-----Original Message-----
From: Janel and Chris Patterson <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, April 12, 1998 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: museum architecture, Angela Putney's comments


After working with seven architectural firms in both a university and museum
setting, I find this one exactly on target!  A wise university will appoint
a "design committee" to work with the architect -- including representative
'future tenants' -- but everyone knows how difficult it is to reach
consensus among faculty, researchers, museum departments, donors,
governments, and building inspectors.  And then there's the contractor who
goes off on his own when the architect's not looking.  An entire HVAC system
at a new museum had to be ripped out after a subcontractor cut corners and
the ductwork was installed backwards.   The architect hadn't noticed, but
the staff did.


>I only wish the architect had as much power as you seem to think he
>does.  Most likely, it is not a matter of the architect convincing the
>one with the "purse strings" as you indicated, but the one with the
>money saying no for what ever reason (usually because it has to do with
>money).  A common occurance is for the architect to say from the outset
>that an acoustical consultant will be needed and those in charge
>refusing for financial reasons.  By the time they wise up, the building
>is basically designed and there is no budget to redesign for changes.
>In addition, the accoustic functioning of the building is only one
>aspect of the functioning of the building.  It is impossible to design a
>building which functions at 100%, something has to be sacrificed and its
>the architects job to decide what.  Architects design and make these
>decisions based upon the information and resources of the client.
>Unfortunately, the client is rarely the user and the clients usually do
>not (especially universities) like to consult the users because it slows
>the process.  I'm sure the architecture faculty at the universities you
>wrote about were not consulted, asked to review, or were even informed
>about these projects.
>
>
>Chris Patterson