Archive for the ‘Architectural Profession’Category
How to Ruin a Good Design By Adding Value
There are as many different types of architecture as there are motivations for building something. Individuals want their dream home in which is bound up all their hopes and desires for the future. Corporations want a headquarters that is an iconic embodiment of their industry. Theater companies what a vibrant and engaging space that is a vehicle for creativity. With every design there is excitement, hope, and pride.
Mostly. Read the rest of this entry →
19
08 2013
The Big Interview
Over the last few months I’ve spent a lot of my time slogging through interviews of prospective talent about to, or having recently graduated from college. Architecture is an almost unique profession that combines the very creative with the very practical, and navigating the thin edge between the two is difficult for some fresh grads. I’d like to offer a few tips for those looking. Read the rest of this entry →
02
07 2013
I’m not a Terrorist, I’m an Architect
I present the preceding image (hereafter to be referred to as “Item 1”) as evidence pertaining to the specific crime involved. On May 17th of this year, I did knowingly and willfully walk through one outdoor mall known as the Domain (hereafter referred to as “the victim”) gratuitously and without consent, taking photographs of the assembled buildings. It was immediately after taking this image that I was stopped by a bicycle mounted agent of the victim (hereafter referred to as the “rent-a-cop”) who informed me that I was in violation of management’s security policy which prevents photography of their properties. I proceeded then, to explain that I was an architect who was actually in the process of designing two new phases of the Domain, and that I was simply taking photos of the existing properties for contextual reference. The rent-a-cop said that I could only proceed with my photography with written authorization from the management. At this point, I departed from the scene, but immediately out of sight of the rent-a-cop did proceed to photograph with reckless abandon. Read the rest of this entry →
08
06 2011
Mentoring
Design Intelligence posted an interesting article last week concerning mentoring, and its evolution within the ever-changing nature of our profession. The author, Mr. Stewart (an associate principal with Perkins+Will) makes a thoughtful analysis of the evolution of the practice of mentoring in architecture and how technology has put distance between the different levels of experience within the firm, inhibiting the mentoring process. As a result, Mr. Stewart argues what is “desperately needed is the recommitment of every leader throughout the profession to re-instill the culture of mentorship that is fundamental to the profession.” He goes on to say that “You can initiate creation of an internal mentoring program to augment your professional development program.” Read the rest of this entry →
14
03 2011
Just a few More Hours…
At our firm, the office mantra is “Record all hours you work on the project, including overtime hours even if you aren’t paid for them,” The reason for this is simple, when writing proposals for new projects, we mine the hourly data from previous projects continually, in an attempt to better refine our contracts. Sure, you threw that schematic design package together in a week, but it didn’t take you just 40 hours, and so it would be absurd to assume that the next similar project would take only 40 hours. No, it took you an additional 20 hours of overtime that week to hammer it out, so write it down. Read the rest of this entry →
09
03 2011
Advocates for Architecture Summary
With a mob of black clad individuals large enough to make the lay person think someone really important just died, over 260 architects from all over the state of Texas came together at the Capitol building for the first annual Advocates for Architecture day. Buses packed with participants from both Dallas and Houston left in the wee hours of the morning to trek to Austin, as well as hundreds of other architects making their own way. The goal was help affect policy in the state legislatures by way of individual architects speaking directly with their own representatives. While the Texas Society of Architects has an excellent lobbying machine in their own right, there is a distinct difference between a hired lobbyist talking to a representative and one of that representative’s own constituents discussing the issues that effect them. Utilizing the hashtag #archday, participants tracked and commented on the event throughout the day via twitter. Read the rest of this entry →
26
01 2011
Advocates for Architecture
A week from tomorrow I’ll be accompanying a couple hundred fellow architects in a state wide political outreach. Architects from all over the state of Texas will converge on Austin to speak to our representatives and address the issues that most concern our profession. You can follow the event live via Twitter with the hashtag #archday.