The quality and method of construction becomes an important aesthetic issue.
A strong commitment to the quality of construction expresses a commitment to the mission of the institution and thereby strengthens the community fabric. By maintaining the highest standards of construction, the structure can become an important driver in the formation of place. It's at this point that the building design comes together; where its method of construction, the technical requirements behind a particular style and the skill and talent of each individual laborer meet to create something powerful.
The method of construction expresses a commitment to mission and community as well. The Gothic building allows for the signature of the individual craftsmen to come through. It is more than the work of a single designer. It is an interweaving of many skills, of all who have touched the project, both physical and intellectual. Here the individual craftsman plays a role in the building’s authorship, more so than with a more contemporary building.
With most modern designs and construction methods, the laborer’s role is limited, and an honest reliance on the strength of materials may be secondary. In a modern process, building components are often factory made, pre-fabricated and assembled in the field, and hung as pre-cast panels on a structural frame. Technology of this kind diminishes the importance of an individual laborer’s contribution. In a Collegiate Gothic building, however, the construction methodology becomes an essential element in the quality of design. And by so doing, contributes to building a strong sense of community.