Practice Management Member Conversations

How did an admittedly academic question become largely a discussion of fees and grumpy denunciations of an unappreciative public and client base?  Isn't it also the job of architects to collectively undertake public outreach and education projects that cultivate a perspective of the features and processes required for creation of livable and efficient habitat in order for Mr. and Mrs. John Doe to positively contribute to better public policy decisions?  Can we not do that independently of expectation of any immediate financial return in favor of not only image making, but service to a better, more sustainable built environment?  I'd like to hear less whimpering and more creative thinking about alternatives for remaking whole communities - indeed, whole cities -rather than fixation on buildings as though they and enrichment of their architects were parts greater than the whole.
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Gary Collins AIA
Principal
Gary R. Collins, AIA
Jacksonville OR
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Spoken as 

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Bruce Bradsby
bdb/a
San Francisco ' Bangkok

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Well, some  people  need to work on their sarcasm.  But if we keep going we can get really good at  it, and then it  will be REALLY interesting!  
I'm expecting good things out of you all, don't disappoint me!

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Eugene Ely AIA
HMC Architects
San Jose CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2011 02:28
From: Bruce Bradsby
Subject: Why does Design matter?

Spoken as 

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Bruce Bradsby
bdb/a
San Francisco ' Bangkok

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Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2011 03:42
From: Gary Collins
Subject: Why does Design matter?

quote: "...Isn't it also the job of architects to collectively undertake public outreach and education projects that cultivate a perspective of the features and processes required for creation of livable and efficient habitat in order for Mr. and Mrs. John Doe to positively contribute to better public policy decisions?"  end quote.

Yes, that is why we have the AIA, its various committees [and yes, have I done mucho pro bono time] and the architecture schools. Those on the professional services delivery side of the profession require & deserve something called equitable fees based on risks taken on, level of endeavor & market value.

quote: "...I'd like to hear less whimpering and more creative thinking about alternatives for remaking whole communities - indeed, whole cities -rather than fixation on buildings as though they and enrichment of their architects were parts greater than the whole." end quote.

That pretty well reeks of rich kid condescension. There's a whole profession called "Urban & Regional Planning" just crying out for your pro bono love & attention since you consider monetary discussions too coarse for your rich sensibilities. For the architects who didn't inherit boatloads of money, or who want to keep the boats full if they did, discussions of fair & equitable recompense for professional services provided is not whimpering nor craving enrichment over community good. Outside of barter & religion, money is the way a society assigns values to goods & services. And how we pay for groceries.

I didn't take the discussion away from your hallowed ground, but like better its new direction, via the group, than the hackneyed subject of "why design matters." Please.

Mr. Collins makes a good point.  Perhaps we should end this airing of grievences and get back to slinging trite cliche'd mantras of the profession such as "livable communities," "public outreach," and "grass roots."  What do any of these phrases even mean?  Does anyone know?  There are lots of architects who think they do, and don't really care if anyone else agrees with their definition or not because they are self-righteous and narcissistic.  So let's stop to trying to change this fact and get back to doing things like we have been, after all, notwithstanding the few individuals who have posted here, the status quo has been working so well for the rest us.

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Alan Burcope AIA, MBA, LEED AP
VP Project Development
HBE Corporation
Saint Louis MO
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