Dear Architect is a work in progress. The advice column was the brainchild of a leadership conference. The “architect” is actually a committee of professionals who vet the questions and contribute to the answers. They are technical and non-technical people at various stages of their careers. They come from small, medium and large firms with local, regional and national presence. All the contributors are involved with the Utah AIA Board or its committees. As with any advice column, the answers are typically well informed, but not necessarily definitive. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion, and the Dear Architect Committee has had some spirited conversations about the “right answer.”
Originally, the answers were simpler and shorter, and the questions were more business and marketing-related. The questions are becoming longer and more technical, and the answers are becoming longer, and perhaps something that will require more than a short read. In other words, this column is a work in progress. To improve, we need to hear from our members about questions that arise or persist in your practice. Each email has a link for posing queries. And … if you want to join our team of “Dear Architect,” please just let us know. We welcome all perspectives.
The following are the questions that have been addressed over the past seven months on a weekly basis. The archived answers can be found on AIA Utah’s Dear Architect page.
We encourage you to browse through them and draw your own conclusions.
Dear Architect is disseminated through the AIA Utah email blast platform: Constant Contact (not the easiest format in world). As a result, in June, we moved from a weekly to a monthly column to take the load off our AIA staff but are continuing to collect and answer questions.
Past Dear Architect Topics
Nov. 5, 2024
- Why should I submit for a design award? They cost money and a lot of time, and time is money, and we haven’t won one yet.
- How do I stop my PIC from going after jobs we can’t possibly get?
- How much time should I spend on the design phase of a project without going broke?
Nov. 12, 2024
- How should I choose engineering consultants when none of them are exclusive and all of them seem capable?
- Do I really need to hire a professional marketer?
- How do you feel about holiday cards or gifts to clients/others?
Nov. 19, 2024
- Is there a formula for building a project budget by phase?
Nov. 26, 2024
- What role does the Historic Landmarks Commission serve in Salt Lake? Is this a powerful body?
- Is work/life balance really a thing in architecture?
Dec. 3, 2024
- I am a small firm, do I need to specialize in a market sector?
- Why do I need to specialize in a large firm when they seem to do everything?
Dec. 11, 2024
- Should we do client perception surveys?
- Who should do them?
- Wait! “Train them.” What does that mean?
- When should I do one?
Dec. 17, 2024
- What do I do if a client refuses to pay invoices?
- Is there a good reason to do pro bono work other than altruism?
Jan. 7, 2025
- Do net-zero projects really achieve net zero?
Jan. 14, 2025
- What do I say to a client who wants to know why they need an architect for a small- to medium-sized renovation?
- How do I vet a client I have never worked with previously?
Jan. 21, 2025
- Why do condominium projects pose more risk than apartment projects?
- I work for a manufacturer. What is the best way to connect with the designers and specifiers to highlight offerings and build a working relationship beyond answering production information and technical questions?
Jan. 28, 2025
- Should I get licensed?
Feb. 4, 2025
- How do I enforce deadlines?
Feb. 12, 2025
- What are the most important bills to watch during the legislative session right now?
Feb. 18, 2025
- Will Utah sign the Multi-Lateral Agreement for Reciprocity with Canada, as part of the licensure bill or otherwise?
- Since the Trump administration is focused on shrinking the government workforce, what changes should we look for in federal work and procurement?
Feb. 25, 2025
- How can we prepare for the anticipated aluminum and steel tariffs’ impact on our projects?
March 4, 2025
- What is the protocol regarding the transfer of a PIC to another firm who is in competition?
March 11, 2025
- How can architects use AI to be more productive in their jobs?
March 18, 2025
- What is the best method or software to track architectural projects?
March 25, 2025
- What are the best books to read for architects this year?
April 1, 2025
- What will it take for the entire project team to work within the same documentation, models, parameters, etc. to make for a truly collaborative approach that brings out the best from the A/E/C industry?
April 8, 2025
- What are some of the untraditional paths to architectural licensure in Utah?
April 15, 2025
- What blogs should I be following?
April 22, 2025
- A lot of folks have been forecasting an economic downtown for some time. In the last couple of weeks, the voices have gotten louder; Governor Cox has asked for a recession plan. What can we do?
April 29, 2025
- Utah has faced an affordable housing shortage for some time. What is at the heart of the issue, and what role can architects play to address the issue?
May 6, 2025
- Nationally, the demand for architectural services seems to be softening. Diversifying your markets always helps mitigate economic downturns, but with a potential recession looming, is it really a good time to break into a new architectural market in Utah?
May 13, 2025
- Construction costs are getting higher and higher. What is driving it? How do I explain it to clients?
May 20, 2025
- Can architects do anything to combat high Utah construction costs?
May 27, 2025
- It is common knowledge that Utah has air quality challenges. What can architects do with design to improve it?
June 3, 2025
- What is the latest in architectural biophilic design?
July 1, 2025
- Holding an office and/or sitting on an AIA board is very time consuming. Why should I bother?
August 4, 2025
- What is the current architectural job market like in Utah?
