A personal observation about the future of architects
It is my personal observation that, because there is an overwhelming lack of understanding of the anatomy of architecture, the architectural profession, once a noble and important endeavor, is losing its leadership position in the project delivery process. While still claiming responsibility for the technical design of an aesthetic design, the architectural profession has at the same time shown its fundamental inability to provide construction documentation that are sufficient for their intended purposes. Architects have settled for mediocrity, deficient drawings, and bad specifications.
The architectural profession is at a turning point. By the time you read this, I will have given a presentation at CONSTRUCT2010 (the national CSI convention) in Philadelphia in which I will make the case that, by the year 2025, architects will have very little relevance. It is my opinion that contractors are aggressively gaining control of the process and are actively endeavoring to marginalize architects. But the part that bothers me the most is that the architectural profession neither seems to notice this progression, or seem to care it is happening.
BIM is revolutionizing the drawing side of the profession. BIM is a wonderful tool and it is the next logical step for the design professions. However, because there is so much pressure to take time and money out of the project delivery process, it is my belief that the next service to fall victim to “efficiency” will be construction documentation. The perception that seems to prevail with many contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, is that architects no longer have the ability to provide construction documentation that is sufficient to construct an aesthetic design. So, it seems entirely logical that when the aesthetic design of a project has been developed and modeled, the model can be then be taken by the contractor and the technical design developed. Stated another way, what we once called design development documents will be the conclusion of the design services and the beginning of what we know as shop drawing submittals. Think about it: if the model is definitive and descriptive enough to present the design intent, why would construction documentation from the design professions be necessary when the contractor, via the subcontractors and suppliers, can “take it from there?”
Thus, the following are my personal observations of what the architectural profession will look like in the year 2025:
- Architects will only be needed for planning and the exterior aesthetic design.
- Architects will no longer represent the Owner.
- Architects will be a consultant, not a leader, in the project delivery process.
- The architectural profession will be much smaller than what it was before the recent economical turn of events.
- The technical design will be negotiated between the Owner and the Contractor as part of the cost, time, and scope of work.
- Clients of architects will be contractors.
I truly hope I will be wrong.
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