MGZA Principal, Bill Krebs, and MGZA Interior Designer, Mary Young, are ready to "Refresh" your office. Give us a call to schedule an appointment!
Read MoreMGZA
2010
Decisions Disguised as Questions - What to do?
As a long-time business owner, I am deeply concerned that the fallout of the recession is a devaluation of the thoughtful processes and planning that had always been utilized in building and construction project work. In these tough times, business strategies are simple: spend as little money as possible and make money as quickly as possible.
Read MoreSustainability: The Impact of New Technologies - BIM
We all know that evolving technologies have radically impacted the practices that real estate, consulting architectural, design and construction professionals utilize in daily practice.
One of the most significant technical developments for our industry lies in the growing popularity and influence of BIM, Building Information Modeling.
The appropriate use of BIM will revolutionize the methodologies and processes that are used in the architectural and engineering design practices, because the ‘design’ of the building is determined at the very beginnings of the concept.
A knowledgeable design team will integrate planning strategies, material specifications, and construction considerations, as well as future material removal and repurposing into sustainability considerations for building projects. With BIM, the work is heavy once the commitment to the new software is made. However, we know that many forward-thinking clients are currently calling for BIM methodology on their project work.
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Innovation: Fueling Sustainable Building Design
I had the opportunity to meet recently with a W. L. Gore Associate at the company’s “Capabilities Center,” in Newark, Delaware. As an architect, designer and entrepreneurial business owner, I find W. L. Gore to be most fascinating and inspirational for their culture of innovation, fostered by their corporate emphasis on communication and ethics. Their unique ability to operate quietly, while pursuing creative excellence has provided me with a model for defining my own objectives in the creative business of architecture.
W. L. Gore’s well-profiled beginnings sprang from the Newark, Delaware basement of founders Bill and Vieve Gore. Discovering that an early implement for manufacturing their fluoropolymer was a doctored electric frying pan indicated to me that creativity ‘on the cheap’ can actually move mountains. Importantly, the founders created a culture of innovation that, over 50 years later, has resulted in a multi-billion dollar business that has created technologies and products that literally impact all of our lives in one form or another.
But how, one might ask, does this translate into an article about innovation and sustainability? Thanks to the efforts of many dedicated individuals, “green building” practices have gone mainstream, due in large part to the momentum that the USGBC’s LEED program has generated. A few years ago, few people knew or cared about LEED and it’s ‘Leadership in Environmental Design’ program. Now LEED-accreditation is an expected professional credential. LEED-certification has been adopted by many public and private sector organizations as a realistic building project objective. LEED has brought the need for environmental sensitivity to the forefront of design and construction practice.
We must now look beyond LEED into a holistic approach to sustainability. The factors that contribute to sustainability start with the basics of building design and construction, but reach further into the processes that cycle from the make-up of a product, the production processes, the shipping of the product, the use of a product in a building and the ability to see that product re-used, recycled or re-purposed for other uses.
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Read Between the Lines: What is Behind the Building you See?
My mother, now a wise octogenarian, had a saying that struck me as pertinent to today’s challenging environment for professional service providers. ‘Something for nothing is usually worth nothing,’ has relevance when hearing that in a low bid environment, potential clients are opting for service fees that are bid so low that they represent levels below cost. Few are exempt from this situation, which is a serious problem when trying to survive as a viable business. Of particular concern is the quality of the buildings that are subject to this extreme low bid trends.
Low bids historically beget change orders, which beget team friction and tedious, problem-riddled projects. Unusual ‘deals’ on construction prices can disguise the questionable quality factors that would only be noticeable if one ‘reads between the lines.’ Design-build projects are prone to be more ‘build-design’ when cost-cutting extends to the consulting architect and engineer. If clients didn’t understand the value of an architect or engineer prior to this recession, then they certainly will not want to invest in one now. Owners, landlords, tenants be wary. You still get what you pay for – or not. Some believe that trained consultants, registered architects, and engineers, are of less value than the builder who ‘gets it done’ faster, for less. Why involve consultants who charge a fee for services when the bottom line is money and getting something built?
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I am an Architect. Am I value-added, or just a legal necessity?
Although some segments of the economy are starting to show signs of life, many professionals realize the yellow brick road into the future is now a different color. All companies are cutting costs, assessing where money can be saved against what constitutes a necessary expenditure.
Has the role of the architect sunk to the level of a legal necessity, a stamp on a set of drawings representing a process controlled by others? Is it really in the owner’s interest to eliminate the architect if at all possible? Yes, I have heard all of the arguments about difficult architects; too much money, (fees) too idealistic, (no business savvy) not team players, (ego-driven) not realistic, (don’t understand costs) or can’t meet schedules (clueless).
I would contend that if you have these thoughts about architects, then you need to talk to different architects. Talk to me, a different type of architect.
MGZA - You thought you knew us?
New decade, new MGZA! It is great to have the guys at P'unk Ave working with us to link us with our clients and friends past, present and future. I have a lot to say -- and now our website will give us the voice. No--we are not like the other architects and designers you have loved to hate in the past. I'm looking forward to voicing the differences -- and I'm looking forward to getting the feedback from all of you as you help us redefine, refresh and rebuild our environments.
Check us out as we update our site and our blog regularly. MGZA: Refreshed and Revitalized.