Custom Residential Architects Network

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Housing Knowledge Community and Custom Residential Architects Network .
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PLAQUE INCOME GOES TO CRAN FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS PROMOTIONS:
David, having this become an AIA logo plaque is a great idea, HOWEVER, since this idea is being designed, developed and promoted on the CRAN, let's please keep it as a revenue source for CRAN, okay?  We can use any monies obtained for the CRAN's efforts to develop this for CRAN-specific purposes such as promoting to the public an awareness that licensed residential architects exist and that there are good reasons for anyone to consider hiring any architect to design their home or renovations.  Okay, that being said, I have a couple of other ideas for consideration by CRAN members in this regard:

David's idea that this be an AIA-logo plaque is very good, in that it immediately establishes credibility. 
We can take this several more steps forward. 
We need to make this plaque become an indispensable feature of any new house; it needs to provide information that no other non-architect designed home can possibly provide.  This provides a CRAN Architect value-added bonus that no non-architect home design source can provide, with anywhere near the credibility we can.

COMPUTERIZED LINK FROM PLAQUE TO CRAN MEMBER DATABASE:
How about this: Since the AIA has been around for 157 years and our CRAN will hope to be around for at least that long or longer into the future, we of the CRAN could fairly easily establish an ancillary website exclusively run by our CRAN, and onto which there is critical information about each of the homes we architects in the CRAN design and furthermore, MAINTENANCE information that any homeowner would want to know.  This can be a forever database and THE LINK TO THIS CRAN HOME DATA COULD BE LISTED ON THE PLAQUE.  This gives a very good reason for any homeowner or home buyer to want such an AIA CRAN plaque on their home and it gives appraisers a good reason to value the home at a higher amount, because registered architect design and maintenance data on this home will be on a forever database that will be around for as long and longer as any home buyer will be alive.   Someone who buys any CRAN architect designed home that sees the plaque (wherever it is permanently mounted (I suggest the Foyer, at a height of 60" off the floor)), even 100 years from now, will be able to access the CRAN database and understand the reasons for the design, basic original layout perhaps, and very important: maintenance data; even the original architect's contact information, although, we may be dust be that time, however, any future evolution of our firms would be the new inheritors of such a legacy).

Now that the cat's out of the bag, my guess is that the main AIA will now establish this practice on all commercial AIA member designed buildings to start another income stream for the main AIA.  Mark my words.  This will become standard practice within 2 years. 

Let's just make sure that since this is CRAN's idea, that CRAN starts, develops and maintain our residential part of this and from the get-go have it clearly understood that this is our product copyright and our income stream that comes directly to CRAN, not to the main AIA.  I hereby declare commonlaw copyright for this CRAN Home Website Connected Project Plaque System (regardless of any future name derivations) on behalf of CRAN. There.  It is done.  CRAN now owns this copyright. 

Okay.  So who wants to help develop the ancillary website for this? 

Happy Friday all. 



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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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I would think the AIA would have to set up the site for AIA CRAN, (make a couple bucks per plaque,) for no other reason than we want the database for future generations to look up the projects on line forever.

if one of us does this... who knows.

The parent AIA would also be the one to promote it for AIA CRAN.

Dave

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David Andreozzi AIA
Owner
Andreozzi Architects
Barrington RI
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My wife happens to be one of the leading real estate brokers in our area.  She also suggested that realtors could link their MLS (Multiple Listing Service) listings to the CRAN House Plaque Database, to have access to information that us architects would put into each file for the homes we design: such as the square footage heated, gross sf, sf / floor, quality brief spec of materials used, unique features that might make it more desirable for potential buyers and appraisers and the like.  This database could end up becoming linked to the County tax assessors office and other places.  The CRAN House Plaque Database Link could become the Country's go-to place to find data on a house and any home without such a link would be viewed as more problematic and not as desirable to those people selling and buying homes. 

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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Credit where credit is due:

Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA began this discussion a few days ago and this is the current evolution of her initial thoughts.  We would not have this current idea without her excellent initial post.  Thank you Debra! 

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-05-2012 11:47
From: Rand Soellner
Subject: CRAN Home Website Connected Project Plaque System

My wife happens to be one of the leading real estate brokers in our area.  She also suggested that realtors could link their MLS (Multiple Listing Service) listings to the CRAN House Plaque Database, to have access to information that us architects would put into each file for the homes we design: such as the square footage heated, gross sf, sf / floor, quality brief spec of materials used, unique features that might make it more desirable for potential buyers and appraisers and the like.  This database could end up becoming linked to the County tax assessors office and other places.  The CRAN House Plaque Database Link could become the Country's go-to place to find data on a house and any home without such a link would be viewed as more problematic and not as desirable to those people selling and buying homes. 

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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Thanks Rand, but you suggested the more elegant solution of a plaque as did others and my posting was  inspired by another posting by Brenda Nelson.  I think we all own this idea now. Love the idea of linking to the web for more information.

Also, I'd asked if anyone from AIA read these ideas. I received both a personal email and a phone call from AIA.

Eric Rawlings brought up:
"I think the plaque idea is great, but some unwitting homeowner may not know what it is or care and decide to remove it during a renovation. We all know great houses get renovated all the time by homeowners with terrible taste. The data base would live forever regardless of what the future owners do to the home."

I too would be a bit concerned about the removal of the plaque in the future and would still suggest the electrical box application in addition since that is already where the Energy Star stickers are being placed.  It'd be quick and easy for us to hand write the info and would seem to be much simpler to implement quickly. Then the plaque could be step two. I have had one client ask if I could send them a plaque to display.
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Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA
Architect
Sun Plans Inc.
Mobile, AL
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-05-2012 12:34
From: Rand Soellner
Subject: CRAN Home Website Connected Project Plaque System

Credit where credit is due:

Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA began this discussion a few days ago and this is the current evolution of her initial thoughts.  We would not have this current idea without her excellent initial post.  Thank you Debra! 

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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Hello Debra and others,
Debra makes a very good point, as does Eric about future owners unwittingly removing something as important as the CRAN plaque, and Debra makes an astute suggestion to help deal with such a circumstance.  As part and parcel of the CRAN Plaque, perhaps the AIA could have some software simultaneously generate (for download by each participating AIA architect) images of the plaque with the identical information (including links to the the CRAN database and the architect's own website/project page URL, so that each architect can print out their own ancillary stickers for posting in electrical cabinets and my favorite: inside a kitchen cabinet inner door face.

And in another matter, relating to the sort of very valuable information that could be on both the architect's website page for each project and on the CRAN Project Plaque database record: seasonal information could be there to make sure that each homeowner of a CRAN Architect designed home could have instructions and suggestions for helping them manage their house.  For instance: in fall, when freezing temperatures begin to occur, unscrew all of your exterior hoses from hose bibbs to avoid freezing any water trapped in the spout so that you don't have a ruptured frozen water pipe at those locations.  Not very sexy, but good and valuable information to keep your CRAN architect designed home in good condition.

HEY: IF HOMEOWNERS WOULD REGISTERED THEIR E-MAIL ADDRESS WITH THE CRAN PLAQUE WEBSITE (for their specific home), THERE COULD BE AUTO-RESPONDER SOFTWARE THAT AUTOMATICALLY E-MAILS CRAN ARCHITECT REGISTERED CLIENTS WITH THIS SORT OF SEASONAL INFORMATION, MAKING IT AN INTERACTIVE VALUE ADDED!  What rational person wouldn't want this guiding hand?  For instance, they could find out the type of paints and stains used so they could touch up or recoat, 7 years down the road.  And: we may have indicated on registered PDFs of our plans on file, logical places for expansion of the home for future additions.  

And: THIS IS JUST ONE MORE REASON THAT HOMEOWNERS AND HOME BUYERS IN THE PUBLIC SHOULD WANT TO OWN A CRAN MEMBER ARCHITECT DESIGNED HOME and why it should be worth more than any "unconnected" house designed by anyone not licensed and not participating in this program, THEREFORE, WHAT WE DESIGN AS CRAN MEMBER LICENSED ARCHITECTS SHOULD BE INDICATED BY APPRAISERS AS MORE VALUABLE THAT ANY "UNCONNECTED" HOME.  This may create a desire on the part of people out there (the public) wanting this valuable feature. 

and CRAN should promote this feature to the public!  Shout it from the mountain tops, or more appropriately on YouTube and other social media and (dare I mention it again) TV commercials explaining the value of having your home designed by CRAN AIA member licensed architects?

Sort of like owning a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer (circa 1981) when looking at today's i7 6 Core CPU driven computers with 64 GB of ram. 

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-08-2012 13:20
From: Debra Coleman
Subject: CRAN Home Website Connected Project Plaque System

Thanks Rand, but you suggested the more elegant solution of a plaque as did others and my posting was  inspired by another posting by Brenda Nelson.  I think we all own this idea now. Love the idea of linking to the web for more information.

Also, I'd asked if anyone from AIA read these ideas. I received both a personal email and a phone call from AIA.

Eric Rawlings brought up:
"I think the plaque idea is great, but some unwitting homeowner may not know what it is or care and decide to remove it during a renovation. We all know great houses get renovated all the time by homeowners with terrible taste. The data base would live forever regardless of what the future owners do to the home."

I too would be a bit concerned about the removal of the plaque in the future and would still suggest the electrical box application in addition since that is already where the Energy Star stickers are being placed.  It'd be quick and easy for us to hand write the info and would seem to be much simpler to implement quickly. Then the plaque could be step two. I have had one client ask if I could send them a plaque to display.
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Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA
Architect
Sun Plans Inc.
Mobile, AL
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-05-2012 12:34
From: Rand Soellner
Subject: CRAN Home Website Connected Project Plaque System

Credit where credit is due:

Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA began this discussion a few days ago and this is the current evolution of her initial thoughts.  We would not have this current idea without her excellent initial post.  Thank you Debra! 

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Rand Soellner AIA
Architect/Owner/Principal
Home Architects
Cashiers NC
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I have seen bronze or brass plaques set into the concrete on the landing at the entrance to the home (to the side--not where it would be covered by a doormat). Such plaques are more permanent than something attached to drywall and are visible from the exterior to casual visitors (as opposed to a utilitarian location).

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Sean Catherall AIA
Integrated Property Services
Bluffdale UT
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-08-2012 13:20
From: Debra Coleman
Subject: CRAN Home Website Connected Project Plaque System

Thanks Rand, but you suggested the more elegant solution of a plaque as did others and my posting was  inspired by another posting by Brenda Nelson.  I think we all own this idea now. Love the idea of linking to the web for more information.

Also, I'd asked if anyone from AIA read these ideas. I received both a personal email and a phone call from AIA.

Eric Rawlings brought up:
"I think the plaque idea is great, but some unwitting homeowner may not know what it is or care and decide to remove it during a renovation. We all know great houses get renovated all the time by homeowners with terrible taste. The data base would live forever regardless of what the future owners do to the home."

I too would be a bit concerned about the removal of the plaque in the future and would still suggest the electrical box application in addition since that is already where the Energy Star stickers are being placed.  It'd be quick and easy for us to hand write the info and would seem to be much simpler to implement quickly. Then the plaque could be step two. I have had one client ask if I could send them a plaque to display.
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Debra Rucker Coleman, AIA
Architect
Sun Plans Inc.
Mobile, AL
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Keep in mind that any database on the project will be ever growing in information.  The plaque should be restricted to AIA/CRAN identification with a registration number.  All other information should be on a website.  The plaque should be attractive (circular 6"-8"dia, domed/raised relief) It should NOT look like it came from the local trophy shop.  It needs to be more unique to remain official, much like the USGBC LEED logo.