An Architect's Guide to Construction-Second Edition

Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (03/2020)

"An Architect's Guide to Construction - Second Edition: Enduring Ways in the Age of Immediacy" is a practical guide for architects, written by author and architect, Brian Palmquist, who has over forty years of experience, and has spent much of that time in the field developing technology in order to provide more efficient construction administration.

In this second edition, Palmquist has reorganized the content to create a user-friendly platform. It's comprehensive while remaining on point. Divided into four parts, Objectives, Fundamentals, Elements, and Conclusions, it's easy to read piece-meal by navigating to a very specific area, though those just starting out in the field or even those still working towards their degrees may find it beneficial to read cover-to-cover. Every subtopic within each section contains a "tale" from the trenches, used by the author to address complex issues through short, relatable stories. With each tale, Palmquist conveys its point and follows up with the principles and best practices relating to the specific issue. Each tale is based on real experiences, making this an invaluable resource.

Going back to the Preface, Mr. Palmquist states, "It may be that the only profession more complex than design and construction is medicine, given the complexity of the human body." Sounds intimidating, yet, intrigued to learn more, I was pleasantly surprised that a layperson such as myself was able to read and grasp some of the multifaceted issues surrounding construction administration today. Palmquist's tales are credited for that as I found his messages personable and relevant, and the perfect way to get the point across. He's a born storyteller!

Well-written, current, and remarkably concise given the amount of detail involved, "An Architect's Guide to Construction: Enduring Ways in the Age of Immediacy" by Brian Palmquist is a must-have resource for those just starting out in the field. It should also be considered beneficial to more seasoned architects looking to hone their processes. It's a reference that should be on every desktop involved in construction administration.

The second edition of this Amazon #1 best seller is a major update, including new Tales, photos & figures organized around the 15 common elements of construction administration.
Brian Palmquist is an Honours graduate of the McGill University School of Architecture. In addition to his forty years of professional practice, he has taught students, interns and design and construction professionals about construction administration for more than twenty-five years, both in courses and at more than fifty national and international presentations. Brian lives in Vancouver, Canada. He is available for speaking, teaching and consulting engagements. To inquire, please visit anarchitectsguide.com or email him at brian@quality-by-design.ca.

"This is a really great and inspiring read."-Nakita Reed, AIA NOMA APT LEED AP, Co-Founder & Principal Architect, Baltimore, MD USA

"This was a comprehensive, concise, and approachable book on the convoluted world that is construction administration. I appreciate the structure of the book and the fact that it is a book written by an architect for architects (and emerging professionals). This would have been a nice reference when I was first starting my career and when I was going through the registration process, especially in the often-litigious environment in the States. I'm already getting ideas about process improvements at my firm"- Michele M. Hill, AIA NCARB SEED, Architect, Seattle, WA USA

"This is an excellent go-to resource for both the emerging professional and the seasoned architect who would like to brush up some skills. Its organization into simplification of documentation systems and tales of experiences tie together valued concepts for successful implementation of the challenging phase of construction."-Brian J. Welsh, AIA CSI CDT NCARB LEED-AP, Project Architect
Manager, Grand Rapids, MI USA

"This book is fantastic-it will be a great reference for years to come. In addition to the extent of knowledge, I personally appreciated the clarity in setting boundaries on our profession and the key references to assist us in making this clear to others. Further, the transition into utilizing web-based tools that are readily available and an obvious choice for a profession that has a lot of repeatable actions is exciting. My career started in a typical architect intern fashion, then moved to contract work for a number of years with architects and design/builders, thereby varying my mentorship. Although all equally great, there have been different means and methods. This book is a great guide for anybody practicing architecture, specifically younger practitioners."-Brooke Dedrick, B.A., M.Arch, OAA, Designer & Emerging Pratitioner, Vancouver, BC Canada

"I thought that the book was fantastic and should be a necessary read for young Architects. The information you describe is not only valuable, but gives insight to the day to day activities of an Architect, Consultant, and Contractor. As a professional who has followed your path in the profession with regard to Architect, Consultant, Contractor, I could relate to your lessons learned and easily related to them as my own. Nice job!"-Corey Zussman, AIA, NCARB, RBEC, LEED AP BD+C, Contractor Director of Quality Management, Chicago, IL USA

"I had done a fair amount of CA before starting my own firm, but the 1^st Edition was a great resource just when I needed it. It was really nice to see how a more experienced architect has dealt with some of these issues - like having a valuable mentor. I make reference to the book(s) often when discussing these issues with others in the office, and I'm always upfront that even after 11+ years practising, I'm still learning too. I feel like you really only get good at CA by doing a lot of it, but having a guide that paints a more realistic picture rather than a fantasy world of practice is indispensable."-David Zeibin Architect AIBC MRAIC LEED AP BD+C CPHD, Principal Architect, Vancouver, BC Canada