HKS had two principals that toured the country trying to select what the right electronics system would be. We wound up with a CAD system that was very dynamic. I raised my hand, saying, “I want to try this. I think this sounds interesting.” We would do floor plans and reflective ceiling plans with CAD, but all of the other drawings, we would still draw by hand. And then we said, “Hang on, maybe we could actually do all of the others.” The Greyhound Dial project, that 30-story corporate headquarters in Phoenix, was the first project at HKS that we drew everything, top to bottom — mechanical, electrical, plumbing, all of the architectural landscaping in CAD. That was a big change. There were increases in technology and we could do things better and faster, but everything was basically replicating what we could do by hand: a line was a line. Then when we went to Revit modeling. That changed everything. Now we are making that same kind of large changes, over and over. It used to be that when we brought in kids from the university, there was a long training period. Now, students are coming to us and are training us that this is the new thing, this is how it’s done, this is how it could be faster. That’s the exciting thing about architecture. Have you seen other changes beyond technology in the profession? The way architects and contractors deal with one another has changed quite a bit. In the past, architects would give drawings and the contractor would go build it. I think there was some contention about what things meant. I think architects and contractors have figured out that it’s better to hold hands than argue. There are good contractors in Utah who understand that it’s really a collaboration. There is respect for what we do architecturally and what they do, which to me, is the harder part: taking the architecture and building it. There’s a different working relationship between architects and contractors. It’s much, much better now. It’s not perfect, but it’s better. What advice would you give to young architects? I’ll go back to something my dad taught me. He said, “Take money out of the equation. What do you like to do?” I always liked to draw. I always liked to build things. I would ask them the same kind of thing. Architecture has evolved into specializations. Hospitals are a very special thing. Airports are a very, very special thing. High-rise construction is different from the other practices we have. I would ask them what they liked to do and suggest they specialize earlier rather than later. The age of generalist architecture will always be there for the smaller firms. But at larger firms, we are a body of specialized individuals that work together. My advice, if you want to work on a specific building type — hotels, hospitals, airports or whatever it is — do it, and be the best at that practice. Any last thoughts? I’m proud to be an architect. I’m proud to be in a position of changing cities, areas and neighborhoods. I’m working on a project in South Dallas right now. It’s historically a black neighborhood that has not had the services that it should have. The project is really helping knit that neighborhood together again. I’m proud to be an architect that does that. I think it’s different than being a doctor, lawyer or teacher, which are all great professions. But being able to, over the course of time, physically see something that you did, that’s very gratifying to me. To view the full interview, scan the QR code. www.youtube.com/watch?v=erfK6pE1lcs 10 REFLEXION
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