I’d like to thank Dawn for suggesting a blog topic. If I’ve got her background correct, she’s trained as a structural engineer and an architect and has noticed (and taken the time to write) that many architects still practice as though they are still in school (I call that the Vintage Studio Mindset) rather than approach what we do as a business and take essential steps to be leaner (and gentler?). Dawn noted that only 10% of buildings in the United States are designed by architects and that architects (in general) should be more supportive of each other (like teaming). Does anyone have confirmation of this statistic?
What's my thought of this? The major difference I’ve noticed in the profession since getting registered in ’94 is that small firms/practitioners have the word share embedded in their hardwires. We are more willing to trust, ask, and collaborate; that is how we (small firms like mine) have learned to flourish. The opposite side of the share coin is trust. It takes a while to find the right chemistry of teaming folks. You make a few mistakes in the process but hopefully things don’t blow up while you’re refining the mix.
My direct experience is that most large firms/practitioners want to hang on very tightly for the fear that if one little part is let go of the whole thing might slip away. So it seems like there are two separate forces working on our field:
1) small firms who can do it and step up to the plate to make it happen for clients, i.e., who what that and how
2) large firms (I mean really large firms) that step up to the plate (as the chest-pounding CroMagnon) and make it happen.
Ultimately, both opposites still serve the same purpose (accomplishing the project for the client).
Did you see the Pixar movie, Finding Nemo? Remember the little fish that guarded the bubbles in the fish tank treasure chest as his bubbles? He’d run (swim) over to the treasure chest just as it was about blow its bubbles and say, “My bubbles! Mine! Mine! Mine! My bubbles! I think of that when I experience a big firm wanting to keep it all for themselves. (Ok but I have 3 kids, stock in Disney, and love a good silly laugh). After a while, when the fishes and (other animals) worked together (no I’m not socialist or communist) they figured out how to get Nemo hooked up with his dad and how to escape (or to quote Ellen DeGeneres as Dory “Ex Capeee”) the fish tank (did they ever figure out how to get out of the plastic bags?) But I digress.
From my perspective, I see that larger firms have a harder time adapting to changing environment whereas smaller firms are just built to recognize and adjust to a new sense of balance requirement (OK, I do karate too; hence the reference to adjust and balance.)
If you haven’t yet taken a look at the SPP web site, I encourage you to do so (www.AIA.org/SPP). Look specifically at the SPP Journal Archive. I remember working on one issue a few years back called Collaborate—immensely appropriate for this discussion. There is also another issue called School of Hard Knocks, where we shared (freely) what we learned.
—Lisa Stacholy, AIA
Comments (1)
Thank you, Lisa, for all the work you put into this blog/online support group for all of us "Little Engines That Could" out there.
As I admit to Lisa when she actually responded to my e-mail/rant, I was actually hoping my rant would fall into her spam.
I think I'm just nervous, and being a new small business owner in the current economy doesn’t help. The ups and downs are definitely not for the faint-hearted. Not everyone is an entrepreneur and that’s not a bad thing. Who knows, I might go back working for someone one day. The advantage of our profession is that there is no real retirement as an architect. How liberating.
In terms of the insecurity of architects, that might be a over-generalized statement. After the second year in architecture grad school, I find studios don’t foster much about teamwork. I don’t think it’s just my school. Beginning to think and execute on your own has its merit, but in reality we do work as a team. I can see how the academic training has affected the way architects behave in work environment.
This is more evident when you run a small business. When I was an engineer consultant, there’s almost no worry about getting work because everyone needs an engineer. And we do not hesitate to refer work to other engineers. Being an architectural consultant is different; you get out there and find yourself competing with contractors! The result is less architected projects and bizarre constructions. Architectural design should be affordable and a necessity for all. We don’t have to live with [it].
Anyhow, thank you so much, Lisa, for directing me to the SPP journals. After reading the paper, it somewhat brought me down to reality – how enjoyable it is to work with different disciplines, as well as fellow architects. Last year we landed a project in China and it was quite an experience working with other small operations. We realized by banding together, it only took half a dozen of us to complete a 55-acre master plan in 4 months!
My only problem, as I expect for most beginning sole practitioners, is to get that opportunity to work with others. Cold calls? I read one of your earlier postings about that technique. What do you say to the other architects? I don’t’ suppose just saying, “Hello, do you have any jobs to spare?” Are face-to-face meetings almost always best to achieve partnership with other firms or other professional alliance like realtors or engineers? I’m such a newbie…
Posted by Dawn | October 18, 2008 3:49 PM
Posted on October 18, 2008 15:49