Small Project Design

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Small Firm Round Table .
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I was utterly astounded to read Aaron Seward's comment in his article Burn Notice, " small-time architects working on minor buildings" in Architect: The Magazine of the American Institute of Architects.

I wondered who these small-time, by definition - insignificant, unimportant, petty, no-account, piddling architects might be, because during my service on the AIA National Small Firm Round Table, president of my state chapter, and chair of my state licensing board I never encountered such a person.   

Maybe Mr. Seward read the 2009 AIA Firm survey report and was referring to one of the majority of firms that are single discipline, with one office, with a local or regional client base or to one of the 79% of the AIA Member firms who are less than 10 people.

Hopefully, it was sloppy editing. I expect more from the official publication of our professional organization. Because as architects and members of the American Institute of Architects we can and should agree, that there is no such person as a small-time, insignificant or unimportant architect.

Jane Frederick, AIA
2012 AIA National Small Firm Round Table Chair

Thank you Jane...well voiced!

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Carlton Rogers Jr. AIA
Owner
CBR Architects PLLC
Louisville KY
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Yes, thank you Jane for voicing what many of us feel.
However unless Aaron Seeward has access to this forum, he won't know how we feel about his editorial. Should we all bombard Architect with letters to the editor or would it suffice to have Jane write one and we all sign it in support?

The AIA, as our voice, should (also) write a strongly worded letter since they selected this particular magazine as it's official magazine. 

Aaron needs to know that some of us "small time insignificant architects" function as consultants to the much bigger firms and in many cases, assist them in completing fairly large and complex projects because of our experience and knowledge.  He needs to wake up from whatever ivory tower he's sitting in and realize that this industry of ours is continuously changing and the traditional way of project delivery has evolved. 

Again, many thanks to Jane Frederick, AIA. 

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Gerard Lee, AIA
Principal
Gerard Lee Architects, Inc.
Oakland CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-05-2012 07:18
From: Carlton Bruce Rogers Jr.
Subject: Response to "small-time architect" reference in December issue of Architect

Thank you Jane...well voiced!

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Carlton Rogers Jr. AIA
Owner
CBR Architects PLLC
Louisville KY
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Thank you Ms. Frederick.  This arogant attitute has been an issue for as many years as I have been practicing.  I am happy to see that someone other than myself can see the significant contribution "small-time architects working on minor buildings" have on the industry and the environment as well as the back up on the statistics. I am disappointed that this attitute would be conveyed in a publication that should model the attitutes and respect that all industry professionals should be afforded.  We must as design professionals support, encourage and appreciate the significance of all types of architecture and all types of Architects. 
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Judith Miller AIA
Architecture by Design
Ellicott City MD
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I agree with Ms. Frederick's comments. When I read "...while such consulting is commonplace in large projects, even [small-time architects] working on [minor buildings] can benefit from the type of close analysis that such firms conduct" I was equally insulted. I am a sole-proprietor and I bet my license that I know more about building codes than most large firm architects working in the ivory towers. I deal with small (I guess petty) projects that are riddled with code issues and deal with complex life safety and accessibility issues while attempting to bring beauty and great design. Our budgets don't allow easy solutions like the big boys get. So if it was sloppy editing, then apologize for the error Mr. Seward and Architect magazine and move on. If that is how Mr. Seward feels, then Architect Magazine needs to apologize again. I'm deeply insulted and I hope this does not reflect the attitudes and beliefs of Architect Magazine or the AIA. If so, get used the silence of having less members in the room when you're struggling to keep the ones you have. Make it right

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Lee Calisti AIA
Principal
lee CALISTI architecture+design
Greensburg PA
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Good call, Linna! You read my mind.
I seem to recall an environmentalist saying there are no insignificant buildings. Each one must justify its use of scarce resources. This goes for us insignificant practitioners as well.

By now I expect Aaron has a well deserved headache!
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John Dugger AIA
Principal Architect
J S Dugger, AIA & Associates
Gloucester, MA
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I too wanted to express my appreciation for your response Ms. Frederick.  

I echo the sentiments expressed by the other responders.  I hope that eventually we can dispel the notion that small Architecture practices somehow are equated with small, insignificant projects.  Unfortunately, this dichotomy of Large vs. Small is perpetuated by many organizations that should do a better job of understanding who they truly represent. As an Owner of a small firm, I have never been more challenged or engaged with my work compared to my previous employment with large firms. 

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Gregory Holah AIA
Principal
Holah Design + Architecture LLC
Portland OR
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Okay everyone, what EXACTLY are we going to do about this national AIA attitude expressed in the AIA magazine?  Unless we do something our voice disappears into the wind (blog, blog, blog)  and only the "big" guys  continue to have a voice and a PR vehicle in AIA, which all of us are paying for in our dues.  While it is unlikely anyone of us can ever be AIA National President, it is important that our voice, "that is the majority," is heard!

I just finished as AIA Honolulu 2011 President, and believe me, I will never do that again. The beat-up of me personally by the "big" firms to silence the collective voice of AIA Honolulu has been totally astounding!   Big firm voice of 35+ members: "We will not renew because AIA Honolulu doesn't support what we want" got the attention of CEO Robert Ivy! 

Did that "big firm" ever work within the official structure of Task Force to Committee to Board position of AIA Honolulu?   Nope!  Because we have a Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest policy.  So how does that fit into the big picture of national AIA?  To get only the big firm perspective which often has a very strong arm ($$$) is totally discouraging. 

Where are you really AIA?   I already paid my dues for the year, but what would happen if all of us "small-time architects" said "AIA doesn't support what we want?"  I think it is time for a change.  Join me.

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Spencer Leineweber FAIA
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu HI
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I suggest "Occupy AIA".  We all carry signs saying "We are the 99%" in front of AIA HQ.

Glenn
(This suggestion is mostly in jest)
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Glenn MacCullough AIA
MacCullough Architects, P.C.
Arlington VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2012 03:15
From: Spencer Leineweber
Subject: Small practioners as insignificant


Okay everyone, what EXACTLY are we going to do about this national AIA attitude expressed in the AIA magazine?  Unless we do something our voice disappears into the wind (blog, blog, blog)  and only the "big" guys  continue to have a voice and a PR vehicle in AIA, which all of us are paying for in our dues.  While it is unlikely anyone of us can ever be AIA National President, it is important that our voice, "that is the majority," is heard!

I just finished as AIA Honolulu 2011 President, and believe me, I will never do that again. The beat-up of me personally by the "big" firms to silence the collective voice of AIA Honolulu has been totally astounding!   Big firm voice of 35+ members: "We will not renew because AIA Honolulu doesn't support what we want" got the attention of CEO Robert Ivy! 

Did that "big firm" ever work within the official structure of Task Force to Committee to Board position of AIA Honolulu?   Nope!  Because we have a Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest policy.  So how does that fit into the big picture of national AIA?  To get only the big firm perspective which often has a very strong arm ($$$) is totally discouraging. 

Where are you really AIA?   I already paid my dues for the year, but what would happen if all of us "small-time architects" said "AIA doesn't support what we want?"  I think it is time for a change.  Join me.

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Spencer Leineweber FAIA
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu HI
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Firm Round Table and Small Project Practitioners .
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I wrote the same letter to Ned Cramer, Editor in Cheif of Architect that I posted here. He asked me to post his reply here.

AIA National started the Small Firm Round Table two years ago. We have a representative from each of the regions. Check out the Small Firm Round Table page on AIA Knowledge Net. We are the voice for the small firms and we want to hear from each of you.

Dear Jane:

Thank you for sharing your concerns about Aaron Seward's article, "Burn Notice." The choice of words--"small-time architects working on minor buildings"--was indeed poor, and the fault lies with me. In editing the article, I understood Aaron to mean something perfectly straightforward: "small firms working on projects with tight budgets." I now appreciate how the turn of phrase left a negative impression.

Please know that it was not our intent to slight the owners and employees of small firms. As you observe, small firms constitute the greater part of our readership and of AIA's membership, and meeting their information needs has been central to the mission of Architect since the publication's launch in 2006. We are great believers in small firms' tremendous value to the profession and exceptional contributions to the built environment.

So I am mortified to find myself having inadvertently offended a member of that community. Please accept my heartfelt apology.

Respectfully yours,

Ned Cramer

Editor-in-Chief

Architect magazine

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Linna Frederick AIA
Principal
Frederick & Frederick Architects
Beaufort SC
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The next appropriate step is for Mr. Cramer's response to appear in the magazine, of course

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Joel Niemi AIA
Snohomish WA

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Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2012 09:53
From: Linna Frederick
Subject: Ned Cramer's Response to Small Time comment

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Firm Round Table and Small Project Practitioners .
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I wrote the same letter to Ned Cramer, Editor in Cheif of Architect that I posted here. He asked me to post his reply here.

AIA National started the Small Firm Round Table two years ago. We have a representative from each of the regions. Check out the Small Firm Round Table page on AIA Knowledge Net. We are the voice for the small firms and we want to hear from each of you.

Dear Jane:

Thank you for sharing your concerns about Aaron Seward's article, "Burn Notice." The choice of words--"small-time architects working on minor buildings"--was indeed poor, and the fault lies with me. In editing the article, I understood Aaron to mean something perfectly straightforward: "small firms working on projects with tight budgets." I now appreciate how the turn of phrase left a negative impression.

Please know that it was not our intent to slight the owners and employees of small firms. As you observe, small firms constitute the greater part of our readership and of AIA's membership, and meeting their information needs has been central to the mission of Architect since the publication's launch in 2006. We are great believers in small firms' tremendous value to the profession and exceptional contributions to the built environment.

So I am mortified to find myself having inadvertently offended a member of that community. Please accept my heartfelt apology.

Respectfully yours,

Ned Cramer

Editor-in-Chief

Architect magazine

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Linna Frederick AIA
Principal
Frederick & Frederick Architects
Beaufort SC
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Well said, Ms. Fredericks. The AIA would do well to remember that every project is important to its client, and must be treated as such. Otherwise, what's the point?

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Robert Silarski AIA
Principal
S&Co. ' Architecture + Design
Nyack NY
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Okay everyone, what EXACTLY are we going to do about this national AIA attitude expressed in the AIA magazine?  Unless we do something our voice disappears into the wind (blog, blog, blog)  and only the "big" firms  continue to have a voice and a PR vehicle in AIA, which all of us are paying for in our dues.  While it is unlikely anyone of us can ever be AIA National President, it is important that our voice, "that is the majority," is heard!


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Spencer Leineweber FAIA
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu HI
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Mr. Leineweber,

Did you know that our current National President, Jeffrey Potter, FAIA is a small firm owner? Learn more about him here. http://network.aia.org/aia/smallfirmroundtable/home/

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Linna Frederick AIA
Principal
Frederick & Frederick Architects
Beaufort SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2012 10:55
From: Spencer Leineweber
Subject: Small practioners as insignificant


Okay everyone, what EXACTLY are we going to do about this national AIA attitude expressed in the AIA magazine?  Unless we do something our voice disappears into the wind (blog, blog, blog)  and only the "big" firms  continue to have a voice and a PR vehicle in AIA, which all of us are paying for in our dues.  While it is unlikely anyone of us can ever be AIA National President, it is important that our voice, "that is the majority," is heard!


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Spencer Leineweber FAIA
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu HI
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