Okay, I know, the graphic is way overused.  But it’s true, We Want You for sloArch!  As part of our 2010 initiative sloArch is expanding and we want your help.  Yeah, yeah, I know.  You are busy.  But we hope to make this website the portal for all things Architecture and that means you.  You are an Architect after all, or you at least pretend to be one.  So help us and let us help you!  So… what can you do?

• For starters, subscribe to The Studio! This is our new weekly podcast by, for, about, and featuring CalPoly San Luis Obispo students and alumni!  Yeah, that’s right, we’re talking about you!
• Contribute to our new forums!  Have a Revit or AutoCad question?  Need help with the IDP?  Not sure what’s the best technique for creating a model that’s sure to get you noticed in studio?  Post a question and we”ll help you find the answer.
• Write for us!  We are looking for contributing authors.  If you have a report on a show in the Berg gallery, news on a Hearst lecture, a Revit tutorial, or want to promote your latest project, we want to hear from you!  If you are interested please contact us!

Don’t let Uncle Sam down,
contribute today and help out the Cal Poly Architecture community!

With 2009 and this decade at an end I want to say thank you to all my readers, commenters, and supporters.   When I launched this site on May 4th I had no idea of the global audience that I would stumble upon nor the learning experience that writing here would become.

2010 is going to see some big changes to the site.  Between today and the end of the year this transition will start to take shape.

Be sure to check back on January 1st to see the beginning of what I hope will be an exciting new chapter in sloArch’s contribution to the Architecture community.  Starting with the new year the site will take on a new role and start to serve a more focused purpose.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and may God bless all our efforts as we work together to make the new decade one that we will be proud of.

I was recently sent this cartoon via email.  Unfortunately I have been unable to determine the source.

Besides being funny, I thought the cartoon underscores the point that often our “green” and “sustainable” activities are merely moving the problem to someone else, not necessarily helping the planet our the community as a whole.  For example, driving an electric cars may reduce dependence on fossil fuels locally, but usually it just results on shifting the demand to coal power plants.

Just a little food for thought.

Going Green

A number of my colleges are cramming for the LEED exam.  Now that LEED v3.0 is here I’m sure there are a number of people trying to sneak in under the old LEED v2.0 test.  I thought I’d post a few of my favorite LEED study resources on the net.  Even if you aren’t studying for the LEED test these sites are a good explanation and summary of the rating system.

• http://www.intheleed.com/ – All around great guide.  Explanations of the credits, study and exams helps.
• http://leedvisual.com/ – Who doesn’t love pretty pictures?
• http://www.usgbc.org/ – USGBC for the rating systems and other info
• http://www.intheleed.com/leed-test-in-5-days/ – One persons study schedule

There are a lot of paid resources on the net as well:

• http://www.leedexcel.com/moodle/ – Very inexpensive timed practice tests
• http://green-study.com/
• http://www.usgbccolorado.com/resources/leed-studyguide.html

Good luck!