What a challenging economy we all face. I understand Christian's comments. He has said things that many of us have felt.
Will there likely be fewer architects practicing a year from now than did a year ago?
Probably.
Will our profession evaporate totally anytime soon?
I don't think so.
We are needed as licensed architects with decades of experience that bring improved design and improved performance and economy to the table. What we need to be industrious in figuring out is how to get that message to the public (possible clients) and have them act on that positive information and hire those of us who have the skills, demeanor and experience that they need to help them obtain a better project than they would without us.
I try to make a point, in various blog comments, and in my own relationships with clients, how I am saving much more than my fees in certain things that I do for my clients, like packaging optional bid items into bundles that allow the client to control how much he or she spends and for what. I also try to educate them, when they are interested, in how we can have their project save them not only money, and help protect the environment and improve their energy efficiency as well. Nothing really new about this and I am sure we all do what we can with these topics to advance our profession as well as make our practices appealing to possible clients.
Christian makes a very good point that implies that perhaps the AIA could create public information about how we architects can not only improve clients' lives through improved aesthetics, but also save them money. Perhaps in the form of TV commercials? Print ads? Website ads that we could copy and paste onto our websites after downloading from AIA central? Great idea! The idea would be to have clients regard us as a good value rather than as being too expensive. Clients should feel that they have missed something very important if they don't use an architect on their project.
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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Rand Soellner Architect
Cashiers NC
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