by Howard Birnberg

Given the current state of affairs, many would question if architects have a future.

Certainly, the marketplace has moved dramatically for the profession.   Historic “bread and butter” markets and delivery methods are comatose and show no signs of revival in the near future.  Firms that will survive and prosper will recognize that owners have many options  available that often do not include architects.

The future for designers will include much less design and much more programming, planning, financial analysis and related services.

Mergers and affiliation with management and specialized consulting firms will be more common and are a recognition of the diminished role of architects in the building and construction process.   Unfortunately, architecture schools and the American Institute of Architects continue to promote a form of private practice that no longer has a future.

(Please see the Summer 2010 issue of The Project Manager, the quarterly journal of the Association for Project Managers for more on this topic.)

About The Author

Howard Birnberg is president of Birnberg & Associates, a management consulting, association management and publishing firm. He served as an instructor on project management for six years in the Office of Executive Education at the Harvard University, Graduate School of Design and also as an adjunct assistant professor at Michigan State University, College of Human Ecology. Mr. Birnberg formerly served as a lecturer on project management for the University of Wisconsin, Department of Engineering Professional Development for nearly twenty years.

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