Academic Building, Floyd B. Buchanan High School, Clovis, Edwin S. Darden & Associates, photo by Hanna Barsam.Edwin S. Darden & Associates is the family business: Ed Darden, Jr., joined the Fresno office founded by his father in 1959 when he graduated from architecture school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1971. Running the largest architectural firm in the Central Valley (Ed Darden, Sr., is semi-retired), he has felt the impact of time compression and related forces on his practice in recent years.
“The computer has changed everything.” Years ago, Darden points out. drawing and design were more closely linked than they are now. A portfolio not only revealed one’s skill in drafting and rendering but design and detailing experience as well. Today, CAD specialists can create images and drawings that transcend their design and technical level. As the profession has shifted away from the traditional values of hand-drawing skills. CAD has pluses and minuses. On the positive side, we can produce complex and beautiful drawings relatively quickly. But these can also obscure unresolved design and fool the uninitiated into believing something is further along than it really is. Darden’s practice is affected by the “CAD generation gap,” where those with the most experience have the weakest computer skills. Any gains picked up from the new technology, he feels. are more than offset by the losses in efficiency of having others articulate his designs. Despite the frustration of having to “let go,” Darden allows that computers help make a better product. He advocates closing the gap and continuing the investment in effective applications of the technology.
“More and more time is spent dealing with adversarial relationships between owners and contractors.” Darden feels enormous pressure from clients who expect and want greater service but do not recognize how recent changes in the construction industry are tempering the architectural profession. His practice. focused on education and medical projects in the Central Valley, has worked with contractors more intent on “building a case” than building the project. Correspondingly, Darden’s staff now includes specialists in legal issues to help manage change orders and delay claims. Where once one person could provide construction administration services on a high school project, it now takes three. But owners (and fees) don’t acknowledge this lengthy, litigious process. and profitability has suffered. Looking ahead. Darden is concerned that unless we find a way to limit the architect’s risk and change the view that “costs are shared whether you did anything wrong or not,” any time saved from advances in technology will be eaten up by litigation.
“The Central Valley is the best place to practice in the world.” Fresno housing and labor costs are lower than in more expensive urban areas. While the state’s economy has experienced highs and lows, the Central Valley’s economy has steadily grown. Edwin S. Darden & Associates once stood alone among design firms in the Valley; in recent years, however, “outsiders came in.” In response, Darden has “tuned up” and expanded the reach of his practice throughout the state.
“The economics are simple; your time is too valuable.” Eight years ago the firm decided to invest in a private plane and hire a pilot. Waiting at airports, subject to flight delays and limited schedules, or driving two or three hours each way to meetings added up to much wasted time. The costs for access to a private plane are seen as a reasonable trade-off in the overall economics of the practice: having regained lost or exhausting hours driving, the associates are better able to serve their clients.
With Ed Darden, Sr., having initiated the transition and his son now joined by two partners, the firm is poised to take flight into the next era of practice.
Originally published in early 2000, in arcCA 00.1, “Zoning Time.”
