Page 55 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2020 Issue
P. 55
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IN THE FIELD Business tips and
strategies that work.
Team effort. Taking a collaborative approach to
education can help ensure that future
architects, engineers and construction workers
are fully prepared to enter the workforce. CREDIT:
ELVERT BARNES FLICKR
CREDIT: NVOICEPAY
San Francisco Ballet Building, where we had a range of excellent I could not have done such good projects without this type of
consultants that included structural, mechanical, electrical, and advice in designing, creating the drawings for review, approval and
acoustic engineers. We also integrated a number of key product for the construction of each project.
representatives to assure the careful integration of dance studios, Visiting the site often during a project and being open to
o ces and locker rooms. In addition, I provided the construction suggestions that improve the project and encourage learning, even
period architectural services for that project and got to see the during the construction of a building, can bring valuable information
execution of every detail of every part of the building. We had back into the design phases of each architecture rm. This can
an excellent general contractor that encouraged my complete include information from subcontractors about a better way of
involvement during the construction period. We often worked out drawing a detail than the way that may be typically drawn in the
a number of issues on the site as they came up. architect’s o ce. Architecture is a continuous learning experience.
This is not unusual in practice. Many good AEC companies work Who better to learn from than an engineer who has done something
collaboratively on projects. Encouraging this kind of interaction, many times before, or the contractor or carpenter that has to actually
increasing this kind of collaboration and teaching about it in schools build a detail?
will further improve the e ciency and eectiveness of the AEC
industry on everything from home projects to the largest complex MAKING THE LIGHTS GO ON
of buildings. This leads me to another issue. I have taught in a PhD program in a
My single-family residence projects, while signicantly dierent construction department, where I was asked to present to students
from commercial and industrial projects, have beneted from the who were about to get their degrees. During my class, when I held
combined knowledge, experience and talents of a range of consultants up a detail and asked if anyone could explain what each line of the
and subcontractors in the development of projects that successfully detail represented, no one could do so.
incorporated, reected and satised the homeowner’s needs, requests I then showed them the same detail on a clear sheet of plastic
and requirements. mylar. I pulled forward a short wall section I had built earlier that
www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2020 GREEN BUILDER 53
52-54 GB 1120 In the Field.indd 53 12/10/20 7:03 PM
