The American Architect
VOL. CXIIIWednesday, February 13, 1918Number 2199
Architecture As a Business
To Whom It May Concern
By William Roger Greeley
I
N a recent discussion of architecture as a pro
fession,: comment was made upon the facility with twhich architects organize among themselffes. IT is not unnatural that men whose profession-demands a high degree of business management should find it easy to perfect an organization of their own numbers. It is unnatural that the public should have overlooked the architect’s, aptitude for this kind of work, and should have made so little use of him in public undertakings outside the confines of the profession. Perhaps there are good reasons.
In the first place there are certain facts to be reviewed. According to figures furnished the writer by a reputable building news agency, it appears that during 1916, a bad year for building construction, the architect has handled the money and the men, and has superintended the design, marketing and construction of buildings valued at something like $1,160,000,000 out of a total of $1,547,000,000 in the North Atlantic States and Northwest territory alone, and the engineer during the same period has designed and directed the construction of work valued at less than one-seventh that amount. Comparisons in no way derogatory to the engineers may be made, showing that the architect is called upon to be responsible for a much wider range of work than the engineer. In a commission like a large hotel, for instance, he is obliged to include in his study of the problems detailed consideration of the following special sciences: Hydraulics (foundations and elevators); structural engineering (frame); sanitary engineering (drains and plumbing) ; domestic engineering (heating, ventilating, lighting, power, equipment, elevators, telephones, vacuum pumping, refrigeration, cooking, clock systems, fire alarm systems, etc.) ; acoustics (audience halls) ; physics (absorption and contraction of materials) ; chemistry (reaction of materials in juxtaposition, deterioration, electrolysis) ; meteorology (orientation, wind pressures, snow loads, lightning conductors, rain disposal) ; foundry work (forgings, castings, and
wrought work in iron, steel, brass, bronze, copper, etc.) ; modeling and sculpture (ornamental work in stone, wood, plaster, terra cotta, metal, etc.) ; cabinet work, interior decoration, etc.
Besides these scientific considerations the architect must add an understanding of the taste of the prospective patrons of the hotel, so as to interpret in advance their desires. He must also be acquainted with the style in which the building is to be designed, even to the complete mastery of all its intricacies and subtleties. He must have a thorough knowledge of the market so as to specify materials which are easily available and economical. He must know how to get out of the workman the character of ornament which is required to make a masterpiece. He must have the tact and force to handle the contractor in such a way as to avoid strikes, delays and extra charges against the owner. He must be alert to discover the defects and mistakes in construction before their correction becomes too difficult or even impossible.
Last of all, he must have a creative instinct and wholesome taste of his own which will enable him to see the solution of the problem in the first place and give him courage to stick to his convictions through every kind of temptation to give in to easier methods and alluring compromises. His work is successful only in so far as he is able to co-ordinate the work of the multitude of tradesmen and artisans who are contributing each his own share to the building as a whole, and to give meaning and harmony to the chaos.
Now the architect is accustomed to act as the confidential and sole representative of the owner. Complete responsibility for the success of the undertaking rests upon his shoulders. If the roof leaks, the curse falls upon him; if the plaster cracks, he should have used wood that would not shrink or swell with successive applications of heat and moisture; if the paint blisters on the southeast wall, he should have been at the building the morning when
Copyright, 1918, The Architectural & Building Press (Inc.)
VOL. CXIIIWednesday, February 13, 1918Number 2199
Architecture As a Business
To Whom It May Concern
By William Roger Greeley
I
N a recent discussion of architecture as a pro
fession,: comment was made upon the facility with twhich architects organize among themselffes. IT is not unnatural that men whose profession-demands a high degree of business management should find it easy to perfect an organization of their own numbers. It is unnatural that the public should have overlooked the architect’s, aptitude for this kind of work, and should have made so little use of him in public undertakings outside the confines of the profession. Perhaps there are good reasons.
In the first place there are certain facts to be reviewed. According to figures furnished the writer by a reputable building news agency, it appears that during 1916, a bad year for building construction, the architect has handled the money and the men, and has superintended the design, marketing and construction of buildings valued at something like $1,160,000,000 out of a total of $1,547,000,000 in the North Atlantic States and Northwest territory alone, and the engineer during the same period has designed and directed the construction of work valued at less than one-seventh that amount. Comparisons in no way derogatory to the engineers may be made, showing that the architect is called upon to be responsible for a much wider range of work than the engineer. In a commission like a large hotel, for instance, he is obliged to include in his study of the problems detailed consideration of the following special sciences: Hydraulics (foundations and elevators); structural engineering (frame); sanitary engineering (drains and plumbing) ; domestic engineering (heating, ventilating, lighting, power, equipment, elevators, telephones, vacuum pumping, refrigeration, cooking, clock systems, fire alarm systems, etc.) ; acoustics (audience halls) ; physics (absorption and contraction of materials) ; chemistry (reaction of materials in juxtaposition, deterioration, electrolysis) ; meteorology (orientation, wind pressures, snow loads, lightning conductors, rain disposal) ; foundry work (forgings, castings, and
wrought work in iron, steel, brass, bronze, copper, etc.) ; modeling and sculpture (ornamental work in stone, wood, plaster, terra cotta, metal, etc.) ; cabinet work, interior decoration, etc.
Besides these scientific considerations the architect must add an understanding of the taste of the prospective patrons of the hotel, so as to interpret in advance their desires. He must also be acquainted with the style in which the building is to be designed, even to the complete mastery of all its intricacies and subtleties. He must have a thorough knowledge of the market so as to specify materials which are easily available and economical. He must know how to get out of the workman the character of ornament which is required to make a masterpiece. He must have the tact and force to handle the contractor in such a way as to avoid strikes, delays and extra charges against the owner. He must be alert to discover the defects and mistakes in construction before their correction becomes too difficult or even impossible.
Last of all, he must have a creative instinct and wholesome taste of his own which will enable him to see the solution of the problem in the first place and give him courage to stick to his convictions through every kind of temptation to give in to easier methods and alluring compromises. His work is successful only in so far as he is able to co-ordinate the work of the multitude of tradesmen and artisans who are contributing each his own share to the building as a whole, and to give meaning and harmony to the chaos.
Now the architect is accustomed to act as the confidential and sole representative of the owner. Complete responsibility for the success of the undertaking rests upon his shoulders. If the roof leaks, the curse falls upon him; if the plaster cracks, he should have used wood that would not shrink or swell with successive applications of heat and moisture; if the paint blisters on the southeast wall, he should have been at the building the morning when
Copyright, 1918, The Architectural & Building Press (Inc.)