For years, I’ve walked into buildings with an open eye towards architectural features – whether it be overall design, finishes, products, lighting or some other observation. It’s amazing how working in the architectural, engineering, or construction industry will forever change the way you look at buildings. There should be special drivers licenses for those of us in this industry – how many car accidents have we collectively almost caused hitting the brakes on a busy street to catch a glimpse of a beautiful building?
That’s the power of first impressions, though. It’s a big factor in building design. As with any introduction – to people, places, or products – first impressions are critical. Like interviewing for a job, there’s no denying the link between what the brain picks up in those first seconds, and the perceived quality over the life of that relationship. And by now we know that once humans are set in their ways, it’s very, very hard to change them.
