-: I really like the problem solving
that's really the crux of what we do
and it really goes all the way through the project.
You know the first, in the initial stages
we're trying to figure out what are the problems
that the client wants to have solved
and how we best solve them
and what kind of aethestic statement we want to make.
And once we have that figured out
then we're trying to figure out how to accomplish
that with the physical elements
of construction with that part
and how to document that so the
contractor can understand it.
And interestingly enough, I really like
working with the craftsmen in the field,
because they're the ones that put it all together.
And as much as we think we know about how to build things,
they're really the ones that understand how to do it.
If you keep your ears open you can really hear from them
and you can learn from the craftsmen
that the way that you thought to do it
may not have been the way that produces the best outcome.
The guy that's been doing just that for 30 years
knows how to do it better than you do.
Today I'd probably say that the biggest
problem or challenge that the profession is facing
or at least in our area of the profession
is that buildings are becoming more and more complex
and there's more and more things to solve
and more and more things to know,
but being the managing principal
I also know that our fees are not increasing commensurately
so it's always a delicate balancing act
in terms of we've got to do our job
we've got to meet our professional requirements,
but if we don't also maintain a profitability
there's not going to be any firm there next week for us.
So we won't be doing projects after this
because we won't have the money to do them.
And that's a real challenge,
because the expectation is more and more,
it's the regulatory requirements continue to evolve.
The technology of building continue to evolve
and it's a balancing act that we've got to deal with.