HAPPY FRIDAY from those of us at ToastingDesign!
The [arch] Office Part 4: NURTURE
31 May
As young architects/interns, we know how it goes: task, deadline, do this, do that, lots of overtime, nose-to-the-grindstone, workaholic employment. For many of us, it’s been hard to find work. For others, like myself, I am blessed to have work, but am frustrated by the office culture of the old-school, hierachial, corporate-style firm. I feel stuck on a sort-of plateau where I don’t feel like I’m going anywhere. Isn’t it time for AE firms to change their style?
In this, Part 4 of “The [arch] Office” series, we will see some great advancements ARCHITECT Magazine found in forward-thinking AE firms…as well as the challenges firms face in attracting and holding their talent. Since the 2008 start of the recession, design fields have seen a decline in new talent entering the industry. People have left the profession and schools are seeing a decline in new students. Now, firms exercising the old, hierarchial, sweatshop-style office are discovering problems staying ahead because they can’t hold on to talent.
Peace out old-school! Say hello to “the employee-centered workplace.”
NURTURE - copyright ARCHITECT Magazine
Tags: ARCHITECT magazine, collaboration, employee-centered workplace, incentives, Luckett and Farley, Mithun, Nurture, office culture, SERIES: The [arch] Office
Thank You For Your Service (Happy Memorial Day!)
28 May
Memorial Day is a day of barbeques, family/friend gatherings, and a day off from work. But it is much more…it is also a day to remember all those heroes that have fought/still fight to keep our great nation free and safe.
To all those wonderful men and women out there…
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
God bless you all, and Happy Memorial Day everyone!
“The thing about remembering is that you don’t forget”
Tags: Memorial Day 2012
The [arch] Office Part 3: FOCUS
21 May
Turn on Pandora, throw on a movie, get a cup of coffee, take a walk outside, go stretch in the file room…there are varieties of methods people use to get focused. I know for me, the occasional stretch or change of music is a great way to refocus. Even more so, for me, is the occasional conversation or “Friday Tang Break” (yes, Tang is a great drink!) with an office coworker. Getting up an away from my desk and computer screen is a positive refresher. For some people, though, staying hyper-focused in front of their computer with headphones blaring is the only way to work on most days…
Architectural practice is becoming increasingly more collaborative. For people like me, that kind of environment is exciting and energizing. For others, it can be suffocating and distracting for work. Achieving a balance is important. As designers, we have told our clients about the great benefits of good office design in terms of productivity and innovation. That said…it’s time for us to apply those principles for ourselves!
In this, Part 3 of “The [arch] Offce” series, we will find out what ARCHITECT magazine is saying about the architecture office and how design will impact our focus. With people that dig interaction and others liking seclusion, it will certainly be a challenge. Simply stated:
“Welcome to the World of ‘Incubator Spaces’ “
R1 Reactor Creative Room - Youth Republic Office, Istanbul, Turkey
The [arch] Office: FOCUS …copyright ARCHITECT Magazine”Continue reading
Tags: ARCHITECT magazine, architecture firm, collaboration, Gensler, incubator space, R1 Reactor Creative Room, SERIES: The [arch] Office, Youth Republic Office
The [arch] Office Part 2: RESEARCH
14 May
Research – I don’t know about you, but I dreaded research growing up. I enjoyed writing school papers, but tracking the research was a drag. In contrast, college made me respect the valuable knowledge and neat information that one can discover through research. And now, I wish I had more time in the day so that I could actually do some research!
In this, Part 2 of “The [arch] Offce” series, we are going to briefly discuss what ARCHITECT magazine found as to how some firms have made research an integral part of their practices.
Part 2: RESEARCH - Copyright ARCHITECT Magazine
In The Fountainhead Ayn Rand portrays the Howard Roark version of the architect: an unchallenged creative visionary that proved that an architect was to pursue individualism more intently than collectivism. Well, peace out Mr. Roark! ARCHITECT has found that “the firms that will succeed will do so in part because they can effectively capture data from their projects and demonstrate the value of design using hard numbers.” The two phrases in bold seem to be the biggest challenges facing our industry. However, research, in many ways, holds the answers.
“Building on an ever-increasing knowledge base will ensure that [a firm’s] architecture remains cutting-edge.”
Tags: ARCHITECT magazine, Architecture Research Office, Gensler, HOK, Illinois Institute of Technology, IPRO, KieranTimberlake, Paper Wall, research, SERIES: The [arch] Office, SmartWrap Technology, The Fountainhead, UrbanLab, Your Office_Your Future
Lego Architecture with Rem Koolhaas
13 May
Lego Architectuere with Rem Koolhaas
A few weeks ago on The Simpsons episode “A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again” the image above was briefly seen showing Rem Koolhaas building a copy of CCTV out of Lego bricks. Totally would go on that cruise!
Tags: LEGO, Rem Koolhaas
Architect Pay on the UP AND UP!
7 May
On this gloomy, rainy Chicago monday, I thought I would pick up your mood with some promising news…architect pay is on it’s way up!
According to the DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey 2012, architect salaries and bonuses are rising among architecture and design firms. While I can’t reveal much information because, well, the report costs $90, here is a finding they did reveal:
“An architect with 20-plus years of professional experience is likely to earn $101,101 in salary plus a 5.6 percent bonus, for total annual compensation of $106,769.”
Excellent! Although we have to wait 20 years to see that income, that figure shows the potential for steady growth as we gain experience in the design field. Not too shabby if you ask me!
Have a great week!
A Brick Tent?
3 May
If anyone is going up to Wrigley Field take a look at this tent next-door, it has a brick wall!
A Tent with a Brick wall
Upon closer inspection it is just a false brick paneling but still pretty odd to see a tent of brick.
Tags: Bricks, Cubs, tent, Wrigley Field
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