Gluelam is coming out. Steel beam going in. The issue is the overkill on the posts.
Already had to plate the beams in the basement. 1/2" flitch with 5/8" grade 5 bolts staggered every foot. Original architect really fucked up. Every damn point load ends on a beam.
Have you asked him to recalc it with the 1/4" and with engineered wood? I had something similar for posts was last year. The engineer had 3 steel posts on a gable wall to carry 3 GLB's. The steel was going to take over a month to have made. We asked the engineer to calc it with EWC's(engineered wood columns). He got back to us and we where able to use 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 EWC's for it instead. We had those in 3 days.
It's worth asking nicely. Whenever you try and argue those guys it never goes well. I always try and make them think it was their idea in the end. That way they can pat themselves on the shoulder and I can keep moving forward.