A company’s machine breaks down. The company’s owner, an old school chum of Brian Cox, calls in the physicist for help in fixing it. Cox looks at the machine. He asks for a marker and draws an X on the side and says, "Hit it right here with a hammer." The company’s mechanic hits the machine with a hammer. It springs into action. The company’s owner thanks Brian Cox profusely and sends him on his way.  A few days later, the owner receives an invoice from Cox for $10,000. Shocked, the owner phones Cox...

"Brian! What’s this $10,000 invoice? You were only here for 10 minutes! Send me a detailed invoice." Cox agrees to send the invoice. A few days later, the company’s owner opens a new invoice, which looks something like this:

INVOICE
Drawing X on the side of your machine                          $       1.
Knowing where to put the X                                          $ 9,999.
———————————————————————————————————————–
Total                                                                          $10,000.

Like most professionals, we make calculations based on expenses and salaries to develop our hourly rates. We are steadfast in our commitment to the profession, and emphatic when potential clients assume that hiring an architect is prohibitively expensive. Really, compared to the architect, it's the product that's expensive. Trust is key to the successful outcome of any project— among other things, rapport between client and architect is a consideration in selection. Choosing an architect based solely on a fee schedule is a big mistake.  A truly experienced professional with a wealth of knowledge that charges $150 an hour can be a much wiser choice than an inexperienced hack, working with inadequate or insufficient insight and no experience, but charging $50 per hour. The hourly rate only has meaning when it is considered along with the firm's work quality, experience and performance.

From time to time we include information in our newsletter about products and services that we have used and found to be helpful, useful, or money-or time-saving. We hope you think so too.

               

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CODE CHANGE UPDATE
In January we included an article regarding forthcoming code changes (see Design Matters 1.2010).  The Christie administration has put a 90 day freeze on all proposed code changes.  We will endeavor to keep you up to date on changes that may affect any planned and future projects.

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EARTHQUAKES
You've likely heard a radio or television announcer recently say that Chile's strict building codes may explain the lower toll of building and structure damage and loss of life in the recent earthquake there.  What about New Jersey?  While not exactly in an earthquake hot zone, New Jersey has its (geologic) faults, the most famous of which is the Ramapo Fault. As recently as last month, a small seismic event (magnitude 2.5) was recorded centered in Gladstone, NJ and felt as far away as High Bridge and Bernards.  Are there earthquake provisions in the NJ building code? You bet.  Lateral forces, in the form of seismic or wind actions, are addressed in the design of every building.  Newer buildings may be more compliant with lateral-force-resisting requirements than structures that pre-date the building code. Building structures must be designed to accommodate the worst case event. Failures that occur in our area are more commonly due to wind than seismic events. Wood structures, especially those with large openings (window walls or garage doors) are now required to show compliance calculations, and prescriptive construction methods have been updated to avoid failures such as those indicated in the photo. Essential services buildings like hospitals and fire stations, or uses such as schools and public assembly buildings, must meet a higher design standard than a small office or a residence.