FROM THE SARA NATIONAL BOARD: Musings of an Old Architect

By Barry E. Milowitz, FARA

The United States is a capitalist country. Over 50 years ago when I began the practice of architecture, the goal of every architect was to earn a good living, but also to create something beautiful and lasting while “protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public”. It was not to earn that living at the expense of your colleagues. Looking at these uncertain COVID-19 virus times, we see schools, businesses, and public gathering places closing across the country.

I have been a SARA member now for almost 50 years and as I look back on my career and architectural associations, I can easily say that SARA has been my extended family – not only socially but professionally as well.

I sold my practice over 10 years ago but continue to be involved in what is happening within the profession. The changes have been dramatic – from hand drafting to autocad and beyond.  I am no longer “employable”. During my career I was fortunate to own a firm of over 50 employees as well as shrink to under 3 when times were bad.  I was licensed in 18 states and enjoyed the comraderie of my colleagues.

However, times have changed and with it the profession has changed. Architects have abdicated their role as “master builder”.  We now are all specialists in one building type or another. We have allowed the government and legal profession to dictate to us through LEEDS which in my day was simply known as good design.  In talking to the educational community I find that creative design is appreciated in our schools, but somehow the basics of construction are overlooked.  Graduates are entering the profession without a basic understanding of how buildings work (the computer doesn’t teach that). My friends all tell me that their new employees have to be taught how building systems work and interact through the various trades.

This was also the pet peeve of Wilfred Gregson, who founded SARA in 1956, simply because it was not accepted for an architect to also be the builder. He therefore broke away from the AIA and created SARA. Fortunately, today there are many firms that practice design-build which is the grandchild of the “master builder”.

As time marches on I still have faith that our profession will continue to lead the others (just think – everyone loves to use the word architect) and I am looking forward to the new building systems of the future and how we humans will interact with them.

About the Author: Barry Milowitz is a SARA Past President, and National Board Member. While retired from his architectural firm, he continues to be active in the practice of Architecture. Hit the button below if you have any questions for Barry about this article.  His opinions may not be those of the Society of American Registered Architects.