Architects Are Never Done

Architects have a reputation for working a tremendous amount of hours and still never finishing on time. Having been in the field for over a decade I can tell you the stereotype is pretty much true. There are innumerable conditions to draw when doing plans for a building. Also, you would be amazed at how much one change can ripple through a set of drawings. Combine the nature of the work with the fact that most Architects I know have at least a touch of OCD and it's easy to see why we end up working crazy hours right up to the deadline.

After so long in the field I've started to learn the difference between what is absolutely necessary and what would be nice to include in a set of drawings. I kept that in mind while working on my most recent project and for the fist time ever I was actually on track to finish a project on the scheduled due date. Unprecedented for most Architects and completely unheard of for me. Not once, that I can remember, have I been completely satisfied when we had to deliver the 100% Construction Documents.

Naturally the one time I am running on schedule the Owner throws a change at us just a few days before the deadline. This bought us a extra week. The change did not affect my work even a little. So did I print on the original due date? Of course not. There are always more details to draw, things to work out and notes to add.

And that is why Architects are never done.