Commence Countdown...

This week I received a letter from the state of Kansas saying that I have been approved to begin taking the A.R.E. What have I gotten myself into? It’s all becoming so REAL now!

I don’t even know where to begin. However, now that I have some sort of deadline (5 years out) I am hoping I’ll be able to stay motivated and get ALL 7 of those tests out of the way sooner rather than later. Here's hoping.

Any advice on where to begin and what to expect is welcome.

The Grass Is Always Greener...

I’ll admit it. I don’t think I have the same drive and work ethic that I used to. At least it seems like I may have lost some steam over the past few years.

Once upon a time I was one of the students who had passion and worked as many hours as it took to get a project completed to my liking. Then somewhere around my 6th year of college, which translates to my 4th year of architecture school, I started to lose that drive for success and was satisfied with good enough. I was no longer willing to stay up all hours of the night, multiple nights in a row to have a great project. There was a timer in my brain that said: if it is not done by 1:00 a.m. then it’s not going to get done. It was simple. It was black and white with no gray area. I like to believe that this happened simply because I was burned out, not because I lost my passion for design and success. When this phase came over me I would reason with myself saying that it will be different in the future when I’m actually getting paid for this or at least on the job I won’t have to worry about classes other than my studio…

Here I am now. Slightly past one year out of school, creating more excuses as to why I shouldn’t have to work more than 40-45 hours per week and always being satisfied with work that is good enough. Only now the reasoning goes something like: it would be different if I actually got paid a decent salary or it would be different if I actually had some say in the work I’m doing…

This is my wake-up call. In all aspects of life it seems like we’re always saying the grass is always greener on the other side instead of being present and making the most of our current opportunities. Well I am going to start applying that into my work life and attempt to regain some of that lost passion and ambition. There will always be a lame reason not to do something. I figure that some of my reasons for not wanting to go the extra mile in my work aren’t completely ridiculous but at the same time I need to just suck it up and make the most of where I am at right now. Hopefully this will help me to see the grass as a beautiful shade of green everyday and my opportunities will expand.

The Scapegoat

Do you ever think to yourself: “I can’t win for losing”? Unfortunately this thought crosses my mind too frequently on the job. As the least experienced designer in the office I feel like I am the scapegoat for any and everyone. Something modeled wrong? The intern probably did it. Something was noted incorrectly? The intern probably did it. Somebody said the wrong thing at the wrong time? Intern.

I get it. The odds are in my favor…or should I say not in my favor that I would be the one to make mistakes due to my lack of experience. However that’s not always the case. I feel like because of my inexperience I am more thorough in my work in fear of incompetence. Hence, you can’t win for losing. I’m beginning to think that my real lack of experience is in bullshit (pardon my French). Sometimes it seems like the more experienced designers and architects have just mastered the art of bullshit (pardon). They know more than me in general, yes, but how much? I’m starting to believe that they just have a better poker face than me.Should I practice poker in order to further my career?

LEED AP BD+C

Today was a GREAT day! I passed the LEED AP BD+C exam! I am so relieved to have both the Green Associate exam and AP exam passed and off my shoulders! At the risk of gloating, I'm really proud that I passed both on my first attempt. I did study my ass off though, so it's not like I can claim it was an easy feat. In fact when my exam time ended and my heart was beating out of my chest as I awaited the final results, I was certain that it was going to tell me FAIL. I barely finished answering the 100 questions in the 2 hour time frame. I had noticed that my timing was poor around 45 minutes into the exam and started panicking. I knew that I had to speed up and we all know how that can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to test taking! However it when it came down to it, I was well prepared and I knew in my mind that I knew the answers. So I calmed myself down as much as I could while still trying to go through the questions much faster and I tried to think like those tricky bastards from the GBCI that write the exam.

My advice for future LEED APs: carefully read the questions and keep in mind that the questions are written very specifically and can easily be misread if you're not alert. The GBCI/USGBC has no qualms about writing precarious questions.

It's Not Saving Lives...

I am extremely grateful that I have been given the opportunities to work on the projects that I have worked on and that my colleagues have put trust in me and my ability to do the work. However I often wonder when will I have the confidence to do any of this without fear of jacking something up? I can say that I am definitely more confident in my abilities now than I was 3 years ago when I began my first internship, but some days I still feel absolutely clueless. I wish there was there was an easy button that I could push that would automatically enlighten me. Unfortunately I’m starting to realize that in architecture, no two projects are alike. Each project offers new scenarios and issues that we all must address and solve on a continual basis ranging from unforeseen site conditions to budget issues.

With that said, I am getting pretty far in completing my IDP hours and am struggling to get experience in a few categories. Last week I invited myself to go to a subcontractor meeting on site of a project that I had worked on with my coworker. I felt rude at first for inviting myself but came to realize there’s no other way to get the experience. Nobody else is going to invite me along because they’re not thinking about my career and experience as much as I am. Why should they? They have their own careers and matters to worry about. It turned out to be a great learning experience for me and my coworker was happy to bring me along. It just proved to me that I need to be proactive to get things accomplished.

I am still curious as to how I’m going to gain all the necessary experience before becoming a fully licensed architect? I’ll probably be asking myself ‘when will I know it all?’ when I retire too!

For now I’ll put my mind to rest knowing that it’s not saving lives, it’s just architecture.

Building A Network

Last week I participated in a social networking event sponsored by AIA KS and Emerging Professionals. I was one of seven people to present a Pecha Kucha style presentation on “What Inspires Me”. The presenters represented all levels in the profession so there was a student, a recent grad (me), some recently licensed architects, and some nearing retirement. When this opportunity first presented itself to me, I immediately thought Hell No! Why would I put myself through the agony of speaking in front of a bunch of professionals of whom I don’t even know? As time passed and I found out that they needed one more presenter with approximately my level of experience I reconsidered the idea and decided to go for it…and I am so glad that I did!

This was a great opportunity for me to challenge myself and branch out and meet other professionals in my area. I really don’t know anyone in Kansas besides my coworkers and the few friends that I graduated with that still live nearby. This event allowed me to meet some great people who work at other firms in the same area as me. It also gave me the opportunity to give a public presentation while I am still somewhat familiar with how to speak in front of people! Trust me when I say I do not particularly enjoy giving speeches or presentations. I am quiet and shy and I can get very nervous. However, I feel that it’s a great skill to have and a skill that will get you far in this profession if you can pull it off. Considering this presentation was diligently structured by the Pecha Kucha style (20 slides, 20 seconds per slide) I figured I could handle the 6 minute-40 second ordeal. So I did and it was actually a lot of fun!

Here is a small sample of things I spoke about during my presentation that represent “What Inspires Me”:

Downtown Lawrence and the Lawrence Community.

Blogs, blogs, blogs!!!

Bruce Mau and Philippe Starck, two fascinating and brilliant designers.


Children and volunteer work.




The Earth and sustainable practices.

The creative process of movie production, especially Tim Burton's films!


Anyone care to share with me what inspires them?

Youth in the Profession

I REALLY do not want to be the person whining about their age, but ageism is an issue that I face on a DAILY basis. Granted, it does not help matters that I am 26 years old but could pass for a 16 year old. And unfortunately, that is not an exaggeration. This past year I was asked for identification to be granted access to an ‘R’ rated movie! Yeah. At the time, I was thinking exactly what you’re probably thinking: ‘who in the hell asks for I.D. at the movies anyway?’ Whatever, that’s not the point here.

I have found that my age is an issue with anyone and everyone that I interact with regarding my job, whether it is in the office or out in the rest of the world. When I tell people that I work as an ‘architect’ it’s as if they aren’t sure whether or not they should laugh at the hilarious joke I just made. I know that I should technically say that I work as an ‘intern architect’ but for the simplicity of describing my job to non-architects I find it easier to just say ‘architect’. When this matter first came up I would tell people that ‘I work at an architecture firm’ because I would feel a pang of guilt for saying that ‘I’m an architect’ when I knew in my honest little brain that I was not…yet. But that always lead to the inevitable follow-up question of ‘well what do you do there?’ with an underlying implication of ‘so you answer phones and make coffee?’ I suppose in my current situation the former is not exactly false, but I would prefer to describe the job duties that require the use of my master degree rather than my high school diploma. I mean, I’ll be paying an arm and a leg for that degree for many years to come, so I’d like to reap all the benefits I can get out of it. Can I get a what-what?

Things could be much worse. I am aware of this. I am extremely grateful to be young. Everything is still new and exciting to me. However, overcoming the obstacles and being taken seriously is difficult when you look like you just got your drivers license. The best solution that I have come up with to deal with this issue is to embrace your youth and prove your capabilities to those skeptics through your work. The work should speak for itself, right?

So in the words of Snoop Dogg (because I’m young):

“Nothin’ to it but to do it”.

One.

ONE. What does this number mean to you? What can this number possibly mean to me, my friends and colleagues?

Well, recently I’ve come to understand that ONE is a significant number. ONE minute can be devastating. A proposal that is time-stamped ONE minute late can be a deal breaker for being considered for a project. ONE minute late can take you off the boards for consideration! Now I’m not so sure that punctuality was enforced heavily enough in school!

ONE minute could mean something great too! A proposal time-stamped ONE minute early equals an enormous sigh of relief! Whew! We made it! All of those hours and last minute crises were all worth it! We made it with ONE minute to spare.

ONE minute of my time equals diddly squat of company money, whereas ONE minute of a principal’s time equals like 600% of my time. That’s significant.

ONE degree. If a wall is drawn ONE degree off, that could add up to a LOT of extra dollars spent to construct a wall assuming that the length of the wall is a considerable distance. Think about it. Just ONE degree could be unrecognizable to your eye when working on a 14” computer screen and then, BAM! $4,000 (or more) later it adds up to 25 additional lineal feet (or more) of some ridiculously expensive wall type to a project. That's huge.

ONE inch. The same principles apply here as they did for ONE degree. Imprecise measurements can be a devastating mistake. It’s as simple as that.

ONE is generally considered a small number. ONE dollar isn’t much to anybody anymore. ONE minute seems like a blink of an eye in most circumstances. ONE degree - well, any unit of measure that isn’t precise is generally going to cause problems in the future, so should we really be shocked by this one? ONE inch - (see ONE degree).

And let’s not forget, ONE is the loneliest number.

Your Newest Green Associate

This post is coming to you from a LEED Green Associate! Yes, I passed the exam which now makes me a Green Associate. Up next…LEED BD+C.

To be completely honest, passing this exam felt like graduating all over again. Proving that I could accomplish something that is not so easy to accomplish! Starting out in this career has brought on additional insecurities that were unexpected, at least for me. Insecurities that come from 1) not knowing the answers to what seem like simple questions, 2) being at the bottom of the food chain, and 3) well, being treated like an intern. All of those elements were anticipated, yet I have been surprised by how much they have affected my confidence in my work. With that said, passing the LEED GA exam on my first attempt gave me a lift and some reassurance that I am capable!

Form Follows Function...Or Does It?

Recently I picked up Conversations With Frank Gehry by Barbara Isenberg after reading a review of it in the latest Architectural Record. I’ve never considered myself a fan of Gehry’s work but I can’t say I’m not continually intrigued and inspired by the work he manages to complete. I have visited a few of Gehry’s projects in the U.S. such as the Disney Concert Hall, Experience Music Project, Weisman Art Museum, and the Pritzker Pavilion and I have to say that they are nothing less than impressive to see in person.

Disney Concert Hall

Experience Music Project

Weisman Art Museum

Pritzker Pavilion

For some reason, however, I cringe at listing Gehry as one of my favorite architects. Maybe it’s his Hollywood celebrity status that disqualifies him in my mind. When I think about what Gehry’s design philosophy is, I can’t help but immediately recall that Simpson’s episode where he gets his inspiration for a town project from a crumpled piece of paper!

After reading through some of Gehry’s interviews, I gained a little more insight into this man’s design philosophy and it posed a familiar question. He approaches a project by designing the object(s) and then designing the space within those objects. It is obvious there is a significant focus on the exterior form of Gehry’s projects. I tend to believe in the more modern approach of form follows function whereas Gehry seems to think the opposite. It is like the age-old philosophical question: What came first, the chicken or the egg? I don’t know about that, but I will go on believing that great architectural spaces are the spaces in between and not the objects that contain them. The objects that contain the space can be crucial to the aesthetic and appeal of that space, but without the space you don’t have architecture. There’s no place.

It is commendable that Gehry’s bold, sculptural projects continue to generate a dialogue concerning architecture among architects and non-architects alike. I think there is a place in this world for people like Frank Gehry, but the space is limited. Bold and intriguing Gehry-esque buildings are fantastic, as long as they are few and far between.

A Day In The Life...

A doodle that sums it up pretty well. What can I say? Economic hardship equals a buyer's market and the product is cheap, cheap, cheap! Recent grads - what a bargain!

What Have I Learned So Far?

A coworker recently asked me, “What is the biggest thing I’ve learned so far being an architect out of school?”

This is somewhat of a loaded question. My first thought was, why don’t I have an immediate answer? Second, where do I even begin? On the one hand, I’ve learned so much that I feel like a different person than when I began my internship. On the other hand, I feel like more questions than answers emerge from my brain on a daily basis and maybe I was never fully prepared to enter the profession in the first place.

After a day of deliberation I came up with some possible answers:

1. NOTHING IS GUARANTEED
Whether it’s a project for the office, a job in the profession, or the night off, I’ve come to learn that nothing in this profession is guaranteed!

2. YOU CREATE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES
I’ve learned that as an intern with a lot to learn, it is up to YOU make things happen for yourself. Nobody is going to hand you anything. It is your responsibility to make yourself invaluable to your employer.

3. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES
This is the feel-good lesson I’ve learned first hand as an intern! I take great comfort (hopefully not too much comfort) knowing that even the most seasoned professionals make mistakes, just like me. We’re all human after all!

It turns out that the best answers that I could come up with for my coworker were more “life-lessons” but I’m optimistic that understanding these lessons will help me in my career in some way.

If I turn the question back to those of you reading this, what are some of the biggest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now

In an effort to start the New Year off organized, my husband and I revamped the layout of our home office and in doing so I began to look through my books from college…and now I’m actually interested in reading them!





It’s amazing how much those books by Francis D.K. Ching aide me in my understanding of buildings, design, and construction. They would have been wonderful tools in supplementing my education had I actually taken the time to look through them while I was in school! Of course, I glanced at them from time to time, but not nearly enough. Some days I find myself wondering if the world would make a lot more sense to me had I studied these a little more while in school? Maybe not, but I can’t help but question it every now and then.


I have never considered myself a "history buff" but I did find my Architecture History classes rather fascinating. However, as a student bogged down with 15-18 hours of classes (including a treacherous studio) and a part-time job, it was hard to really enjoy studying about Romanesque architecture or the Enlightenment period. When I flip through the pages of this book now, I get excited about architecture and its history!


I’ll admit it. This is a book I bought with the best intentions of reading it, as I love the work of Kieran Timberlake, but again my busy life caught up with me and I never made it past page 67. With that said, it is back on my book list.

L.E.E.D. Screening Process...Really?

I am currently preparing to take the LEED GA exam. That’s LEED Green Associate for those unfamiliar with LEED V3. Does anybody else find it troubling that the USGBC does such an extensive background check on people wanting to become a LEED Green Associate or LEED AP of some other sort? I had to prove that I was somebody in a ‘worthy’ profession in the application process to take the exam and it caught me off guard. I mean, regardless of who you are or what field you’re in, does it really matter as long as you can prove your competence on the topic of sustainability? Does the USGBC or GBCI (it’s hard to keep up with the jurisdiction of each organization) really turn down applicants who are eager to learn more about LEED principles and sustainability? Wouldn’t the world be a better place, theoretically, if everyone was competent enough to know the gist of what a LEED AP knows? I’m just sayin’.

Maybe there’s a good reason for this that I’m not understanding. If anyone reading this has an idea, please let me know!

Keeping Up With I.D.P.

I happen to be the only person in my office accruing IDP (Intern Development Program) hours currently and if you’re situation is anything like mine, you may not get a lot of support in understanding the steps you need to take in order to become licensed. Here are a few tips that you may or may not have known about earning training hours for IDP:

1. If you attend any ‘Lunch & Learn’ that is AIA accredited at your office, you can translate that time into IDP hours! It is a credit that is hard to beat in my opinion. All you have to do is show up and hear to what a rep has to say and they’ll provide you lunch! Honestly, on that intern salary, a free lunch is hard to pass up! You do have to submit something from the AIA verifying your participation.

2. The EPC (Emerging Professional Companion) provides opportunities to supplement an intern’s education. There are quizzes available online for IDP credit too! This is a great resource because it compartmentalizes each component of design. There are definitely certain disciplines that are hard for interns to get their hands on in the office (since we have less experience) and the EPC is a resource for some of that information. We have to start somewhere, right? www.epcompanion.org

3. If you become a LEED accredited professional (LEED AP), you can earn up to 5 training units, or 40 training hours. This would get documented in the supplementary education area.

4. NCARB also offers supplementary education hours that can be earned on your own, outside of the office. If you go to www.ncarb.org and click on ‘Experience Through Internship’, there is a list of opportunities interns have in gaining additional training hours for their IDP.

Me & My Blog

This blog is a record of my path to becoming an architect. I will constantly update my thoughts and happenings in an effort to move up and out of the role of ‘intern’.

A little bit about me. After 7 years of college, I finally graduated with a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Kansas in May, 2009. Even though the economy was (and still is) crap, I was fortunate enough to continue to work full-time at the architecture firm that I had been interning part-time at while in school. Prior to this internship, I had worked as an intern for a local design-build firm for one year. So in total, I have been an intern architect for about three years, but some days I feel as though I know less than I did when I started!

And that is why I created this blog. This is the voice seldom heard in the office; the voice of the intern. Many great things happen as an intern: 1. you’re fortunate enough to be given a chance to prove your skills, or at least you’ve been hired to do something in the field of architecture, 2. you get the opportunity to work with talented and experienced architects and professionals, 3. you have an excuse when you don’t know the answer, and 4. you have an excuse when you mess up royally. Along with the great things come some of the not so great things about being an intern: 1. after years of professional preparation you get paid the same wages as the guy at the counter of a fast food restaurant (or close to it), 2. the frustration you feel when you don’t know the answer, even though you’ve trained for this very thing for 7 years, and 3. the constant self-doubt that inevitably hits you and makes you wonder if you should have just went into the medical field after all…at least there’s some job security there!

My intent with this blog is to offer the perspective of the intern with the hopes of getting comments, advice, and discussion in return. Many of you out there know what it’s like to be in my shoes. Many of you have been here before, some are in the same position currently, and some will be here soon. I want to address the issues that I see in my day to day experiences with the hopes of finding others who can relate. I want to discuss the steps and setbacks that I encounter in my path to becoming a real architect.

More entries to come!