MGZA

2010

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.

Read More

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.
 
Read More