This past weekend, Ray Tomlinson passed away 40+ years after inventing direct email communication in 1974. I'll be honest, I wasn't aware of him until I read the headline this morning, but it has caused me to reflect on how email has changed the profession of Architecture.
Email has drastically changed the profession of Architecture. The instantaneous communication provided by direct email enables someone to receive an architectural design the second it is completed by the architect. Email also provides architects the ability to respond immediately to construction document questions by the construction team. Besides the development of construction documents, email communication is truly the most valuable coordination tool used during a design-build project. And in large part, email has greatly contributed to the success of the design-build project delivery method.
The design-build project delivery method has allowed the transition between design and construction to become instantaneous allowing contractors to construct the second the drawing document is developed. Researches on Selecting Project Delivery Systems by Victor Sanvido and Mark Konchar of Pennsylvania State University found that design–build projects are delivered 33.5% faster than projects that are designed and built under separate contracts (design-bid-build).
[design] [build] by architects has prepared for construction's fast pace during design-build projects by positioning the project architect's office on the job site during construction. This enables the architect to provide immediate response to questions that occur during construction. The project architect's office is a modernized 1967 Airstream Overlander. This "Archistream" features a mediascape conference table which allows the architect to hold in-field coordination meetings featuring the architect's 3d-model. The "Archistream" also features the project architect's desk, completely mobile through the function of satellite based internet, the architect is able to email, access cloud storage, and most importantly complete his/her's daily tasks.
The invention of email has largely contributed to the idea of instantaneous response time which in effect encouraged the "Archistream" concept and its ability to provide immediate job-site coordination.