Custom Residential Architects Network

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: CRAN Custom Residential Architects Network and Small Project Practitioners .
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Joyce Wadler, reporter in the House & Home Section of The New York Times is doing a story about ways home owners terminate their relationship with their architects.  If you have an interesting experience related to this that you are willing to share, please contact me by 9.22. 

best

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Matthew Tinder
Manager, Media Relations
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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What?! A story in the NY Times about Homeowners and their Architects focusing on "Bad Breakups"  and the National AIA is enabling it? Does anyone else find this shocking?

Wouldn't it be nice to feature a story on Architects working WITH amazing clients on stunning projects or maybe a great article on hiring an architect for residential projects?

How can we make that happen?

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Rebecca Riden AIA
Architect
Rebecca Riden AIA Architect
Prairie Village KS
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Amen, Rebecca!  Thank you.

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Rand Soellner Architect
Cashiers NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2011 12:44
From: Rebecca Riden
Subject: Media Opportunity - Bad Break ups with Clients

What?! A story in the NY Times about Homeowners and their Architects focusing on "Bad Breakups"  and the National AIA is enabling it? Does anyone else find this shocking?

Wouldn't it be nice to feature a story on Architects working WITH amazing clients on stunning projects or maybe a great article on hiring an architect for residential projects?

How can we make that happen?

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Rebecca Riden AIA
Architect
Rebecca Riden AIA Architect
Prairie Village KS
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Lewis Faulkner AIA
Richardson TX
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The media will always try to exploit a negative for anything sensational.  Try to feed them positive sides of all issues.  Keep smiling.  The good times will return.  Get up, dust yourself off, and keep pluging away.

Take care!






Original Message:
Sent: 09-20-2011 07:10
From: Rand Soellner
Subject: Media Opportunity - Bad Break ups with Clients

Amen, Rebecca!  Thank you.

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Rand Soellner Architect
Cashiers NC
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The article is about the process of clients/homeowners working with architects and the potential negative situations that might arise - and how to avoid these situations.

It is certainly not our goal to put architects in a situation that would make them look bad.

In fact, this article can serve as a lesson to readers providing insights into how to make these relationships work better.  The AIA has a myriad of resources for homeowners and clients who are considering hiring an architect that will explain the process and take away misconceptions.

The reporter is going to write this piece with or without the input of AIA architects - having a voice and input on this situation to represent the architect's side of the story is a far better option than remaining silent.  This is an opportunity to show how architects are problem solvers and how quality design can impact their clients lives for the better. 

We do pitch story idea's to the media, though we would never pitch a story idea like this. 

I apologize for the misleading subject of the posting.

Best

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Matthew Tinder
Manager, Media Relations
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2011 08:16
From: Lewis Faulkner
Subject: Media Opportunity - Bad Break ups with Clients



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Lewis Faulkner AIA
Richardson TX
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The media will always try to exploit a negative for anything sensational.  Try to feed them positive sides of all issues.  Keep smiling.  The good times will return.  Get up, dust yourself off, and keep pluging away.

Take care!






Original Message:
Sent: 09-20-2011 07:10
From: Rand Soellner
Subject: Media Opportunity - Bad Break ups with Clients

Amen, Rebecca!  Thank you.

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Rand Soellner Architect
Cashiers NC
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Michael Cullen AIA
Elmhurst IL
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I agree we are already struggling with a bad ecomomy.   We don't need a negative story in the New York Times
Matthew lets try to focus the positive aspects of our profession.






Original Message:
Sent: 09-19-2011 12:44
From: Rebecca Riden
Subject: Media Opportunity - Bad Break ups with Clients

What?! A story in the NY Times about Homeowners and their Architects focusing on "Bad Breakups"  and the National AIA is enabling it? Does anyone else find this shocking?

Wouldn't it be nice to feature a story on Architects working WITH amazing clients on stunning projects or maybe a great article on hiring an architect for residential projects?

How can we make that happen?

-------------------------------------------
Rebecca Riden AIA
Architect
Rebecca Riden AIA Architect
Prairie Village KS
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HEADLINE NY TIMES:  100 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR ARCHITECT
                
                                Reported by:  AIA, Media Relations


" I just knew there was reason I wanted to be an Architect! "

This is unbelievable!


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Douglas Short AIA
Founder / Principal
iDesign Architecture Group
Humboldt TN
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To the CRAN and SPP members responding to this thread:

 

I want to apologize for the anxiety this New York Times query has caused.  We should have provided you with more background and context in the initial post.  We certainly understand the economic pressures that architects, especially residential architects, are under and would not intentionally do anything that would cause further damage.

 

Currently, we are trying to manage this pending inquiry for the article in the best way possible.  The fact that we've interested the reporter in tips for how to avoid these unfortunate situations is a very positive sign.  Also, we offered the current CRAN chair (Mark Demery, AIA LEED AP) chair to serve as an authoritative source for advice on ways to avoid architect-client breakups.  We have also spotlighted the myriad of resources the AIA provides for consumers on the HOW DESIGN WORKS microsite: http://howdesignworks.aia.org. UPDATE: the reporter has responded saying that those resources look very helpful.

 

I am happy to talk with you directly if you have any concerns or questions. You can reach me via phone at 202-626-7467.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

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Scott Frank
Director, Media Relations
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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I can completely understand why everyone would NOT want bad architect/client relationships published in a prominent newspaper, but this topic combined with a recent work event prompted a thought. I've been in architecture for about 4 years now and encountered my first unhappy client. Maybe we don't want our dirty laundry publicized for the general public, but I've learned that it's also not really discussed even within the industry. So perhaps some of these problems - and their solutions - could be discussed at least here on our forums, where you have to be a member. I, personally, would find this information invaluable to my ongoing business education. I'd like to think of it as long distance, group mentoring!


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Brenda Nelson Assoc. AIA
Woodruff Design, LLC
Cedar Rapids IA
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2011 17:13
From: Scott Frank
Subject: NY TIMES ARTICLE

 

To the CRAN and SPP members responding to this thread:

 

I want to apologize for the anxiety this New York Times query has caused.  We should have provided you with more background and context in the initial post.  We certainly understand the economic pressures that architects, especially residential architects, are under and would not intentionally do anything that would cause further damage.

 

Currently, we are trying to manage this pending inquiry for the article in the best way possible.  The fact that we've interested the reporter in tips for how to avoid these unfortunate situations is a very positive sign.  Also, we offered the current CRAN chair (Mark Demery, AIA LEED AP) chair to serve as an authoritative source for advice on ways to avoid architect-client breakups.  We have also spotlighted the myriad of resources the AIA provides for consumers on the HOW DESIGN WORKS microsite: http://howdesignworks.aia.org. UPDATE: the reporter has responded saying that those resources look very helpful.

 

I am happy to talk with you directly if you have any concerns or questions. You can reach me via phone at 202-626-7467.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

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Scott Frank
Director, Media Relations
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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Brenda,

I'm not entirely sure that KnowledgeNet is not an open forum. Maybe staff can clarify that for us.

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David Del Vecchio AIA
Architect
David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC
Cranford NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2011 13:52
From: Brenda Nelson
Subject: NY TIMES ARTICLE

I can completely understand why everyone would NOT want bad architect/client relationships published in a prominent newspaper, but this topic combined with a recent work event prompted a thought. I've been in architecture for about 4 years now and encountered my first unhappy client. Maybe we don't want our dirty laundry publicized for the general public, but I've learned that it's also not really discussed even within the industry. So perhaps some of these problems - and their solutions - could be discussed at least here on our forums, where you have to be a member. I, personally, would find this information invaluable to my ongoing business education. I'd like to think of it as long distance, group mentoring!


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Brenda Nelson Assoc. AIA
Woodruff Design, LLC
Cedar Rapids IA
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Brenda,

As I mentioned on the voicemail, David is correct. AIA KnowledgeNet's Knowledge Community content is visible to the public and search engines. Furthermore, anyone can create an AIA.org account and participate. This functionality is aligned with the AIA Knowledge Community strategy of improved professional education and public perception through inclusion of all self-identified stakeholders. This openness and inclusion is also part of the reason the AIA site is so robust in comparsion to other association-based networks.

AIA KnowledgeNet Contributors,

Thank you for your continued contributions. Brenda is correct that this can be (and already has been) a wonderful platform for group discussion and mentoring. Please know that AIA staff only moderate the site for violations of the Code of Conduct. Beyond that the topic of conversation is in your control, no matter the state of your laundry.

If you ever want to remove a post from the site, simply click the "Mark as Inappropriate" link and it will be moved immediately into the moderation queue where staff will delete it. I invite you to review the FAQ page and contact me with any questions or concerns regarding this site.

Sincerely, Kathleen


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

Auburn University School of Architecture Class of 2006 -- War Eagle!
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2011 17:48
From: David Del Vecchio
Subject: NY TIMES ARTICLE

Brenda,

I'm not entirely sure that KnowledgeNet is not an open forum. Maybe staff can clarify that for us.

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David Del Vecchio AIA
Architect
David Del Vecchio, Architect, LLC
Cranford NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2011 13:52
From: Brenda Nelson
Subject: NY TIMES ARTICLE

I can completely understand why everyone would NOT want bad architect/client relationships published in a prominent newspaper, but this topic combined with a recent work event prompted a thought. I've been in architecture for about 4 years now and encountered my first unhappy client. Maybe we don't want our dirty laundry publicized for the general public, but I've learned that it's also not really discussed even within the industry. So perhaps some of these problems - and their solutions - could be discussed at least here on our forums, where you have to be a member. I, personally, would find this information invaluable to my ongoing business education. I'd like to think of it as long distance, group mentoring!


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Brenda Nelson Assoc. AIA
Woodruff Design, LLC
Cedar Rapids IA
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I can assure everyone who posts messages to this forum that you do Not have to be a member to gain access to it.  The reason that I know is that I Googled some key words and some of them were direct hits to this forum.  I was not signed in at the time.  Try it.  In other words, you should only post messages here that you do not mind anyone in the Universe reading.  If you have matters that demand more private discussions, I encourage all AIA members to simply directly contact other AIA members (but even those e-mails can be forwarded to anyone), so probably phone calls are best for sensitive issues.  Basic e-mail protocol in this electronic age: only put into e-mails: words, sentiments and discussions that you wouldn't mind having All of your clients reading, your mother, pastor/priest, wife, kids, dean, mayor, brother and sister and co-workers, because they very likely will and can. 
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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Rand Soellner Architect
Cashiers NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-28-2011 13:52
From: Brenda Nelson
Subject: NY TIMES ARTICLE

I can completely understand why everyone would NOT want bad architect/client relationships published in a prominent newspaper, but this topic combined with a recent work event prompted a thought. I've been in architecture for about 4 years now and encountered my first unhappy client. Maybe we don't want our dirty laundry publicized for the general public, but I've learned that it's also not really discussed even within the industry. So perhaps some of these problems - and their solutions - could be discussed at least here on our forums, where you have to be a member. I, personally, would find this information invaluable to my ongoing business education. I'd like to think of it as long distance, group mentoring!


-------------------------------------------
Brenda Nelson Assoc. AIA
Woodruff Design, LLC
Cedar Rapids IA
-------------------------------------------