wow..my architect is demanding!
 

my palms are all sweaty. everytime i need to talk to him, i can hear the clanging of a cash register.

my tunnel will need to have some fake sculpted rock to blend into the surrounding. i will have the contractor paint it. i cannot get the arch to buy off on any particular look.

it is either..too dark, too light, to much striations, not enough striations, too yellow, much too brown..to uniform, too splotchy, can you add some more splotches? cant the painter use a stiff brush to "flick" tiny splotches? splotches are much too tiny,too fake, too..too too too too..

omg.

btw, what does a panic attack feel like?

Tell him its a freaking tunnel. Who really cares how much striations it has as long as it does its job. What's wrong with concrete?

You will know the panic attack feeling when you write the check. :)

When working with architects I also put in a "Cost not to exceed" clause...

Works great. Our local architects charge by the hour, with a guestimate of cost up front. I always say thats fine, but their final labor bill cannot exceed that cost plus 10%, regardless of how much work it actually takes. This leads to more accurate estimates, and locks in my cost...

You can also put in a similar clause for materials/etc...

Vash - It sounds like you need a new architect. I tell all my clients, whatever the project, that it's supposed to be fun! It's not often that you get to write checks with so many zeros and commas. It will always be painful : ) , but if you can't do it with a smile on your face, than you're not doing it right.

(full disclosure: I am an architect)

+1 Tom

Tell the architect to take him to take a hike!

I do residential project management and design work. Do you even need and architect for this? Those jokers are thieves. (please note that home designers and project managers are also thieves, but were much friendlier :) )

Tunnel?
Where can I read about your tunnel?
Maybe I can help?
I have tunnel vision.
I'm a licenced Tunnel Visionary.
I used to be a troglodyte.
But I decided to get into something that was boring.
My first tunnel went astray.
I ended up in my neighbors basement.
He was standing there when I emerged from it.
He asked, How did you get through that tunnel?
I told him, Through a hole at the other end.
I was aiming at another neighbor's basement.
A verrry foxy neighbor.
I finally suceededed.
She had me arrested.
I was sent to prison.
I tunneled out.
I think I better shut up now.

Road tunnel, right?

So the real test is what does the driver see in their peripheral vision at 60 miles per hour as they hurtle themselves toward the black hole that they are fixating on?

Most of them see absolutely nothing, let along striations, etc., in the rock. You could probably paint pink penises (peni? - what the heck is the plural of that?) in the rock all over the entrance and it would be years before someone noticed!

angela

Or until rush hour the first day it opens. This is California, after all.

Is this tunnel an escape tunnel for raccoons? or a place where the neighbors plan to park? Maybe hide the dregs of some tree debris?

as long as the roof of the tunnel doesn't fall down, who cares about the fake rock.
BTW why wouldn't a tunnel have REAL rock at it's entrance????

I constantly have to remind architects, etc. who's the owner and who's writing the checks. I know they worked hard on the project, but it's my budget and I can do what I or the owner wants. I've had some almost in tears because we changed things. :D

the back drop of this tunnel is the pacific ocean, it needs a feel to it...;)

I would fire the architect, now that it's in the hands of the builder/ sub-contractor. Let the builder build and the architect fret. It's nature's way, and the natural order of things.

Who's paying him? The state?

How can I find out what this tunnel being discussed is?

It all depends on which thieves and incompetent jokers you want to use.
Project managers are generally a waste of space as they bring no value to any project....and if its your home its generally better to have somebody who knows what they are doing when they are changing your life than and pleasant yet useless PM...;)

Devil's Slide tunnel? The south portal should match the surrounding granite. The north portal should match the surrounding shale and sandstone.

I actually mapped the geology for the tunnel way back in 1996. Why don't architects ever consult the geologist?

And I constantly remind Clients that you hired us because you wanted our ideas/ talents and abilities...If you do not want them, fine..pay us what you owe us and we'll be happy to piss off...You can find somebody who fits your needs....(f you actually know what you want....!)

My betting is that you not dismiss your P-car mechanic as swiftly because he is suggesting you need to do something unexpected and costly...

Welcome to the 100% guaranteed way of not getting what you want, at a cost greater than anticipated and later than desired...But hey its your money...