A recent headline in Britain’s tabloid Express read, “Construction jobs BOOM: Bricklayers and plasterers earn MORE than architects.” It seems that skilled construction workers in the UK are at the front of the pay line, with architects bringing up the rear. Ouch. But architects reading this headline on either side of the Atlantic are hardly surprised.
There’s an oft-repeated trope in our profession that we’re underappreciated, losing ground to specialists, and under the thumb of contractors. Most architects have their own version of these complaints, but, unfortunately, they reflect the reality of the essential value proposition of architecture as a profession. Despite the relative strength of the current economy, architects are still paid far less than comparable professionals of equal education and import, and we create value through outmoded delivery systems where the client’s first—and often most important—priority is getting the lowest fee from the architect. When your price is driving selection, you’re a commodity.
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