Housing and Community Development

I've read some of the discussions on Awards and thumbed through the latest Residential Architect Awards Issue which seems to support much of the negativity presented.

I have been an AIA member for 30 yrs., 20 of those working in large Commercial Firms and the last 10 in my own Residential Practice.  The AIA has always been very supportive of the Commercial Sector but I feel they are not as representative of the Residential Sector except for the Awards for Show Houses which most people can't afford nor relate to, which is telling in itself in sending the wrong message to average people who were thinking of using an Architect.

Last year I went to a trade show in SF (PCBC) where I found a booklet entitled "The Value of Design" by Marianne Cusato produced for James Hardie Company which brought forth the question of why doesn't our AIA do as much for us as one of our material providers.  Sure the booklet was produced for James Hardie and has it's own purpose, but that's beside the point, it talks about the influence of Good Design, it's importance and what that entails.  

Where is the AIA on this issue ?  Am I missing something and if I missed it then I'll bet most of the public did as well.  Shouldn't we, as an organization be concerned about the influence of Good Design on people and the environment as a whole more than we seem to be in Awards for structures which stand alone. 

I would hope that our AIA could help us more in educating a larger public about the Value of Good Design by Residential Architects as a whole at least as much as it does for the Commercial Sector.

Take a few minutes and look through the attached booklet and see what you think.

-------------------------------------------
Fred Flynn AIA
Architect
Fred Flynn Architect
Santa Rosa CA
-------------------------------------------

I only scanned through this document briefly, but upon first glance it seems to illustrate design principles effectively to the average homeowner. This method could be used on a larger scale in more articles, commercials and TV shows to get the message out to a wider audience. As long as HGTv doesn't tell people they don't need an architect, we could be there to show people how to get there. It's too bad it came from a product manufacturer with a marketing agenda rather than us as architects. I hope upon reading it carefully it has as much substance as it does initial appeal.

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Lee Calisti AIA
Principal
lee CALISTI architecture+design
Greensburg PA
-------------------------------------------

Fred:
That say it all!

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Ann Dunning AIA
President
Ann M. Dunning, AIA, Inc.
Chagrin Falls OH
-------------------------------------------

I built my practice around the concept of getting good design out to the 99%. We are completely out of touch as a profession. We ridicule regular people for their lack of taste, yet we do very little to provide decent houses for them. People will fall in love with their homes no matter how awful the design. If you were dropped off on a desert island with nothing but ugly men/ women, after a couple of weeks some of them would start looking good. I've been preaching about the fact that all the money is in the housing industry. We didn't have a stadium crisis or a library crisis, we had a housing crisis. That's because housing drives the construction industry and we're barely involved. If we want to make a difference for our profession and the built environment in this country, we need to start adjusting our business models to include more Americans than just the millionaires and billionaires. We need to build many, many more houses!

We have a misconception of what the Value of Design is all about. Many of us feel valuable if we simply create more drawings and documents. You know, the type of documents too sophisticated for a builder to create. Have a home builder to go through a set of your drawings and ask them what they need and don't need for a Permit and to construct the building. Everything else is NOT valuable to them, which drives up your fee and makes you less desirable to hire. We quickly price ourselves out of work because we think more drawings means more value. I have explained before that the more stuff you ask people to pay for, the more they expect a discount. Just because you landed a bigger fee on one project doesn't mean that you didn't just go from calculating profit based on hours per dollar rather than dollars per hour. Give them exactly what they need and now you're charging the "minimum set up fee" rather than "bundling services for a discount". Remember that really smart guy who said, "Less is More."?

I really hate the fact that real estate agents often walk away with more money than me for selling a house that sold itself. I hear many of you complain about this too. Why are they considered more valuable? It's because they make themselves more valuable and have the sense to understand that there is much more money to be made in the housing industry. They aren't just being paid to sell your house. They tip off builders when an unadvertised property is about to go on market, they market the builder's name, and of course they bring the builder the buyer/ paycheck. They may not be as book smart as us, but they sure made themselves more VALUABLE! What are we doing that someone else isn't doing already, albeit very poorly? Perhaps we need to rethink what value means, in particular to the regular person.

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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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I second the motion. I think the number of small residential firms far outnumbers the big guys, but we don't get no respect.
Judith

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Judith Wasserman AIA
Bressack & Wasserman
Palo Alto CA
-------------------------------------------

I think perhaps the easiest answer is that commercial projects require an Achitect's seal where Residential does not.  So it gets back to educating the public (and General Contractors) on value of good design and benefits of using Architects.

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Craig Isaac AIA
Architect
Craig W. Isaac Architecture
Charlotte NC
-------------------------------------------

Some states (like New Jersey) do require an architect's seal for residential construction. It's about time AIA lobbies heavily to make that a reality in every jurisdiction in the U.S.

How is it that the single largest expenditure most people ever make is not as worthy of the protection afforded by licensure as every other building? How is the building we all go home to after a hard day's work not as important in terms of health, safety and welfare as a WalMart or  McDonald's? Why is it that nobody (other than architects) understand that even though houses may look much the same as they have for years, that they use much more complex building materials, are used much differently, consume more energy, and incorporate much more complicated building systems (or should) than the houses that were built a generation ago? Density, over-crowding, traffic and other land use issues that were not nearly so important a few decades ago are having a greater impact on the built environment than ever before.

Homes are just as important as every other place where we spend our day. And frankly the decisions that need to be made should not be entrusted to just anyone who wants to call themselves a contractor. 

I know that when I get a call from someone who says they "need an architect because the building department told me I needed to get one" that it is not likely to fit my ideal target market, but I do believe that by requiring an architect's seal for all buldings, it raises the bar for all projects, and at least gets people thinking beyond an architect as an unnecessary additional expense that can be supplanted by a contractor's drawing.

It's simply no longer acceptable to say, "the laws in my state will never change" or "that will never happen here" or "that would be difficult to make happen given the current state of affairs in our state". It's going to be a long, drawn-out and expensive fight, no doubt.

And if members don't see the value in participating, by opening their checkbooks to their local Architects' Political Action Committees, then somebody else will fund their PAC's to take yet another piece of the pie. They, in fact, already are doing exactly that. It's not a fight that will likely ever be "won" or "done". We will be fighting this fight our entire lives. Our success lies in whether we are willing to put the appropriate effort forward or we choose to sit back and let others dictate what it is that we are allowed to do.

The best way to get something done is to start doing.

-------------------------------------------
David Del Vecchio AIA
Architect
David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC
Cranford NJ
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 11:24
From: Craig Isaac
Subject: AIA Membership Support

I think perhaps the easiest answer is that commercial projects require an Achitect's seal where Residential does not.  So it gets back to educating the public (and General Contractors) on value of good design and benefits of using Architects.

-------------------------------------------
Craig Isaac AIA
Architect
Craig W. Isaac Architecture
Charlotte NC
-------------------------------------------

As much as I would like to see Architect's stamps being required for residential projects nationally, we will need many, many more Architects designing houses first. If we can't facilitate the demand, in particular in rural states, then this would be a short lived effort ending in total chaos. Some states like NY & NJ may already have the "boots on the ground" for this sort of concept, but beyond Atlanta, I couldn't see the state of GA being capable of requiring this based on the lack of residential Architects in the rural areas. This move will have to be on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis, based on need and available resources.

Good design to me is taking the same kit of pieces and parts and simply arranging it better than the other guy/gal. This philosophy has allowed me to push the design bar while not pricing regular people out of getting a bank loan. If we could get the bank's appraiser to understand that separating the price of the Lot from the price of the House itself, we would be able to more accurately determine what people are really willing to pay for. By removing "Location" from the equation, there is no need to compare houses that incomparable just because they're in the same "Location". We could have large houses and small houses, rich and not-so-rich living side by side. The current valuation system simply focuses on the area only and gives little consideration as to whether one house is more desirable than the other. They simply average the sales of houses in your area that happen to be the same size. I've seen one of my highest sales on everyones appraisal in the area. They are all justifying a higher value because one of my houses sold for much more than theirs. If they had to accept the value of the houses THEY sold, then I wouldn't get punished by their low sales and they would't get rewarded by my higher sales. The price of the Lot should reflect current market value of the land and the house price could be determined by how well that Architect or Builder's houses sell in any area. Isolate the mystery of location and market value for land, then the structure should have a more stable value based on desirability, like all other products in America.

We have Kia and we have BMW, we have Levi and Armani, we have Timex and Rolex. Appraisers can determine that one brand is more valuable than another, but real estate appraisers can't tell the difference between a unique Architectural house and a cookie cutter mass produced house. If you separate the Lot from the House, we would begin to see what people are willing to pay between a mass produced house and one that is designed specifically for the lot it sits on by a professional Architect.

All we have to bring to the table is our design skills. All this can accomplish is providing better quality. If better quality can't be tracked by real sales figures, then design just doesn't matter in the fiscal equation. For us to matter, we need to make sure that our products are being judged fairly at market. This is a country obsessed with higher quality jeans, purses, cars, watches, electronics, etc. Everything but better houses. We can't form a brand when we are judged by how well our competitors are doing rather than how well we do. If design mattered to the bank, then the people would quickly get it. Who would buy a Rolex for Rolex prices if they were valued the same as a Timex, just because they're sold in the same store (location)? People pay more for many reasons and perceived value is one of them.

-------------------------------------------
Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 12:08
From: David Del Vecchio
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Some states (like New Jersey) do require an architect's seal for residential construction. It's about time AIA lobbies heavily to make that a reality in every jurisdiction in the U.S.

How is it that the single largest expenditure most people ever make is not as worthy of the protection afforded by licensure as every other building? How is the building we all go home to after a hard day's work not as important in terms of health, safety and welfare as a WalMart or  McDonald's? Why is it that nobody (other than architects) understand that even though houses may look much the same as they have for years, that they use much more complex building materials, are used much differently, consume more energy, and incorporate much more complicated building systems (or should) than the houses that were built a generation ago? Density, over-crowding, traffic and other land use issues that were not nearly so important a few decades ago are having a greater impact on the built environment than ever before.

Homes are just as important as every other place where we spend our day. And frankly the decisions that need to be made should not be entrusted to just anyone who wants to call themselves a contractor. 

I know that when I get a call from someone who says they "need an architect because the building department told me I needed to get one" that it is not likely to fit my ideal target market, but I do believe that by requiring an architect's seal for all buldings, it raises the bar for all projects, and at least gets people thinking beyond an architect as an unnecessary additional expense that can be supplanted by a contractor's drawing.

It's simply no longer acceptable to say, "the laws in my state will never change" or "that will never happen here" or "that would be difficult to make happen given the current state of affairs in our state". It's going to be a long, drawn-out and expensive fight, no doubt.

And if members don't see the value in participating, by opening their checkbooks to their local Architects' Political Action Committees, then somebody else will fund their PAC's to take yet another piece of the pie. They, in fact, already are doing exactly that. It's not a fight that will likely ever be "won" or "done". We will be fighting this fight our entire lives. Our success lies in whether we are willing to put the appropriate effort forward or we choose to sit back and let others dictate what it is that we are allowed to do.

The best way to get something done is to start doing.

-------------------------------------------
David Del Vecchio AIA
Architect
David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC
Cranford NJ
-------------------------------------------

In my opinion, legistlating ahead of society's values only breeds disrespect for the law. That is the reason why prohibition didn't work and that is the reason why mandating an architect's seal for every project will lead to disrespect for architects and disrespect for the law unless we first convince the general public that our services are essential to every project. We have a long way to go.

-------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall, AIA
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 12:08
From: David Del Vecchio
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Some states (like New Jersey) do require an architect's seal for residential construction. It's about time AIA lobbies heavily to make that a reality in every jurisdiction in the U.S.

How is it that the single largest expenditure most people ever make is not as worthy of the protection afforded by licensure as every other building? How is the building we all go home to after a hard day's work not as important in terms of health, safety and welfare as a WalMart or  McDonald's? Why is it that nobody (other than architects) understand that even though houses may look much the same as they have for years, that they use much more complex building materials, are used much differently, consume more energy, and incorporate much more complicated building systems (or should) than the houses that were built a generation ago? Density, over-crowding, traffic and other land use issues that were not nearly so important a few decades ago are having a greater impact on the built environment than ever before.

Homes are just as important as every other place where we spend our day. And frankly the decisions that need to be made should not be entrusted to just anyone who wants to call themselves a contractor. 

I know that when I get a call from someone who says they "need an architect because the building department told me I needed to get one" that it is not likely to fit my ideal target market, but I do believe that by requiring an architect's seal for all buldings, it raises the bar for all projects, and at least gets people thinking beyond an architect as an unnecessary additional expense that can be supplanted by a contractor's drawing.

It's simply no longer acceptable to say, "the laws in my state will never change" or "that will never happen here" or "that would be difficult to make happen given the current state of affairs in our state". It's going to be a long, drawn-out and expensive fight, no doubt.

And if members don't see the value in participating, by opening their checkbooks to their local Architects' Political Action Committees, then somebody else will fund their PAC's to take yet another piece of the pie. They, in fact, already are doing exactly that. It's not a fight that will likely ever be "won" or "done". We will be fighting this fight our entire lives. Our success lies in whether we are willing to put the appropriate effort forward or we choose to sit back and let others dictate what it is that we are allowed to do.

The best way to get something done is to start doing.

-------------------------------------------
David Del Vecchio AIA
Architect
David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC
Cranford NJ
-------------------------------------------

If we, as architects, and AIA are going to try to get all jurisdictions in the U.S. to require an architect's seal on all residential construction you are grabbing a tiger by the tail.  The lobbying power of NAHB (National Assoc. of Homebuilders), local homebuilders associations, homebuilders and teamed with realtors are going to eat us alive.  We had better have them on our side before we begin the campaign. We do not have enough allies to take this on. 

To get the building officials on our side would be a large advantage and have them write it in their model codes would be start, if that would ever happen, but the state and local jurisdictions will simply write that section out.

We need to convince the homebuilders that there are advantages to hiring an architect before we do anything.  Currently most homebuilders see an architect's fee as an unnecessary additional fee. 

An attempt to require seals would be looked at as ramming it down their throats and will divide homebuilders and architects even further than we are currently.


 



-------------------------------------------
D. Cook AIA
Tipp City OH
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 12:08
From: David Del Vecchio
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Some states (like New Jersey) do require an architect's seal for residential construction. It's about time AIA lobbies heavily to make that a reality in every jurisdiction in the U.S.

How is it that the single largest expenditure most people ever make is not as worthy of the protection afforded by licensure as every other building? How is the building we all go home to after a hard day's work not as important in terms of health, safety and welfare as a WalMart or  McDonald's? Why is it that nobody (other than architects) understand that even though houses may look much the same as they have for years, that they use much more complex building materials, are used much differently, consume more energy, and incorporate much more complicated building systems (or should) than the houses that were built a generation ago? Density, over-crowding, traffic and other land use issues that were not nearly so important a few decades ago are having a greater impact on the built environment than ever before.

Homes are just as important as every other place where we spend our day. And frankly the decisions that need to be made should not be entrusted to just anyone who wants to call themselves a contractor. 

I know that when I get a call from someone who says they "need an architect because the building department told me I needed to get one" that it is not likely to fit my ideal target market, but I do believe that by requiring an architect's seal for all buldings, it raises the bar for all projects, and at least gets people thinking beyond an architect as an unnecessary additional expense that can be supplanted by a contractor's drawing.

It's simply no longer acceptable to say, "the laws in my state will never change" or "that will never happen here" or "that would be difficult to make happen given the current state of affairs in our state". It's going to be a long, drawn-out and expensive fight, no doubt.

And if members don't see the value in participating, by opening their checkbooks to their local Architects' Political Action Committees, then somebody else will fund their PAC's to take yet another piece of the pie. They, in fact, already are doing exactly that. It's not a fight that will likely ever be "won" or "done". We will be fighting this fight our entire lives. Our success lies in whether we are willing to put the appropriate effort forward or we choose to sit back and let others dictate what it is that we are allowed to do.

The best way to get something done is to start doing.

-------------------------------------------
David Del Vecchio AIA
Architect
David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC
Cranford NJ
-------------------------------------------

Hi Fred
You ask some excellent questions - and the AIA is asking the same questions right now in a major undertaking: Repositioning Architects, Architecture and the AIA.  Please take a look at this endeavor - now underway - and contribute to the discussions there!  

A recent survey - to which over 10,000 AIA members responded (perhaps you included) created a fact based perspective that goes far beyond anecdotes (only about 500 responses would have been enough for statistical signficance).  We don't have all the results yet - but it's clear that what is coming out of that comprehensive research is both eye opening, and not surprising.

More here:  

http://network.aia.org/AIA/DigestViewer/?ListKey=d2ba2f9b-bc0e-4d80-81f3-31cfacb4e170 
http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB094878 

Cheers
-------------------------------------------
Michael Malinowski AIA
AIA Director - California Region
Applied Architecture, Inc.
Sacramento CA
-------------------------------------------

Fred,

I downloaded the attachment you sent and it looks interesting. I haven't had a chance to read it in detail, but I will.

I have several old copies of a publication called "Home Delivery" that the AIA provided me for a nominal price years ago. It's a thin magazine (32 pages total) and includes several articles, a list of all AIA chapters with contact information, and some advertisements for residential products. I used to give it out to prospective clients along with my own promotional materials. Here's a photo of the cover:


Perhaps we (CRAN) can produce a similar guide in the future. AIA also used to have a website dedicated to helping homeowners find an architect. I believe it contained much of the same information as this guide.

Remember, we are the AIA. If we want AIA to represent residential architects, we need to help provide the tools to do this.

-------------------------------------------
Dawn Zuber AIA
Owner
Studio Z Architecture
Canton MI
-------------------------------------------

Dawn might be thinking of http://howdesignworks.aia.org/ 

On the www.aia.org homepage, there is a section called "Value of an AIA Architect" which links to another PDF resource: You and Your Architect.

-------------------------------------------
Kathleen Simpson
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 13:28
From: Dawn Zuber
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Fred,

I downloaded the attachment you sent and it looks interesting. I haven't had a chance to read it in detail, but I will.

I have several old copies of a publication called "Home Delivery" that the AIA provided me for a nominal price years ago. It's a thin magazine (32 pages total) and includes several articles, a list of all AIA chapters with contact information, and some advertisements for residential products. I used to give it out to prospective clients along with my own promotional materials. Here's a photo of the cover:


Perhaps we (CRAN) can produce a similar guide in the future. AIA also used to have a website dedicated to helping homeowners find an architect. I believe it contained much of the same information as this guide.

Remember, we are the AIA. If we want AIA to represent residential architects, we need to help provide the tools to do this.

-------------------------------------------
Dawn Zuber AIA
Owner
Studio Z Architecture
Canton MI
-------------------------------------------

Kathleen, that's it, although it's been redesigned since I last visited. That's awesome! How do we get the word out to our residential architects that this resource is available? And do you know anything about the magazine I mentioned?

Thanks!

-------------------------------------------
Dawn Zuber AIA
Owner
Studio Z Architecture
Canton MI
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 14:25
From: Kathleen Simpson
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Dawn might be thinking of http://howdesignworks.aia.org/ 

On the www.aia.org homepage, there is a section called "Value of an AIA Architect" which links to another PDF resource: You and Your Architect.

-------------------------------------------
Kathleen Simpson
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------

We have used these resources for Clients and also I use some for the Teach-In / Career Day education for middle and high school students. I agree we need to spread the word within CRAN and then everyone share with your network!

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Kristine Young AIA
2 Young Architects
Tarpon Springs FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 20:08
From: Dawn Zuber
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Kathleen, that's it, although it's been redesigned since I last visited. That's awesome! How do we get the word out to our residential architects that this resource is available? And do you know anything about the magazine I mentioned?

Thanks!

-------------------------------------------
Dawn Zuber AIA
Owner
Studio Z Architecture
Canton MI
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 14:25
From: Kathleen Simpson
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Dawn might be thinking of http://howdesignworks.aia.org/ 

On the www.aia.org homepage, there is a section called "Value of an AIA Architect" which links to another PDF resource: You and Your Architect.

-------------------------------------------
Kathleen Simpson
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------

Interestingly, the landing page at http://howdesignworks.aia.org/ asks the most critical question: "Does your project really require an architect?" but the supporting articles don't answer it.

The "You and Your Architect" brochure states: "...working with an architect member of the AIA can save time and money by making your new spaces more functional, comfortable, efficient, and environmentally responsible. Architects can play a pivotal role in reducing the overall environmental impact and energy needed to create and operate buildings, the single biggest consumer of fossil fuels. The result is a project that is beautiful, distinctive, efficient, and healthy for us and the planet." In a 15-page brochure, that's the entirety of the persuasion it presents on the subject of why to hire an architect--every sentence of which is tainted with environmental implications that alienate a large number of clients. No thanks.

-------------------------------------------
Sean Catherall, AIA
Herriman UT
-------------------------------------------





Original Message:
Sent: 06-11-2012 14:25
From: Kathleen Simpson
Subject: AIA Membership Support

Dawn might be thinking of http://howdesignworks.aia.org/ 

On the www.aia.org homepage, there is a section called "Value of an AIA Architect" which links to another PDF resource: You and Your Architect.

-------------------------------------------
Kathleen Simpson
Manager, Knowledge Communities
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------

The electronic marketing pamphlet is quite interesting but I find it troublesome for a few reasons, but enjoyable as well. Problems inlcude: 

    1.    Strictly builder orientation. It doesn't really recommend, though endorsed by, seeking advice from design professionals before trying this at home. The building community largely wishes that the architect would stay away, and one could read this thinking afterwards "Well the architects didn't have anything to do with these houses but, they're honorable and seem to approve of it. Let's go talk to the Hardie Boys contractor and get it done."   

    2.    Oversimplification does not always tell truth.  The reason that garden apartments will be correct in come location, and why townhouses are not always the best choice, in urban development is just more complicated than the preference you "should live that way". This basic misunderstanding of urban design only fortells of others in this paper.

    3.    Architects avoid the public examination of styles and their preferences, except in design juries where the secret evaluation is elevated to a remostration of all styles, while resulting is just the opposite - the beatification of single style. The coverage of recommended and diverse styles is refreshing but also a gross oversimplification of design understanding, but in the end, the Hardie Boys suggest housing styles that use "siding". This is marketing. 

    4.    The pamphlet takes what we love about these buildings and exposes them as to say "beautiful buildings are easy to achieve, as long as you agree in neo-urbanism and your house has (colorful) siding, you shall have conquered politically correct design matters - with real architects - many of whom endorse us!" In the end,  no-one disagrees with a quality urban life but good design is not that easy to achieve. Architects have to get out of the habit of making it seem difficult to achieve.   

What I like most about this is its friendliness and understandability. To the lay person, this is a retail catalogue reading like Williams Sonoma mail order. It's interesting, accessible, entertaining, and it likes there's something in there I need and can afford. Probably neither is true, but, this is marketing. 

The AIA steadfastly refuses to be interesting, accessible, and entertaining. Of course our job is a lot more serious than the Hardie Boys would let on. We tend to take ourselves more seriouly than necessary. So if there is something to learn here, we need to find ways to communicate more directly to the public mindset, to homeowners, to consumers in general. It won't result in immediate  commissions, but, at the risk of repreating myself, that's marketing.  

-------------------------------------------
Allen Neyman AIA
Principal
StovallSmithNeyman and Associates Architects
Germantown MD
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