Alan D. Hinklin

Director
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Chicago, Illinois

Since the beginning of time, mankind has been involved in the business of building. Technology and construction methods continually evolve: from the Egyptian post and lintel system, the Greek pediment, the Roman arch and dome, the Byzantine basilica, and the new Renaissance perspective to the School of the Bauhaus and the International Style leading us into modern times and the new millennium. Over time, societies change, construction methods change, clients change, and the architect s tools change; however, the excitement and energy inherent in the building process does not change, because of one factor only the process itself. To begin this process, two elements are necessary: an idea and a client. Creative minds then carry the process forward. With the idea comes the development of a building concept. A sketch or drawing, created through personal interaction with the client, develops the vocabulary for the physical construction of the concept. A builder and labor force turn the concept into reality.

Many processes have been used to manage this interaction. Continual evolution of the management process has turned it into an independent discipline which, coupled with the computer, is a major focus of the building industry today. From the beginning, individuals generating the concepts, preparing drawings, and building the project were considered part of what we now call the service industry. This section outlines the various complex components and professionals involved in the building process with respect primarily to the architectural profession. Despite...