An Outro

I was on the phone yesterday with a client and he was giving me info that I needed to write down. As I rummaged all over my desk I said "One sec, I need to find a pen." He scoffed (the laughing kind of scoff) and said "You're an Architect and don't you have a pen?" I stopped right there and laughed out loud, reminding myself of the name of this blog and how I am actually an architect now and how I should have a pen at all times! It also reminded me that I needed closure from my Intern self.
I have been licensed for over a month now. I have the certificate from the State, I have my stamp, I have the business cards, but I still feel like an Intern sometimes. I don't know what I expected; fanfare? a new sense of self? to stamp a drawing immediately? I don't know. The stamping part was offered, but I was too nervous a week out of the gate...The truth is, not much has really changed - it's kind of like getting married, one day you aren't and the next day you are. Just like growing into an Intern, I'll grow into being an expert. I thought that testing was the beginning of the journey, but really it's the license that's the beginning.
The license did give me a great deal of certainty in the career I have chosen and confidence that I can do it and be successful. Those of you who have passed any of these exams know how accomplished it can make you feel.
Now comes the fear of doing it wrong, interpreting the code incorrectly and being sued! Gary (still my desk neighbor in the new office) likes to remind me that I can be sued now. But with that fear comes an ever-changing field that has more to offer than one person can hold.
So, what now? Well, now that I have watched all of House of Cards and all of Orange is the New Black, it's back to the books! I was offered a spot in Shive-Hattery's Leadership Development Program. A huge honor! As my boss opened the offer packet to the reading list I laughed and said "well, at least I know what I am doing in what I thought was free time". Ha!
With change comes other change, right?
Since I have "found my pen," it's time to move on. I'm happy to announce that Shive-Hattery has developed a new blog where everyone can learn and hear from others in our growing company. I'll still be around, but I'm excited to hear what else is going on! You can check that out here.


Thank you to everyone for listening to me and helping me along :)


My desk pretty much looks the same as it did in my introduction (new location aside), but if you look closely, there's a pen!

It happened...

Thursday, July 16, 2015: Not a typical morning. My darling 2 year old woke me up at precisely 4:35am ready to "play trains." It could have been a normal day, but I knew that when I heard him holler that my score was posted for my latest ARE. It wasn't just any ARE, it was hopefully my last and it was by far the hardest for me.


My phone was plugged in at my bedside with the internet open to the NCARB page. I was signed in and had a close up on the section that has a string of six passes waiting for the 7th. I have been refreshing it religiously for days, knowing full well that it wouldn't be posted any sooner than Thursday morning, because that's typically when the scores are posted sometime after midnight depending on your time zone.


I decided the night before to leave it zoomed in to the Pass or Fail area because I knew I couldn't take the suspense of reading "Structural Systems" and then scrolling over to the Pass/Fail column.


As I walked to my son's room I unlocked my phone and began counting down the Pass/Fail column.
Fails: Zero.
Then I counted the Passes:...1..2..3..4..5..6........7!!!!

I was too tired to wake everyone else in the house and didn't feel they needed to share the pain of being up so early. My mom and sister were visiting and they were making a 6 hour drive home that day, so I quietly went into my sons room and pulled him out of the crib. I felt like a zombie. Not only was I tired because I could barely sleep for 11 days knowing this score was looming, but I was in total disbelief that I had passed. I checked it over and over again, counting to 7. I scrolled to the left to make sure it said Structural Systems and that it wasn't just my eyes playing tricks on me.




I sat down with my son on my shoulder and just stared at the wall. My husband came in, hearing that our persistent toddler wasn't going back to sleep. He asked if I needed help. I said "no, I'm OK". Then I paused for a few seconds and whispered "I passed." I said it so calmly and quietly that I'm not sure he understood for a moment. I'm not sure that I even understood.




The shock lasted all day. In fact, I'm still in shock.




On July 29, 2015 I officially became and Architect. My registration number was posted on the state website, my certificate is in the mail and I ordered new business cards. I think the business card order was the most satisfying part of it all. It's really real. I'm an Architect. I say it over and over again, because it's just too crazy. I knew it would happen one day because I had spent so much time and money on architecture school that it was bound to happen.


When I set out to take the AREs almost a year ago I didn't plan to finish in under a year and I certainly didn't expect to finish without failing any. I think that's the thing that will keep me in shock for a good while. It can be done, Interns. You, too can make it "swift" and rewarding. My advice on that: give it your all. Sometime early last year my "career coach" said something to the affect of: focus on one goal for right now and get it done. He was talking about the AREs and I took it very seriously. I wasn't ready at that moment, but within 6 months I was.


Make a schedule for studying and don't let yourself get in the way. Plan for days off and unplanned events or long nights at work and for reading that will take you longer than you think. I took a couple weeks off for holidays and such, but by the end I found those long weekends to be what I needed to really hit it hard. Not to mention I just wanted to get it overwith. It's difficult to basically forgo all holidays and free time, but for me it was better than stringing the whole process out for years. I knew I could do it, so I did it, and it paid off. My method is not for everyone...Even if an escalated schedule isn't part of your plan, do commit 100% to studying.


I'll write a bit more about studying and what to study and how I studied in a later post. For now....on to the next hurdle.

ARE-itis

It is exactly 5 days until my FINAL licensing exam.


Much to my surprise and delight, about 4 weeks ago I found out that I passed the dreaded BS Exam, for those who don't know what that is, (no, it's not what you think BS stands for. Well, it sort of is) it's Building Systems; basically a test of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems. What a crazy, confusing ride that was. I was certain that would be the one I'd fail. That was, until I started studying for what will be my last...Structural Systems!


I have largely been relearning all of the material that I "learned" in grad school. I have certainly been paying more attention to the Structural Engineers in the office and going back to YouTube almost daily when I tell them I understand, but really don't. I have even cracked open my structures book from school in hopes that it all floods back and I don't really need to study it.
It has been really hard to buckle down for this one. I don't know if it's because it's just so daunting and dense or if I'm just like a Senior in High School that's been accepted to an Ivy League college with a full ride. I call it ARE-itis. Not necessarily "inflammation of the ARE", but you know what I mean.


I found myself, a couple nights ago, in a chapter about finding the forces in truss members. I looked at the first example that had a 3 page solution and said "no way!" It was at that moment I realized that I was seriously sick of studying. When I go in to take my test next Monday it will have been almost exactly 11 months since I started studying for my first exam; I figure that I will have studied 560 hours at the very least! Oh the things I could do with 560 hours.


I didn't go into planning to take them all back to back, but when the passing scores kept coming in, I thought "Why stop a good thing?"
In hindsight, I wouldn't do it any other way. Sure, me, my husband, son and probably my cat, are slightly worse for wear, but I figure my son won't remember this time at all. He won't remember that every night after he went to bed I studied; he won't remember me not as an architect. A year or two down the road the studying might have gotten in the way of fun activities we would do as a family, and I'm not sure I'd be OK with that, and now I'll never have to know.


I still could fail, but I've got my study method pretty solidified at this point and I've used my time and resources to the max, so I'm just going to hope for the best.
If I don't fail?...people ask me all the time what I'm going to do after I finally get licensed.


I have no idea.
I told my husband the other night that I just want to binge watch Netflix shows for a good month or two. I would start making my to-do list now, but I would be worried that it would jinx me.


I'll be on vacation the week I should get the results. I'll either be licensed or not next time you hear from me.
Happy 4th of July, everyone! Here's what I'll be doing:

Jealous?

"In Her Shoes"

People always say “architects wear many hats;” engineer, planner, interior designer, babysitter, organizer, to name a few, have been uttered. (You all know what I mean by babysitter).

Did you also know that they wear many shoes? Other than flats, heels and steel-toed boots, I hadn’t really thought about shoes. 

In the past few months I have worn many “shoes” in my position and this “photo essay” has been sort of enlightening to me about how we are designing for others and shaping their environments. I’m sure I’ve talked about it before, but it becomes clearer every day. It also showed me just how much an architect does when they are working on every facet of a project or just within their firm or even their lives outside of the office.

This first one is from sometime in Mid-February. My coworker and I lead a pre-bid meeting for a project that was rebidding. This wasn’t just any project; it was the project that I’ve been working on since I started at Shive-Hattery. It’s very special to me for so many reasons. As I trudged through several inches of snow to show contractors the scope of work, I found myself, in this very moment, standing where a new building would be and thinking about how badly I hope it comes in under budget and how I can’t wait to show it to my toddler some day and tell him that I poured my heart and soul into it. I am happy to say that it DID come in under budget and I’ll be showing it to my son in a couple years or so.

The next one was when a couple coworkers and I were doing site verifications for a remodel of an Operating Room Suite. Never thought I’d wear scrubs, but I have to say they’re quite comfortable. I was mostly just helping out for this mission, but I did get to design a couple Lounges that accompanied the project. This picture reminds me of how hard nurses and doctors work and how tired I was after a day of field verifications. There was a surgery going on in one of the rooms that, from what I understand, was several hours long. It feels good to know that the Lounges designed for them will be there to rest their weary bones and give them comfort when they hardly have time for it.

The next is on a roof where davits for window washing were being installed. What a beautiful day that was. Not too bad of a day to be a construction worker.

This next one…well, those aren’t my feet. Those are the feet of my toddler “helping” me study for my next exam.

This one is in an auditorium that is under construction. This space was a good portion of a year for me and this moment was one of the greatest of my career thus far. I stood on the stage as the contractor talked to the project architect and I almost cried. It was exactly how I pictured it would be and exactly how it looks in the documents. I’ve worked on a lot of projects in my time here, but none quite like this one have been built yet. Here I’m standing next to a railing that I painfully drew. I’m really not a fan of drawing railings, but it was really cool to see those lines on the paper come to life. Knowing that this school is going to have a fantastic auditorium come next school year to use just makes my heart warm. I had some good times on a theatre stage in my school days and it can be very enriching to have this kind of facility at a student’s disposal.

The final one in this series is this morning, when I printed off the document stating that I had passed my 5^th exam! That means 2 to go! This one, Building Design and Construction Systems, wasn’t too bad in the end. The multiple choice portion was pretty straight forward and I felt prepared, but the vignettes were HORRIBLE! I recall sitting there for almost 30 minutes, watching the minutes tick by, thinking "what am I going to do here?" Clearly I satisfied the program, but I recall leaving the room and praying I didn’t have to endure that again. Thank goodness, I don’t. 

 

 

 

"Do you think you passed?"

At the completion of each ARE Licensure exam NCARB asks the test taker if they felt that they have passed...on the day of my last exam I checked "No" for the first time.



During my mandatory break, in the middle of the Site Planning and Design exam, I stood at the window for 12 minutes watching the snow fall; I didn't move. As it accumulated on the ground, so did my doubts about the Multiple Choice portion of the exam that I just endured. As I told my coworker when I returned: "it was horrible, in every sense of the word."

I think I actually knew maybe a third of the material. The second third was kind of of common sense enough that I felt comfortable to guess and the final third I had never seen before! I decided to brush it off because the worst was yet to come...the vignettes. dun dun dun....

Turns out the vignette portion wasn't all that bad. I completed the Site Grading in under 15 minutes and knew I had come up with an appropriate solution that met all the requirements.
The Site Design vignette was the one I was most worried about. I practiced for a good portion of Friday, Saturday and Sunday and was confident I could solve the problem. Half of the battle is taking notes on this one and I had my method down. The program made it pretty black and white; with the given constraints there was really only one solution. So, great! right? wrong.

I was certain that the vignette would cause me to fail and break my winning streak. I did not expect it to be the multiple choice! Not even wearing the same outfit that I had passed in previously could ensure a pass. I knew the jig was up when I walked into the back room of Prometric and the usual "wand guy" and "check-in gal" weren't there. There was still a  chance that my "lucky latte" did the trick :)


Two weeks later I learned that I had passed! I was so excited that I hugged one of my coworkers! I think I would have hugged them all, given the chance :)


The significance of the blog title grew when I came into work this morning and asked Natalie how her exam went. She was scheduled to take Construction Documents and Services (CDS) yesterday; her first exam.


She started in on her story with "Well, Saturday night I got the email reminder that my test was scheduled for Monday..." Then she explained living through one of my greatest fears...the test she actually signed up for was Building Design and Construction Systems rather than Construction Documents and Services!!!!!


She has studied for CDS for several weeks and was completely confident in taking that exam. All of this derailed by the need to find materials and study for a completely different exam in one day. After hearing a story that continued to make my jaw drop and eyes barely blink, I asked "Do you think you passed?" She said, "ya know, I think I did" and I believe her. It seemed as if Natalie's career thus far had fully prepared her for that grueling moment, with a little help from Jenny, of course. I honesty think that I will be reporting back in a couple weeks with the good news that she passed.


So, what about CDS? you might be asking. Well, she's taking it this Thursday. Good Luck, Natalie!


As for me, next week I take Schematic Design; no multiple choice, just 6 fun-filled hours of vignettes.

Very Superstitious...

A while back, December 1st, to be precise, I walked into my local Prometric testing site at 7:22am with passport in hand, ready to take my second architectural exam. It was Programming, Planning and Practice and I was terrified. The breadth of knowledge needed to take this exam was so vast, not even the Hubble Telescope could spot it all.

After checking in I waited in their giant lobby thinking to myself that it is so huge and under-utilized, as I always have thought. I waited patiently for my turn to go the back and watched people come in. One after the other, it was as if almost every test taker had been there before. The nice gentleman checking everyone in said "back again, I see" to at least 5 people in the 10 minutes I was sitting there. Test taking at Prometric started to feel like a culture that only frequent test takers can take part in. People checked in, put their stuff away, sat down (as far away from anyone else as possible) and stared off into space trying to recall as much information as possible. Well, everyone except for a young man doing yoga within 2 feet of me and a girl who, from what I gathered, was about to take the GRE and was so nervous I started getting nervous for her.

I found myself wanting to ask the other test-takers "what are you in for?"  but to my surprise and delight, the man doing yoga, wearing what I think was a kaftan jumpsuit, French-rolled at the bottom, asked me! It got everyone talking, and sure enough, everyone but the GRE gal had been there before for exam after exam after exam. I felt comforted by this and the realization that I might fail this test melted away.

Not too long after that  conversation ended it was my turn to get the metal detector wand waved around my body and all of my pockets pulled inside out. It was the same squirrely man as last time. After I passed that test I sat down in the well-worn office chair ready to get my finger prints and picture taken and then assigned a computer. It was the same woman as last time! And she was wearing the exact same blazer and head band!! It was at the moment that I realized that I, too, was wearing the EXACT same outfit that I had worn to take the previous exam that I passed. Whoa! (no idea why I remember stuff like this, but I do...). I immediately got superstitious. I said to myself, if I pass this I will wear my owl shirt from Target, jeans, boots and maroon sweater the next time, no question. I will have the same snack at my scheduled break and I will go to Starbucks afterwards and order a grande nonfat latte, as I have done before and will definitely do this time. But what if the "wand guy" isn't there and what if "head band girl" isn't wearing her headband, will I fail? My mind COULD and WILL go a little too far, but for now my newly found rituals are working because I passed that exam!

Boy, that felt good! I later learned that the first two exams I took and passed have the lowest pass rates. Smooth sailing from now on, I suppose...yeah right. I know what's coming and how tough it's going to be. Up next: Site Planning and Design.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2834

Today is the last day in this office. I have sat in this desk for almost 3 years and I'm feeling a bit nostalgic as I use it for the last time. In such a short amount of time I have seen the office transform at least 3 times to accommodate our growth. We are packed like sardines, even more so now that there are moving totes everywhere you step.

Tomorrow the movers come and transport our working "home" across the street. It's a light and airy space that will hopefully be almost done when we get there on Monday morning. We will have more work spaces, more conference rooms, more opportunity to interact with each other and we will have less storage. Gasp! I've told myself that I could adapt. In fact, my goal was to only pack two totes...That didn't work out so well. I forgot to put a bunch of specs in the central file before they were moved and now I have an entire tote of specs. Ick. That put me at 3 totes. Then I learned that my phone had to be in a tote. That got me to 4, which I have had no problem filling up.

When packing one often finds curious things. A while back I posted some items that Brad had found at his desk that dated back to 1997. I didn't find anything too old since I haven't been here that long, but I did find a number of "presents" from the local mouse that has been having a good time eating my snacks.

The first person I saw this morning was Riley, she's our receptionist and all-around Renaissance woman. I asked if she was ready and she kinda laughed, but it was a scared laugh... After Riley packed her house to move last week she started packing the office; not a small task by any stretch of the imagination. Packing is the name of the game today all around the office. I really need to be working on specifications, but everyone around me is purging and packing making it difficult to concentrate. Having all of the items removed from my tackable-surfaced cubicle it's making it difficult to see things as I have, I mean, physically difficult. My periphery used to be mostly white, now it's more gray.

People talk about how great it's going to be to have a nice view out of the building (and it will be), I tell them "I look at Gary everyday; that's my view and that's my view at the new office". It's nice to know that view won't change. Gary will still be right in front of me. I hope he doesn't get confused when he sees me gazing his direction looking at the window that will also be in my view...sorry if I creep you out, Gary.

Photo: L Seiberling
"Before the Move"

I don't have a before picture handy, but my desk today looks pretty much like it did the day I started here; a computer, a coffee mug and a couple sheets of paper. It makes me wonder how I'll settle into my new space. Having nice things often keeps people from cluttering and ruining them...so I know it will not ever look like this. (I promise, Carrie, it won't).

Goodbye 2834, hello 2839!

A funny thing happened on the way back from Prometric...

I took my first Architect Registration Exam last Monday; it was Construction Documents and Services. I studied everything I could get my hands on and practiced vignettes until my eyes hurt. Naturally, when I left the testing facility I ran through a few questions in my head I wanted to check the answer to when I got back to the office.

While I was driving away from Prometric I remembered that part way through my exam I found my self singing a Maroon 5 song in my head. I wondered how that could have possibly happened as I'm really not a Maroon 5 fan... then I thought: I hope that means I was relaxed and feeling good about the test.

Then I realized I had forgotten the questions I wanted to look up! Probably just as well. I decided that no matter what happened it was good that I got one over with. I feel confident in how to study and how to approach future exams now.

What was on the exam, you interns might wonder? You'll have to see for yourself. But I can tell you that it was largely unexpected. 

How did I do, you're also wondering? Well...I honestly didn't think I passed. I ended the multiple choice portion feeling OK about half of the questions and I felt the I nailed the vignette, even though I finished with about 53 seconds left on the clock. Whatever happened in that Prometric room is in the past now because I PASSED!!! The rolling clock has begun and I'm confident in moving forward. Might just knock them all out in the next year. We'll see.

I didn't share the first test journey with anyone except a few coworkers and my husband, but now that I've gotten the first one out of the way let's start documenting the battle. Stay tuned for PPP this Fall! Feels good to be 1/7th of an Architect :)

Across the street we go!

Oh, hey there! It's been a while, but it's for good reason.

I've had the privilege over the last several months to work on our new office (among other things)! This project has been a long time coming as we have been bursting at the seams ever since I started working here.

After looking at location after location the boss settled on a property across the street. Once a dingy cube farm, it will now be a bright and shiny architectural Mecca! It's a simple building that our firm actually designed a number of years ago. We are adding curtain wall, enlarging the windows and putting in some great finishes to make it a great place to work and grow. 

The design, management and production team worked countless hours to make it happen (I almost pulled an all-nighter) and I'm happy to say it's under construction as I type. The windows are in, the walls are framed, the concrete is polished and it's really coming together! 

Here's where you'll find us on November 24th!

 

Image: Shive-Hattery

 

Say What?

I realized this morning that ever since I entered the professional architecture realm I say things differently.

Instead of cinder blocks, it's CMU; I point out if wood should be firetreated; some statements are vague, leaving the real decision making to the person I am talking to; I always comment if things are code compliant or not; I am constantly pointing out sub-par detailing to my husband while we are out and about; and I say the word "typical" in normal conversation. Luckily the latter isn't in note form with a statment, then a pause, then "typical", but it comes up pretty often.

Nothing really mind-blowing about this. I just think it's funny how our professions can alter the way we speak. I'm thinking that Lawyers would be really hard to understand...

Dreams CAN come true...

Did you guess what became of those 2000+ cans? If you guessed Olaf, you were right!

The movie Frozen is taking the world by (snow) storm, so several of our Shive-Hattery CANstructors created Olaf in the place of his dreams...the beach. He seems to be blissfully unaware that he would melt in that situation...

He was kept cool in a mall in Eastern Iowa for a couple weeks offering laughter, oohs and aahs to children (and adults) of all ages and eventually full bellies for those in need.










To fundraise for that kind of weight in canned food takes a good prize. We could buy tickets to be placed in jars featuring the project managers and office management team smiling faces. Why? you might ask. So their workspace could become a work of art for a day.

At the last 5 minutes of the fundraiser a surprise donation was made crowning Eric as the lucky "winner"! The approach to his desk didn't leave much to the imagination :)

Our team won the People's Choice Award and Best Meal! Way to go team!!

What CAN it be?!

CAN you see it?!!

 

A couple of our offices pair together each year to compete in CANstruction. We had a thrilling couple of week fundraising to raise enough money to build this mystery form and donate the food to HACAP. Everyone was excited to hear that the goal was more than doubled between the two offices!

 

In our office the money was raised in a back and forth, nail-biter battle of raffle tickets deposited into jars and matching of donations, resulting in an unexpected twist at the end. What was the "prize", you ask? 

 

A favorite project manager's work station gets "decorated" by another favorite project manager. Stay tuned for those pictures....

 

If you can't seem to make out what the dedicated builders below are constructing you'll have to wait until next week! 

 

It sure looks like they're having fun ;)

 

 



Finders Keepers?

The office I work in is bursting at the seams! We’re constantly shuffling to accommodate our growing company. My desk has never moved, though maybe it should so I would clean it…

I’ve only been here for just over 2 years, so the fact that I have not changed desks isn’t really relevant. There is one man, however, that has managed to NEVER move in his nearly 2 decades at Shive-Hattery. He’s a quiet guy, and a guy you always need around because he knows everything about AutoCAD; I don’t think I’ve stumped him even once. He always sits down, hits a bunch of keys so purposefully and rhythmically it sounds like percussion solo, creates an awkward smiley face with a couple circles and a curved line, gets up and walks away while I stand there amazed and confused.

This gentleman recently moved desks to make way for a new hire. He’s closer to my desk now, so I think I can just shout or throw a paper airplane next time I need him to fix what I’ve inevitably broken.

After his move he kindly pointed out that he left a few mementos to the person who is to claim his former space. I didn’t know what I would find when I walked over, but I was happily greeted with all non-perishables. This was weeks ago, but I found myself telling my husband about it just a couple days ago, so I figured I should share it with others. Take note that the current year is 2014…enjoy :)
 

 

Inspired!

copyright Elizabeth Seiberling, 2013

Inspiration for a performing arts center was taken from the drama that was created by the undulating fabric.

 

 

Where do designers find inspiration?

I participated in an internal meeting that asked that question. Having not really participated in a whole lot of initial design in my office I haven't had much big picture design conception other than in architecture school.

My usual go-tos in school were surroundings and history. In one project my partner and I drew a section cut through the city to help guide what the height if our building would be and find certain open spaces. We enlarged the neighborhood and searched for patterns, focusing on the voids and solids; that told us what kind of transparency made sense on the site and in the building. We got to know the neighborhood by observing their typical habits as they moved through the space and interacted with it. It was a lot of anthropological and geographical study rather than searching the internet for inspiration, though we did a little of that.

The project, a new media library in Boston, turned out to be our best and got a lot of positive reaction. If only it were real...

In other projects I have even looked to works of art as I have an extensive background in art history. Piet Mondrian helped me form a farmhouse. In his later years worked to simplify nature to straight lines. There was a lot to it, but what can't you do with that?

Upon designing a yoga center in the woods I looked to yoga positions for the overall form and feel of the space. It turned out to be long, simple and elegant.

One classmate had a knack for observing daily patterns and pathways to help her form spaces. The studies always created some beautiful artwork along the way. This gave her the opportunity to make that path more efficient, but I think it ended up shaping her project more than anything; keeping the patterns in existence and working around them.

Everything that was created had so much meaning and care found within every line that was placed on the paper. It was layer upon layer of inspiration being implemented.

I don't know if this is really how most architects operate. In practice we are guided by codes and regulations, perhaps not leaving much time to find the deeper meaning. Starchitects seems to have that luxury, whether they use it or not.

Other avenues of inspiration come from the client, their tastes and needs. This is key as it is their environment designers are shaping. Interior designers have a lot of knowledge about the effects of color which can often help a space come together and we all look at the internet to see what others have done. With the access to sites like Pinterest, the public has a lot more avenues to see great design and inspiring features. (A few people in my company have started a Pinterest page of things that inspire the Interiors team). Charles Eames said something to the affect of: "innovate as a last resort", meaning if it works there is no harm in using it literally or for inspiration. 

Inspiration is all around us, we have just to be able to see it. 

Where do you find inspiration?

Let Them Eat Cake!

finecooking.com

This article really caught my eye at the right time.

I've had some serious writers block as a result of lots to do at work and even more to do at home.

This was of particular interest to me because I have grown up with a mother that has become a serious sculptor of cakes and candy amongst friends and family and now beyond.

I will never forget the castle she crafted for my (maybe) 4th birthday out of sugar ice cream cones, cake, icing, coconut and green food coloring. To my princess-loving eyes, it was a real palace!

The article reminded me that architecture is just as sculptural and cake and candy creation has roots in architecture. Balance and beauty play a role in both and require a great deal of care and planning to execute.

I am not saying that either must literally look like a sculpture, but both conceptual ideas are carved out of space; made of up voids and solids to create a form that stands and looks...good enough to eat!

The Day the Coffee Died

It was a dark and cool morning. The office was quiet as people made their way into work. Little did we know a mutiny was brewing in the break room...

I walked in to find two architects opening every cabinet, turning over every box.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Architect 1: "Can you use paper towels as a coffee filter?"

Me: "You would be sorely disappointed."

Then reality set in: WE'RE OUT OF COFFEE FILTERS!

The receptionist was immediately alerted. And alerted. And alerted.

Tales began swarming about the good coffee being inaccessible as the frustration mounted. Jokes were told asking if an emergency shipment was requested, though I'm sure it wasn't a joke to some.

Meanwhile the lowly, regular coffee, with the built in filter, was brewing away ready for its 15 minutes of fame.

The underdog wins today!

I'm not Frank Gehry and that's OK.

As I rode alongside my boss this afternoon on our way back from a meeting with an owner, we were talking about the fine line between what you learn in architecture school and the real world of practicing architecture. We talked about learning to think differently and having meaning behind each decision made in a design. I'm not sure how the subject came up, but none-the-less it did and it gave me something to think about when I should have been thinking about my next deadline.

I pointed out that there are many that leave school not knowing anything about actually working in architecture (even summer internships are not always reflective of what actually happens after graduation). I, myself, was not entirely sure what to expect when I got into the real world. I luckily had a great professor that, at the time, had his own practice and gave it to me straight on occasion, so it wasn't complete culture shock when I started at Shive-Hattery. Many architecture students think that the moment they receive their diploma they will be designing the next great skyscraper that is going to win numerous awards and be the icon of the city. In reality the first thing you do is red lines in AutoCAD and you will continue to do that for quite some time in many cases.
(I, myself, have been fortunate to have a more enriching experience than treading in sea of red lines 24/7.)

I told Alan, boss and project architect, that I was "afraid of forgetting how to design because I don't do it everyday". The conversation turned to other things shortly after, but when I got back to the office I thought more about it and realized that I actually do design every single day! I draw details (never perfect, but, hey, I'm learning), I organize plans and other components on sheets so that they read and are understandable, I also organize people; I like to call it conducting a symphony of sorts. All of that, among other things, is design even though it's not the skin, mass or plan of a building.

One must find the design opportunities in every situation. Nothing should ever leave your fingers without thought and care. I have always told myself I wanted to design meaningful things with thought and care and I realized that I do it all the time. No detail makes it out the door without intense design. It may look like a simple window frame detail, but then I think of how many people look at that frame as they look out the window.

What I should have said was: "I'm afraid of forgetting how to design extravagant, luxurious, out-of-this-world, nearly impossible and far too expensive buildings" :)

The message really goes to all students, interns and veteran architects out there...just like how your mom tells you to find the good in everyone, we need to find the design in everything. It could be an extraordinary skyscraper, or it could be the clip that holds up the cladding; it's all designed and done with purpose.

Work/Life Balance???

photo: babycenter.com

Part of maintaining sanity is the ever-challenging work/life balance. Architects are notorious work-aholics. Fortunately I find myself surrounded by people who are family-oriented and embrace their free time. I'm not saying that I have every weekend and evening free, but for the most part I live a normal life.
I have spent weekends with my husband discovering our city and all it has to offer. We perfect the art of the latte and usually find a movie to rent. I never miss an episode of Barefoot Contessa; Ina is my culinary hero. These days we find ourselves spending every possible moment playing with our son and thinking about what he will be when he grows up...ahem...architect.

My co-workers do home renovation projects, spend time with family, go skiing and hiking and often don't think about work. That's not to say the office is empty when I go in on the weekends. There are a number of people, and you know who you are, that might as well keep a change of clothes at their desk. I've heard that there is a pillow and blanket somewhere in the office for the occasional all-nighter.

"Work/life balance" seems to always be a buzz phrase. Why is that?
 
It is something most people want to achieve, but always find themselves working far more than enjoying life. I remember talking about it in grad school, but found myself more of a workaholic than anything. And I liked it that way! Jobs and school work were my life and my friends were a part of every aspect of those situations. Studio wasn't so much work but many hours of socialization with the perk of creating cool designs. I was a TA and loved it so it didn't feel like work and I was also a barista at Starbucks...I'd hardly call that work.

Now, as an Intern Architect, it's a whole different ball game. Throw in a husband and a newborn baby and I can't even seem to find my way through my sleep-deprived haze to figure out how to distinguish between life and work. I have learned that having a family and working means you're always working! You go from drawing details, to meetings, to cleaning bottles and doing the laundry without even batting an eye. "Rest" is taking care of personal business when you have five minutes after inhaling your lunch before solving the problem of "how do we support this fire wall without anything to put it on?" (true story).

If you don't have a family and rarely see your friends I suggest a vacation. There is a big, beautiful world out there waiting to be discovered, you silly workaholics.

So what is the real solution? I have attended a few seminars on the subject and walked away thinking about how it was sort of ironic that we were in a room talking about living life rather than going out and actually doing it. Oh man, we might be doomed.

There are some amazing role models and supermoms in my office with 3 kids(!!!), so I know it can be done.

I have settled on a personal solution that I need to work more efficiently during the working hours, enjoy my son and husband as much as I can in the evenings and live life to the fullest on the weekend with my tiny family. I'm only two weeks out of maternity leave and already got a project out the door without any meltdowns; I'd say that's a good start.

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No! It's a Tornado!

About 4 weeks ago I had a baby. 

This was no ordinary delivery.  With a clap of thunder and a flash of lightening came my son! What I didn't expect to come was a tornado. 

As I was wheeled through the nursery on the way to my postpartum room a calm announcement came over the intercom: "Attention staff. There is a tornado warning in the county. Please follow tornado procedures. Thank you". 

And as fast as that original flash of lightning I was pushed into a supply closet, bed and all (see photo), while the babies in the nursery were pushed into another with a nurse for each in tow. 

While I'm really glad I was not in labor at that moment (2 other women were) I wondered what if I was!? The threat of a tornado is not something you think is going to strike whilst giving birth, but it clearly happens. 

As an intern architect I'm not sure that I've really thought about tornado safety in the projects I have touched (don't worry, the actual architect did), you bet I will from now on! 

In the case of a hospital I imagine it's as much about the procedures as it is the design. A woman in labor certainly isn't going to stop pushing, put shoes on and take the stairs to the basement. They will continue laboring and relocate to the hallway or the labor room without windows carefully thought out for this exact moment. 

This is a huge shout-out to the nurses and doctors that made us feel safe. I wish I could name you because you are truly amazing, but instead I will take the opportunity to just remind designers that the unthinkable happens. Are our buildings ready for it?

"I Came Here Just to Buy Milk"

Image: New York Daily News

I came across this article recently regarding Supermarket Architecture. In a nutshell it tells us that they are designed to encourage us to buy more.

Having worked in a grocery store for probably 10+ years of my life I have to say "duh". As the article states the necessities are in the back forcing shoppers to navigate through aisles of brightly colored packages, inevitably leading to the all too common phrase at the cash register: "I came here just to buy milk!" as the cashier finds 30 items in front of them.

Grocery stores are a fascination of mine (as well as the bane of my existence; I would like fewer options sometimes).  In my European travels I found myself drawn to grocery stores. They are so different in Europe. There are fewer options, making your time more efficient. There is always fresh produce outside and a bakery right in the front offering the daily necessities that every European picks up on the way home. The aisles are tiny and barely fit two people side by side; don't even think about using a cart! They are made from a maze of spaces as builders did not have large open grocery store spaces in mind when they were building hundreds of years ago. And when they are out of a product they are out of it until they get around to stocking it everyone just lives with it because that's how it is.

I recall being lost several times in a particular grocery store in Florence; it just kept going and going, offering turn after turn into what clearly used to be...not a grocery store. Efficiency and necessity are the name of the game in most places other than the U.S. Another difference that cannot go unmentioned is the open air markets that run rampant abroad. The U.S. is picking up on that trend, but not often enough. On a more recent trip abroad my husband and I went to the store for staples like bread, wine and salami every morning, then shopped the Cours Saleya in Nice for fruit and any other small, fresh items we needed for breakfast and lunch that day. The difference is that it was open every day, rain or shine; we could count on it, and back at home the outdoor market is open on Saturday morning from May to October leaving our steeply-priced green beans to mold by the end of the week.

In my time working in a grocery store and now, as a regular shopper, I think about the things that would make them more efficient for the worker and the shopper. They really don't mix, is the conclusion I came away with. Shoppers want it and they want it now, so the store has to have a large supply waiting in the back for the moment it's out on the shelf. I can tell you that I lost a lot of weight running from the front of the store to the back time after time searching in piles of canned goods for that one can of Fried Onions that might have been left after the Thanksgiving rush. While I'm walking the quarter mile to get to the back stock at least 2 other people stop me for a request. By the time I get back to the original customer they would have waited for far too long and sometimes they would be gone. I couldn't blame them.

So what is the solution? How do we please both parties with good design? If you have even an inkling of a solution please enlighten the readers in the comment section below.