Building Wisdom--How and Why?

EDITORIAL
In Building Wisdom, Architecture Record 12.03, editor Robert Ivy, FAIA asks, in the light of various natural and human disasters, "How can we build more safely?" His answer: a return to common sense and practical experience as the most important ingredients in educating young architects.

In this author's opinion, what sounds like a good idea on the surface, takes several strange twists in this editorial. First, Ivy seems to claim that it is the schools that are providing needed practical experience to students, while professional firms are dropping the ball:

Schools of architect have already established programs that allow students to wield a hammer on actual projects. On graduation, however, the hammering stops."

This author's experience as an architect and teacher does not agree with Ivy's claim that the practical aspects of the profession are primarily learned in architecture school.

Secondly, the premise of this article seems to be that the need for practical experience is driven by the troubled times in which we live. Is the implication then that when times are good, building wisdom is not so important? I think not.

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