Dear Roger, David, Jessica, and listers:

Please be careful when using gross generalities about architecture firms.
While it is true that architects love to work on museums, this demand has
created a highly competitive selection process. Not only does our firm
specialize in museum and cultural projects with over a dozen projects worth
of experience throughout the southwest (i.e. Navajo Museum, New Mexico Farm
& Ranch Museum, New Mexico Museum of Natural Science and History
Planetarium, IMAX theatre, and observatory addition, City of Albuquerque's
South Broadway Cultural Center, etc.), but we utilize Value Engineering
analysis during each milestone of every project and have worked with
planners (usually LORD Cultural Consultants) for most projects of this sort.
Our record of change orders for such projects is extremely low and our cost
and schedule control record is outstanding. These are only a few of the
reasons that our firm is very successful at winning cultural projects in the
Southwest and West Coast. However, regional competition for museum projects
is still very stiff and, despite our successes, I must assume our
competitors offer somewhat similar services to our own. I welcome a
discussion with anyone considering new facilities or will offer to put them
in touch with client contacts of any of relevant project for more
information about selecting an architect for your project.

Respectfully,

Forrest Courtney
DCSW Architects
320 Central Ave, SW
Albuquerque, NM  87102
TEL 505.843.9639
FAX 505.843.7819
[log in to unmask]
www.dcswarchitects.com

>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Date:    Mon, 23 Oct 2000 07:13:39 -0400
>From:    Roger Wulff <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Exhibit Coordinators
>
>Dear David and Jessica and all:
>
>I could not agree with David more in his statements about architects as
>exhibit designers.  I would also like to add that (since most
>architectural design is usually local) most architects have had little
>or no experience in desigining museums - but they will not turn down an
>opportunity to "do" one.
>
>As David said, there is more to designing a museum than designing the
>facility and that calls for the services of a Museum Planner. (I am a
>Museum Planner as well.)  In reality, the services of a well qualified
>Museum Planner to complete a comprehensive Master Plan for the museum -
>before calling in an architect - is much less costly than dealing with
>all the "change orders" after the plan is "set in Concrete."
>
>And, conducting a Value Methodology Study on the architectual planning
>at or before the 30-35% phase is extremely cost-effective.
>
>I have written (and published) an article on the use of Value
>Methodology on Museum Architectural Planning and Renovation and its use
>on most any type of major planning and programs - including Exhibition
>Program Development - I would be glad to E Mail it to you.
>
>Kind Regards
>
>Roger Wulff
>President
>
>*********************************************
>Visit our NEW "ONLINE" MUSEUM BOOKSTORE AND
>TREAT YOURSELF TO A BOOK - VISIT OUR NEW "ONLINE"
>INTERNATIONAL CRAFT SHOP AND ASSIST THE CULTURES
>WHICH PRODUCED THOSE OBJECTS
>
>at:     http://www.MuseumServicesIntl.org
>
>Museum Services International is a non-profit organization which
>provides services in all areas of the planning and development of
>cultural institutions and museums - especially in the new area of
>"Economuseology."
>**********************************************
>----------------------------------------------------------------------

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