| In your June 1990 editorial, you predict
that the 1990s will see a leaner firm that depends
heavily on CADD. I believe that the leaner firms will
depend heavily on the manipulation and procession of
information aided by computer. This includes CADD, but
also includes expert systems for specifications,
materials research, building-code analysis, and other
construction-related applications. The leaner
architectural practice will further demand that
principals and staff be proficient in these emerging
technologies. On result of the technologies is that the levels of service and professionalism demanded of architects by the marketplace will increase. I believe that our services to the public will need to become more comprehensive, considering a clients needs from inception through construction, and then continuing to facilities management. You predict that the economies of the medium-sized firms will become increasingly unstable, and that the future belongs to small specialized firms and large firms. The revenue volume in the medium-sized firm does not allow the organization to build and retain the diverse range of high-caliber staff that complex projects require. Small "idea" firms, with established reputations in specific areas of practice, will be able to offer clients a high level of professional service. On more complex projects, I believe you will see the "idea" firms working together with large comprehensive service architectural organizations, either in association or in joint-venture. You note that the architectural profession should cease backing out of responsibility for construction contract administration. The maxim that authority requires responsibility can be applied in this situation. I feel that if architects want to maintain a leading role in the construction process, then they must assume that responsibility. It is naïve to assume that the marketplace will tolerate architect's’ demand for leadership if they attempt to allocate responsibility to other parties. If we continue our present trend, we have no one but ourselves to blame should our role in construction be relegated to that of a "design subcontractor." Your final point noted that architects need to take a tougher stand in fee negotiations. Excellent professional service is not produced on the cheap. Firms that cannot charge reasonable fees will, long-term, be unable to produce the quality of service that the marketplace will demand. Our fees should reflect value for money. The more value that we can bring to a project, the stronger our position at the bargaining table will be. |
