There are a few metaphors to be drawn from such an archaic, yet useful tool. These metaphors speak to what we have been through and what we have taken away from the studio.

 

As a start, we borrowed the sledgehammer from our sponsors and mentors at el dorado. We have relied on eldo for redlines, required permits and licenses, and to nudge us back on track when we get stuck. This entire project would not be possible without the partnership with eldo – not just the formwork and stakes.

 

This studio has been an intense research and development process. There have been numerous things that we did not know about designing and detailing an entire building – and it was up to us to figure these things out. For example, we had never drawn a set of shop documents for casework or steel, had productive client interactions, or even understood the tight grip that budget has on a project. Through this process, we were always given the appropriate tools and knowledge to get the job done ourselves – it was not just done for us.

 

Secondly, sledgehammer duty is a job that nobody wants. We have tried our best to spread it among the people in our studio who are able. Especially in these last few weeks, this has been an important lesson in delegation. After taking a few swings with the sledgehammer, it is relieving to cut boards to length or use a nail gun. You can only do this if someone else on the team is willing to pick up the sledgehammer when you put it down.

 

Architecture is a fast-paced, slow-to-realize field that is easy to get burnt out in. You can only draw wall sections and detail handrails for so long before you lose interest, or worse, lose the idea of the project. Continually moving between large-scale design and small-scale detailing allows the designer to reach a level of competence and coherence to the project. This would not be possible if these duties were done by two separate parties. However, this zooming in and out process is only possible if everyone is willing to pick up a sledgehammer or detail a wall section.

Most of all, I have learned the importance of thankless tasks.

 

Simply put, if you are actively working to push a project forward, there is significance in each task you undertake. Even the smallest tasks can be perceived in the final product. Without someone swinging the sledgehammer, there are no stakes to hold up the retaining wall formwork. Even if the job is done halfway, you risk the entire wall failing when we try and pour the concrete. Thus, it can be argued that the person driving in stakes with a sledgehammer is just as important as the person doing finish carpentry.

 

On a larger project, it might be hard to see the linkage between these seemingly menial tasks and the success of a project.

 

Most architectural graduates do not look forward to the detailing work that is typically assigned to them in the first years of their career. It is important to understand the design opportunities that still exist in the detailing and documentation phase of a project. Handrail details can have just as much impact on the final project as large-scale conceptual design. The work in this phase, if realized to its fullest, separates a good project from a great one.

 

So - future Brock – do not be afraid to pick up a sledgehammer every now and then.

 

Whether it is a metaphorical sledgehammer or not, those tasks form the backbone of a project. These tasks are not glorious. However, it is in these tasks that you reach a better understanding of how a project is realized and how you can push forward when most would think of everything as resolved.