Housing and Community Development

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Housing Knowledge Community and Custom Residential Architects Network .
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I am spearheading a project with Doug Patt of "How to Architect" to build videos at CRAN that would introduce our clients on the importance of hiring an architect. The thought is that we could have links to these video on our websites, or send clients to the videos through a sent link. Here is our pilot video that I presented to rave reviews in Denver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kuiMxaR9N0 We hope to use this video to acquire funding to complete the first season, below:

1. The Architect's Office
2. The Architect's Drawings and Specifications (or construction documents)
3. The Architect's Insurance
4. The Architect's Contract
5. The Architect's Basic Services
6. The Architect's Additional Services
7. The Architect's Compensation (John Isch has been after me to make this video)
8. The Architect's Employees
9. The Architect's Process
10. What is Green beyond the gimmicks?
11. Why quality per square foot should be the datum upon which you begin your program.
12. Contextual Sustainability for sake of resale and supporting local labor

This what AIA/CRAN is doing, creating content and support for residential architects, something missing for decades.

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA/CRAN
Barrington RI
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It was brought up both at the forum in Denver, and though these posts, that Doug and I did a pretty poor job with the gender neutrality in the wording of the script. I plead guilty 100%, and that will be addressed in all future videos.  We may try and update this video when we get funding with that change, and some others. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with the polite constructive criticisms.This is a learning process for us!

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
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Hi Folks,

Wonderful, informative video.  None of the people with whom I discuss Architecture has any idea what I actually do.  Now I can send them to YouTube.  TYVM.  You are to be lauded for doing this with your own resources.  You stated that "We hope to use this video to acquire funding to complete the first season"   How much ?  This great project is exactly what the AIA can do with the great amount of money that we all give the AIA.  I hope that #George Miller, AIA President, reads the AIAKnowledgeNet postings.  The AIA already has nearly $20,000 of my money.  It would be fabulous to see some good stuff like this supported with my hard earned money.

Only criticism - The statement about "accredited" schooling.   The office experience is the only thing that teaches one how to be an Architect.  An "accredited" school certainly doesn't.  They stress making pretty images.  The highest praise often goes to the most unbuildable designs.  The graduate arrives in the office without knowing how buildings go together and that the pretty drawings need to have details that work, specifications added and are part of a legal contract.

Of course we don't want to tell the public just how poorly their Architect has been educated by an"accredited" school.   This failure, however, has been common knowledge among Architects for decades.  Little improvement.has taken place.  Just increases in tuition charged by a monopolistic marketplace.

I am one of the graybeards.  I earned my registration the hard way, fourteen years of apprenticeship without an "accredited degree" This requirement has closed the door to a lot of good folks.  It has eliminated the Office Boy route that I followed.  This requirement would have excluded great Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, as he didn't even have a Bachelors Degree.  A lot of us with "apprenticeship earned registrations" are in the architectural community.  We are actually the old guys who know what works and have made enough mistakes to know what doesn't.  We often feel like Rodney Dangerfield when the Ivy League folks start up about how great school was.

Just sayin'

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David Ringer AIA  CCS  LEED AP
Lambertville NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2013 18:47
From: David Andreozzi
Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video


It was brought up both at the forum in Denver, and though these posts, that Doug and I did a pretty poor job with the gender neutrality in the wording of the script. I plead guilty 100%, and that will be addressed in all future videos.  We may try and update this video when we get funding with that change, and some others. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with the polite constructive criticisms.This is a learning process for us!

Dave

-------------------------------------------
David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
-------------------------------------------

According to the US Census, there are almost 10 new residences completed for every 1 commercial building and of the 1.8 million residences built in 2006, very few were designed by licensed Architects. If you have a serious curiosity as to why the builder is always thought of first, why HGTV is focused on builders and amateur designers, why real estate agents are paid so well and we are not, and why Architects are often excluded in general, then perhaps the AIA ought to start focusing it's efforts on the sector of the building industry that made 200% more GDP at the top of the boom than the commercial sector, created 10x as many buildings, and influences the lives of every American in the most personal way. There is a reason why we called it a Housing Crisis and not a Library Crisis or Stadium Crisis. The Housing Sector dominates the Building Industry in just about every stat that matters.

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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-02-2013 11:22
From: David Ringer
Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video

Hi Folks,

Wonderful, informative video.  None of the people with whom I discuss Architecture has any idea what I actually do.  Now I can send them to YouTube.  TYVM.  You are to be lauded for doing this with your own resources.  You stated that "We hope to use this video to acquire funding to complete the first season"   How much ?  This great project is exactly what the AIA can do with the great amount of money that we all give the AIA.  I hope that #George Miller, AIA President, reads the AIAKnowledgeNet postings.  The AIA already has nearly $20,000 of my money.  It would be fabulous to see some good stuff like this supported with my hard earned money.

Only criticism - The statement about "accredited" schooling.   The office experience is the only thing that teaches one how to be an Architect.  An "accredited" school certainly doesn't.  They stress making pretty images.  The highest praise often goes to the most unbuildable designs.  The graduate arrives in the office without knowing how buildings go together and that the pretty drawings need to have details that work, specifications added and are part of a legal contract.

Of course we don't want to tell the public just how poorly their Architect has been educated by an"accredited" school.   This failure, however, has been common knowledge among Architects for decades.  Little improvement.has taken place.  Just increases in tuition charged by a monopolistic marketplace.

I am one of the graybeards.  I earned my registration the hard way, fourteen years of apprenticeship without an "accredited degree" This requirement has closed the door to a lot of good folks.  It has eliminated the Office Boy route that I followed.  This requirement would have excluded great Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, as he didn't even have a Bachelors Degree.  A lot of us with "apprenticeship earned registrations" are in the architectural community.  We are actually the old guys who know what works and have made enough mistakes to know what doesn't.  We often feel like Rodney Dangerfield when the Ivy League folks start up about how great school was.

Just sayin'

-------------------------------------------
David Ringer AIA  CCS  LEED AP
Lambertville NJ
-------------------------------------------

I just wanted to respond to the comment by David Ringer about how unimportant he thinks it is to attend an accredited school or indeed any school from the sound of it. As someone with an undergrad in Liberal Arts who then worked in construction and architecture for 6 years before attending an accredited institution in order to get my MArch, I am well versed in the relative merits of both routes. I can say unequivocally that the school experience provided great benefits that I do not think it is possible to obtain by working as an apprentice. Conceptual content and the opportunities for exploration are some of the things that in my view allow the profession to be a profession. Without them, I think it is much harder for us to progress as a field. I think it is both difficult and not very important for people to learn most of the practical stuff in school. In my opinion, after school is when apprenticeship starts. ------------------------------------------- Kate Svoboda-Spanbock AIA, CID Principal HERE Design and Architecture Los Angeles CA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 07-03-2013 18:04 From: Eric Rawlings Subject: CRANtv | Check out our pilot video According to the US Census, there are almost 10 new residences completed for every 1 commercial building and of the 1.8 million residences built in 2006, very few were designed by licensed Architects. If you have a serious curiosity as to why the builder is always thought of first, why HGTV is focused on builders and amateur designers, why real estate agents are paid so well and we are not, and why Architects are often excluded in general, then perhaps the AIA ought to start focusing it's efforts on the sector of the building industry that made 200% more GDP at the top of the boom than the commercial sector, created 10x as many buildings, and influences the lives of every American in the most personal way. There is a reason why we called it a Housing Crisis and not a Library Crisis or Stadium Crisis. The Housing Sector dominates the Building Industry in just about every stat that matters. ------------------------------------------- Eric Rawlings AIA Owner Rawlings Design, Inc. Decatur GA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 07-02-2013 11:22 From: David Ringer Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video Hi Folks, Wonderful, informative video. None of the people with whom I discuss Architecture has any idea what I actually do. Now I can send them to YouTube. TYVM. You are to be lauded for doing this with your own resources. You stated that "We hope to use this video to acquire funding to complete the first season" How much ? This great project is exactly what the AIA can do with the great amount of money that we all give the AIA. I hope that #George Miller, AIA President, reads the AIAKnowledgeNet postings. The AIA already has nearly $20,000 of my money. It would be fabulous to see some good stuff like this supported with my hard earned money. Only criticism - The statement about "accredited" schooling. The office experience is the only thing that teaches one how to be an Architect. An "accredited" school certainly doesn't. They stress making pretty images. The highest praise often goes to the most unbuildable designs. The graduate arrives in the office without knowing how buildings go together and that the pretty drawings need to have details that work, specifications added and are part of a legal contract. Of course we don't want to tell the public just how poorly their Architect has been educated by an"accredited" school. This failure, however, has been common knowledge among Architects for decades. Little improvement.has taken place. Just increases in tuition charged by a monopolistic marketplace. I am one of the graybeards. I earned my registration the hard way, fourteen years of apprenticeship without an "accredited degree" This requirement has closed the door to a lot of good folks. It has eliminated the Office Boy route that I followed. This requirement would have excluded great Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, as he didn't even have a Bachelors Degree. A lot of us with "apprenticeship earned registrations" are in the architectural community. We are actually the old guys who know what works and have made enough mistakes to know what doesn't. We often feel like Rodney Dangerfield when the Ivy League folks start up about how great school was. Just sayin' ------------------------------------------- David Ringer AIA CCS LEED AP Lambertville NJ -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 06-28-2013 18:47 From: David Andreozzi Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video It was brought up both at the forum in Denver, and though these posts, that Doug and I did a pretty poor job with the gender neutrality in the wording of the script. I plead guilty 100%, and that will be addressed in all future videos. We may try and update this video when we get funding with that change, and some others. Thanks to everyone that reached out with the polite constructive criticisms.This is a learning process for us! Dave ------------------------------------------- David Andreozzi AIA Barrington RI -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 06-27-2013 14:56 From: David Andreozzi Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Housing Knowledge Community and Custom Residential Architects Network . ------------------------------------------- I am spearheading a project with Doug Patt of "How to Architect" to build videos at CRAN that would introduce our clients on the importance of hiring an architect. The thought is that we could have links to these video on our websites, or send clients to the videos through a sent link. Here is our pilot video that I presented to rave reviews in Denver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kuiMxaR9N0 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kuiMxaR9N0> We hope to use this video to acquire funding to complete the first season, below: The Architect's Office The Architect's Drawings and Specifications (or construction documents) The Architect's Insurance The Architect's Contract The Architect's Basic Services The Architect's Additional Services The Architect's Compensation (John Isch has been after me to make this video) The Architect's Employees The Architect's Process What is Green beyond the gimmicks? Why quality per square foot should be the datum upon which you begin your program. Contextual Sustainability for sake of resale and supporting local labor This what AIA/CRAN is doing, creating content and support for residential architects, something missing for decades. Dave ------------------------------------------- David Andreozzi AIA/CRAN Barrington RI -------------------------------------------

Hi there -

I am so happy that you have taken this on! I think it is so important to convey the message of the architect's importance to the public. With all of the HGTV shows and real estate investment seminars out there, people are really doubtful of our value.

In line with that, I have a few issues with the video that you have posted. As an architect, I am sure you will take them in the spirit of friendly critique in which they are intended.

1. The authoritative architect is always portrayed as male - you include a cute girl Asian intern and the Team, who are all female and all clearly junior to the balding guy with the glasses, and are all seated, passive, while the men are standing up and doing things. Around 2:00, there is a whole bunch of narration that calls the architect He over and over. Then you show a bedraggled female client (who looks more like a student) who has made wrong decisions, and then another middle-aged woman who has made poor choices, suffering while her angry husband threatens to hit her from behind. This borders on offensive. Please be more circumspect. You might, for example, start the video with a woman's hand holding the pencil? Or have a woman's name in the seal? Or allow a man to be the idiot client once?

2. At 2:40, when you are discussing the effect of the architect's involvement in the outcome, the imagery (the pile of cash) when you are talking about your most valuable asset (presumably a house?) is confusing. While money is important and houses are important investments, they are not important investments primarily because of money. They are important investments because they loom so large among the things that determine our quality of life. The real power of architecture has so much to do with this qualitative aspect of things, and real estate investment so often prostitutes it. I think it is important not to add to that confusion.

3. At 2:49, the house shown is controversial in its architectural value, so, we wonder exactly which side of the equation you are illustrating? Again, when you talk about the Bottom Line right afterwards - see #2 above.

4. I would say, "...mistakes happen, money is lost, and the client is left with a result that fails to live up to its potential." That is, I think, the real problem.

Thanks very much!

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Kate Svoboda-Spanbock AIA, CID
Principal
HERE Design and Architecture
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2013 18:47
From: David Andreozzi
Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video


It was brought up both at the forum in Denver, and though these posts, that Doug and I did a pretty poor job with the gender neutrality in the wording of the script. I plead guilty 100%, and that will be addressed in all future videos.  We may try and update this video when we get funding with that change, and some others. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with the polite constructive criticisms.This is a learning process for us!

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
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Sorry - I have just seen this later post.

Personally, I would not release the video until it had been modified, and I would get a woman on your team. This video is unfortunately somewhat offensive - although I know you did not intend it to be so.

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Kate Svoboda-Spanbock AIA, CID
Principal
HERE Design and Architecture
Los Angeles CA
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-28-2013 18:47
From: David Andreozzi
Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video


It was brought up both at the forum in Denver, and though these posts, that Doug and I did a pretty poor job with the gender neutrality in the wording of the script. I plead guilty 100%, and that will be addressed in all future videos.  We may try and update this video when we get funding with that change, and some others. 

Thanks to everyone that reached out with the polite constructive criticisms.This is a learning process for us!

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA
Barrington RI
-------------------------------------------

David,

I will reserve any comments about the video as it is a pilot, But what I will comment on is It is a brilliant idea, one that should get the full support of national, state and, city AIA affiliates. It has been too long since the AIA really got behind helping inform the residential market in a meaningful way as to what the heck an architect really does and how that is of immeasurable benefit to them.   

Bravo, I cannot wait to see all the installments you produce and ultimately the day we can link our web, twitter, Houzz, and blog sites.

 

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Mark Domiteaux AIA
Owner/Principal
Domiteaux + Baggett Architects
Dallas TX
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To all,

I had a discussion with an Houzz account manager and requested Houzz seperate Architects and Designers into two groups and not link us. We should all request the same and it  actually may happen. Linking both in the same phrase makes one think we are the same. That is so far from the truth.

I must applaud all the good work CRAN is doing on behalf of the residential architects AIA or not. This may motivate the Residential Architects to sign back up.
 
Doug and team , keep up the good work. I hope my AIA dues and that of my firm are funding this endeavor. If not AIA please direct my funds this way.

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Donald Duffy AIA
Don Duffy Architecture
Charlotte NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-01-2013 17:49
From: Mark Domiteaux
Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video

David,

I will reserve any comments about the video as it is a pilot, But what I will comment on is It is a brilliant idea, one that should get the full support of national, state and, city AIA affiliates. It has been too long since the AIA really got behind helping inform the residential market in a meaningful way as to what the heck an architect really does and how that is of immeasurable benefit to them.   

Bravo, I cannot wait to see all the installments you produce and ultimately the day we can link our web, twitter, Houzz, and blog sites.

 

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Mark Domiteaux AIA
Owner/Principal
Domiteaux + Baggett Architects
Dallas TX
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I'm with you David, I think this is great. Finally, the AIA has something that starts to explain the value we offer in designing homes. Thanks CRAN

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Lori Schneider AIA
Studio Blue Design, LLC
Boulder CO
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-01-2013 17:49
From: Mark Domiteaux
Subject: CRANtv ' Check out our pilot video

David,

I will reserve any comments about the video as it is a pilot, But what I will comment on is It is a brilliant idea, one that should get the full support of national, state and, city AIA affiliates. It has been too long since the AIA really got behind helping inform the residential market in a meaningful way as to what the heck an architect really does and how that is of immeasurable benefit to them.   

Bravo, I cannot wait to see all the installments you produce and ultimately the day we can link our web, twitter, Houzz, and blog sites.

 

-------------------------------------------
Mark Domiteaux AIA
Owner/Principal
Domiteaux + Baggett Architects
Dallas TX
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