everyone's attitude changes. At the end of the day a good builder will want you to make them look good and visa versa. Because of this type of Design-Build mentality without the Design-Build business arrangement, we can take advantage of collaboration without the extra liability. I prefer my work to come to me through builders I already know. I spend less time chasing the work and get more work built since I know what it takes for that builder to implement my ideas for a price the owner can afford. Clearly, there is a very unhealthy atmosphere in the industry that isn't benefitting us or our clients. If we don't learn to evolve, we will be naturally selected. In my area of the business, this scenario has been working much better for me. I'm sure other Architects have begun to find other ways of getting their buildings on the ground with less stress too. ------------------------------------------- Eric Rawlings AIA Owner Rawlings Design, Inc. Decatur GA -------------------------------------------
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-09-2012 10:21
From: Robert Carlson
Subject: Bypassing Architects? Confronting Change in the Information Age
I realize in an industry that needs work this is going to sound bad but who wants to do the little projects. If the Owner has a budget of $10,000 can you actually do "design" for a reasonable fee and cover costs?
We constantly have people call and ask if we would please help them out. They have to upgrade their restroom to meet ADA and the city says they need sealed drawings. Some architect needs to suck it up and do it - we helped write the requirement but we lose money on each one by the time you do enough drawings to comfortably seal them.
Who about the franchises that have a pre-designed store that has been carefully detailed out as part of their mark. They need a set of sealed drawings for a permit and that is not part of thier franchise agreement and of course the design does not quite fit the existing space so you have to redesign it to fit then fight with the owner who thinks you are padding the hours to rip them off and the franchise designer who is protecting their mark. Who signs and seals those drawings - an engineer? Based on these conversations that is the only answer becuase a "professional" would not.
The standard large student apartment building in Iowa City are designed by a structural engineer and city staff loves them because they do the pretties that the city wants. People want to know why there are white PVC pipes on the street face of the building - its the engineering solution for downspouts. Most of the architects just want to high design and the builder just want a building to stuff students into. Is this right?
Where does BIM fit into the all this? Will BIM make the restroom drawings better or take less time? The industry - architects and engineers need to take a long look at who we are? If we don't want to do the little projects then who will and who decides where the line it?
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Robert Carlson AIA
Principal
Carlson Design Team PC
Iowa City IA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-08-2012 07:43
From: Rand Soellner
Subject: Bypassing Architects? Confronting Change in the Information Age
Hello Erin & Caleb,
Unfortunately for the wayward souls who actually try to do this, they will, at some point, discover that architecture is much more technical than just drawing "the plan," which is what most people think architecture is.
During their renovations, they will discover that the weird smell coming from their basement is mold, caused by an initial cheap "dampproofing" job rather than using the quality waterproofing that the architect would have specified. And the roof caving in on their heads is due to the wall they moved "to make more room" without consulting either an architect or a structural engineer. And the heat-stopping shock they got when they reached out their new window to touch that mysterious pipe contained the overhead service entry power cables for their meterbase, which is now too close to the new window, because they didn't consult an architect, who would have realized THAT EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED.
"Quick fix" things like such mass-market software generate overly simplistic attitudes, along with watching HGTV and DIY, that give people the irrational exuberance that implies that all they have to do is "use a computer program" to Become an architect! Hardly. There is a reason we go to universities for anywhere from 5 to 8 years, have decades of experience dealing with real-world issues (like the above) under the stern supervision of more experience professionals, have to pass grueling licensing exams, apply for and maintain professional licenses and take CEUs every year. And this is getting even more connected and more detailed, every year, with new energy efficiency standards, fire regulations, clean air considerations and other issues.
And wait until the laypersons using such software try to create elevations or building sections of their "plan." all of a sudden, what they thought was so easy becomes just about impossible, because they do not have the training to visualize in 3D.
The AIA needs to launch a campaign to educate the public about what we do, especially as licensed residential architects. That would be the best possible information to help people realize that architects are available to help them, no matter what their project size and budget. We are a creative and technical resource to improve their lives and homes. Come and get it!
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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Rand Soellner Architect
Cashiers NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-07-2012 11:29
From: Caleb Morrow
Subject: Bypassing Architects? Confronting Change in the Information Age
Erin,
This is a very interesting article and a great read. The article leads me to two important questions that I would like to propose answers for discussion: 1) Would it be relevant for a real architect to engage with clients who have come up with their own design a simply quality control, sturctural, code check on the plans submitted; similar to legal zoom? 2) Why are more and more people using their own technology as oppossed to engaging an Architect on smaller projects?
My thoughts on the first question is that as a business model this could be very viable for small scale project, up to $30k in construction budget for example. Fees could be simple flat fee for review and recommended changes that the customer/client would have to go back to fix and then resubmit for new approval. To shield the design firms brand and reputation this company should utilize a different title, dba, etc.
The reason why I think this could be a buisness model for an Architect to consider and is an answer to the second question. Society today is built around individual customization. For example think of the following: Starbucks, Roll-Your-Own, Burger King - Have It Your Way, online customization and tailoring of clothes & shoes, personalized cable & internet packages, your own iPhone playlists, and Pandora Radio Station. All of these things are just an example of how people can customize the world around them. If a person doesnt like what they hear on MSNBC they can go to CNN, FOX News, or online blogs. If they dont like the shade of purple on their walls they can go to Lowes/Home Depot and get the color exactly right to their taste and their specifications. In other words, people want to have direct and simple input into the conditions of their world, in my mind this extends to their home enviroment. Direct and Simple input means that clients want to give input and opinions without feeling dumb or stupid for asking such a silly style question. Also, many people cannot afford to fully enlist a design professional for smaller remodeling or addition projects. Therefore for a family who may only have $30,000 to remodel a master suite they are trading an Architect & Interior Designer's fees for better materials, finishes, and FF&E. Lastly, people do not want to be told what to like and want their opinions validated. As a result it is my opinion that these customers are seeking to self design as a way of giving themselves a custom enviroment in a less expensive manner while feeling a sense of accomplishment for doing a project. As we know these impressions are completely and grossly incorrect of many Architects but nonethless is a perception that the profession must address.
I know my points may be off but ask for kind responses as I am not an Architect but work with and service many of them. Thanks again for the great article and I hope my comments help further the discussion.
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Caleb Morrow
Director of Sales & Marketing
ArchitTrek
Baton Rouge LA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-07-2012 10:30
From: Erin Raff
Subject: Bypassing Architects? Confronting Change in the Information Age
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Technology in Architectural Practice .
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This article originally appeared in COLUMNS magazine, a publication of AIA Pittsburgh. This is a Viewpoint article by our chapter president, Mark Dietrick, AIA...
Several weeks ago, the New York Times published an article that highlighted computer programs that can help owners bypass architects and questioned the wisdom of such an approach. While our first reaction as architects to this concept and many of the ideas represented in the article is likely absolute abhorrence - architecture is a process that only trained architects may orchestrate - I have spent the last couple of weeks pondering what we can learn from this story and generally what it might mean to be an architect in the information age that is radically transforming our world.....
Read the rest of the article here.
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Erin Raff
AIA Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
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