When the Editorial Board selected the theme “time” for the first issue of arcCA, we wondered how architects throughout the state have been affected by recent technological changes and what time pressures have done to the profession. We sent a Firm Fax to California AIA Member Firms with several yes-or-no questions on current practice. The responses are summarized below.
Our questionnaire read, “STOP! Don’t ignore this! Don’t throw this in the ‘later’ stack! … As we race forward in our busy lives, does this sound familiar? … They need it yesterday. Prioritize. Rush charges. Overnight it. Messenger it. Fax it. Fast track … With too much to do in not enough time, how has your practice changed over the years to meet the demands? The profession has typically meant long hours, tight deadlines and late nights, starting with studio life and sketch problems in architecture school. With technology offering us more ways to rush, what do you do to maintain design quality, minimize stress and stay in business? Relative to how you worked a decade or more ago, do you find yourself spending more time: on design; in meetings; on the phone and with e-mail; documenting decisions; on contracts and negotiations; with legal counsel; in construction administration; with employee development; on business development; on public relations; with clients; traveling; commuting; on continuing education; on professional organizations; at the office; with public service or volunteer work; reading; with your family?
We struck a nerve. The AIACC fax machine received over 240 responses (>10%) in less than 10 days.
The numbers are fairly even “yes” and “no” among all respondents for most of the questions, which shows the spectrum of activity and coping. However, for sole practitioners and firms alike, several clear directions emerge. A large majority of architects are spending more time in meetings, on the phone, with e-mail and with clients. (Although, as one respondent pointed out, spending the same amount of time on something is a “no” answer to the question, “Are you spending more time on .. .?”) We are also documenting our decisions more, and, except for half the one-person practices, we are devoting increased time to construction administration. Interestingly, most respondents have made a definite choice to live somewhat near the office-the vast majority, especially the sole practitioners, answered “no” to the question, “Are you spending more time commuting?”
The only indication that architects who work in firms differ from those who practice alone, that is, the answers were mostly “no” from firm architects and “yes” from the sole practitioner-came from the question, “Are you spending more time with your family?” The response is perhaps demo· graphics based: those who want to spend more time with their families have largely already decided to work on their own.
Our questionnaire also asked, “Where are you finding the time to do these things? Are you simply cramming more into life? Is ‘faster’ better? What are you doing to maintain a balance between work and personal life? What is your office (did not apply to sole practitioners, 15% of total response] doing to help employees achieve a balance between performance excellence and their personal lives? Do you support them or allow them to: work flexible hours; work longer, fewer days; job share; work part-time; telecommute and work at home; be paid overtime; bring children to the office; have ergonomic assistance; have massages in the office (interesting responses to that!]; have office lunches or dinners during charrettes; attend classes or in-house seminars; take leaves without pay; take paid sabbaticals?”
Most offices permit flexible work hours during the week, provide meals during charrettes and encourage staff to take classes or (larger firms) attend in-house seminars. Short leaves without pay are widely granted; paid sabbaticals are not.
We were surprised at how many respondents took the time to “squeeze in another moment or two” (as we urged) to add something in writing. The survey concluded with, “Where do you think we are headed? Are we destined for more of the same? How do you plan to change things in the future?” Several could only manage to jot down variations of, “No time to comment; wish I could.” Others used the opportunity to broadly reflect: nearly every subject brought up in the questionnaire was expanded upon. Some remarks sound frustrated, some bitter, some funny, some wise, some optimistic, some pessimistic. All are pointed and thoughtful, as illustrated by the excerpts shared here.
In conclusion, the entire design and construction industry is facing new challenges and a time compression never before encountered. The impact of these forces on how we design, collaborate, build and structure our practices continues to play out. As the comments reveal, the issues are complex. At the new century /millennium, we await the creative solutions that California architects will invent.
There is nothing wrong with working 7 12-hour days a week so long as you enjoy it. There is nothing good about golf or sailing if you don’t enjoy it. STEPHEN METSCH, AIA
We’re called upon to know everything and to be available to consultants, clients and staff, who need, practically beg for, a true mentoring relationship to bring the future into line. Once again, no time … MARK SINGER, AIA
I don’t wear a watch except backpacking. DAVID DECKER. AIA
Stress is too often an exciting excuse. Its energy comes from fear of being exposed, as when the deadline arrives after months of stalling and goofing off. Big charrette. Everybody running around yelling. Lots of noise, dust and fun. Stress is a way of covering incompetence. It’s dangerous. Mistakes are made. You know, two exitways converging to one at the street, gaps in area separation walls. Stuff like that. Real cute. RALPH G. GRAY, AIA
By entering fully into the electronic age, we have more time to do those things that we feel are important. We are having more fun and doing it (architecture) better. ROBERT DAVIDSON, AIA
The profession is definitely on a faster track! It’s sort of “to hell with the attorneys, full speed ahead.” RICHARD LAREAU, AIA
The “busy work” of applications for agencies and agency meetings (ARB, Planning, etc.) is preventing us from putting the time in on design and construction documents. More and more time is being eaten up in the “processing” as opposed to the “architecture.” JEANNE C. BYRNE, AIA
For me? Dump the commute. Work less by knowing more & billing higher. Keep the family front & center. Document everything. Expect litigation. DAVID E. NEAGLEY, AIA
In 1986, when I took a position as a project architect with an A/E firm. I negotiated a 90:10 schedule: I’d work 90% of the 2080-hour year, taking 208 hours off, and would receive 90% of the salary. Added to my 2-week vacation, that gave me 7 weeks off. With my sole practitioner firm, I continued the 90:10 approach. As a result, at age 50, I ski 2 weeks per year, windsurf 3-4 weeks per year, body-board when the surf’s up. FRED M. BARON. AIA
We are headed for cyber-offices. JOHN S. FISHER, AIA
Fed Ex deadlines have been replaced by fax machines at job sites demanding immediate attention and making it more difficult to budget time in the workday. Still, the revolution within our industry is providing unlimited opportunities. RON RITNER, AIA
I used to spend 80% of my time doing architecture and 20% max dealing with government agencies. Now it’s just the reverse. BARRY GITTELSON. AIA
Including architecture school, I have been in this business for almost 30 years. and there has never been enough time to do it “right” according to our standards as architects. ADRIAN COHEN, AIA
The economy is hot and so is architecture. The challenge is to read the signs of burnout and to turn back as often as is necessary during this all-or-nothing economy. GARY UNDERHILL, AIA
My family will see more of me in 2000. And the firm will be 2x as successful. We pray. MICHAEL WILLIS, AIA
Our practice primarily involves health care.10-15 years ago we’d spend approximately 5-10% of our time on government regulation from design through completion of construction. Now we spend 30-40% on government regulation. Building codes used to change every 2-4 years. Now they come on CDROM with quarterly updates. We are constantly making adjustments for “new” codes or “new” interpretations of the code. Projects we used to do in half the time on 100 sheets of documents now take 200-250 sheets of drawings to get the same result. Some day we may have a “book of designs,” compliments of the Legislature. ALLEN STRONG, AIA
More stress, more challenges, less structure, more fun. more honesty, more meaning, less organization. ROBERT L. ROSENBERG, AIA
Read mail over trash can. Return phone calls immediately. No AIA events. DAVID J. BAAB, AIA
My small firm will continue to let technology’s little miracles assist us in spending less time providing services so that I can have more quality beach time. MICHAEL G. FAULCONER, AIA
As architects we have not yet figured out how to capitalize on thee-commerce aspects of the Internet, yet our clients expect that since they have, we should go faster. As a service profession we must adapt. And quickly! SUSAN ESCHWEILER, AIA
Because of problems with city officials regarding code interpretations, we have to spend additional time meeting with building departments. Since we have the liabilities, why shouldn’t our interpretations be adequate? ERNIE YOSH INO, AIA
America will lead the world with a weekend that starts on Thursday at 6:00PM. M. J. KNITTER, AIA
Short cuts always bite back. DANIEL SULLIVAN, AIA
Architecture was already very close to being maxed-out before the computer revolution. Ironically, I find that by providing more comprehensive services like construction management on a project. I can do a better job-since I am being compensated for my time. TOM KAISER. AIA
My business partner is my spouse. We live in the office. I’ll keep working if you make dinner. LEE I. LIPPERT, AIA
Too many architects don’t value their professional time highly enough-perhaps an outcome of our charrette mentality, incubated at school, when time is “cheap.” BOB HERMAN, AIA
One anal-retentive control freak I worked for asked that we fold all wastepaper before tossing it out so the trash cans in the office wouldn’t fill up so fast. Anyhow, I continued that particular folding habit later in my own firm (being the anal-retentive control freak that I am). When your fax came I found it a great stress reliever to wad it up and rim shoot it to the trash can. JON SOMMERS, AIA
I’m currently working only 60 hrs/week. RAY TAKATA. AIA
I re-create the atelier atmosphere of the Ecole des Beaux-Art. whereby the “master” engages in living and working with his apprentices. I take my draftspeople to the symphony. YVES GHIAI-CHAMLOU, AIA
Not enough time to research/value engineer alternative design solutions. All this while the governmental review process is getting less efficient and resulting in unnecessary construction delays. MICHAEL J. PALMER, AIA
Don’t know where we are heading, but it should be to one long overdue vacation. VLADIMIR ELMANOVICH, AIA
Clients don’t realize that most projects are produced by very small teams and that throwing more bodies at a problem (even if they were out there) usually doesn’t hasten things. We’ve even resorted to the childbirth analogy; i.e., it takes one woman nine months to have a baby, not nine women one month. KENNETH SCATES, AIA
Architects are continually required to do more in less time. It will inevitably result in disaster. MARK SILVA, AIA
E-mailing of CDs decreases the down time, so coordination is easier & quicker. MICHAEL T. ALLEN, AIA
¡Viva Arquitectura! ¡Abajo la Administración! ANON., AIA
We seem to be losing the joys of being intimately connected to the way the 6B pencil lays down a rich curvaceous line on a piece of flimsy whose transparency holds your ideas as if floating, moving and still evolving, and have opted for an interface with the computer, which permits quick delineation of half· baked ideas, recording them in hard lines and stone before they are ready. MARILYN FARMER, AIA
Advances in computer technology have enabled me to remain active without any employees. NORMAN TILLEY, AIA
No longer is there a top exec with decision power & authority working with the programming and design team, but more and more middle managers with little to no authority. This delays the creative process and makes for lost time. DONALD C. AXON, AIA
I hope that the computer will continue to automate the more mundane aspects of my practice so that I can use the time I do have for the crucial aspects of architecture. KIRK SAUNDERS, AIA
70-80 hour work weeks for months (last 2 years) are common; burnout approaches. Our solution is to slow down incoming work, telling clients we’re booked for 2-3 months at least. Most are willing to wait. CHRISTOPHER GILMAN, AIA
Computer technology has simplified administrative, financial and drafting tasks. But experience is required to get it right. CHARLES F. JENNINGS, AIA
I can’t get my work done during the day. It requires weekends now. CAD takes four times longer than hand drafting. The ArchiCAD program requires endless fiddling to get a decent drawing plotted. AutoCAD is worse. More endless computer work. setting up e-commerce and Web pages. when we should be performing design. The Internet is, however, a fantastic source of quick information such as product literature, data, ICBO reports. etc. Especially at midnight when everyone else is asleep. CHARLES T. FLANNERY, AIA
About 10% of my time is spent doing that which inspired me to get into architecture. KENDRICK TOBIN, AIA
I try very hard not to allow the chaos of the work affect me internally. Meditation for 15-30 minutes every day works wonders. WILLIAM BUCHHOLZ, AIA
The $ margins are too thin to be “creative” with manpower requirements while scheduling project services. Architects are like the little Dutch boy—but with too many holes in the dike. JOHN DAVID SECOR, AIA
Author Carol Shen, FAIA, is a principal at ELS in Berkeley. She heads the firm’s design management and has directed several of their retail and mixed-use projects. She has been chair of the Architecture California Editorial Board since 1996.
Photo illustration by Bob Aufuldish.
Originally published in early 2000, in arcCA 00.1, “Zoning Time.”
