The Medium Sized Practice

After years of experience working for a reputable firm you understand that there are areas within the profession that need an urgent intervention if your current practice is to front ‘the epoch of 70% data’ (Hossain, 2019) and stay relevant within the industry. Here are your findings...

“To champion great Architecture, one must be seen as competent 46% will live in urban areas by 2050 as well as relevant. Increasingly architecture is not just about design and buildings, but Global Population

[Fig.12] Percentage of Urban Population

information: access to it and Growth 2000-2050 how we use it to solve problems 70% our society faces. (Atanassova, 2019). 46% will live in urban areas by

The diagrams below [Fig.11] [Fig.12] [Fig. 13], project the exponentially vast increase in demand for

2050 46%

construction as projected by the RIBA article, ‘The Future for Architects?’ (Jamieson, 2011). This increase in urban population density and demand

More people, bigger cities, more construction Global Population Growth 2000-2050

for new infrastructure depicts “more people, bigger cities, more construction…” (Jamieson, 2011). This huge increase in construction demand, in turn, affects the demand on the architectural

Global Population Growth 2000-2050 Share of Global Construction

profession and offers constraints and opportunities More people, bigger cities, more construction to existing practices. [Fig.13] Increase in global population

Share of Global Construction

55%

Emerging Markets

55% 45%

Emerging Markets

Developed Markets

“More people, bigger cities, more construction” (Jamieson, 2011) More people, bigger cities, more construction 45%

Share of Global Construction Developed Markets

Unfortunately, “the medium sized design-led practices are increasingly under threat” (Jamison, 2011) from other areas of the industry including “practices in emerging economies”, “global interdisciplinary consultancies”, “subcontractors and specialist suppliers” and “creative agencies” (Jamieson, 2011). The medium sized practice in their current state are unfortunately not able to compete with these larger practices who can offer their services at a cheaper rate, more comprehensively and frequently. This is due to their vast comparison in size, where larger company’s area also able to manage and share larger risk and liability on a project with their client (Jamieson, 2011).

The medium sized practitioner is currently found to have more of a focus on design excellence, rather than cost and programme management. This is where they fall short and may become short lived if they do not adapt to the changing landscape which could inevitably shrink their opportunities and market share (Jamieson, 2011). This is already found in current practice, as it is often seen that the diversification of the role and responsibilities that Architects carry is distributed between project partners, contractors and subcontractors. “New forms of co-operation are diversifying the role played by those involved, making negotiations about who does what more commonplace” (Bosde Vos, M. et al, 2018). The relevance and need for the Architect in a Design and Build led industry is becoming a scarcity, leaving Architect’s fighting for their role within a project, to withhold relevancy. This should not come as a discouragement however, as the Architect should manipulate the changing industry and dissect their disassembled project role and become the opportunist. This is an opportunity to reinvent the role, take on new tasks and extend their responsibilities (Bos-de Vos, M. et al, 2018).

But how can this be achieved? How do you want to further yourself as a professional in the construction industry?

[Fig.14] Visual Opportunity