Construction Contract Administration

By Shaili Patel-Legge, AIA, responding to questions shared by CCA leadership

Name / Title / Company / Years in the profession

Shaili Patel-Legge, Architect, Colby Company, LLC, 12+

What gets you up in the morning to go to work? What are you passionate about?

I love what I do; the challenge to solve a problem is invigorating. I find joy in understanding how the world is built, from the big picture items to the small details of nuts and bolts – life is all about learning, staying curious, and trying to make things a bit better than how I found them. 

Who are you outside of work?

I am a military spouse, prior service member (USN), a daughter, a maker, and a photographer. I enjoy being in nature, finding solace and peace where human influences have not yet touched. However, who I am while working and outside of work are the same person. The career choice allows me to showcase and learn different skills, while hobbies and home life allow me to strengthen other abilities.

What advice would you have for your younger self when you first got into doing CCA?

Say yes to every opportunity, keep asking questions, stay curious, and always learn. I would also tell myself not to take everything to heart, work is work - it is not personal. In the beginning, every comment, criticism, and mistake felt personal. Over the years, I learned that those were learning moments to give me more perspective and growth. Now, those conversations are where I have learned the most, grown, and enjoyed this industry. 

Can you think of a time you were disrespected on-site? And what do you think could have prevented it?

Many times. However, I have learned it is a reflection on the person making the comments, and it is independent of me. Someone else's comments, thoughts, and actions are not anything I can control or change. I have improved my mindset to let go of things, events, and activities I can not control, i.e., how others act, and focus my energy on what I can control, i.e., my output, my production, my value. The energy I can provide a project or team is my currency, and it is worth more than staying in an argument, worrying about being disrespected, or being in situations where no progress is achieved. I have also learned my value does not change based on someone's biases about me. 

What advice do you have for someone looking to start CCA?

Try it! Be open to learning, be open to making mistakes, and embrace the mess! Say yes to every opportunity you are given; if anything, it will help you understand what you like, do not like, what you are skilled at, and what you can benefit from. 

Are there any resources you recommend for other architects looking to learn more about performing CCA

Make friends and reach out to colleagues, mentors, and peers. There is something special about learning from others and their experiences that you can not find within textbooks, videos, etc. Also, the best experience is hands-on experience, so take advantage of EVERY opportunity to go on site, raise your hand, and volunteer to try that activity or join on that site visit.

What does it mean to you to be a woman in CCA?

It is a part of who I am. It makes me try harder each day to keep showing up and keep improving. I also have only known life as a woman in CCA, and with all challenges and benefits, I would not change it. 

What is a misconception of CCA you want to dispel? 

Many people shy away from CCA because it can be messy, challenging, and humbling. However, these are the reasons to embrace it. It is the final state of quality control, as the drawings meet fabrication, and the entire vision becomes alive. Being open to the challenges in construction and understanding other viewpoints makes the next design that much better, as it incorporates the lessons learned from construction. It teaches grit while providing immense gratification as projects come to completion.