Significant Career Lesson From an Architect at CLIMATE Architecture + Development
Amy, a Landscape Architect at CLIMATE Architecture + Development, emphasizes the critical importance of adaptability in architecture, stating that "real world consequences come in," often necessitating value engineering to reconcile ambitious designs with budgetary constraints. The ability to adapt and retain the "essence" of a project while meeting client needs and achieving professional fulfillment is a key lesson learned throughout Amy's career.
Adaptability, Problem-solving, Budgeting, Client Relations, Value Engineering
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
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Amy Cooney
Architect, Landscape Design
CLIMATE Architecture + Development
University of Virginia
University of Pennsylvania
Architecture, Interior Design
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management
Creative
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Adaptability is crucial in architecture due to real-world constraints like budgets and unforeseen circumstances.
2. Finding a project theme early on helps maintain design essence even when significant adjustments are needed due to cost or other limitations.
3. Architects work in a service industry; balancing client satisfaction with personal fulfillment is key to a successful project.
Transcript
Q11: Significant lesson - career
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
I've definitely learned that adaptability is very significant in architecture. We have a lot of ideas about the way a building should look or a project should turn out, but real-world consequences come in.
It's not the exception, it's the rule. Things cost money. There's even a phase of design called value engineering where, you know, you've created a design that costs a million dollars and the budget is $750,000. You then have to take part of what you've hoped and dreamed about the project out.
So, just being able to adapt and rework something while keeping the essence of it is important. I guess in the beginning of a project, the main thing is to think about a theme.
If you're designing a restaurant, for example, the theme might be openness, or meeting people, or whatever the theme is. You can achieve that theme for a million dollars, but you could also do it for half that.
You can still create something that both the owner and we, as the architects, are happy with. We're a service industry in the end, so we need to make sure our clients are happy. But it's also our job, so we want to make sure that we get some fulfillment too. So, just being able to adapt.
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