Dealing With Architects and Engineers

One of the biggest problems I have withany corrections that I needed, for the rest of the
architects and engineers, is the fact that most ofjob. I would have been better off, making him
them perceive contractors as problem creators,feel more important than putting him in his place. I
not problem solvers. On most of the projects Iwas the one who got penalized, because
worked on, I was the one solving most of thesomeone else needed to feel important. Don't let
problems and it didn't take long for the engineersthis happen to you, this particular structural
and architects to catch on.engineer cost me a lot of money.
I knew what I was talking about and most of theBe careful working with architects and engineers,
time, I was the one providing them with solutionsbecause they can create construction problems
to their problems. Yes, that's right, I'm pattingand delays. If you do find yourself having
myself on the back here. This was oftenproblems with an architect or engineer, you might
embarrassing for them, whenever we wereneed to replace them, if you have the power to
surrounded by other professionals. I wasn'tdo so. If you don't, remember that the few kind
interested in embarrassing anyone, I would usuallywords usually go a long way.
talk to these people in private, unless I knewYou're the best architect in the world. I don't think
them.anybody could have done a better job than you
If you're having problems working with architectsdid. I just wanted to call you and tell you, how
and engineers, you might need to feed their egos.much I appreciate you sending us the building
I've worked with quite a few who needed theircorrection, in a timely manner. How about some
egos fed often. I even had one structuraltickets to Friday nights basketball game. Great
engineer tell me what to do on my job. I askedcontractors know how to motivate other people.
him as nice as I possibly could," Remember who'sHere's an additional heads up for any contractors
paying your bills, you're working for me, I'm notlooking for more work. Engineers and architects
working for you."can provide you with a lifetime supply of
That was the last job I use that structuralcustomers. I worked for one architect for one
engineer on, and he went out of his way to delayyear, without working for anyone else.