We Can Change It.
Looking back at CW’s journey is something I do more and more often. It’s nice to be proud of the path charted and the challenges overcome. The work that matters, and the work I love, gets done through strong relationships and a willingness to solve problems together.
The Fool’s Errand
Ten years ago, I worried over errors on drawings or details so precise that the material used to create them couldn’t keep up. Drawing is a world of balancing reality with fiction. A line in a CAD program is infinitely thin and perfectly straight, what we call “Ortho.” It actually takes more effort to make it less perfect in the digital world. When it comes time to build, ortho does not exist. Things are not built perfectly.
Chasing perfection in a world that cannot produce it is a fool’s errand. You can pour endless hours into tolerances that will never hold, details that will never read, corrections that the material itself cannot honor. Excellence is where I draw the line. Nothing more, nothing less. That is not a lower standard. It is a more honest one.
Great service balances many parts, and it has always been my mission to provide the best service possible. Which raises the question: What’s my idea of ‘service’?
“Can We Do That?”
A few years back, we designed a project that pushed my limits as an architect and the builder’s limits as a residential contractor. It was a blast. I could have gone without the sleepless nights, waking up in a sweat, thinking about wall sections. But in the end, looking back, we did that! Life is much more fun with a little challenge and pushing the limits of the norm.
On-site one day, Steve, our Master Carpenter on the project, and I were discussing a specific challenge. One that left us all scratching our heads bald. After a back and forth of several ideas on how to solve the problem, Steve asked, “Can we do that?”
“Of course, we can, Steve. I made this all up. We can do anything.”
And we could, and we did. Was it as designed? No, the design was flawed because the tolerances were too tight. Does it work great and look fantastic? Yes, it is excellent. Will I design it that way again? Of course not. This and so many more errors are how I created my 900+ point checklist to begin with.
Stronger Together
Construction is hard, but it is much easier with a team. It is easier when multiple heads work together towards a goal. We know this. To see it in action is remarkable. I tell every client that having a 3-legged stool, Architect, homeowner, builder relationship. A strong set of relationships means everything.
I will never understand the ego approach. The pissing contest attitude I find in the industry. I run from it as fast as I can. How is it that human beings have been able to achieve such great things? Sweat, hard work, of course. But in addition, great communication, great attitudes, and great relationships always takes home the trophy.
Massage the Problem
It is funny to think about. Architects make stuff up. It’s made up of the client’s wishes. It’s made from the site conditions, finances, construction technology, and much more. At the end of the day, there are multiple ways to combine these forces into architecture.
When one pushes back, be willing to pivot, be willing to flex. Adjust to the circumstances and work the problem. As Brian used to say, “massage the problem.”
We made this up. We can change it. But you may have to think outside the box.