Architecture is Awesome #24: The Act of Building

 

This is another in my series of posts inspired by 1000 Awesome Things, the Webby Award winning blog written by Neil Pasricha. The series is my meditation on the awesome reasons why I was and continue to be attracted to the art of architecture. 
 
One of the aspects of being an architect I find most enjoyable is the opportunity to see a project take concrete shape during construction. Until construction begins, the client’s vision exists only as a collection of ideas, albeit thoughtfully conceived and composed by the design team. Drawings, a scale model, or a convincing digital reproduction can stand in for that vision, but nothing surpasses how satisfying it is to watch a building come together, piece by piece.
 
The act of building typically involves the efforts of many hands and machines, requiring considerable forethought by the design team and, in turn, by the general contractor. Because so many people are involved, and because buildings are costly and complex assemblages of interdependent systems, the potential for a project to go sideways is always present. Design and construction are challenging enterprises, and projects often take years to complete. The risks are always substantial, but so too are the rewards when a project proves to be a success.
 
A building site is a beehive of activity. It’s exciting to follow construction as it advances in real-time, especially as the project progressively moves from its start as a bare site, through the sudden erection of its structural frame, to receiving its cladding and its outfitting with myriad systems and finishes. It’s inspiring to work with the builders to translate a design into reality, addressing problems as they arise, while doing our best to stay on schedule and within the available budget. Witnessing the entire process unfold is exhilarating and, if the project is going well, immensely satisfying.
 
The ultimate payoff comes when the completed building opens its doors and welcomes its users. If the design team has done its job well, people will enjoy living, working, learning, being cared for, shopping, or playing there for many years to come. I derive a tremendous sense of purpose and fulfillment from seeing happy faces and knowing my efforts have contributed to a client’s or a community’s wellbeing. From the users’ point of view, the architecture is meaningful and worthy of admiration because the act of building made it so. The completed building has become an important part of their lives.
 
As someone who is not a parent, I can only imagine what the joy and thrill of witnessing the birth of one’s child must be like. Comparing such a profound and miraculous experience to the process of design and construction may be a stretch, but perhaps apt because both involve bringing new life to the world. A building is an architect’s “baby.” The projects I enjoyed the privilege to be a part of have provided my life with purpose. They will be part of the legacy I leave behind after I die.  
 
Architecture is at its most AWESOME and empowering when it leaps off the proverbial drawing board and becomes a physical reality. The completed buildings stand as a testament to the efforts of the many who did their best to create artful spaces and places. My contributions are tangible and with some luck, positive and lasting. The act of building contributes substantially to the meaning I derive from my work as an architect.    
 
Next Architecture is Awesome:  #25 Vernacular Architecture