The Firm of the Future

This article was posted in the AIA Ohio Winter e-newsletter 2009.

Given the current landscape of the construction industry, the future stands with a question mark for many of us. It was no surprise that the AIA Columbus Annual Meeting focused on the big picture ahead. Raymond Kogan AIA, keynote speaker at the event, talked about the trends of the future that are shaping our design firms. Being more aware of the industry and the world trends is only the 1^st step. Are we ready?

• Mega-regions are emerging, and the value of construction will follow the population growth. Current trends in US demographics suggest cities will only get larger, and populations will become increasingly diverse (U.S. Census Bureau Population Projections). The west coast and southern US will see most of these changes. This increase in urban population density will result in the necessity for increased capacity in sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and redevelopment & re-purposing building.

• On the technology side, BIM will become even more widely adopted by architecture firms. Engineering firms and consultants will follow suit. However, the BIM adoption will first be driven by contractors and owners, says Kogan. Also, technology will continue to widen the existing gap between the technically proficient , and the not-so-proficient. In addition to these technological changes, BIM will also bring changes in project management. The Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach will become a more generalized practice across the US, promoting collaboration and lean systems among team players.

• Our projects will go beyond the traditional services. And thus, firms will become more of a ‘one-stop shop’; addressing more needs of stakeholders than in the past. We will do more than design and offer front-end/back-end services. With all these new deliverables, project management will continue to be a critical success factor. At this time, PMs will require broader and different sets of skills.

• In the future, our staff will face skills and leadership shortages. Considering all current demographic projections, in the next 15 years the older population will increase by 47%, while the younger crowd will decrease by 6%. Other factors will also drive this labor shortage. Factors such as, the current recession, retention & reward challenges, compensation, and the lifestyle priorities of the younger generation will come into play. What can we do about this? Kogan suggests developing training and leadership programs, mentoring employees’ careers, and being flexible with our workforce schedules.

• Sustainability will be soon mainstream, not a trend or an option. Consumers are choosing green companies and making changes in their lifestyles (April 2008 Gallop Poll). Clients are becoming committed to LEED certification . Even our own industry is moving to ‘greener’ pastures. First, the AIA adopted the 2030 challenge: calling for a minimum 50% carbon reduction for new construction beginning immediately, and 10% reductions in the following years. And as of January 2010, all licensed architects will be required to meet the new sustainable design L.U. requirements.

We are witnessing and industry that is changing… One that is consolidating and expanding, and moving progressively and proactively. Kogan suggests thinking in wider and longer terms to have successful design firms in the years to come. We must look at our future and start planning ahead of time. After all — in Darwin’s terms — the recipe for survival is exactly that: being responsive to change.

Your BIM Options: Archicad or Revit?

The Construction and Design industry has a new friend: Building Information Modeling (BIM). You must have heard of it, it seems to be everywhere. BIM can be defined as a computer-aided process that generates and manages building data information throughout the life cycle of a given structure. True or not, I tend to believe that's too idealistic to apply for most professionals. In my simpler and more practical terms, I say BIM is currently used the upgraded Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in 3D; the biggest change in architectural design and construction management since computers became available for common office use.

If you had the chance to work with BIM in the past years, you are probably wondering how the heck we survived without it in the past. It seems rather intuitive - at times. If you haven't been able to use it yet, don't worry, you will. The 2 biggest BIM products in the market are ArchiCAD(by Graphisoft), and Revit (by Autodesk).

Having had the chance to work with both computer programs in the past years, I have been asked which one I like the best. It is hard to find the magic bullet, when both will give you corrupted files and gray hairs. I hope you find the low down below useful. I have tried to be fair and objective*.

1. Easy Team working and sharing: Revit

Because it allows you to borrow, without becoming an owner. ArchiCAD's marquee tool is still missed.

2. Early Schematic Planning: Revit

Because of its Color Scheme and Design Options tools.

3. Demolition Work: Revit

Because of its phase and phase filters options. ArchiCAD would require layer combinations.

4. Line Weight Management: Revit

This feature is similar to Autocad's system, so it feels easier to understand and manage.

5. Compatibility: Revit

Most engineers, materials and equipment consultants are using Revit. Sure you can use Naviswork in you are an ArchiCAD user, but that adds an extra step.

6. Project Navigation: ArchiCAD

ArchiCAD's project browser is more like ADT's navigator. It is better organized. Different programs, same company.

7. Components and Families Creation: Revit

I need to have a BIM manager creating families working on the side. Plus, Revit has numerous resources online.

8. Working in plan view and RCPs: Revit

You can easily fix those wall joins in Revit. You can use filled regions, invisible lines, etc. Not so much flexibility in ArchiCAD. Both programs give you wall priority options.

9. Composite Manager: ArchiCAD

Great tool. Revit does not come with this general management tool. You can individually edit composite/object parameters and load to project if applicable.

10. Templates: Archicad

Both ArchiCAD and Revit come with a template file. But when it comes to interface, I prefer Archicad's.

11. Drafting and Detailing: ArchiCAD

By far, ArchiCAD wins this one. Not only can you easily work with your BIM elevations and sections, but you can also create your own with easy to work drafting tools.

12. Dimensioning and other Plan Annotations: Revit

Even though ArchiCAD is better when detailing, Revit handles plan notes better.

13. Construction Administration: Revit

You can find Clouds and Revision tools.

14. Printing: Revit

Easier, it works just like any other program. ArchiCAD's way feels unnecessarily complex.

15. Less Crashes, Corrupted Files and other Synchronization Issues: ArchiCAD.

As a consequence, I have heard that it is ideal for larger and more complex projects.

16. Available Support: Revit

From personal experience, I had found Autodesk to be more visible, accessible, and with far more training resources.

17. Scheduling: Revit

This is where Revit gives you great flexibility to modify, control, filter, and sort...

Depending on what you want to use BIM for, you can choose what's better for you. I tried to lay this out as fairly as possible from an architectural production and coordination perspective. I've had the chance to work with BIM for years, and it definitely has its advantages. Both are great programs, and lately I'm hearing of more firms having to choose one over the other one. If someone asked me again, which BIM program I think is better, Archicad or Revit? I would say, my dream BIM project has an ArchiCAD navigator, connects me to all the Revit resources, does planning and design in Revit, and gives me ArchiCAD tools for construction documentation. In sum, there is still work to be done in the BIM-sphere.

I hope you found this comparison helpful. See you around,

Melissa

*Note that I am comparing Revit 2009, and ArchiCAD 11. Revit 2010 is said to be able to handle larger projects now that it has a 64-bit software. And ArchiCAD 13 is said to have improved its worksharing greatly.

STARBUCKS goes Lean

Check this article about Starbucks by the Wall Street Journal. Just like Wal-mart is looking for ways to improve profit margins by bringing a new retail design, Starbucks is expecting to cut costs by adapting the Lean techniques into the way they make the coffee.

It is a couple of months old, I know. But you might have missed it. And since we've been talking about retailers today, I think it fits the theme. The economy is challenging top management and marketers to respond with new and better ways to make $$$. There is quite a bit for retail architects to catch on.

Peace.

Walmart: New Retail Design

Wal-mart, the biggest retailer in the world, does not rest on its laurels. A few days ago, I went to a Wal-mart in Newark, Ohio. My very first reaction had me stopping on my feet to see it all, this is different. All of a sudden, I was walking into a much brighter, cleaner, more open store. Everything that I had in my grocery list was visible -well, almost everything. There were bigger signs, lower aisles, wider corridors, 45 degree lanes... definitely a more inviting retail design.

Some time ago, I had read that Wal-mart was moving into a new direction, and would be changing their stores to improve the consumer experience. This initiative was part of their Project Impact model, a new initiative to turn their stores into a quick stop shop with friendlier and cleaner spaces. But how soon would I seeing or noticing the improvements of this retail giant? Soon enough.

On their website, Wal-mart writes: The new layout creates an open shopping environment with wider aisles that contain no product displays. Lower shelving throughout the store creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly.

The new design is a responsible factor behind their recent performance improvements. Their inventory turn over has greatly reduced, offering the customer the chance to get what they need without the visual clutter around it. In the current economic downturn and in the middle of pre-holiday season, other retailers must be looking around for new ways to attract customers. Taking a look at Wal-mart's improvements, changing the retail design is one of them.

On my way out, I even had a double-sided receipt, a greener move. Now that the holiday season is about to begin, will we see other stores copying this concept? Or will we soon be seeing a better model?

In the mid time, (an early) Happy Holidays.

Renzo Piano

Yesterday I ran into a group picture with Renzo Piano. Nothing glamorous or professional, simply a group picture. Something about him gave me the impression of a very approachable down-to-earth person.
On that note, I have to say that those talented and intelligent people, who are aware of their abilities, are easier to work with when they are not contemptuous to others. As a professional coach would write, one must take care not to be a victim of their 0wn success. I'm sure the ones around the intelligent and talented appreciate that.

Indeed, yes, we found water.

Nasa has said, "Indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit. We found a significant amount." This significant amount is 25 gallons found in the lunar crash led by NASA last month. This is a great discovery in the science world. New exciting studies and explorations will now begin. Humankind can now see themselves moving to the moon in a feasible future.

But aside from this being a magnificent discovery, we have also opened up the doors for a new theme in architecture school studios and design competitions: What will the architecture of the future will be like? What will new cities be like? ...more specifically: in the moon.

Let your imagination run wild.

Calling All Women

A new article in the AIA Archiblog has been posted by a SCAD professor. Calling All Women byAlexis Gregory refers to stats collected by an independent study, and also by Clemson University. She presents the raising percentages of women attending architecture schools, and their small presence in the profession. This comes as no surprise to those of us who are working in the field. Gregory also explains what she believes are the reasons for the low numbers, and the obstacles female architects have to overcome.

To play devil's advocate, statistics give us the ability to turn hypotheses into the theses we want them to be. This would allow anyone to make apparent correlations from partially related subjects. What's more, perhaps women do join architecture schools with the ultimate goal of becoming care takers of their families. A male-dominated industry would have little to do with their career paths of choice. However, - I must admit - comments left by women in the industry have a bitter taste of reality.

Rome's Newest Museum

A new building has been added to the must-see iconic list of buildings in the historic city of Rome. This Saturday, Maxxi, the new museum of contemporary art designed by Zaha Hadid, opens up to the public for an 'architectural preview'.

Nicolai Ouroussoff writes for the New York Times: "The completion of the museum is proof that this city is no longer allergic to the new and a rebuke to those who still see Rome as a catalog of architectural relics for scholars or tourists... A generation of Romans can now walk out their front doors knowing that the conversation with the past is not so one-sided."

Groundbraking and naming ceremony took place on March 2oth, 2003.

For the full NY Times article on the subject, click here.

The IDP & ARE Experience: Perseverance Is The Key

This article was posted on the AIA Associate News, November 2009 under Articles of Interest: http://info.aia.org/nwsltr_an.cfm?pagename=an_nwsltr_current

Most likely, the beginning of my IDP experience was just like yours. I opened my NCARB file back in 2004 with the support of my firm, and using the recent graduate discount. Back in 2004, there was no economic downturn. Everything was booming and moving at a fast pace. As a recent graduate with a Masters from the Savannah College of Art and Design, I sure was glad to have chosen an accredited NAAB program. Without which, you would have to go back to school if they you ever wanted to get licensed.

At first, filling my IDP credits was extremely intimidating. All the categories, the 700 credits, and the required experience in those seemingly unattainable sub-categories —how did they come up with such an intricate system? It felt so challenging that I didn’t file anything for more than a year. Then I realized that if I wanted to be a licensed architect, I needed to get on with my credit history. The accounting ladies were kind enough to print me dozens of pages of detailed work of all the hours I had logged. And in one weekend day, I was able get on track. Before my IDP experience was over, NCARB came up with a new IDP catalog and rules. I wished they had ‘clouded’ the changes so that more interns could catch the change. For once –at least for me– NCARB had great news: IDP credit will be given at 1.5 units per hour for all continuing education programs. Finally, attending lunch and learns, hard-hat tours, and other continuing education sessions was paying off. In 2007, I was able to finish my IDP.

Next step in the process was to get an ARE candidate number. Working with Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) and NCARB took another half a year to complete; lots of phone calls, lots of “we are processing it” answers. Something that perhaps not all states do is the written test that DPOR mails you. It is more like an open-book test about professional ethics and resource information. The answers are available online; you must fill in the multiple choice questionnaire and mail it back. I have to say that DPOR was always easy to reach, over the phone or via email.

Choosing the order of my ARE exams had me asking everywhere and reading everything: interns at work, interns knew through the AIA local chapter, college classmates, the areforum.org, etc. They all had different answers. But if someone asks me now, I would say three things. First, start with Construction Documents: it gives you a good frame of reference for your ARE goals, and your firm. Secondly, don’t stop there; all the ARE exams are somewhat connected, so keep studying. And three, the best time to study is winter; you will find fewer excuses to go out and not study. The new version ARE 4.0 was a great motivator. NCARB’s transition chart was what kept me going and studying in an attempt to get done before June 30^th. Talking in new version terms, I am done with six exams, and I am studying for my very last exam. I will definitely schedule it before the new cut-off date, October 1^st. By the end of the year, I am hoping to read AIA letters after my name.

Between here and there, I’ve had several project deadlines to meet, transferred my license registration from one state to another, and renewed my NCARB files twice. But the closer you get to the end of the ARE list, the better you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The AREs are just a means to an end. The end, obviously, is becoming a licensed architect. We haven’t gone this far to stop before the finish line, we can do it.

The BIM Race: Architects v. Contractors

Without a doubt, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the way of the future in the construction and design world.
If you have had the chance to work with BIM for a few years, and then tried to get something done in ADT or AutoCAD, I bet you wondered how the heck you made it work before the BIM revolution.
Professionals in the industry, like Raymond Kogan, suggest that the big push for BIM will be coming (if it isn't already) from the owners and the contractors side. This is leaving architects and designers as the trend followers. Why could that be? Aren't designers the ones to be on the avant-garde?

I have seen contractors modeling projects at owners' request, and using programs like Naviswork, capable of combining 3D project information from a variety of programs and disciplines.
But anyone can use Naviswork, piece all the pieces of the puzzle together, and have it to use at the contruction site. Why would the contractor be taking over this additional service? Contractors must be selling it as a key piece to their well-coordinated time-critical performance. In an industry where money is tight and time is precious, clients must love this high-tech approach and see the value.
On the other hand, what happened to the architect's role as the big orchestrator of all contructions? what happened to the A201 Contract Document where the architect acts as the owner's agent? And the engineering part of a project is contracted by the architect's consultants. Can't the architect take charge of the overall 3D modeling of the project too?
BIM has been a hard pill to swallow for some architecture firm managers who see the learning curve as an additional expense. Learning a new computer program doesn't go on without its bumps and delays. Contractors saw the bigger picture and the dollar signs first, and have been jumping on the BIM wagon faster. So for now, they are winning the BIM race. Maybe the newest delivery model: Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) will even out the road for architects in the future.

Quote of the Day

'Everything in this world is based on Performance.'

Andrew Wommack Ministries TV Broadcast

Glad to know Wommack would be interested in Lean. Things are more interesting when you find multi-discipline applications.

Food for Thought

I was talking to my father about Lean a few days ago. He got me thinking about 2 things:

• How to do more with what I currently have?
• And how to do exactly the same with less?

The interesting thing is that you could apply these 2 simple questions to absolutely anything.

Como hacer mas con lo que tengo, como hacer lo mismo con menos?

Lean - the 7 wastes

I am a little disappointed. Let's keep it clear. There are only 7 wastes in the Lean manufacturing process. No more. There are those out there claiming poetic license and adding their own 'waste' to the list... pluhh-ease!

In case you wonder, they are:

1. Overproduction

2. Waiting

3. Transporting

4. Inappropriate Processing

5. Unnecessary Inventory

6. Unnecessary Motion

7. Defects

If you are still wondering what this is all about, start with The Goal, a great book on Lean in fiction-style.

... and if you want to know more about Lean specifically for Healthcare, I was suggested to read The Toyota Way to Healthcare Excellence: Increase Efficiency and Quality with Lean, by John Black.

Still in my to-do list... I'm hoping to get to it soon.

The Hospital of the Future

Writing about the future patient rooms, got me thinking about the bigger picture, the future of healthcare design and the bigger task in hand. Designing a hospital can be once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity, and many times, it can be obsolete before even completing its life cycle. Architects and planners have to design for:

1. flexibility,

2. adaptability,

3. expansion,

4. safety,

5. productivity and

6. sustainability.

...And if that was not enough, designers should also consider:

7. the patient-centered care trends,

8. branding, and

9. the future of the healthcare administration.

let me know of you can think of anything else.

Patient Room Design

There is so much to say about patient rooms. My general approach is to see it from the patient's perspective. It is suggested that room doors should be located “patient right”, where the door is to the right-hand side of the patient bed. Since around 90% of the population is right-handed, I cant' object to that. Another worth-mentioning best practice is to locate the toilet room door on the same side of the head wall, so patient has the option to lean on to the wall in case mobility assistance is needed.

Patient Room of the Future

In patient rooms, where flexibility is the key factor, the question seems to be: what will the adaptable patient room of the future be like? You must consider healthcare trends, characteristics of future patients, resource limitations, rising costs, and technology. However, about the technology of the future, keep in mind that the rule of thumb is: do not project more than 7 years ahead. Otherwise, you can end up with something like the image below, the humongous 2004 computer of the future, decades ahead of its time....

In a healthcare world that is heavily gravitating towards patient-centered services, and where technology moves at exponential speeds, this seems like a tricky task for our healthcare planners. I'm confident the best trends are just around the corner.

Handed versus Mirrored Rooms

Traditionally, mirrored rooms have been preferred as their construction allows for shared head walls and plumbing walls. So the thought was that sharing wet walls should mean savings in construction costs.

On the other hand, same-handed rooms seem to be favorable for medical staff -although no tangible evidence is available yet. With every room being identical, medical staff would be able to access the exact same layout, reducing the possibility of medical errors. What's more, it is suggested that same-handed rooms can project lower costs. Architects can document same-handed items, contractors can build same-handed rooms faster, and health care organizations would only acquire/replace/track same-handed room equipment and furniture.

My preference, same-handed layouts. What say you?

Marketing Architecture

Is everything Marketing? For the absolute-haters, no. But having good marketing skills can be just as, if not more, important than having good design skills in the current economic times. What exactly is Marketing? I will copy/paste the American Marketing Association definition:
“Marketing is an organizational function and a set of process for creating, communicating and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.”

Are architects marketing-smart?

Architects may have found it rather intuitive, something to be learned as one practices the profession. But I would suggest deeper studies. Architectural Practice classes are just the tip of the iceberg. In the book Blink, Malcomn Gladwell writes that a person has 2 seconds before jumping to a conclusion. Misleading or not, it is a judgement upon which the subsequence client decisions will be based. When all we have is a website, a handshake, a voice machine, an attire, a business card, or a few pages to respond to a RFQ (request for qualifications) or a RFP (request for proposals), we have the equivalent of Malcolmn Gladwell's 2 seconds to make the correct first impression on a client. Our design skills might not even come into play when being judged; instead, our marketing skills do. Are we portraying our business the way we want it, are we selling effectively? Is our professional persona portraying the quality and type of work we are after?

In the current economic disaster, we have few architectural firms hiring or investing. Those that are, are looking for marketing leaders who would help them win projects, or saving their cash flow for marketing pursuits. In one way or another, we recognize the importance of marketing as the essential piece of the architectural work. As such, we should analyze our current efforts in this deparment, and come out stronger than before, as the savvy architectural marketers we should be.

the Basket Building

Along the lines of iconic buildings and eye catching structures, don't forget about the 'basket building'. It is literally designed to resemble a picnic basket. Hats off to the client for sticking to their ideas and not following the status quo. The architect, NBBJ. The building, a monument to pure EIFS construction. EIFS, Exterior Insulation Finishing System


Above
Longaburger Baskets, the homestead, golf course, factory, and giant basket office building.

Location
Zanesville, OH

The best surreal and approaching view to the Basket Building is going through 37. History has it that they were originally planning on adding a napkin, and salt & pepper shackers to serve as entrance elements. Personally, I'm glad they didn't.

Ohio, state of the most beautiful sky.

My IDP / ARE Experience

Most likely, the beginning of my IDP experience was just like yours. I opened my NCARB file back in 2004 with the support of my firm, and using the recent graduate discount. Back in 2004, there was no economic downturn. Everything was booming and moving at a fast pace. As a recent graduate with a Masters from the Savannah College of Art and Design, I sure was glad to have chosen an accredited NAAB program. Without which, you would have to go back to school if they you ever wanted to get licensed.

At first, filling my IDP credits was extremely intimidating. All the categories, the 700 credits, and the required experience in those seemingly unattainable sub-categories —how did they come up with such an intricate system? It felt so challenging that I didn’t file anything for more than a year. Then I realized that if I wanted to be a licensed architect, I needed to get on with my credit history. The accounting ladies were kind enough to print me dozens of pages of detailed work of all the hours I had logged. And in one weekend day, I was able get on track.Before my IDP experience was over, NCARB came up with a new IDP catalog and rules. I wished they had ‘clouded’ the changes so that more interns could catch the change. For once –at least for me– NCARB had great news: IDP credit will be given at 1.5 units per hour for all continuing education programs. Finally, attending lunch and learns, hard-hat tours, and other continuing education sessions was paying off. In 2007, I was able to finish my IDP.

Next step in the process was to get an ARE candidate number. Working with Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) and NCARB took another half a year to complete; lots of phone calls, lots of “we are processing it” answers. Something that perhaps not all states do is the written test that DPOR mails you. It is more like an open-book test about professional ethics and resource information. The answers are available online; you must fill in the multiple choice questionnaire and mail it back. I have to say that DPOR was always easy to reach, over the phone or via email.

Choosing the order of my ARE exams had me asking everywhere and reading everything: interns at work, interns knew through the AIA local chapter, college classmates, the areforum.org, etc. They all had different answers. But if someone asks me now, I would say three things. First, start with Construction Documents: it gives you a good frame of reference for your ARE goals, and your firm. Secondly, don’t stop there; all the ARE exams are somewhat connected, so keep studying. And three, the best time to study is winter; you will find fewer excuses to go out and not study. The new version ARE 4.0 was a great motivator. NCARB’s transition chart was what kept me going and studying in an attempt to get done before June 30^th. Talking in new version terms, I am done with 6 exams, and I am studying for my very last exam. I will definitely schedule it before the new cut-off date, October 1^st. By the end of the year, I am hoping to read AIA letters after my name.

Between here and there, I’ve had several project deadlines to meet, transferred my license registration from one state to another, and renewed my NCARB files twice. But the closer you get to the end of the ARE list, the better you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The AREs are just a means to an end. The end, obviously, is becoming a licensed architect. We haven’t gone this far to stop before the finish line, we can do it.

AIA Columbus Chapter

Just as I get settled after the long weekend break, I get great news. I have been nominated for an AIA Columbus board position as Associate Director. We shall wait til next month for Election Day. At any rate, exciting indeed. Thanks AIA Columbus.

M. Arch + M.B.A.

At the beginning, an architect was an autodidact, a real apprentice that learned the trade, hands on in the field. A Brunelleschi, a real orchestrator of all the construction. Then, the professional degrees weighed in. And for a while, having a plain Bachelor's degree in Architecture was good enough. Later on, the Masters in Architecture came along. And it seemed like it was the 'it' degree to move up within E/A firms...

Now, numerous universities are offering the new deal: M. Arch + M.B.A.

Among them, Yale, U Penn, Washington University at St. Louis, University of Michigan... You must apply to both architecture and business schools separately in order to be accepted in this dual program. And then it will get you more graduate credits that you've ever dreamed of. But is it worth it? Is it really a good ROI?

I'm still debating on this. But time is ticking and time will tell. Soon the new wave of graduates will be out there sending out their resumes. Will it be to architecture or financial/consulting firms? It might be a very objective and financial decision itself, where b-students will prove their strategic skills. Four or more years of graduate school and living expenses can't come cheap. And that I know of, MBAs can easily make 3 times interns going through the IDP will in the first couple of years. What kind of job will pay for being both a MBA and M. Arch. right after graduation? If you know, let me know, I'm still scratching my head here.

After being in several architecture and E/A firms for over 5 years (and counting, knock on wood), I even question the value of the Master of Architecture degree if you already have a professional Bachelor of Architecture. Of course, the NAAB and NCARB might disagree.

If you are set to be your own boss in your own architecture firm, the MBA might be an overkill. All the successfull and self-employed gray-haired architects out there didn't seem to need it. But if your plan is to go along with the MBA as your primary degree, the M.Arch might be the back-up plan you'll never need to have.

On the other hand, will the M.Arch + MBA degree become the new must-have to move up in the A/E world ladder? Will this force already-licensed architects to go back to b-school? What happened with learning experience along with Amazon books?

We shall see.

For the time being, the Masters of Architecture can visit http://personalmba.com/ . We might save a few bucks, or thousands for that matter.

ARE Warriors

To ya'll,

Those who stay up all night studying Times New Roman 14 fonts so you can pass the rigorous Architectural Registration Examination. Those who sacrifice happy hour $1.50 drafts for books with little-to-none colored images. Those who hope (and pray to all saints and virgins) to pass them all in the first try, so they don't have to wait 6 months with the donkey hat.

To all those ARE warriors, I admire you and your tenacity. Hang in there, even though the ARE exam fees' have gone up... again.

This is getting to be like the USPS stamps.

Dimensions

So this is it, plain and simple, what do you dimension to? -to the face of the stud, OR to the face of the finished surface?
I have always thought it was to the stud. Think about the building sequence, and you'll agree with me, ha! But hear me out, the 1st thing that would be laid out is the stud. Therefore, the 1st thing that the building constructor would want to know is where to lay the studs. And let's face it, we must make it easy for them so we can avoid errors and silly RFIs. However, if you want to show that your plans meet ADA clearances (ie bathrooms) to a building official, then you can say face of finish, adding a "CLR" next to the dimension.
But arguibly it is a matter of preference, firm standards, and (I must add) CAD limitations (Archicad anyone?)...
I still believe it should be to the face of the stud. What say you?

Time to Lean Ourselves

By now, Lean is a well-established practice. If you’ve been in this profession for some time, you probably first heard of it in Construction Management. And for a few years now, Lean has been buzzing around next to the word Healthcare. But if you haven’t heard of it yet, Lean dates back to the 1950’s. That’s when Taiichi Ohno set a number of management practices for the Toyota Production System.
Since then, Lean thinking has been focusing on one idea: producing services that the costumers need, when they need them, and in the amount that they are needed. And to get there, Lean advocates look at the production process and the building quality very carefully.
For construction managers, the Lean approach can mean success. Every step of the construction chain is measured, studied, and improved. At the end, they have a product delivered on time, when the customer needs it. In healthcare, the application of Lean is similar. The healthcare service process is carefully studied and improved. For the patients, this can be safe, timely and affordable care. For the health care providers, this means reduced stress and increased effectiveness and job satisfaction. For the health care organizations this translates to reduced risk and costs, and increased profits.
Now architectural designers are also thinking in Lean terms. They are applying the Lean principles to functionality and programming as it relates to early planning and schematic design. However, what about ourselves? The practice of architecture falls under the Service Industry too. We have customers and a service to sell. With ABI numbers looking down, we are all looking at different ways to cut costs. It might be time for a new business model.

We have seen quality control, checklists, IPD, BIM, and general management business practices put in place. We have grown into this traditional practice, and we are passionate about this profession. All things considered, we are proud of our work. But there is always room for improvement. We knew that when we were pulling overnighters in our college studios. This time around, the delivery chain model under which we have been operating can use an upgrade. The operations and processes that get our projects out the door can use some of the Lean principles. They can be redefined, and with that we can be changing our industry. Is it time for new thinking?

MICROWAVES

Something interesting all architects and designers should know: Do all microwaves open from the right?

Pretty much. While few microwave doors open swinging down or come out like drawers, conventional microwave doors open like traditional swing doors do. And when it comes to the traditional microwave door, yes, there is only 1 kind of swing: the one that opens from the right. So there you are, pulling your microwave door from the right, pushing the control buttons on the right, and putting your lunch meal from the right hand side.

For those looking the left-handed option, not your lucky day. There is no limited edition left swing, adjustable door, mirrored-door version... nada.

While this right swing microwave works in some layouts, it is not ideal for all. It is definitely something to keep in mind when designing your next kitchen, kitchenette, break room...

Microwave makers, would you mind making a left-swing version? Please respond at your earliest convenience...

Who are you?

It's said that we have a false impression of our physical appearance, we think we are better looking that what we actually are...
does it mean that we are less talented than what we think we are?