Architecture and Development Best Practiced Together

Marcel says he learned from his father, Walter Wisznia, that too often architects are asked to draw up proposals for projects that are never realized. Walter began developing his own projects as 20% of the firm's business, and Marcel turned that into 80%:

"I had gotten tired of taking the time necessary to educate clients. I realized for a client to make good design decisions, an architect must spend a lot of time educating. In many cases, the enlightenment comes through an architect's effort to show that a well-designed and cohesive solution will rent or sell for more than one that is solely bottom-line, numbers-driven.

Today, architects say I am lucky to 'wear both hats' - that I can do whatever I want without having to sell our solution to the client. In fact, my firm faces the same difficult daily decisions required to turn any project from a dream to reality."

Read the rest of the interview at the AIA, conducted by Mike Singer.