MGZA

Decisions Disguised as Questions - What to do?

    • Mary Severino, AIA, LEED-AP
    • Mary Severino, AIA, LEED-AP
    • MGZA Owner and Founder, Mary Severino.

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.

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I am an Architect. Am I value-added, or just a legal necessity?

    • Why hire an Architect?
    • Here's a humorous take on a serious subject. Enjoy this clip from YouTube.

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.
 
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