Architecture on Tap - "Old is the new "New"

‘Old’ is the new ‘New’

Architecture on tap had its final talk for the year, but don’t kick yourself, I’m sure we will be back next year. Where were you though? This go round was focused on preservation architecture and the conversation really took the house down (see what I did there?)

 

Panelists this month were David Chase, AIA, Principal ArchiTexas; Wilson Fuqua, AIA, Principal J Wilson Fuqua & Associates; Nancy McCoy, FAIA, Principal Quimby McCoy Preservation Architecture, LLP; and Katherine Seale, Hon. AIA Dallas, Preservation Dallas.

 

The knee jerk question, “What makes a building worth saving?” seems to be the go to question when talking about preservation architecture. Our panel had mixed but agreeable answers. Good design although generally subjective can be recognized when done appropriately and responsive is one aspect. Association with an event or cultural significance can stop a wrecking ball, but what is most marketable nowadays is the green aspect (one of our last AoT discussions touched on the idea of not re-designing every time we touch a piece of property). Our environment is forever changing, so if we can pick up on the parts that warrant no change then a sense of place will become evident.

 

A common hindrance of preservation seems to be the word ‘politics.’ Now I don’t mean to lower tax rates and broaden the base, or lie to you, but politics seems to be a big hurdle for most projects of our built environment.

 

The conversation moved into adaptive use and adaptive reuse, but then we were let in on a developing hush-hush story about the Bishop Arts Market. If you are interested to hear more about what exciting new tidbits of information can be dropped at an informal talk about local architecture join us next year because this architectural keg is floated….no more on tap…..see what I did there?

Luke Archer

JHP Architecture / Urban Design

Intern Think Tank... Apply now!!!

On December 14-15, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is hosting its first Intern Think Tank in Washington, DC, to inform the future of internship and examine the current Intern Development Program’s (IDP) implementation and effectiveness. The Council Would Like Your Help! Do you know interns who are passionate about architecture, the profession, and enhancing the internship portion of the licensure process? If so, encourage them to apply for the Intern Think Tank! We are looking for 12 intern volunteers. To be considered, interns will need to: To write a 300 word essay on the “Why Internship and Licensure Matter” Meet the following qualifications: Unlicensed at the time of application, have at least six months of approved IDP experience (930 hours), and an active NCARB Record Available to travel and meet 13-16 December 2012 Willingness and ability to participate in approximately five (5) conference calls and conduct up to 10 hours of research throughout the next year Have not held an officer or other leadership position with any architectural collateral organizations (NCARB, AIA, AIAS, ACSA, or NAAB) They must also list a reference from one of the following groups: An NCARB Member Board Executive or Member An AIA Component executive or officer An architect registered in a U.S. jurisdiction References will only need to be available to answer questions about their intern applicant during the selection process (November 12-13) and do not need to submit anything at the time the intern submits his or her application. Learn more: www.ncarb.org/experience-through-internships/intern-think-tank

Interested in having your portfolio reviewed?

Future Architects and Current Architects... Are you interested in having your portfolio reviewed by some experts in the field? Join us, this week at the Dallas Center for Architecture. Click on the link below to register and find out more.
click here!

Please contact the associates committee if you have any questions or need any further information.
Thank you,
Dallas Associates Committee
Shannon Carpenter

Doomed densities don’t derail development… do they?

Our series of bar talks a.k.a. Architecture on Tap finished its three part discussion of “Exploring Urbanity” this past Thursday at The Mason Bar. The concluding topic was simply, “Housing,” and although the title was simply named, the discussion and ideas were far from.

Panelists this month included Kevin Sloan, Principal at Kevin Sloan Studio; Dennis Wilson FAICP, MRAIC, CNU-A, Principal at Townscape, Inc.; and J. Mark Wolf AIA, Principal at JHP Architecture
Urban Design.

We kicked off the discussion with asking our panelists what aspects of urbanism were most important to its success. This spurred discussion of past projects for reflection; one of which was Vitruvian Park (a fairly new urban infill project) which Mr. Sloan was a part of. Few models of direct urbanism are more recognized than multi-family over retail (live/play). The discussion then focused on this model’s success along with other approaches currently being utilized. One approach is the phasing of projects which although very appealing to developers can hinder the success of the urban feel of a place. Many parts contribute to the idea of urbanism as well as its success, and these ideas need to be addressed as early on in scope as possible.

T.O.D. or transit oriented development then folded into the discussion. The placing of housing developments along circulatory nodes of transportation is an amazingly successful, smart, simple way of promoting positive sustainable growth for Dallas as well as any other city. The expansion and utilization of DART depends upon well informed developers willing to take advantage of the failures of sprawl and the success of T.O.D.

Uptown became a point of discussion when Mr. Wilson mentioned his early involvement in its development. We took note of the appropriateness of this due to the fact that the discussion was taking place in a renovated bar located in uptown. What is the opposite of irony? …oh yea, anecdotes with successful outcomes.

Where do we go from here? The treatment of how a person perceives their urban environment is reduced to between the curb, the treatment of a building at grade, and the tops of the trees we walk by. Design professionals, city representatives and anyone else who reads this, take note of this and help promote this success of urbanism in Dallas. Annnnd come join us next time for drinks and an interesting discussion.

Luke Archer
JHP Architecture / Urban Design

What makes a sustainable city?

Our third round of Architecture on Tap was yet another great discussion between some of this city’s vociferous design professionals.

Our panelists for this installment were: Monica Heid, Community Projects Manager at the City of Richardson; David Whitley, Associate Director at citydesign studio; Larry Good, Principal at Good Fulton & Farrell; and Benje Feehan, Director of bcWORKSHOP.

Mr. Good shared an anecdote about our current sprawl endeavors which opened and started to steer our discussion. The takeoff from it was that we as design professionals need to preserve and restore what our current city is, and we need to reform the opinion (or culture) of sustainability. Houses out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to drive lot size or aesthetic decisions is not a very sustainable path for Dallas.

One opinion from the panel on how to alter this mindset was to convince our clients that sustainable and efficient aren't mutually exclusive. Preserving a sense of place instead of reinventing a city every time we build could be important to the success of this. Our current culture worships the car. Our buildings are formed from right of way setbacks and traffic view triangles at corners. “This cast in place attitude towards the car needs to change,” was a common thought from our panel.

What can we do? – design for this place, make regionally appropriate decisions at every available chance, focus less on our skyline and more on what happens between the buildings.

Come have a drink in August with us and remind yourself why you picked architecture for a career – details soon to come!

Luke Archer
JHP Architecture / Urban Design

If you build it they will come…

The second installment of Architecture on Tap has come and gone; hopefully you didn’t miss it. Part two centered around infrastructure as a part of our Exploring Urbanity series.

The guest speakers of this round were Wanda Dye: founder and director of RE gallery + studio and assistant professor in Architecture at UT Arlington; and Patrick Kennedy, CNU AICP: Partner – Urban Dynamics and Planning.

Although there are many layers of infrastructure in relation to a city, the discussion focused mainly on transportation as well as the pedestrian experience. The new Klyde Warren Park that bridges over Woodall Rogers is getting built quickly and soon it will hopefully erase the disconnect between uptown and downtown. Harwood street which used to cross over Woodall Rogers has been cutoff and yet still remains one way, towards downtown. Could making this a two way street and/or adding bike lanes from downtown to uptown promote safer commuting for those who live and work in either?

The typical response to higher gas prices is to enlarge streets and highways. Albeit my commute shaved a minute or two, the pedestrian experience is diminished with arterial barriers inhibiting that which they meant to promote. Irony IS a two way street…literally.

Dallas is investing many efforts in enhancing the current infrastructure, and we as design professionals need to actively maintain the conversation for the sake of the future of Dallas, and it all starts with a beer and fun conversations at a local bar.

Be sure to join us next time!

Luke Archer
JHP Architecture / Urban Design

Free AIA membership to new graduates.

Click here!

2012 Texas Architect Convention

The Texas Society of Architects is offering a great discount for some Associates for the 73^rd Annual Convention and Design Expo!

If you’re an Associate in Texas who’s graduated from a school of architecture in the past 7 years, you actually qualify as an Associate Intern! Associate Interns receive:
- A $42 discount in their state-level dues, reducing their state dues from $116 to $72 (Note: this does not apply to local- or national-level dues.)
- FREE registration for the Convention, if registering before September 12^th!

The Associate Intern membership type is intended for Emerging Professionals who are enrolled in the Intern Development Program and are working toward licensure. As an effort to support and encourage these Emerging Professionals, the Texas Society of Architects freely offers them the mentorship, education, and networking experience they need to start their careers – all of which can be found at the Annual Convention.

Some of the great classes we’ll be offering our Emerging Professionals are (more details in attached document):

- Tips and Tricks for using the NCARB Practice Software

- Fireside Chats with Texas Architects (such as Larry Speck, Frank Welch, Ted Flato, Val Flitsch, and more)

- What Are Employers Looking for in the Future?

- NCARM and You: IDP, ARE, and Certification

- and more!

If you already are an Associate Intern, and would like to register for the Convention, please simply visit our registration page and register with your AIA number.

If you qualify as an Associate Intern, but are not sure if you are currently enrolled as one, please either contact your local chapter, email memberservices@aia.org, or call 1-800-242-3837, option 2.

If you qualify as an Associate Intern, and would like to register for the Convention, but are currently enrolled in the AIA as an Associate, please send your registration information to membership@texasarchitects.org along with either proof of your graduating year, or a letter of approval from your local chapter or the school from which you graduated.

Let us know if you have any questions!

Thanks,

Dallas AIA Associates Committee

Shannon Carpenter, Associate AIA

Need help obtaining IDP hours? Try the Emerging Professionals Companion (EPC).

What is the EPC?
The Emerging Professional’s Companion (EPC) is an online resource developed by the AIA and NCARB primarily for use by interns in gaining IDP credit. Undergoing updates in 2012 to comply with IDP 2.0, the EPC can also be used by educators, young architects, AIA components, and firms in a variety of ways to enhance or create new learning opportunities.

1. First time users are encouraged to visit the role-specific pages listed in the left side bar.
2. One EPC activity equals eight (8) hours towards Supplemental Experience: Learn more about how to submit EPC activities as IDP credit.
3. The EPC activities are approved by NCARB as Supplemental Experience hours.

Click on this link to get started with the EPC now!
Emerging Professionals Companion

Downtown Lighting Boom

Wednesday, May 30th was full of beer, great talk, and “light fares".  Architecture on Tap kicked off its 2012 year of five interactive discussions last month.

Guest speakers included Scott Lowe, LEED AP with 5G Studio Collaborative; Scott Oldner, Owner of Scott Oldner lighting design, LLC; Dustin Bullard, ASLA with Downtown Dallas, Inc.; and Hoyt Hammer AIA Principal at The Beck Group.

If you weren’t in attendance you missed out on some insightful discussion about how lighting plays a very important role in defining Dallas. A couple of the projects that were topics of discussion were the new Omni Hotel and the Hunt Oil headquarters building. Both of these projects have a multitude of exterior lighting that helps define the Dallas skyline at night.

Lighting plays an import part in the average Dallas inhabitant’s night life. Although your first thought might be safety, consider how the amount and quality of lighting can change your view of your environment. Victory Park lights up Dallas with high energy and encourages local sport enthusiasm, whilst the lit ball atop Reunion Tower lets you know exactly where you are as you drive along any highway within ten miles.

If you missed out on this lecture, be sure to join us next month! Everyone is welcome: architect or architectural enthusiast alike!

Luke Archer

JHP Architecture / Urban Design

2012-2013 Success Teams

ARE & IDP Weathering the Storm

AIA East Bay in California shared this with AIA Dallas, so we thought we would share it with you!

Included in the below link, you will find 4 videos of a panel discussion. The panel includes Young Architects discussing how they got through the licensure process.

click link below:
ARE & IDP - Weathering the Storm









Questions asked to the panel memebers included the following:

Which test should I take first?

What study materials do you recommend?

Where can I get help paying for the ARE?

How much time did you spend studying for each test?

What do you do if you fail (and things to be careful of so you don’t fail).

Additional study tips and resources.

How long should it take for NCARB to get back to you? [in regards to submissions you make to them]

How do you determine the experience needed to begin testing?

What’s the deal with CIDP?

How can you earn IDP units if you are currently unemployed?

How did you get all the different types of experience [required by IDP]?

Why should you get a license?




2012 - 2013 AIA Dallas Success Teams
 
Success Teams information night

May 14, 2012 - 6pm at the Dallas Center for Architecture
Come learn about Success Teams, and what it can do for you. Let us help you pass the ARE's!
 
Success Teams Orientation night

June 19, 2012 - 6pm at the Dallas Center for Architecture
This will be the first night you will meet with your study teams and receive your first set of study materials

Please feel free to email us to find out more. aiadallasassociates@gmail.com

Thank you,
Shannon Carpenter
Associate AIA

Architecture schools: 5 year versus 4+2

If you are like me when you went to college for Architecture, you probably had no idea what you were getting yourself into. I did not know to expect a lifestyle that revolved around studio and the need to learn a new language, "Archispeak". I had also assumed architecture schools where identical across the board... and couldn’t have been more wrong. Not to say that my experience was bad, but the major differences became apparent as I mixed a mingled with students from other schools over the years.

If you are just now looking into architecture schools, you should know that one of the major differences is how the professionally accredited degrees are delivered. Generally, schools have the option to provide a five year professionally accredited bachelors degree (B. Arch) or a four year unaccredited bachelors degree with a professionally accredited two year masters degree (M. Arch). Why "professionally accredited?" MOST states require it for licensure.

These two paths have unique characteristics that may or may not appeal to your individual needs/desires and I have listed some of these below. FULL DISCLOSURE: I received a 5-year degree from the University of Oklahoma and so far it has served me very well, so I may be a little biased.

5 B. Arch

Positive
● Finished faster - less cost and/or debt and you start making an income sooner.
● Professional classes come earlier so you may learn to put a building together sooner.
● Can still go back to get a one or two year Masters degree that can be self directed and exploratory without the need for professional requirements.
● Typical undergraduate scholarships may be able to be extended through year 5.
● Generally, courses are more technical and professionally based.

Negative
● Slightly less pay. Possibly harder to find a job
● Perception of lower education.
● Perception of graduating in 5 years with "only" a master’s degree. Your Liberal Arts friends will not understand.
● Generally not qualified to teach at a collegiate level without the M. Arch.

4+2 M. Arch

Positive
● Can switch schools after four years to get other experiences and professors.
● Can have a non professional undergrad degree and take a wider array of courses.
● Generally, undergrad courses are more theory and design based.
● Can take time to work and earn IDP experience before going back to school for a masters degree.
● Can change your focus and go into a field other than architecture. You are not as locked down.

Negative
● Sometimes courses overlap and you have to retake them.
● More cost/debt.
● Sometimes very hard to go back and get that masters portion if you enter the field after four years.

I firmly believe that as architects, our education is only kick-started in school. Connections and exposure to ideas may propel you into the field or job that might be most enjoyable. How you use the tools you have been given and continue to grow will determine your ultimate success.

Please feel free to leave comments and questions. We would love to hear from you.

Brad Grigsby, Assoc. AIA
Architectural Intern at Corgan Associates, Inc.

Which ARE exam to take first???

It seems that everyone has this question at beginning. And it can be very daunting when you look ahead and see 7 exams! But I hope that you will take this information and it will give you some direction on how to tackle these obstacles. Everyone has an opinion, just ask them, but there are a few tricks to think about that can help you decide what is best for you.

Even though there are 7 exams there are some that have some commonality, which means they should be taken in succession. For example, Construction Documents (CDs), Planning Programming and Practice (PPP) and Site Planning & Design (SPD) should be taken together. Here’s why: there are questions on the PPP exam that are about CDs, if you know nothing about contracts you will likely fail PPP. I made that mistake! PPP and SPD have very similar reading material (in fact they used to be one test – Pre Design) so these tests should be taken around the same time. It does not matter if you take PPP or SPD 2nd or 3rd but you SHOULD take CDs before either of these tests. I believe that PPP is a more comprehensive test and therefore if you study for it then you should be able to take SPD a few weeks later (after conquering the vignettes).

Three other exams that have a lot of overlap are Building Design & Construction Systems (BDCS), Structural Systems (SS) and Building Systems (BS). BDCS is a comprehensive exam and covers a lot of material so it’s good to get this one done first in the trilogy. Again, it does not matter what order you take SS or BS after BDCS. BDCS covers metals, wood, and concrete related to Structures and covers vertical transportation related to the BS test.

Schematic Design (SD) is a test that does not have overlap with other ARE Exams. SD can be taken first, last, or between these 2 groupings. This test is a good one to take first if you want to get a test under your belt. It takes a few weeks of preparation to learn the drawing program. Once you feel confident with the software, you can take the exam. It will also prevent you from having to learn the software while studying for a multiple choice exam.

 

A friend of mine, Aimee, said “I always tell people whatever they were good at in school or whatever they think will be easiest for them. Just to get their feet wet and so they don’t get discouraged. I know a few people who have failed their first couple of exams and then they just throw in the towel for a while, it’s hard to get them motivated again.”

I find that the best way to stay motivated is to have a plan. Set goals for yourself; know when, what and where you are going to study. Attend as may lectures as you can and get a study group, AIA Dallas’ Success Teams will be starting this summer (June), to help keep you accountable. It takes time and dedication. Good luck and I hope that you will post some success stories on the blog and let us celebrate YOUR success!

Leticia B. Canon, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

Associate at FKP Architects

2011 Associate Co-Chair, AIA Dallas

2012 Tour of Homes Co-Chair, AIA Dallas

IDP 2.0 - Do you know what's changing?

April 2, 2012 - The e-EVR system (electronic Verification Reporting) will be shut down and will not be available until April 5, 2012, in order to allow for the conversion to the new IDP 2.0 system. What will change?

• Seven work settings become experience settings A, O, and S.
• Launch of new experience categories, areas, and core minimum hour requirement.

• New electronic system to report IDP experience in My NCARB.

4 training categories:

• Pre-Design 260 hours
• Design 2,600 hours
• Project Management 720 hours
• Practice Management 160 hours
• Elective hours 1,860 hours
• Total hours 5,600 hours

NEW RULE - your supervisor will not have to be licensed in the state in which you are currently completing your IDP.

Don't Panic!

• Visit the links below for a complete list of the new rules
• NCARB has implemented a very helpful calculator that will show you exactly how your current hours will rollover into the new system. See link below  It is important to know that if you have currently completed a training category, you will NOT be required to meet the new required minimum hours. You will be considered exempt. However, if you do not currently meet the minimum hours needed, you will be required to meet the new requirement.
• example
•  If you do not have 120 hours completed in Engineering Systems Coordination by the April deadline, you will then need to complete a total of 360 hours in this category.
• Bob had 100 hours of Engineering Systems Coordination by April 5th, he now needs an additional 260 hours in order to complete this category.

• The total number of interning hours needed is remaining 5,600. However, some categories will have less hours than before, while others will have more hours in each training area.
• As always, we recommend that the first step you do is to download the IDP2.0 handbook and read the few pages in the packet. This packet lists several helpful tips and examples.

Click here for information on changes to the IDP system
Click here for the conversion calculator to see how your hours will transfer
Click here for an interactive chart to view the new category breakdowns

 

2012 ARE Lecture Series

Our 2012 ARE lecture series kicks off February 28th with Architectural History. Use the link below to sign up!


http://aiadallas.affiniscape.com/cde.cfm?event=378661

2012 ARE Structures Seminar - March 9-11th

What a great way to start your ARE testing experience or for some of you, to get back into that testing mode! Professor Thaddeus is once again making his debut in Dallas to share his 3 day structures seminar.
Registration is now up on the web. Please pass this information along to anyone you know who might be interested in attending.


http://aiadallas.affiniscape.com/cde.cfm?event=377579