by Charles Hendricks | Dec 12, 2014 | Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership
The architectural industry is an interesting one (and the only one I really know, so probably not unlike any others) in that as architects we compete for a very small pool of projects against each other, but we all rely on each other to promote the industry as a whole. The biggest competition for an architect is “no design” and boy does that happen a lot! Many don’t know what we (architects) do, don’t understand our value, or simply think they cannot afford to hire an architect.
I spend a lot of time promoting the idea of design. I know it brings me opportunities, because my clients have told me they want good design. I know it benefits our industry because it brings awareness to the idea of design and therefore it helps other architects. It is important to me that everyone understand the value added to having good design for the built environment as it impacts our community, our daily life, and our future. Here are some folks in our industry that are doing way more than I could ever do and having a tremendous impact on our world.
Studio MM promotes good design by promoting other architects. Marica posts a different architect’s work on her social media pages every week showing off design that she loves that is done by others. This is an incredibly generous gift to give that other architect, but also a wonderful way to share her love of design with her potential clients.
I am forever grateful to Cherise Schacter for her constant and overwhelming support of our industry on social media. Cherise is an incredible person / professional / Kraken that tirelessly promotes excellence in the design industry. I am not sure how she manages to keep up with all of the relationships she has built on SM and in person, but she does it with passion. Her work to promote the design industry is helping us all.
Joshua Lloyd works hard to teach others about sustainable residential design. This is a huge help to those of us focused on green design. First his work helps me know better the right solutions for my clients and second he is promoting a similar message so potential clients hear it from multiple sources. I have heard from many other design firms that don’t believe SM is important for our industry, I think Joshua is showing that it is very important.
Bob Borson created a series that is geared to show what we do as architects. The #ArchiTalks series includes some of the best architectural thinkers of our time! I know I have learned from these posts and it is certainly promoting our industry in a positive manner. Bob specifically brings the profession down to a human scale by showing the life of an architect from Christmas lists, to moving into a new office, to helping the next generation understand the industry.His approach to outreach is informal, fun, and inviting. This is how you promote an industry in a positive manner.
by Charles Hendricks | Oct 8, 2014 | architecture, Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership
I am an environmentalist. I work daily to help others understand how they can create buildings that are healthy, energy-efficient, and durable. I give lectures about indoor air quality. I advocate for buying local through social media. I recycle, grow produce in our garden, turn off lights not in use, and drive a gas efficient car. I don’t do enough.
This past Sunday at church the sermon was focused on the global community as brothers and sisters. The idea that 2.18 billion Christians live around the world is overwhelming. The thought that each of them could love God’s creation and want to take care of it is humbling. As Pope Benedict XVI says “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.” However, I am guilty myself of not doing enough every day to care for God’s creation. For instance, each morning I walk from the parking lot to my office I pass by trash in the parking lot that will be washed into downtown streams in the next rain. I still use fossil fuel based fuels in my home and office instead of safer and healthier alternative energy options. In other words, there is much work to be done in my life to truly care for God’s creation.
I wonder what other Christians are doing and as a global community what impact we are making? Does your church have a creation care committee? Does your church have an environmental impact statement? What do you do daily to care for creation?
by Charles Hendricks | Aug 3, 2014 | Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership, Local Leaders
Valley Business Keynote (#VBKeynote) was an incredible event this year with a focus on living your life on purpose, doing what you love, and loving others in your life.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV2V5limsQU?rel=0]
Valley Business Keynote is an annual event that facilitates engaging ideas for local leaders to help fulfill the Valley’s vast potential. This year’s event featured Mark Fernandes, Chief Leadership Officer with the Luck Companies in Goochland, VA. He discussed how leaders should impact others in a positive way through igniting their potential. He said that leaders have to be intentional about their actions in order to set the culture they want – in every word spoken and action executed.
“Life is about choices, the culture of your business is a shadow of the leader.”
Mark says that leaders need to get up each day and think about how to build the environment they want in their company. Not only how they act and what they say, but how the company acts as a whole to make positive meaning in the lives of others. Mark told us that he believes everyone has a mission in life that they, given the right opportunities, will fulfill. As a leader it is your job to build the right environment to provide those opportunities for everyone encountered to fulfill the potential they have inside of them.
Three big rules to follow to be a great leader:
1. Love your associates with all your heart
2. Give them something to believe in
3. Obsess about their future
I believe we all struggle finding out voices, trusting our hearts, and fulfilling our potential. The encouragement that Mark shared with 400+ people in the room to “have the life you want by being present in the life you have” was a powerful message. If we took it to heart and extended grace to each other just imagine the beauty we would find in our valley! I am looking forward to seeing these ideas grow and spread throughout the valley and to next year’s #VBKeynote.
by Charles Hendricks | Jul 4, 2014 | Charles Hendricks, citizen architect, community, Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership, Local Leaders, Office Culture, Rotary
Valley Business Keynote
The Second Annual Valley Business Keynote event will take place on Thursday, July 24, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at James Madison University’s Festival Conference Center. The Valley Business Keynote is open to the public and is a cooperative initiative of the area Rotary clubs, The Association of Young Professionals and the HR Chamber of Commerce. Lunch will be provided at no charge to members and guests of the sponsoring organizations.
July 24 | 11am-1pm
JMU Festival Center Ballroom
1301 Carrier Drive | Harrisonburg
This year’s Valley Business Keynote will feature Mark Fernandes, the Chief Leadership Officer with Luck Companies in Goochland, Virginia. Mark is a dynamic speaker who has spoken to business leaders around the world, and was recently named as a “Top 100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business” for 2014.
For more information and to RSVP, visit: http://www.valleybusinesskeynote.com.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 6, 2013 | architecture, Building Science, Harrisonburg Architect, Indoor Air Quality, Leadership
As of 2010, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there are almost 99,000 public K-12 schools in America. In 1999 (the most recent data available), the average public school building in the U.S. was 42 years old. We build our public building, particularly schools, to last a long time. Building to only meet the current code (the absolute worst possible building you can build by law) is a short-sighted approach to the health of our community. Our building codes are updated and most often strengthened every three years in the Commonwealth of Virginia. So why not try to build a building that will perform better than code over the next 50 years.
A Zero-Energy building was once a very expensive proposition that was only achieved by very few specifically using alternative energy. Now with the costs of traditional energy sources going up, alternative energy technology reducing, and building science understanding becoming mainstream, zero-energy buildings are very achievable. This approach to school construction acknowledges the need for a holistic long-term building solution that sets an example for the children attending the school. A Zero Energy Building solution shows the community that our leaders care about future costs to run a facility, tax burdens imposed on community members, and the health of our environment. More important, it shows that our community cares deeply for our children and their future.
The benefits of a Zero-energy school are many including:
1. Reduced energy costs
2. Material efficiency (comes from understanding building science and efficient thermal envelope)
3. Increased economic benefits (alternative energy, building science, and service jobs)
4. Thermal Comfort (better thermal envelope reduced energy required and increases comfort inside)
5. Indoor Environmental Quality (natural light goes hand in hand with this approach to design)
6. Indoor Air Quality (better building construction provides better air quality)
7. Increased attendance (many studies have shown a better indoor environment resulting from high performance construction improves the health of those using the building)
8. Improved Student Performance (better attendance, better indoor environment, better performance)
9. Leadership (demonstrated leadership in the community through building better)
10. Enhanced Educational Opportunities (high performance solutions provides many opportunities to teach the next generation)
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by Charles Hendricks | Sep 30, 2013 | architecture, Construction Specifications Institute, Harrisonburg Architect, Leadership
Construct has come and gone again. Each year as I build my network through
CSI the show becomes even
more valuable to me. I have the opportunity to reconnect with industry leaders, meet emerging experts, and get a glimpse into the most innovative products available in the building industry. For those new to Construct, it is the one convention in the industry that brings together people from all disciplines (owners, building managers, architects, engineers, product representatives, landscape architects, lawyers, facility managers….) within the construction industry to one place to share ideas, best practices, and knowledge.
The evolution of CSI over recent years has gone from an organization searching for its role in
the industry to an organization leading the industry in building technology information. This has translated into a very important conference for any industry leader involved with high performance building solutions to attend. The power of CSI membership and conference attendance is unmistakable to me as I have posted in the past (
here,
here,
here,
here, and
here).
I did not give a formal presentation at this year’s show as in the past, but was asked to participate in an informal panel discussion on blogging. This session is a good example of how CSI staff works hard to support the members and help them find individual success. The focus of the panel discussion was to share how we do it, how you can do it, and how to be better at doing it (blogging). I cannot say enough about how much the staff means to me in this organization. On a national level I personally know more than half of the employed staff members, consider them friends, and know they are working hard for me. This compared to other organizations where I rarely have a name of a person to call, much less a personal connection, the value of CSI membership is clear.
CSI helps build members success and in return, members help members, and members work tirelessly to support CSI.
Education sessions, product expo, meeting discussions, networking, conversations, and of course lots of FUN take place each year at Construct. This year was no exception of course. The social media crowd has grown to be very vibrant reaching over 2 million impressions on Twitter alone. The show next year will be in Baltimore in early September. If you missed this year, I highly encourage you to attend next year. If you are not ready to jump in the big pond of CSI, think about joining the regional leaders at their conference, or at least get involved in the chapter level and attend monthly meetings. The power and energy you will see from other members that want you to be successful will be awe-inspiring if you take the time to engage, volunteer, and ask for help.
Here are some pics from the event.
This year’s Valley Business Keynote will feature Mark Fernandes, the Chief Leadership Officer with Luck Companies in Goochland, Virginia. Mark is a dynamic speaker who has spoken to business leaders around the world, and was recently named as a “Top 100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business” for 2014.
