Truth Be Told

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Author Message Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 1332 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 08:04 am:    120725 TRUTH BE TOLD ! by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Cincinnati, OH “Looking at practice today, how is it we did twice the work,with 1/3 the staff, in half the time”? Kaye Stabler was a crusty, rather loud, talented, experienced, and insightful architect from St. Louis, MO. He knew his stuff and how to “put it down” so others could understand it and build from it. But Kaye was easily frustrated by CAD operators who never seemed to appear or move before 11:00 AM, and then moved at snails’ pace, producing what he really didn’t want! They had been, uhhh, given an education! And he was the architect’s "Wilford Brimley"! But he had a most valid point in his comment! There was a time, when as an architect, you saw and met a problem, solved it and then did the necessary detailing or other iteration of it—yourself! You didn’t have to make a rough sketch, or modify the “hard copy” of a standard detail, or red-line a drawing for correction-- you plain DID IT-- produced, contributed, added to and then went on to other things [in the same manner]. You didn’t worry over “layers”, pen set, file name, etc., you merely went ahead and did the work. You came to know where to place your work, how to cross-reference, and how to coordinate it and give it its right direction, line weight, toning, poché , and fit it into the overall documentation scheme. Others around you did the very same—and guess what, on the same project! We merely recount that department meetings centered on new information, policies, discussion of materials, and not on what the next issue of CAD or BIM would be, of what new spiffy software we were going to "try” to use for a new scheme of documentation [and usually more complex to navigate-- oops! work with!]. We looked at actual samples; felt them; turned them over, and tried to figure out what they were—we learned a lot! We had a good time trading experiences, and not worrying over the electronics and the latest gadgets coming out. Simpler times? Yes! But we did the work—quality work and with our own hands and not with sundry bells and whistles, of any type, human or otherwise. Truth be told, we really need to increase our diligence and do a better job of documenting our projects. We [and our young staffers] are enamored by BIM; Revit runs virtually unfettered, but we still don't teach the technology we NEED TO include in the documents. Too much is allowed to slide by or left to the unchallengeable whims of the contractors. -- many make decent choices, but we still are abdicating our responsibility to others. We may think we are dodging responsibilities, and we are, but guaranteed we will still get dragged into the lawsuits-- and still, pay dearly, just to be excluded from the suits. We are out of balance; and often this is a product of the client and the demands they impose on their projects. Time is often of the essence with little or no attention to the details. Little education and straight-talk needed here, too; it must be explained to the client that sufficient time is required to produce quality documents. We need to get back in the game, fully, and actively ensure that the client is properly served up-front and throughout the project to a satisfactory conclusion. [PEACE, STRENGTH, BLESSINGS AND QUICK HEALING TO ALL INVOLVED IN THE AURORA, CO. INCIDENT. GOD IS THERE anon (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 04:08 pm:    Do the three others-that read this! Have the same problem I do! With Ralph's [difficult] writing "style"!? How! is it that this PASSES as interesting, relevant discourse on this forum?! Oy. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1521 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 05:34 pm:    Anon, when you have perfected your writing style, and it's acknowledged as the only correct style, I'm sure you'll be able to effectively pass judgement on another's writing style. Until then, please refrain from personal attacks like this.