Collecting Architects - Catch 22
[Founding new firm update #4]
Yesterday I reconnected with an architect I used to work with a few years ago. We both talked about how the atmosphere of collegiality in architecture firms is sadly lacking in most of the places we’ve worked.
Coming to work every day with a group of people you enjoy and respect, we both feel, is the most important thing. From that, quality work follows. But quality work can never result from a team who doesn’t like each other or work well together.
We enjoyed a beer on his back deck in the 75 degree July weather, and by the end of it he agreed to jump on board. I now have two solid architects on my team.
At the moment I’m caught in that interesting Catch 22: I can’t hire architects until I have a project. But I can’t bring in projects unless I have more stuff in the company’s portfolio. [My own experience alone is insufficient to pull in the type of work I’m targeting. Also, I wouldn’t be the architect working on the projects, so it would seem dishonest to sell my own set of talents and then put a different architect on the job.]
My clever solution: [I always think I’m clever; humility isn’t one of my strong points.] Get commitments from a few good architects who are ready to join me but have some income for the moment. Their experience and portfolios become part of the collective company’s abilities. Then I can honestly say, “Our company can take on X, Y, and Z types of projects.” When we capture the project we hit “Go” and they get on the pay roll for reals.
