How did Daniel Burnham organize his architectural office for efficiency?

Daniel Burnham organized his architectural practice to achieve maximum efficiency, establishing a model that influenced future firms. His approach to management included several strategic practices:1

• Business Organization: While his partner John Wellborn Root focused on design, Burnham took responsibility for planning building interiors and managing the firm’s business operations.1
• Client and Trade Management: Burnham cultivated a professional environment by ushering clients into a sophisticated, well-appointed office. To maintain productivity, he restricted meetings with tradesmen to specific, designated days.1
• Strategic Layout: The office floor plan itself was designed for efficiency and was even published as a model for the profession; it notably included a gym for staff.1
• Project Management: Burnham was known for his ability to inspire confidence in clients by demonstrating the firm's capacity to solve complex problems. He utilized rapid sketches to initiate projects, which were then meticulously elaborated by Root.1

By implementing these structured workflows, Burnham successfully managed a high volume of work, completing nearly 300 structures during his 18-year partnership with Root.1