It\u2019s exam time again, and the panel has convened, trying to pass the next cohort of architects on to the register. I\u2019ve learned to steady my expectations, as the pandemic continues to punish the most junior. Yet I note the upswing in mood among the Part 3s in the office. I indulge in a little optimism.<\/p>\n
The first couple of interviews are disarmingly benign. They\u2019ve had a think, re-read the ARB Code of Conduct and would like to revise their stance on working cash-in-hand. Hooray for you, delighted to hear it.<\/p>\n
Another has had a chat with their director and no, they don\u2019t actually calculate fees based on \u20185 per cent of construction cost + another 2 per cent because this guy is a f***ing nightmare\u2019. Turns out there are timesheets, a resource plan and even weekly meetings. It\u2019s not that reassuring, but I\u2019ll take it.<\/p>\n
And then \u2026 this guy. Yes, bespoke appointments are \u2018a bit naughty\u2019 and it is weird that the sole director made a massive dividend payment just before the company became an employee ownership trust.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure the Building Regulations are just \u2018annoying guidelines\u2019 \u2026 there might be an inspector or officer who should approve some drawings before they get built? No? Nothing? Really?! All of this is concerning but not necessarily terminal if the critique is astute and best practice is well understood. What\u2019s really worrying is the answer to all of these questions is the same.<\/p>\n
The PD should have picked it up.<\/p>\n
Appointments? PD\u2019s fault. Structural collapse on site? PD should fix it. Contractor refusing access to site? PD\u2019s responsibility.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re so persistent that I had to check in on what exactly they think PD stands for. Principal Designer, yes, great, well done.<\/p>\n
So who was the PD on your project? IT WAS YOU?! No, right, no that would be mad, wouldn\u2019t it. Haha. Um. Ok so, sorry, who was PD on your project then?<\/p>\n
Okay, great, you subcontracted the role. Brilliant. Well not brilliant, obviously, because? Because it fundamentally undermines a key recommendation of the Hackitt Report wherein Dame Judith states design responsibilities should be assumed and resolved, not bartered nor \u2018mitigated\u2019 through subcontracting? No, not that. Yes, it is a bit expensive. Talk about pricing risk! Ahem.<\/p>\n
My palms are a bit sweaty. The more we poke the issue, the more we unveil that, for this individual, the role of designer, lead designer, lead consultant, PD, PM, QS, CA and even EA is a Gordian knot of meaningless acronyms. And our hero is slashing through it with his Vorpal Blade \u2013 the role of the PD! A designer, but with principles, whose principal role is to guide the project, from first principles! It makes so much sense!<\/p>\n
It makes no sense. She must be a busy woman this PD sub-consultant. Is that why she always has her camera off in meetings? How is she doing all of this with just one little spreadsheet full of red\/amber\/green boxes? No wonder the Stage 3 report had the wrong project name on it. She must be so confused, doing everything!<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t envy her, left alone to absorb all the lessons of the Grenfell disaster, when she doesn\u2019t even design anything. What if somebody lies about the fire rating of their cladding? What if someone over-represents their competency to design high-rise buildings? What if Building Control (they\u2019re real, I promise) aren\u2019t paying attention and allow a single fire exit for over 400 people? She\u2019d never know, would she, unless someone told her.<\/p>\n
Maybe there\u2019s someone else involved in the project who is better suited to that role? Someone intricately involved in design, who could carry \u2013 let\u2019s call it a golden thread? \u2013 from strategy through detailing and onto site? Someone who designs buildings all the time and has a regulatory body checking they meet basic competencies? Who might that be, do you think?<\/p>\n
They pause. Don\u2019t say it. Please don\u2019t say it.<\/p>\n
PD.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s exam time again, and the panel has convened, trying to pass the next cohort of architects on to the register. I\u2019ve learned to steady my expectations, as the pandemic continues to punish the most junior. Yet I note the upswing in mood among the Part 3s in the office. I indulge in a little …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10162,"featured_media":694174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[690,745,692,693,93206],"tags":[30227,3661,3551,2518,1638,1433,72352],"yoast_head":"\n