The first step is always the toughest. You are not sure how to start, who to talk to, or how to find out. You don’t want to waste money or time making the wrong decisions, but you have never done this before. So how do you get started?
The first step in the construction process is to do some evaluation of needs, goals, and resources. How much space do you need? What is working now and what needs to be better? How fast do you need the work done? How much money do you have to accomplish your goals? What is a must have and what can you give up? You will almost always need someone to help align these goals once you know what your specific goals are and sometimes you need help setting the specific goals. There are no wrong answers, but there are almost always answers that work better than others. It is very important to start with a good foundation to get a good project.
Once you have started the evaluation process you probably will need some professional advice. Meeting with an architect is a good starting point as they go through this process everyday, they know who to talk to, and they know who you can trust. A lot of firms do not charge for this initial consultation as this is the conversation the professional needs to establish scope of work. I have had many conversations where this has resulted in designing a home / renovation and many conversations where I have sent potential clients to better resources than I could provide for the services that were needed.
The first step is always the hardest to take when making major decisions. Trust is the most important element. Do some research, verify your goals, decide what certifications your professional needs to have, and ask lots of questions. Building and Renovating can be a lot of fun, a little stressful, and often results in dreams being fulfilled.
Architects design a variety of building types. Some are big, some are small, and they all have great meaning to the client and to the architect. Architecture is an interesting profession. You wear your heart on your sleeve and your work is often reviewed, and analyzed. Sometimes you specialize in a certain type of design – like residential:
Sometimes within that specialty you might only do renovations
or energy-efficient:
or commercial:
or agricultural:
or multi-family:
or Historic Renovation:
some try to push the envelope of what is accepted and expected:
sometimes form is given to you (garden apartment)
sometimes size is the rule (1000 sf)
sometimes you are the first (EarthCraft Light Commercial)
sometimes you give your time to high school students:
sometimes you design big open spaces:
sometimes you design big interior spaces:
sometimes you design high density:
But no matter what the project, as an architect, the one thing that remains constant is you design solutions!
PARK(s) are coming to downtown Harrisonburg. While a permanent park is being debated, funding is being investigated, and noise is being negotiated – artists, citizens, businesses, and schools are bringing parks downtown. The Harrisonburg Parklet Project is a chance for those wanting to express creativity, love for pocket parks, and love for art to build a temporary public park for other people to enjoy. In conjunction with First Fridays, the Harrisonburg Parklet Project will show us what our city could look like if more public spaces were allocated for urban green space, gathering areas, and activity centers. This event taking place on October 5-6, 2012 all around downtown Harrisonburg will highlight the importance of design for a community to grow and thrive. These slivers of green space are meant to encourage unscripted social interaction, design, civic engagement, critical thinking, generosity, and place.
Your park could express a desire for more bike friendly design:
Your space might talk about the need for fewer cars and more parks
Your space might be an indication of a need for more gathering spaces in downtown.
This is your chance to shape the conversation in downtown – what do you want everyone talking about?
When: October 5, 5-8pm & October 6, 8am-12pm Where: all around downtown Harrisonburg Cost to attend: Free Cost to design: $60 Who: Everyone! Artists, designers, architects, children, citizens
So what does a “parklet” look like? It’s up to you! Some people have created park-like areas with amenities like grass, shade, seating, bike racks, planters, and public art. Look for inspiration everywhere! Just keep in mind that your space will be left unattended at night, so don’t leave valuables and take inclement weather into consideration when choosing materials.
Who can participate? Anyone! But hurry – there are only 20 parklet spaces available.
Where does the registration money go? All proceeds for this event will go to theHarrisonburg Northend Greenway, a community project that will create 2.5 miles of green park space through downtown Harrisonburg and beyond.
What if I can’t afford to pay the registration fee? A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. If interested, please provide a paragraph as to why you or your organization should be a recipient. Send this to contact@northendgreenway.org or mail to Northend Greenway, PO Box 1231, Harrisonburg, VA 22803 along with your Registration Form.
Guidelines:
– Parklets must be ready by or before 4:30pm on Friday, October 5.
– All materials are to be provided by parklet designers, and inclement weather should be taken into consideration (event is rain or shine).
– Event organizers are not responsible for theft or vandalism.
– Event concludes at 12 noon on Saturday, October 6. Parklets must be cleared and parking spaces cleaned no later than 3pm on Saturday.
– Not required but preferred that designers be with their parklet from 5-8pm during the First Fridays Art Walk.
– No sales or solicitation.
The Architectural profession is interesting. The stereotypical architect must be able to draw, is great with math, has a big ego, does not listen to their clients, wears funky glasses, and is rich. The reality is an architect needs to understand building science, listen and hear really well, act as a mediator, act ethically, balance multiple projects at once, have thick skin and accept criticism well, and if their lucky will make enough to pay the bills this month. Architects have a mystic to them that other professions lack. There are professional organizations and magazines that continue to push the idea of high design that is beautiful before functional, that creates a statement rather than fulfills a need, that if you have to ask then you cannot afford. Then there is the reality that only very few architects design those buildings that make the covers of magazines. Many architects are sitting at their desks worrying about a flashing detail at the top of a parapet wall – can the builder get this right in the field, did I include enough information, will they think it is too complicated, will it really work? Architecture is about the details, wonder, imagination, problem solving, and again LISTENING. The best Architects think like children when they are designing. All things are possible and the solution just needs to be found. So be the best Architect you can be, follow these tips to keep thinking like a child:
1. Don’t be afraid to fall down and get bruises
Children know they are going to fall down if they run too fast but that does not stop them. They might need a hug or a bandaid to make them feel better, but this is what allows them to explore freely and learn without hesitation. Architects need to take on their projects with this same approach. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, explore new options, and to be wrong. As Albert Einstein said “You never fail until you stop trying.”
2. Don’t listen
Well listen to your clients wants and needs, but then interpret them into the solution they are asking for rather than the solution they think they need. In most cases they will thank you for showing them there is a better way, in some cases they will fire you and hire an architect that does what they say…
3. Make new friends everywhere
One, you never know who will need your services so always look for opportunities to build relationships and to help others. Building community will benefit you as well as everyone else that wants the best for the community. Two, you will need help to make your designs work. Having a network of people who you can count on for answers is critical in being a good architect. I have no idea how an architect that is not an active member of the Construction Specifications Institute can get the answers they need from people they trust on any topic in the construction industry. Networking is the key in our industry for survival, but this is one organization that I know I cannot live without and would recommend you not hiring architects that are not involved in it.
4. Keep your blankie close by
I don’t know many architects that carry a blankie to work, but I would be interested to hear from any that do.. What I mean here is keep your comfort zone close by, but be willing to venture out and test the waters around what you already know. Watching my daughters deal with stress is always a learning experience. Frequently they go get their blankie and that makes things better. They continue to learn and grow by experiencing the situation, but want that added level of comfort by their side just in case things go wrong and they need it. As architects our clients are paying us for our past experiences, but if that is all we give them our projects will never grow, evolve, improve, or enhance the status quo.
5. Take a time out
This is the hardest thing for me to do. We all need down time to recharge our brains to allow us to function at the top of our game. Don’t be afraid to take time off from working to learn, grow, and relax.
6. Be an artist
As an architect, you get to express your artistic freedom in design. Sure it may be limited to a minor detail as clients usually know what they want (they just don’t know how to draw it and make it work), but you have to be creative to be successful. Architects might not be the best freehand artists in the room (some are) but they need to keep their hands free to be able to create the best solutions.
7. Cry
Sometimes you fall down, you get called names, you get beat up – allow yourself to express the disappointment that you experience. Design is a very emotional exercise and every architect puts their heart on their sleeve when they hand off their designs to their clients and to builders. The builder is almost obligated today to say “well this is going to cost too much” or “why in the world did your architect do THAT?” Some people will like your work, some people will call you a sell out for simply adding white columns and red brick to an over sized house aesthetic that is being used as a commercial building… You have to be willing to accept that not everyone will like what you do and those people will never hire you. You cannot win them all over, so cry, feel bad about it, then move on to the next project.
8. Speak your mind
There is nothing better than the words of a child. They see the world in such a pure and innocent way and are not afraid to point out the obvious without regard to the political correctness of it. An architect needs to be tactful to avoid being fired on the spot, but must be open, honest, and blunt with their clients. Sometimes a square peg just does not fit in a round hole.
9. Have Fun
Remember, there is no other job in the world that will let you hear someones dream, draw it on paper, and see it get built. This is the greatest profession in the world. There will be stress, criticism, hard times, tight financial times, but in the end architecture is FUN.
10. Always remember to say your prayers at night
An architect has the huge responsibility of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, their clients, and future inhabitants of their projects. Can you even imagine the level of stress I felt when the earthquake shook 90% of our projects. My first thought was “did we design to resist that” me second was “I hope nobody got hurt.” With every heavy wind, snow, rain, earthquake, tornado, frat party, piano purchase I think about the level of care and attention I need to make with every detail I design. Water damage is slow and deadly to a building. Something that was right today might be rotted tomorrow. We hold a huge amount of responsibility on our shoulders so say your prayers that you don’t make a mistake, take your time to get it right, and hopefully you will be able to sleep tonight.
As I sit here planning my day I am making a mental checklist to be sure I am not overlooking anything. You see, I have a hard time saying “no”and tend to get involved in many activities, organizations, and events….
I believe that every Citizen has a duty to serve their local community. You should give back if you expect to take from the services being offered (sidewalks, roads, electricity, non-profits, landscaping, parks, food….). This should not be seen as optional, this should be done by everyone. Sometimes your service will simply be taking care of your neighbor’s yard while they are on vacation, feeding their dogs, and watering their plants. Sometimes it is service on a board or volunteering to help with a non-profit. Sometimes it is giving money to help support a good cause or voting for a local school in an online fundraiser. Working hard for your community helps you and your neighbors. Serving others is good for the soul, it builds community fabric, it strengthens local resolve.
As an Architect I have certain skills that benefit the community in ways different from a doctor, school teacher, or banker. I see solutions, identify problems, I am organized. These are not traits that serve you well at dinner parties where conversations with me almost always go to what needs to be fixed in your home. They do serve well in organizing events, delegating tasks, and seeing needs and offering solutions. Here is a list of some of the activities I have been involved with this year. I encourage you to find places where you can be engaged in the community and give your time, energy, and money to support them. It will make us all stronger to have you involved!
Presented “Common problems in your home” to the Spotswood Garden Club
Promote and attend Harrisonburg Tweet Ups
Founded the HR Chamber of CommerceAging in Place Round Table – Serve as Vice Chairman, maintain the Facebook page and blog
Organized and Hosted the Central Virginia CSI Education Sessions at the Annual Product Expo
Serve on the SVBA Green Expo Committee in charge of children’s activities
Serve as the EMES PTF President
Help organize monthly Harrisonburg Green Drinks Events
Presented “Building Green” to the Darden Business School at UVA
Serve as Secretary of the SVBA
Serve on the SVBA Home and Garden Committee assisting with “special activities”
Founded and Organize the SVBA Builder Smarts Education Series
Presented “Sustainable Design Elements” at UVA Architecture School
Serve on the Parkview Mennonite Church Creation Care Council
Presented “Solar Innovations in Commercial Design” for CAAV
Worked the JMU Basketball Concessions Stand for a EMES Fundraiser
Helped to Charter the HR Green Network and serve as the Vice Chair
