As co-working space begins to move more online for most industries, Architecture has already been making the move towards leveraging all tools available to achieve a high-level of communication and collaboration. Along with this online presence comes a feedback loop that allows for citizens to voice their interests in new projects being designed. An example of this can be seen in reactions to the high line in New York City. New Yorkers demanded that there be areas for the public to come together and create something beautiful together. Whether it be The Shed designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro or the Public Square with the Vessel in the middle.
Due to the nature of the industry and how it has reacted to the advent of rapid representation on the internet, Architecture firms have promoted more openness and spaces for collaboration. Architecture firms are becoming more and more similar to the Purpose Driven Firms that Robert Ivy, VP of the American Institute of Architects, commented on during his Ted Talk at AIA’18 in NYC. Purpose is what drives people to work harder and try to solve the problems that we see in our society. Thus, the working space that architects interact with on a daily basis is not the same as a banker or insurance agent.
In many ways, social media has played a crucial part in how the work space for an architect can be defined. If part of your job is also being aware of how the community receives a project, then you must be active online to present these informed ideas to the public. On top of that, as a decision maker and leader within your firm, you must internally be aware of how to provide a a safe and positive environment for your architects, designers, and other counterparts involved.
In the Work Design Magazine, they recently had an article that highlighted the key takeaways from the leadership at COVO Design in regards to creating these co-working spaces. They stated that:
Most mobile workers — lawyers, designers, software engineers, and the like — don’t need anything more than the standard coworking space provides. That’s not the case for architects.
Architects from the perspective of COVO Design require materials libraries, CAD Design stations, and huge printers to achieve certain crucial tasks. On top of that, Jane Cee, an architect at COVO Design, highlights the necessary continued education process that must take place while holding a job to maintain professional licenses. The demand for 3D rendering adds to this environment a new set of tools that must be mastered too.
The constant juggling act that Architects are expected to take on requires a strong cast of supporting members, and easy communication between all of these levels. Here at Architect-US we understand the work and time it takes to master this juggling act.
