How Hard Does It Rain in the Northwest?

A shopping mall developer and the mall's architect have to stand up to the scrutiny of department stores who will be part of the development. I recall attending a meeting where the architect's head designer presented the design of the shopping mall to representatives of 5 department stores that planned to occupy sites along the mall.

One representative from New York was rumored to be the most difficult critic of them all. Scrutinizing the plan, he asked a question about projecting entrance canopies. "These entrance canopies appear to extend quite a ways from the building," he said. "Why is that?"

The designer had a quick response. "We wanted to limit the distance from the parking area to the covered area, because it rains a lot in the Northwest," he said.

The department store representative nodded. "Interesting," he said and then pointed to another area of the plan. "These entrance canopies over here are recessed into the building."

"Well," said the designer, "it doesn't really rain that hard in the Northwest."