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.