Assistant Architect

Chapter 58: Assistant

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Having only discussed Lu Qiao’s plan while they were in the car before arriving, Zhang Siyi was very worried he wouldn’t be able to present the plan to its full potential. His impression of the experience today was relatively profound.

Reporting on actual work is very different from presenting projects in University. While studying, the professor will pay great attention to the design ideas and process in order to guide the student’s thought process in the right direction. However, officials are more concerned with the product and the costs associated with it. It’s apparent that many times a decision is solely based on personal preferences and not based on its appearance or something that is practical and efficient. But no matter what, Zhang Siyi keeps in mind the words that the teacher said during his study; if your speech can’t attract your audience, then your design is equal to failure.

Zhang Siyi was very attentive to his audience while making the presentation. While each image was being projected, he made proper eye contact with the officials and looked for any reactions from them. If they seemed slightly distracted, Zhang Siyi could guess it wasn’t as interesting, so he would quickly move onto the next image. With this method, the audience was in rapt attention and he successfully introduced both design plans without interruptions.

Just after speaking, the directors did not directly express their views. First, they asked Zhang Siyi questions. The first two questions were raised by the Secretary for the Construction Bureau. They were directed at Lu Qiao and Zhang Siyi’s plan. The problems were simple, so Zhang Siyi answered them one by one without problem, but then Secretary Wang asked a difficult question that stumped him.

Director Wang took the a-shaped office building designed by Zhang Siyi and frowned. “I feel that this is not high enough. Can you make it higher?”

Hearing Secretary Wang’s amateur question, Zhang Siyi wanted to vomit blood. He feels extremely irritated, but Zhang Siyi knows that the Secretary isn’t trying to purposely antagonize him. He had the greatest urge to drop the whole notebook of plans on the man’s fat, bald head. Thinking to himself: “Your fucking building area is so big! I already gave you several additional layers and it’s not enough! How high do you want it to be!?”

Zhang Siyi took a deep breath to center his thoughts. Just as he was about to say, “can’t”, Gu Yu interrupted him unexpectedly: “Yes”.

“…..” Are you fucking kidding me!? (╯#°Д°)╯

They have already discussed this point during the design phase at work. Can you increase the height? Impossible! Director Wang immediately turned to Gu Yu and looked forward to his answer.

Zhang Siyi noticed Gu Yu’s pretending to turn over the task book deeply, and then looked up at them and asked seriously: “Is the three thousand square meter maximum size of the building necessary? Since the building requirements are created by yourselves, can we increase the size? If you can, then it can definitely be taller!”

Zhang Siyi: “….”

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! He didn’t expect Gu Yu to put the ball into Secretary Wang’s court by changing the conditions. Originally, he thought Gu Yu had a different resolution. Ha-ha-ha! He wants to pat Gu Yu on the back for being so witty.

Secretary Wang thought for a moment: “No. The area of the building is already large enough. Not counting the post office and bank, there are roughly one-hundred people using this office building.

Zhang Siyi heard and was shocked!

Before making this plan, Gu Yu asked Zhang Siyi to check the per capita construction area index of the relevant spaces and government offices at all levels. Since the state has regulations, the office area at the bureau level must not exceed 24 square meters per capita and on the smaller end, the use area is 18 square meters. It is impossible for all the 100 people mentioned by Secretary Wang to be directors. Most ordinary employees can only enjoy an office area of ??5 square meters per person. Well, even if it is calculated according to the director’s standard, 100 people multiplied by 24 squares is 2,400 square meters which is still less than 3,000.

Mahler Gobi, is this chief Wang the mother of Satan? For an exorbitant large area to make even larger is preposterous. It’s too difficult to live and work in that environment. No wonder C-City is an empty city. The source is here!

Gu Yu appears so calm, Zhang Siyi wonders if he is also mentally calculating and assessing the situation. After listening to Secretary Wang, Gu Yu asked puzzled: “It’s unreasonable with less than one-hundred users occupying more than three-thousand meters. According to your staff configuration and our current office floor Planning, at least seven or eight floors are empty.”

Secretary Wang chuckled out loud: “So, after it is built, let’s advertise and rent it! When the first few layers are rented, we can occupy the top!”

He pointed to the a-shaped scheme, and finally gave the first opinion today: “I think this program is quite good. I like it very much. A is the first letter in the English alphabet and it means good. The top of the A is small. When there are many independent offices, there is less room for each.

Gu Yu nodded and said: “Does the government have enough of a budget to cover the cost of this office building? The height of our design has reached the limit of the secondary fire rating of the civil office building. According to the regulations, this should be the most economical way. If Secretary Wang wants it to be a little higher, then the whole building will have to be built according to the first-class fire resistance requirements of a type of high-rise building. It is necessary to increase the cost. If you feel that this is acceptable, the design is very flexible. We can add steel columns directly to the floor and give you an intermediate overhead….”

“No, no, no,” Secretary Wang wiped his sweat and interrupted Gu Yu. He strained a smile: “This is already the most economical way. Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Gu Yu smiled and continued: “You did not ask. Secretary Wang, we must design it to be the most suitable for your standards.” He said, pointing to the slide. Zhang 3d’s overview map and explained, “In fact, when this fifteen-story building is built, it will look much higher.”

Secretary Wang: “Eh, why?”

With his excellent salesman skills, Gu Yu continued to explain: “I will give you an example. When you stand on the ground and look up at a skyscraper, do you think it is tall? The higher the building is, the more the top appears smaller as if it pierces the sky, right?” While talking, Gu Yu raised his hands a little part with his palms facing each other. He slowly tilted his fingertip inwards to touch and become an A-shape.

Director Wang nodded again and again: “Yes, yes, this is the truth!”

Maintaining his hand position, Gu Yu smiled: “The bottom of our design is much bigger than the top. When you look up at the building, the natural A-shape effect will superimpose itself onto the engineered A-shape effect making it appear even taller.

At this moment, Director Wang has been completely taken away by Gu Yu’s thoughts. He suddenly realized: “It turned out to be the case!”

Listening on the side, Zhang Siyi admired Gu Yu’s art of speech.

From the very beginning, Gu Yu repeatedly proposed conditions that they couldn’t change. Then when the officials felt hopeless, he suddenly gave them an alternative solution which made the atmosphere turn around. Secretary Wang also followed suit.

Zhang Siyi thought carefully. If you change the order of the propositions, the officials probably wouldn’t have been able to accept it. If the visual effect was proposed first, the officials might not want something perceived as false. However, when they were backed into a corner by Gu Yu questions, they naturally would feel upset and thus, an alternate resolution is achieved.

Gu Yu said to Wang, “When it is completed, if Secretary Wang feels that the height is still not enough, we can add a little extra height to the top of the building with a LED advertising screen or something like a large steel frame cap. These aren’t counted in the structural height”

Secretary Wang put a smile on his face and picked a plan on the spot: “OK, do it according to this plan!”

Zhang Siyi was staring intently at Gu Yu and felt his admiration grow.

“And who’s is it… Mr. Zhang!”, laughing, Secretary Wang’s voice pulled back Zhang Siyi’s thoughts: “And to think Mr. Zhang was so nervous. You have a promising future!”

Zhang Siyi: “….”

The atmosphere in the conference room was relaxed at once. Everyone stood up and shook hands and thanked each other.

Secretary Wang touched his stomach: “Gu Yu, you have made a long and hard report to us without a break for two hours. Bring your assistants and let’s go have a meal together.”

Several leaders went downstairs first. Lu Qiao picked up the notebook brought by the company with the help of the secretary. Seeing that Zhang Siyi was still sitting on the side, he walked over and touched his elbow: “So?”

“I…” Zhang Siyi pointed to his nose, and later he said, “They chose my plan?” (⊙_⊙)

Lu Qiao nodded: “yes!”

Zhang Siyi: ” % ￥#@……”

(#°Д°) …… (⊙_⊙) …… (≧w≦)

No, no, he needs to calm down! (&_&)

Ah, ah… I can’t calm down completely!!! ~\(≧▽≦)/~

Although Secretary Wang was an idiot, his plan was chosen!!!

Wait, if Zhang Siyi own plan is selected, does it mean that Lu Qiao’s plan fell short? Will he be upset?

Zhang Siyi quickly put away his proud smile, pretending to ask Lu Qiao modestly: “Well, I was super nervous, do you think I spoke well?””

Lu Qiao gave a thumbs up and seriously praised him: “It was really great! I really admired you. Fortunately, the boss let you go up for me. You won the battle and this old lady was willing to go down!”

Seeing Lu Qiao positive spirit and acceptance, Zhang Siyi smiled again. He excitedly grabbed Lu Qiao’s shoulder: “Then we can work on the details of my project together!”

Lu Qiao’s small body was shaken by Zhang Siyi, and he wrinkled his face in pain: “The king is defeated and willing to serve you!”

The two talked and laughed in the underground parking area. Gu Yu stood by the car waiting for them. He held his arm and smiled at Zhang Siyi’s direction, urging: “The little assistant, how slow! Hurry it up. Let’s eat.”

Zhang Siyi: “….”