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No: A design competition is a great way to generate ideas for a potential client. However, I believe that the process lacks fairness and effectiveness for clients as well as architects. Clients should investigate architecture firms of interest based on previous work, and then select a firm that will fit well with the client's needs throughout the process. Architects' time, effort, and money would be saved for more viable projects.
--Robert Marshall
Cedarwood Architectural Inc.
Akron, Ohio
No: Do we ask a handful of lawyers to submit their defense strategies prior to hiring one? Competitions are a great way for owners to collect ideas, but they are extremely unfair to design professionals. An owner might even benefit financially from a submitted idea. Such ideas should not be free.
--Henry Chao, AIA
Boston
No: I think it is most fair and beneficial to owners if they hire architects...