Masonry Magazine February 2001 Page. 12
COVER STORY
A Call for Collaborative
J. Patrick Rand, AIA
Alumni Distinguished Professor of Architecture
School of Architecture, North Carolina State University
RETHINKING MASONRY
Masonry, more than any other method of construction, is vitally dependent on the integration of insightful design with skillful construction. The best design is worth nothing if it is not well built, and the best skilled mason cannot make up for a flawed design.
Consider the following scenario for the design and construction of a new office building, perhaps a moderate sized headquarters for one of those fast-growing dotcoms. Being an ambitious and talented Project Architect in a growing architectural firm, you struggle to contain your excitement about the prospect of working on this new commission as, one by one, the following realities about the project nibble away at your hopes.
The owner requires occupancy of the completed building in one year, less total time than you've ever delivered a building of comparable scale and complexity.
The partner who marketed your firm's services to this attractive client used a fee structure that unwisely designated very little of the budget for Construction Administration. You will likely have enough to cover the ever-increasing burden of paperwork, but not enough for you to visit the construction site.
To meet the project schedule you must accelerate the preparation of construction documents, so you cannot detail all of the special conditions. You do so knowing that the contractors will be puzzled and will issue many Requests For Information, each requiring impossibly urgent responses.
The owner will solicit bids from any general contractor who meets basic economic and legal parameters, independent of quality of craft evident in past work.
The selection of subcontractors is not subject to your review; they will be identified by the general contractor after the contract for construction has been awarded. The contractor's criteria will be cost and schedule, not quality of craft evident in past work.
The general contractor's superintendent will be overseeing several other projects around the city at the same time that this project is being built.
The construction industry is booming in the area, so bids will be high, more lead time will be required when ordering materials, and construction labor will be in short supply.
Several construction trade associations report that fewer young people are entering the trade, and those who enter do so with fewer skills and no classroom training.