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Books, Books, inexpensive books.

6/30/2014

I assume everyone knows what I know, but then it hits me! Hey maybe they don't know, so I need to share. All architects love books. We may not read them all, but we like to have them.

You can get some really nice books at "used" prices, that look as good as new. Some are actually new. I buy books on architects, construction and some on codes.

The two sites I use to purchase books are Amazon and Alibris. I figured everyone knows about Amazon, but not Alibris. I don't remember where I found the site, but when I find a book I am interested in, I check both sites. I never know which one will be less expensive.

So I went looking for a code book I had seen. It was the Code/Check Complete 2 book which Taunton had for $45.

Amazon had the same book "used", but new for $26.07. If you are a
Amazon Prime member like me, sometimes you can even get two day shipping for free (sorta, you do have to pay for the prime membership!)

So when you find a book you like (I'll use Amazon as an example this time). You will see in the listing the new and used prices.

Click on the used price and you will be given more options of various vendors to buy from.

You can check around and see if someone fits your budget. Everytime I see a book I might want, I check these two sites. Sometimes I personally don't care how pristine the book is ,but a book of Louis Sullivan's buildings I want in nice shape. Many times I'll buy books like code books so all I want is to make sure they are in decent shape because the information they hold is what I am after.

I hope the helps some of you find some really nice deals, I think I have and I will keep looking.

Below are some pictures of some of the books I have purchased. You will notice the two Chicago books which I recieved today. I was inspired by some of my internet architects friends who said what a wonderful time they had at the AIA Convention. Happy shopping!

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I hope I don't alienate anyone, but...

6/23/2014

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I have been going through some websites because I, as I assume many of you, get email notifications. I get them from Linkedin and Google + along with several other site.

I have been seeing discussions similar to the one I received today from Linkedin "What is your elevator response to "What do you do for a living?". It seems like an interesting question, but when I read the responses it absolutely blows me away because of the insecure tone I get from the answers. It is like architects have to convince themselves that they are relevant and needed. Some of the answer are almost apologetic. The tone of the conversations I read most of the time seem to be on the defensive side justifying what architects do and they seem to get mad at the public or clients that don't agree or understand. Sometimes it feels like we are our own biggest problem.

I am not famous. I have never been published. I am not asked to give speeches, but I know what I do and I know my value. I practice architecture because this is my passion. I have done many things in my life because they just felt like the right thing to do. I have made decisions because as I say many times "I was suppose to do it". When I get those internal signals I don't question them or try to figure out why, I just know that is what I am suppose to do.

I never had a burning desire to be an architect. As stated in this blog before, I just made the decision as a senior in high school. Once the decision was made I never looked back. There was no Plan B. I really don't consider this work and from a business point I have paid a penalty for that attitude, but that is another blog post down the road. I am reading how hard it is to be an architect and how it might discourage people from getting in the profession. My natural response to that is "And........." How difficult a path is, to me, should not determine the path you take. I don't want someone to tell me they became a Vet tech because it was easier than becoming a Veterinarian. I can fully accept explanations such as, I love animals, but 1) I did not have the finances to go to Vet School 2) I was married and had children and I could not commit the time to go to Vet School or even 3) I love animals, but wanted to do a little bit more than just be a pet owner, I wanted to be involved with animals on a daily basis. I do have problems with I got accepted, I had the finances, I'm smart enough, but I just thought it was tougher than I wanted to commit for, so I took a lesser path.

Picking a major based on the easiest path of resistance to get a degree is not something I personally agree with and I don't necessarily think everyone should go to college. That probably has my Dad rolling in his grave, as he thought everyone should have a degree and that was very important to him. I have tried to teach my kids to decide what they want to do with their lives, then follow the path that gets you there. No rush or timeline. My Dad got his MBA at 58, just because he wanted to, so the concept of having to decide what you want to do right out of high school is not something I necessarily agree with.

I don't want people becoming architects because it is easy or an easier path to a career. I want people to become architects because they want to become architects. Make the decision and then full steam ahead. I just saw today where NCARB is going to let interns take the test every 60 days. When I took the test I got to retake it once a year. It took me 3 time to complete all parts. I always passed something, but the biggest hurdle was that 12 design test, which I understand they don't do anymore. I am for change and evolution, really! Is the current test easier with no 12 hour design test? I don't know and I don't care. When we get to the point where we can take the test, you take what they currently provide. You pass it and you're licensed.

I recently saw a post about what to call people who have spent 5 tough year to get their BArch, really? You need a title? Graduate works for me. Getting your degree is just part of the process, get on with your life and getting moving in that direction that will lead you to get your license. Obviously title don't mean much to me. Being labeled as an "intern" or "architect" are not my concerns. My biggest concern is that I am allowed to practice architecture, so therefore I need to be a license architect.

I also understand that architecture is a business. I fully understand that this profession has taken a hit with the financial conditions we have recently been under and I am concerned that those who read this might get the impression that I am an idealist about architecture, but trust me, I am a realist. I too would change professions in order to support my family and totally understand that there are those out there who want to be architects, but life just didn't cooperate with them. I have struggled, I have had questioned and I have been fortunate, yes fortunate, to continue doing what I love.

So it just bothers me to read these comments and articles where instead of understanding that we need to educate the public about what we do, there seems to be his anger against them for not knowing or appreciating what we do. I firmly believe that the projects I have worked on would not be better without my involvement or another architect's involvement. I want to educate my clients out of my desire to share with them to makes things better, not out of fear that if they don't appreciate my profession that my profession my cease to exist. I don' think architects will ever become extinct or there will ever come a time when we will not provide a valuable service to the public.

"Off soapbox"
Remember this is just my opinion and rumor has it they are just like belly buttons!

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Happy Father's Day!

6/15/2014

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I miss my Dad. Dad died in 1995 from mesothelioma, a cancer directly attributable to asbestos. Dad did a 5 year apprenticeship in the Newport News Shipyard as a hull's draftman in his younger years, so that was where he was exposed to asbestos.

We learn things from our parents, some are things we learn to do and some are things we learn not to do. I'm about 50/50 in my experience categories from my Dad

Dad was one of the smartest men I ever knew. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1961 at the age of 31 and the first place I ever remember living was Blacksburg (I was 5). Dad graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Degree, but his profession was as a Lighting Rep to call on engineers and architects so they would specify the fixtures of the companies he represented. So after I graduated we had a common ground of interest, the building profession.

Was Dad complimentary and full of praise - No
Was Dad good at criticism and short verbal jabs that didn't make you feel to good - Yea
There is a fine line between being witty and arrogant and I have one child who doesn't understand, but Dad knew and he constantly stood with one foot on each side of the line.

I heard "You can screw up a cannon ball" more times than once and after years I finally asked him "How do you screw up a cannon ball", to which he reply "Pretty tough, Huh?"

Might not sound like the best environment, but it wasn't bad either. I could either become extremely insecure or extremely secure, the latter is the path I took. I am always mindful of not becoming arrogant, but I follow the beat of my own drum. I gained my strength through a confident Dad and the one who made me tough.

During my senior years in high school I decided to study architecture at Va. Tech. I told my Dad and his first response with a deadpan face was "I know a bunch of architects and most of them are assholes.", to which I responded " OK, I still want to study architecture". His other words of advice were - "I would never take a major that was subjective such as English, Art, or Architecture. I would only take a major that was objective such as Math, Science, or Engineering. Because not matter how much the professor hates you 2 + 2 always equals 4". Architecture subjective? Who knew?

So as I entered college and these young naive freshmen would present their projects and watch a professor physically and mentally destroy them (all you licensed architects know exactly what I am talking about), I would see students actually cry. Once they tore up my models, I would just turn around and look at the guy behind me and say "Well, I guess he didn't really take a fancy to what I was doing?". If they told me I was terrible and would never become an architect, I would think "Hey, do you know my Dad?"

What I do appreciate from my Dad is learning how to be strong and stand up for myself. My father had high standards and expected them from others, I have and do the same. My worst critic is myself, so there is very little anyone else can tell me that would make me feel bad or that I am not already aware of. My father taught me to be responsible. He taught me to be professional. He taught me to be kind. Where he may not have been the kindest or easiest on the kids, I found out later in life that Dad would to teach illiterate adults how to read in a class once a week, but never told anyone he was doing it.

Education was very important to my Dad. He wanted us to get a degree, in anything, he just thought the degree was that important. I was the only child of three to go to four year college directly after school and get one. My father at 58 years old, self employed, went an got his MBA because he wanted to. I remember him telling me, smiling from ear to ear, that he was the first Barber to get his Masters, to which I replied "And Dad you shall get no competition from me!".

After college when I started working down here in NC, I would go back home to Roanoke, Va. Dad and I would talk about the "profession" and our Hokies. Dad was a die hard Hokie and my best Hokie Pal. Dad and I were a lot different, but the ties that bind us were extremely strong and I do miss him.

Side note:
We all have pictures of our elders, but one thing I have found I do not have much of is audio. I do not have any videos I know of with my father's voice, but I can hear it as clearly as if he were here. I do have a cassette that my father made with my uncle talking to my grandfather. It is the only audio I have of their voices. I would assume in our current social environments that with vine, facebook and other social site that we all have videos. Without this cassette, my kids would never have known what their great grandfather sounded like and when Dad died my youngest was 5, so I don't know what he remembers. You don't appreciate things until they're gone. So make sure you backup and store video and audio files so your kids, and grand kids will be able to hear what their grandparents and great grandparents sounded like.

Happy Father's Day!

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NCARB endorses licensure upon graduation - Nope!

6/10/2014

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This makes me think of a good news - bad news scenario I use all the time. Good News - There are only 3 work days in a week, the Bad News - Each day is now 48 hours long.

Good New is you get your license upon graduation, the Bad News is it now take 8 years to graduate.

Having been in the profession for 27 years, I understand the value of my education and the value of my experience. They are not interchangeable. My college education taught me how to think differently. It taught me to explore all possibilities and think outside the box. I think all architects do this. It wasn't until years after I graduated that I realized what I had been taught. We are problem solvers, spatial problem solvers, and as we approach problems we have a particular way of looking at things. What is obvious to me is not to my friends. Just as I think we architects take for granted that we see and think in three dimensions, out involuntary thought process for solving issues is something most don't have.

Having the training to think different is not the same as having the knowledge to apply it. When I was in school back in 1979 my Dad asked me if I wanted a job when I got out and of course I answered "Yes". His response was "I don't care if you are the next Frank Lloyd Wright, if you want a job when you get out you have to be able to do two things - Print and draw!". In current times I would assume it would be "CAD and type". They didn't teach me how to print in college. They didn't really teach me how to draw in college it was just something I had to learn to progress. They taught me how to think in college.

I am a stickler for understanding the code. The code is our basis guidelines for designing and safety. I don't remember being taught a lot about the Codes, but I did know they existed. I still get mad at myself for all the stuff I don't know about the code, but I feel I know more than most. Working in a firm and learning the building processes involved in getting a project complete can not be replicated in a class room. If they think it can, then you will be co-oping, not attending school. The engineers use to take quarters off and work while in college. At Virginia Tech we even had the option to work our fourth year. Most came back for the summer school session to catch up on the credit hour to continue along with us in our fifth year. So currently you have to work three years before you can sit for the exam. Are they going to make you work three years while you are in college in order to obtain an architectural degree?

I just don't think you can shorten the process and if you incorporate them what do you save? Trying to integrate them might just be disruptive to both processes, so it may end up you don't learn to think and you don't really understand the process.

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All depends on how you measure it.

6/2/2014

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What we do as architects is not always fun, but even some of those "not so fun" items can be satisfying. I like to paint and my rationale is that I can see my progress. As an architect I have been hired to do a few "as-built" drawings because there were no existing plans. While I have to get my self in the right frame of mind to go measure, I get a great deal of satisfaction when I draw up a plan from my measurements and the pieces just come together. Again I think it is that visual satisfaction of seeing all the pieces of the puzzle coming together is what satisfies my soul. I get the same satisfaction when designing. When I am near the end and all the spaces just flow, it is just a good feeling. I don't know about most architects, but I tell people when I have worked out a good plan I know it is right because I can "feel it".

This current project is in downtown Durham, NC. There was a fire on the third floor. The owner needs as-built plans in order to provide new construction documents for the new HVAC.

There are challenges when measuring an old building as you never know what the wall thickness are and they can change from floor to floor. You spend a little time scratching your head trying to figure out why the inside face of exterior walls aren't the same dimension on each floor. I like to try to establish a perimeter and then work my way into the building. That doesn't work so well when the wall thickness changes and you can't see it.

I get a great deal of satisfaction when working from one end of the building to the center and then taking measurements of the opposite side and when they meet in the meeting I am only off by 1 1/2" over a 100' long building. I pad myself on the back and think I must have done something right! Not the most desirable thing I do, but with my MP3 player, tape measure, and laser measure I am off in my own world. You learn over the years there is no reason to rush. You also learn you never get it all the first time either!

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Books, Books, inexpensive books.

I hope I don't alienate anyone, but...

Happy Father's Day!

NCARB endorses licensure upon graduation - Nope!

All depends on how you measure it.

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