INSIDE CSI
Marvin Kemp, AIA, CSI, CDT
Last year, CSI’s senior manager for marketing and communications, Christine Tanner (@ChristineLTanne), asked her Twitter followers to complete the sentence, “Because of the CDT…” My response? “I’m a better architect and better able to serve my clients & industry partners.” I’d like to expand on those thoughts.
I was already a licensed architect when I earned my Construction Documents Technology (CDT) certificate in 2002. Why sit for an additional professional test after already passing a grueling nine-part Architect’s Registration Exam? I was a good architect, but I knew I could get better. I knew a lot about construction documents, but not all there was to know. Having spent nearly 10 years practicing in the public realm (mostly at public universities), I knew from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) contract documents there were other ways, and I wanted to see what I was missing.
Since then, I have found I am a better architect. I am not a mindless robot that puts on blinders and follows the ‘CSI Way’ of practicing design and producing documents or does things the same way because ‘that’s how we’ve always done it.’ With the CDT, I have the knowledge of how to do things the right way, so I better understand the risks and rewards of deviating from generally accepted standards. This helps me better serve my clients.
There are no cookie-cutter, boilerplate construction projects. In my office, we pride ourselves on producing great designs that creatively achieve our clients’ goals within their budgets. This creativity often comes with experimenting in new materials or alternative documentation techniques. To be most efficient, we occasionally try new documentation through our modeling, drawings, and specifications to allow us to push the envelope with our designs and give the builders the information they need. The CDT has helped me provide better documentation, mitigating risk for our firm and for our clients.
I had mentioned “industry partners” in my initial tweet. One of my great joys in CSI membership has been getting to know all members of the industry, from owners and builders to manufacturer’s reps and attorneys. We are all in this together—by working as partners, we can best serve our clients. The CDT taught me that, regardless of the contracts in place, all members of the team are responsible, whether contractually or not, to help each other reach the client’s goals and budget.
While preparing to take the CDT exam, I was reminded of projects I had worked on, both good and bad. I began to reflect on what made the good ones good and the bad ones bad. A common thread wound through both— the quality of the team members. Good teams have good projects, and bad teams have less successful ones.
I firmly believe if the percentage of CDTs increased, so too would the number of good projects. There would be fewer adversarial teams and greater collaboration. More owners would have better buildings and spend fewer dollars to build those buildings. If we all hold the CDT, we all do our jobs better and make more money.
This year’s registration deadline is March 14, with exam dates of March 27 through June 2. For more, visit www.csiresources.org/certification, and consider signing up to take the exam and earn this important certificate. You’ll be better at work, and you’ll further your career.
Marvin Kemp, AIA, CSI, CDT, is a principal with the multi-disciplinary design firm, Design Collective Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a long-time member and past-president of the Baltimore Chapter of CSI and is currently institute director from the Middle Atlantic Region. As an architect and project manager, Kemp has focused his career in higher education design and laboratory planning. He frequently blogs on construction collaboration and design leadership online at www.accidentaleader.blogspot.com. He can be reached via e-mail at mkemp@designcollective.com.
