A MALL LIKE NO OTHER

Most ‘Professionals’ education, training, and development could be gruesome, to say the least, especially that of an Architect. However, the ‘horror’ of Architectural training/development is matched or even supplanted by the ‘Joy of Creation’ driven by a passion for the Profession. The love for the Profession or fear of extinction sustains the individual Architect as the AEC industry evolved from hand drafts to CAD, then BIM, and with AI looming on the horizon, the industry awaits more engaging experiences like that of Lanre and his friends.

Lanre, Ikenna, and Bashir are eternal friends whose friendship started in one of Nigeria’s foremost Architecture Schools several decades ago. All three of them are Lagosian and could confidently claim to be from Lagos, a bustling State in South-Western Nigeria and her economic capital. Recently, though, the jamboree surrounding the Presidential Elections reminded them all that their ancestral homes were far away from EKO (Lagos) and that Lagos was indeed their ‘second home.’ Thus the city they’ve always known and called ‘home’ became their ‘second home,’ thanks to partisan politics. This rude fact has been accepted reluctantly and respected as the Lagos ‘descendants’ have no such places as ‘ancestral homes’ except Lagos. The friendship shared amongst these Architects, who are now in their early 40s, is quintessentially Nigerian, as they are from the major regions of the Country, in conformity with the intents of the founding fathers of Nigeria, who designed policies to ensure enabling environments for every Nigerian to thrive within her shores and in any of her 36 States despite having their ‘ancestral homes’ elsewhere.

They had just finished having their Sallah (Eid al-Adha) dinner at Bashir’s family house on Victoria Island, an event Lanre and Ikenna look forward to annually despite not being Muslims because, to them, ‘absolutely nothing compares to the sumptuous meals served in Bashir House’ on such days. Interestingly, Bashir also claims to enjoy the Christmas dinners more as he usually takes his starter and main course meals at Ikenna House and desserts at Lanre’s. Lanre and Ikenna are Christians. In Bashir’s opinion, Christmas is truly the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year.’ This year’s Sallah celebration is noteworthy, as it is the first time they are all together in over a decade, as Lanre immigrated(japa) to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master’s Degree in Urban Design and eventually settled in the Country. So there was much catching up to do, especially from Lanre, as Bashir and Ikenna had always continued with the Sallah/Christmas tradition.

Olodo (Yoruba word for dullard), as Lanre is called fondly by his friends for having the least GPA amongst them, was asked by Ikenna why he was recently described as a BIM guru by one of their classmates on a social media group in which they all belong, Lanre laughed and replied, it was because the ‘classmate in question’ never knew he is just an Oluya (a jovial Yoruba word for an artist) which is another name Bashir and Ikenna called him because he is the most gifted designer amongst them. Lanre, in return, calls his friends Eni-iya (another jovial Yoruba word for a subject of an artwork).

Lanre had a distinction in his final Design Studio work and the highest score in their class for his Project as a post-graduate, a testament to his zeal and resilience as he had always been too close to the ultimate grade throughout his undergraduate and post-graduate studies. He, however, got it right in his final Project in their Architecture School. It was a day to remember as his younger colleagues who witnessed his presentation and engagement with the External Juror (a Professor of Architecture) lifted him sky-high, not minding it was an examination. Upon hearing the Juror’s verdict on Lanre’s presentation, their reaction was swift. In Lanre’s recap of the events of his last presentation in Architecture School, he reflected on the scene created by his younger colleagues and likened it to; ‘the Super Eagles (Nigeria’s Senior Football Team) just scored a winning goal.’

Bashir probed further on his experiences as an Architect in the UK, to which Lanre responded with a huge sigh and subsequently explained that his UK experience could never be detached from his experience as an NYSC/Corp Member in Maiduguri (Northern Nigeria), where he learnt how to use the CAD from a book because the Partners in the Practice he worked were desirous of a transition from hand drafts to CAD. Lanre was able to master relevant CAD skills by studying and practicing persistently after work hours for about two months. By the 3rd month, the Partners were happy to remove his drawing board and replace it with a Desktop Computer. He subsequently assisted his colleagues, who were inspired by the progress he made in a very short time to ditch their drawing boards for CAD. Lanre returned to Lagos after his mandatory service year (NYSC) to join a reputable Architecture Practice based on the CAD skillsets he exhibited during his interview and his work samples. While leaving Maiduguri, the Managing Partner of the Practice he worked, joked that Lanre must have consumed about 3 Cows during his stay in Maiduguri as he had Suya (traditional smoked spice meat) about twice daily.

Lanre worked in the Lagos Practice for several years with some of the best minds in Architecture before venturing abroad for his MSc degree. He passed his professional examinations during his time with the Lagos Practice and was the first among his friends to do so. Lanre, however, got registered at the same time as Ikenna and Bashir about five years after his professional examination, as the registration body for Architecture would only approve his registration once the original copies of his certificates were presented for requisite verification. Lanre’s School of Architecture issued his certificates about ten years after his graduation ensuring he got his registration at the same time as Bashir and Ikenna.

On arriving in the UK, Lanre registered for his MSc in Urban Design and Planning and completed the degree on schedule with commendation in 18 months. During his 18-month study, he passed his Part 1 and 2 exemption examinations as an Architect in the UK while working part-time in an Architecture Practice in London’s East-Central. Lanre’s CAD skills had taken him from Maiduguri to Lagos and now London. Upon completing his studies, he gained full-time employment with a renowned Architecture Firm in London’s East-Central also. Lanre secured his new job after his work visa was approved. However, with big names come big challenges. The firm was recently commissioned to design a massive Mall in the UAE, which must be delivered using BIM as required by the Client. However, only a few of the in-house Architects and Technicians had BIM experience, and no one currently uses the software within the Practice. Lanre’s new London firm arranged a 1-week Crash Course with an Expert, who relocated to the UK for the purpose. Lanre was lucky to be selected for the BIM training.

The contracted BIM expert, Jeung, a Korean Architect and a selfless BIM mentor, stayed on the Project for about three months after the training to assist in setting up the Project Worksets for the Mall Districts(8No in all) and mostly troubleshooting as necessary. The Mall’s BIM model was to be produced by about 35No novice Architects, Technicians, and Designers working on their very first BIM project. The Project was required to be delivered to the agreed schedule while the internal CAD standards, which metamorphosed into BIM standards, had to be attained. With a mix of deep horror and joy, Lanre reflected on the severe strains Architects experience in delivering scheduled presentations and production packages for projects and noted that these strains sometimes profoundly affect the individual.

Project delivery schedule challenges are experienced in Schools of Architecture and Professional Practice but are dwarfed mainly by that unheralded and underrated ‘Joy of Creation’ (‘god’ feeling). To deliver the Mall Project and ensure set quality standards, Lanre’s employers provided overtime payment, meals for the team members that stayed behind after ‘close of business/play’ hours to work on their respective sections of the Project, and reimbursed taxi fares for late travels. On a particular occasion, at around 0145hrs, while having a team break, which comes with a meal, Atillio, an Italian Architect, observed the persistent absence of the indigenous UK Architects on the team during these ‘ungodly hours’ of the day whenever the team was trying to meet up with scheduled delivery dates. Suhail, a Yemeni Architect, duly responded thus, ‘Because all of you guys are ‘IMMIGRANTS’ and looking for a ‘free meal,’ a burst of lengthy wild laughter erupted for his rather blunt answer. Lanre noted that late-night works done to meet up with delivery schedules were reminiscent of scenarios experienced in Architecture School Studios with matching humour and drama but without the associated loud music.

The pressure to deliver the Project in line with the agreed schedule was immense and was felt by all. While the remuneration was excellent, there were several ‘bitter’ aftershocks months after. One of which was after reviewing of the preliminary cost estimates, the Client decided to execute the Project in phases to ensure a sustained cash flow during Construction. Lanre’s Mall district was selected for implementation as a part of the Phase 1 works. The discontinuation of some of the Mall’s Districts may not have been a problem, but for Lanre’s insistence at the commencement of the works that he was no longer willing to work as a Technician or Assistant as he had the relevant skills set to lead the design of one of the Mall’s Districts. The firm accepted Lanre’s suggestion, but some of his colleagues could have been more supportive of his new role since they claimed he had no retail experience. Six months before the commencement of the Mall Project, Lanre passed his professional exam and became a UK Registered Architect, he had informed HR and Management about his new status, but the expected review of his current employment status as an Architectural Assistant to an Architect seemed to be on hold. He had sent several reminders before, receiving a letter seven months after his qualification confirming his new status as an Architect but with no changes in his pay. Ikenna interrupted, ‘No Nigerian will be happy with that scenario,’ but Lanre refused to comment further.

Lanre managed to lead his Mall district’s team, which had about 5 Architects/Technicians, the best way he could but faced several challenges, primarily associated with Architects/Technicians from other Mall Districts who joined his team when their Mall Districts were omitted from Phase 1 works. On one occasion, one of the new members of the team asked him where he ‘copied’ his teams Mall design from, but he laughed off the suggestion by noting that if there was an ‘original’ somewhere, then one on the popular search engines should be of help in locating where it was. The production packages for the Project were delivered successfully, and Lanre had to attend regular coordination meetings with other consultants before the final synchronized production packages were issued for Construction.

Months before the delivery of the final production packages, Lanre had contemplated a change in his employment as he seemed to have attained some level of success with the recent Mall District delivery schedule, and he looked forward to a fitting upward review of his pay given his UK registration as an Architect. To him, a befitting pay increase may only be possible by securing employment in another Architectural practice, given his recent experience. Lanre eventually resigned and fondly remembers his time with London’s East Central Practice as ‘working in the United Nations because diversity was richly embraced. However, the firm could better manage several cultural sensitivities. Lanre secured new employment as an Architect with complementary pay in a medium-sized Architecture Firm in South-West London before his resignation, and he is now a Senior Architect in the firm. Lanre considers himself fortunate to work with ‘like minds’ in a team who readily embraces his knack for weird ideas, which usually meet approval with some necessary tweaks. Lanre claims that his South-West London employers provided the most reasonable enabling environment any professional could wish for.

Lanre confirmed that he found the images of the completed Mall several years after leaving the London East-Central practice. He was very impressed by the outcome as it matched his team’s models, renders, and material specifications. He thereafter justified BIM as the most viable tool in delivering AEC projects. Ikenna subsequently queried about the evolution of AI as a new project delivery tool. Lanre responded that until ‘Autodesk,’ the company that had provided the AEC industry with widely accepted software and the required automation standards, rolls out another widely accepted software, then, in his opinion, the AEC industry may have to wait a little longer for the true AI evolution.

Bashir noted that it was getting rather late, and Lanre had to prepare for his early morning flight the next day, so they rose from their chairs to leave. After saying their goodbyes, Ikenna, who is now a very successful Product Manufacturer/Architect, noted that, now that he knows he is from Umuahia in Abia State (South-Eastern Nigeria) and not Lagos, their Christmas discussion should be on the ‘Business of Passion’ because the maximisation and monetization of our collective skills-set is now very important. However, Bashir noted that it took Lanre over a decade to come home for the supposed ‘yearly’ Sallah dinner and such discussions could only hold if Lanre is available for the Christmas dinner later in the year. Lanre responded thereafter that Ikenna and Bashir should alternatively come to the UK for Christmas and was hopeful that there would be ‘snow this Year,’ to which Ikenna and Bashir jointly responded, ‘Ninu Otutu.’ (Meaning in the cold weather)