"Architect's Assets List"

[Peter Pallotta]

I put this on another thread, but liked it so much I thought I'd start a new thread. A recent post and  years of reading this site came together last night in the creation of an "Architect's Assets List", i.e. in order of importance, the 10 things an architect needs to create wonderful courses. So, from most important to least important:

1. Connections to Wealthy Clients
2. Quality Sites
3. Several skilled and loyal Associates/Crew
4. Ego, Restrained
5. Good Timing
6. Media Savvy
7. Training/experience working with an Old, Crotchety Architect from the Past
8. An aesthetic and strategic framework/philosophy
9. Integrity
10. Talent

Please feel free to add to and/or rearrange this 'Architect's Assets List". I believe that the majority of acclaimed architects past and present all had these ten assets.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Peter,

Probably a good list, with the addition (or combine with media savvy) "Ability to sell ice to Eskimos."

I do all right with severe limitations in items 1 and 2....which may prove their worth overall.  If a 1-10 scale, those are probably ranked a 1 and 2, respectively, and the others range somewhere in the upper half, save perhaps social media savvy.  I thought I was lucky overall in good timing of the course a day boom, and on some occasions, on individual projects.

Of course, self assessment. Your assessment may vary.

BTW, media savvy is probably now a two part deal - traditional media and now, social media, which almost seems to be a separate skill.

[Peter Pallotta]

Jeff - thanks, good points; and indeed, just after I posted I started thinking of dropping "Quality Sites" down the list and "Experience/training with an old, crotchety architect from the past" up the list.  Two reasons: a - I was probably guided by my modern-day minimalist bias, and b - before someone mentions Garden City as a less than ideal site. In fact, I think I will revise that right now:

1. Connections to Wealthy Clients
2. Training/experience working with an Old, Crotchety Architect from the Past
3. Several skilled and loyal Associates/Crew
4. Good Timing
5. Ego, Restrained
6. Quality Sites
7. Media Savvy
8. An aesthetic and strategic framework/philosophy
9. Integrity
10. Talent

Peter

[BCrosby]

Wasn't it Frank Lloyd Wright who said the first and most important skill an architect must have is getting the commission?


Bob

[Adrian_Stiff]

I put this on another thread, but liked it so much I thought I'd start a new thread. A recent post and  years of reading this site came together last night in the creation of an "Architect's Assets List", i.e. in order of importance, the 10 things an architect needs to create wonderful courses. So, from most important to least important:

Agronomic knowledge
Irrigation knowledge
Golf course maintenance knowledge
Golf course construction knowledge


ALL THOSE come before any of your ten, you need to know and understand how to build it and how it functions to be an architect so you can design and contain the project within a budget.

1. Connections to Wealthy Clients
2. Quality Sites
3. Several skilled and loyal Associates/Crew
4. Ego, Restrained
5. Good Timing
6. Media Savvy
7. Training/experience working with an Old, Crotchety Architect from the Past
8. An aesthetic and strategic framework/philosophy
9. Integrity
10. Talent

Please feel free to add to and/or rearrange this 'Architect's Assets List". I believe that the majority of acclaimed architects past and present all had these ten assets.

[paul cowley]

Good list Peter...while analyzing it was easier to come up with a smaller list of my own:


1. Talent, with an unwavering belief in one's own
2. A willingness to work without reward or recognition to advance
3. A strong networking ability
4. Integrity, to sleep well
5. Tenacity, to endure
6. Luck

[Jackson C]

Good list Peter...while analyzing it was easier to come up with a smaller list of my own:


1. Talent, with an unwavering belief in one's own
2. A willingness to work without reward or recognition to advance
3. A strong networking ability
4. Integrity, to sleep well
5. Tenacity, to endure
6. Luck

This one seems to match Tom Doak.

[Gary Sato]

Most architects are interested in,


1. When can I start.
2. How much do I get and when do I get it.
3. Luck


Your post may be more appropriate for an owner.

[Tom_Doak]

10. Talent

"Talent" does not deserve to be in last place.  If your courses don't turn out well, you are not going far in this business, unless you were born into it or something.    Talent will not get you anywhere without a lot of your other assets, but none of those other assets will make you a great architect if you don't have talent -- or, at least, the ability to hire talented people to make up for your lack of it.


P.S.  I will always remember that when I was 18 years old and a college freshman, several of the architects I wrote to for advice were less than encouraging, but Geoffrey Cornish wrote that "there is always room in this business for someone with real talent."  That was a heck of a thing to write to an 18-year-old, but I think he was 100% right ...


as long as the talented person is willing to work for low pay and no credit for an undetermined number of years. 

[Joe Hancock]

Only thing I would add would be "Love of the Trade/ Art" or something along those lines.

One is at their best when they do what they love, and love what they do. And very few are fortunate enough to experience that.

[Peter Pallotta]

Thanks, gents.
For what it's worth, I was struck by what I found myself not including in the list and/or not ranking higher. For someone like me who likes ideas and likes to study a subject, I was surprised I didn't include an LA degree in the list of assets; and with my blue collar/left leaning background, I'm surprised I didn't include membership in a trade association; and with a romantic/idealistic streak, I thought I'd include passion/love and tenacity on the list, and rank talent much higher than I did. (On that one though, I was being purposely obstinate with myself). 
Clearly all my years of reading here have ruined me, my head now full of endless top 100 lists! Okay, so maybe:

1. Training with an Old, Crotchety Architect from the Past (learning agronomy and irrigation etc)
2. Several skilled and loyal Associates/Crew
3. Connections to Wealthy Clients
4. Good Timing, and Luck
5. Ego, Restrained
6. Quality Sites
7. Talent, and a love for the craft
8. An aesthetic and strategic framework/philosophy
9. Integrity and Tenacity
10. Media Savvy

Okay, there it is. I think I'll ask Ran to "lock" this thread for posterity.....

[Jaeger Kovich]

I think you could separate talent into 2 assets: Talent on construction equipment is a huge asset right now. You couldn't get a job working for/with Renaissance, C&C or Hanse if you didn't have talent on machines.


Hard work, and a lot of luck cannot be underestimated. Neither can the ability to be flexible/available.

[Randy Thompson]

Only thing I would add would be "Love of the Trade/ Art" or something along those lines.

One is at their best when they do what they love, and love what they do. And very few are fortunate enough to experience that.

Agreed Joe but a better Word may be Passion!

[Mike_Young]

Peter,

After 25 years in this business the one thing I would do if I were to start tomorrow is move to a region that had cool season grasses and sand.  To build the best projects one needs to be located in such a region when beginning so that he can evolve there.  One can do well in other regions but to get the top projects you need ot be around such.  The other item that I think is now showing as critical is the ability to function in the field.  And my number one thing would be the ability to get the NEXT project. 

[Bill_McBride]

Wasn't it Frank Lloyd Wright who said the first and most important skill an architect must have is getting the commission?


Bob

RTJ was paying attention!

[Jeff_Brauer]

While you're at it, may as well add love of or ability to tolerate travel and an understanding wife/family.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Jeff - I don't think the Golden Age architects who were drunks needed to worry about wife and family.
Adrian - I don't think they new much about automatic irrigation either.
And unfortunately Jaeger I don't think C.B. dug many ditches.
Peter - I'm not sure if integrity is a requirement - see drunks
Where does winning majors fit on this list?
Cheers

[Adrian_Stiff]

Jeff - I don't think the Golden Age architects who were drunks needed to worry about wife and family.
Adrian - I don't think they new much about automatic irrigation either.
And unfortunately Jaeger I don't think C.B. dug many ditches.
Peter - I'm not sure if integrity is a requirement - see drunks
Where does winning majors fit on this list?
CheersLooks like your the one whose been drinking Mike!

[Ian Andrew]

Everything begins and ends with the ability to find work.
Talent needs an outlet....


4. Good Timing
That's the one thing that I think is massively underrated
Anyone starting now is in for a tough go before things improve

The missing one is the Maven - the person who gets you known and often gets you work behind the scenes
Every successful architect has one ... or more.

[Greg Tallman]

1. Salesmanship (comes in many forms... some work at it, some have it without trying/knowing)
2. Talent

Get the gig, deliver a good product rinse, repeat.

Is there more to it? Sure but if you want to boil it down that's the deal.