Annie Harris, B’Arch ’05, co-hosts again and we discuss Carisa Nakano’s Ghana project, phase change drywall and other things that you wish you had but just aren’t for sale … yet.

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Check out the show notes for links and more!

Building 53 demolition is underway, the future of BIM and sustainability are up for debate, and the two Franks are in the news again.  Plus we discuss the shocking truth about minorities in architecture.

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Show Notes

Site News

New Facebook Fans

Current Sequoia Hall RA, Jeannette Senn, (Architecture class of 2013), tells us about life in the dorms, on the dance floor and on the rope course.  Shout out to room 112!

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Show Notes

Site News

Cal Poly News

• Architecture Alum Joins Bank Board of Directors
  • Henry Ruhnke Jr. (B.AR., Architecture, 1987, M.AR., 1988) has been appointed to the 1st Capital Bank Board of Directors in Monterey. Ruhnke has served on the Monterey Planning Commission, the Monterey Community Contractor Committee and the Monterey Architectural Review Committee. He is a former board member of the American Institute of Architects Monterey Bay.
  • http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/magazine/Fall-2010/alumni.html
• http://www.arch.calpoly.edu/current/digests/digests-1011/digest-10-19-10.html

General News

• $100 million class action Law-Suit against USGBC
  • http://www.cepro.com/article/100m_lawsuit_filed_against_usgbc_leed/
  • The suit alleges USGBC knowingly used false advertising to mislead consumers and that LEED-accredited individuals are “increasingly people with no experience whatsoever.” It also claims USGBC is attempting to “monopolize the market for energy-efficient building design.”
    • http://www.green-buildings.com/content/78357-henry-gifford
    • http://www.energysavingscience.com/
• Rhode Island first state to adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).
  • http://todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog/2010/10/rhode-island-first-state-to-adopt-green-construction-code.html
  • The Rhode Island Green Buildings Act applies to any public project that is owned, leased, or controlled by the State of Rhode Island
• Architecture Billings growing for the first time since January 2008
  • http://lifeinc.todayshow.com/_news/2010/10/20/5322232-canary-in-the-housing-coal-mine-architecture-billings
  • “This is certainly encouraging news, but we will need to see consistent improvement over the next few months in order to feel comfortable about the state of the design and construction industry,”
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1913810520101020
• New digital edition of ARCHITECT out
  • http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=49006
• Public photography OK
  • http://architect-media.com/portal/wts/cemc6Fa87xDba–8-evdrea-gcDz7c

Rapid Fire Questions:

• Cal Poly or Berkeley or Penn State? Cal Poly
• Autocad or Revit? Revit
• Sequoia Hall or Tenaya Hall? SEQUOIA!!
• Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
• Arch Record or Architect? Architectural Record
• Drafting dots or tape? Dots
• Yellow trace or white? Yellow
• Ad Markers or Prisma? Prisma
• Pen or Pencil? Pencil
• Mac or PC? PC
• What’s the Meaning of Life? Dance

SCORE: 51,812.4

Interview

• Why Dance?
  • Jeannette is a dancer, she’s been dancing for 5 years and a past gymnast
• Why Architecture?
  • She’s always loved doing things with her hands
  • It’s creative
  • It’s artistic
• Has dance inspired or influenced design work?
  • The awareness of how you move through space and how much space you need to
• Why Cal Poly
  • Growing up in Santa Barbara, SLO was close and she was familiar with the area
  • She loves the outdoors
  • The program speaks for itself
  • It was a no-brainer
• She loves working with her hands
  • Prefers hand drawing, more of a human connection
  • Loves to paint and sketch
  • Building furniture and working in the shop
  • And she loves to rock climb!!
• Why become an R.A.
  • Getting involved, planning events, mentoring
• What advice do you have for students living on campus
  • Get involved, take advantage of your living environment, it will help you meet people and find your niche
• For students wanting to come to Cal Poly for architecture
  • Try to take a drafting program or visit an office to get an idea of it’s something you really want to do
  • Interning can also give you an idea
• How did you know architecture was for you?
  • Watching her house get remodeled and her dad work on her house was eyeopening
• Architecture was a way to incorporate art into a profession that makes money
  • She also did the summer program at Cal Poly while she was in High School and that really solidified it
• Chumash Challenge
  • http://www.asi.calpoly.edu/chumash_challenge_contact

Steve Grossenbacher (B.Arch ’05, Assoc. AIA, LEED BD+C, EIT)  talks about the path that led him to pursue Architecture and Architectural Engineering  and we discuss the Las Vegas death ray.

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Show Notes

Site News

• New Facebook Fans
  • Derek A. McFarland
  • Chram Jalal Ahmedi Kordm
  • Camille Lo

Cal Poly News

• Cal Poly Statement on Commitment to Community NEW
• 2010 Vellum Competition Announcement
• Laura Joines-Novotny receives award
• Fall Hearst Lecture Series
• Studio Ambition NEW Publication

General News

• Las Vegas hotel guests left with severe burns from ‘death ray’ caused by building’s design
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315978/Las-Vegas-hotel-death-ray-leaves-guests-severe-burns.html
• Amtrak’s $117 Billion Plan For High Speed
  • http://www.fastcompany.com/1691854/amtrak-high-speed-east-coast-rail
• Corb’s colors
  • http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/his-true-colors/
• Risk vs. Reward
  • http://www.architectmagazine.com/design-fees/risk-vs-reward.aspx
• The Unpaid Staff
  • http://www.architectmagazine.com/human-resources/the-unpaid-staff.aspx
• NCARB’s 2010 Survey of Registered Architects
  • http://www.ncarb.org/News-and-Events/News/2010/2010-Architect-Survey.aspx
  • “California has the highest number of resident architects (17,156) and the highest number of total registrations (21,276).”

Rapid Fire Questions:

• Cal Poly or Berkeley or Penn State? Cal Poly
• Autocad or Revit? Revit
• Parallel bar or T-Square? Parallel
• Facebook or LinkedIn or MySpace? Facebook
• Arch Record, Arch Digest, or Architect? Architect
• Drafting dots or tape? Tape
• Yellow trace or white? cocktail napkin
• Ad Markers or Prisma? Prisma
• Pen or Pencil? Pencil
• Mac or PC? MAC
• What’s the Meaning of Life? 48

SCORE: 2,720,412

Interview

• Cal Poly Bachelor of Architecture, 2006.  Penn State Masters in Science in Architectural Engineering, 2007
• Why are you in VA?
  • Works for Clark Nexsen… just over 3 years, worked on a wide array of projects
  • http://www.clarknexsen.com/
  • Large office with 6 locations
  • Currently working on a library/faculty lounge type building at a community college
  • Travelling right now to work on an army corps headquarters base
  • He’s the Revit guide for his office so he gets to travel around helping out other offices
• What’s with all the letters after your name?
  • EIT – Engineer in Training: it’s the first step in getting your Engineer License, you take a fundamentals exam
• Currently working towards licensure? progress?
  • In the midst of his AREs (he’s taken and passed 2, his third is coming up)
  • He’s doing his IDP in Washington D.C.
• Why Engineering?
  • He wanted to understand how buildings worked structurally
  • The idea of being the bridge between Engineering and Architecture was always appealing to him
  • It’s nice being able to speak both languages
  • The experience of studying engineering was a complete 180 from studying architecture
  • He likes to focus on how to use the two professions together rather than let them conflict
• How did Cal Poly Architecture program contribute to a Masters program in Engineering?
  • The program prepared him well
• Long term goals?
  • Would like to move into a Project Manager/Architect position, get an overview on the whole practice and firm to learn everything about the process
  • Maybe someday have his own firm, but he’s really happy where he is now and doesn’t see a move anytime soon
• Advice for incoming Cal Poly students?
  • Don’t give up, if you want it you can get it
  • Make it happen for yourself
  • Don’t get frustrated, just push harder
• Advice for graduating Cal Poly students?
  • If you’re seeking your Masters, now may be a good time to do it with the economy in the current state
  • Don’t sell yourself short, apply to grad schools or move to that big city and make it happen
• Anything you wish you would have done while you were at Cal Poly?
  • Wished he would have focused more on drawing and sketching so he’d have better skills in that area

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Show Notes

Site News

Cal Poly News:

Bianca Pagnucci, LEED AP, B.Arch ’06 talks about her story since graduation, shares with us a little about Alpha Rho Chi and what it’s like to be a Cal Poly grad in the real world.

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Show Notes

Site News

New Facebook fan!  Thank you!

• Megan Cassidy (I think we said your name last week, double the recognition!!)

Cal Poly News

• http://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2010/June/pres_search_cont.html
  • More than 3,800 students are eligible to graduate in two separate ceremonies at Cal Poly’s Spring Commencement on Saturday, June 12.
• New Cal Poly Architecture Department Publications
  • http://www.arch.calpoly.edu/publications/student-faculty.html

General News

• LEED Label Challenged
  • http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/green_wisdom_is_challenged/id_26603
  • The report says as structures become tighter and thus more energy-efficient, there is more danger of locking in pollutants such as off-gasing from various kinds of plastics. “No law in the United States requires labeling of chemical ingredients in plastics, and their use is not restricted in LEED-certified buildings. Plastics now comprise nearly 70 percent of the synthetic chemical industry in the U.S,” it states.
• Walnut Creek’s new library: Necessity or luxury?
  • (This is a bit of local news, but I think it speaks of the larger issue of the worth of these sorts of civic projects.)
  • http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15246222?nclick_check=1
  • After voters rejected a city bond measure and the state failed to provide support, city leaders scavenged reserves, savings and revenues and fundraisers sought millions in donations to come up with the $41.5 million. Many in the city faulted the library’s cost and size — four times as big as the one its replacing. Tinfow said the project is under budget and she will reveal by how much at the June 15 council meeting. The City Council slashed $500,000 from the library budget last year and the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and Friends of the Library helped fill the void.
• AIA National Convention is in Miami, June 10-12
  • http://www.aiaconvention.com/AIA2010/public/enter.aspx
• The chief architect of the Sagrada Familia asks for a stop the construction of the AVE.
  • http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/the_chief_architect_of_the_sagrada_familia_asks_for_a_stop_the_construction/
• Some Q&A with Richard Meier
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/realestate/06SqFt.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
• Celebrating Frank Lloyd Wright’s Birthday on June 8
  • http://blog.beliefnet.com/inspirationreport/2010/06/celebrating-frank-lloyd-wrights-birthday-on-june-8.html
• NCARB Fees going way up!!
  • http://www.ncarb.org/en/Getting-an-Initial-License/NCARB-Fees.aspx

Rapid Fire Questions:

• Cal Poly or Berkeley? Cal Poly
• Autocad or Revit? Revit
• Parallel bar or T-Square? T-Square
• Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
• Arch Record, Arch Digest, or Architect? Record
• Drafting dots or tape? Dots
• Yellow trace or white? White
• Ad Markers or Prisma? Ad
• Pen or Pencil? Pen
• Mac or PC? Mac
• What’s the Meaning of Life? to live it up!!

SCORE: 142-16-6

Interview

• What has she been up to since graduating in ’06?
  • Doing a little bit of everything…
  • Moved up to Oakland right after graduation, got a job right away work at a firm that specialized on mulit-family residential
  • She got a little tired of that and got a job at working at a firm that does healthcare and senior living and she’s currently working with the healthcare team
  • Outside of work, she’s living the dream!!
  • She’s been in involved a bit with AIA East Bay and AIA San Francisco and BAYA
• Currently working towards licensure? progress?
  • Working her way through IDP
  • Haven’t started her exams
• We have a breif discussion on the recent announcement of the fee increases at NCARB across the board:
  • http://ncarb.org/en/Getting-an-Initial-License/NCARB-Fees.aspx
• Any observations of economy, how is she seeing the effects?
  • Here entire office has been on a 4 day work week, 80% salary since October. However, they were recently told that the whole office is going back to full time.
  • Since her firm is a national firm and the offices on the east coast were hit pretty hard, they’ve started to pick up work.
  • It seems that things are slowly turning around in the bay area.
• Thoughts on Cal Poly grads out in the industry?
  • She works with other Cal Poly grads in her office, they sit together in her office. They definately dominate in her office.
  • Both of the firms she has worked for recruit straight from Cal Poly.
  • For the most part Cal Poly grads are able to ride their reputation throughout CA.
  • Cal Poly grads are well prepared and definatley well liked.
  • It does seem that out in the working world, after about 5 years everyone seems to be on the same page.
• Has she stayed connected to Cal Poly after graduation?
  • She stays plugged in through friends, classmates, and her involvement with Alpha Rho Chi
  • http://www.alpharhochi.com
  • http://sites.google.com/site/alpharhochidaedaluschapter/
  • The networking as a result of her involvement with APX has been a great opportunity.
  • They are still involved on campus with campus tours, events such as the portfolio and resume review
• Thoughts on how the program is changing/improving and the type of work being produced by students?
  • The work was still strong in the portfolio review she attended, but with the economy so bleak it seems that students moral is a bit down with low job prospects.
• What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly grads?
  • Don’t turn down any invitations to anything. You never know what kind of network you could find yourself in.
  • Try to stand out to employers as much as possible
• Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
  • …. nothing she really regrets
  • You can get a little caught up in being an architecture student, but it’s important to take advantage of the other resources available on campus such as career services.
• Any parting words:
  • Don’t get too discouraged with your job currently if it’s not exactly what you want.
  • Don’t be too good for any job you’re asked to do in your office.

Jaime (Matheron) Van Sickle, LEED AP, Class of ’06, teaches us a thing or two about educational Architecture.  We fly through the news again!  And Haley springs a leak!

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Show Notes

Site News

• Lots of new Facebook fans this week!
  • Brent Gibbons
  • Wendy Cheng
  • Justin Ribble
  • Juan Lopez
  • Erik Castro
  • Jeff Miner
  • Hazel Cruz
  • Apologies for skipping, they been our fans for a while:
    • Seth Pare-Mayer
    • Kelli Franz
    • Jaime ‘Matheron’ Van Sickle

Cal Poly News

• Hearst Lecture Series:
  • Chris Haegglund, BAR Architects
  • Friday, May 7th, at 4:00pm
  • Business Rotunda, Room 03-213
• Chumash Architecture Show! (History of the Show)
  • http://architectureshow.calpoly.edu/
  • Chumash Auditorium, Julian A. McPhee University Union
  • Opening Reception: Friday, May 28th, 2010 5:00 pm
  • Exhibition: May 29th & 30th 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
• 5th Year Crits (All located at the Berg Gallery)  See our calendar for updates
• http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2010/May/arch_design_win.html
  • Anthony Stahl and David Lee
• http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2010/April/groundbreaking.html

General News

• The Word Architect: A Question of Title
  • http://archrecord.construction.com/archrecord2/work/0611/johnson.asp
• AIA Titles? See Section: Professional Title Distinctions
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect
  • http://www.newtimesslo.com/news/4315/college-students-roll-over-to-slo-council/
• Archaeologists unearth 6th century Ikea-style temple
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7614093/Archaeologists-unearth-6th-century-Ikea-style-temple.html
• Spring 2010 CAB Newsletter
  • http://www.cab.ca.gov/news/board_newsletter.shtml
• NCARB Direct Connection, Volume 12 Issue 1 (2010)
  • The Burning Question: Why do we Need an ARE anyway?
  • Also Inside: Guide to Authorization and Examination, IDP 2.0: Phase Three, BEFA Important to Success, Certification Opens Doors, Green Monographs
  • http://www.ncarb.org/Publications/Direct-Connection/2010-1.aspx
• Architects Talk: one of Haley’s favorite sites
  • http://www.architects-talk.com/2010/04/new-place-for-quality-conversations.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ArchitectsTalk+%28Architects+Talk%29
  • http://www.architects-talk.com/
• How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Elevators? A lot!
  • http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/04/29/how-much-time-do-americans-spend-on-elevators-a-ton/

Rapid Fire Questions

• Cal Poly or Berkeley? CAL POLY!
• Autocad or Revit? Revit
• Parallel bar or T-Square? Parallel
• Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
• Arch Record, Arch Digest or ARCHITECT? Architectural Record
• Drafting dots or tape? Dots
• Yellow trace or white? White
• Ad Markers or Prisma? Prisma
• Pen or Pencil? Pen
• Mac or PC? iPhone and PC
• What is the meaning of life? uuuhhhhh… Architecture!

SCORE: w%252B

Interview

• What is Jaime up to?
  • Jamie is still working at the same company she started at right out of school: ATI Architects and Engineers in Danville, CA
  • She went to a Cal Poly job fair and met a rep from the firm, had a great interview with the CEO of the company, whom she didn’t realize was the CEO until afterwards!!! Visited the firm, met everyone there, felt comfortable and thought they put a lot of effort into training and supporting their staff and she liked that!
  • She works on the education side mainly.
• Jamie talks about the process involved with doing work in the education sector:
  • DSA, it’s a way of life!
  • Plan check and review is a bit different and more lengthy than local jurisdictions
    • her firm has worked to develop PC projects.  (Pre-Check)
• Currently working towards licensure? progress?
  • YES!! she is, she’s working through IDP and learned about CIDP from our podcast (yay for us) so she’s started working through that. But she hasn’t started her exams yet.
  • the biggest thing is TIME!!!
• Observations of economy, how is she seeing the effects?
  • While Jamie has been at the same firm since graduation, and is still employed, her firm has been affected, however the education side of her firm was a bit safer than the commercial side.
  • There is more competition now compared to the past.
  • Out of school, there were a lot of jobs in the housing sector but that wasn’t the type of work she wanted to do, which has been a great advantage since many housing firms have been affected.
• Thoughts on Cal Poly grads out in the industry?
  • Our well rounded education can make us the ‘go-to’ people where we work for a multitude of tasks.
• Thoughts on how the program is changing/improving?
  • She’s not that tuned into what’s been going on currently with the Cal Poly Arch cirriculum
  • But integrated internships would be a really positive improvement for current students.
• Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
  • Despite the desire of wanting to push projects and design more, that’s part of the process. Looking back, maybe she’d should have been more risky with some of her designs.
• What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly students?
  • Just enjoy the time you have
• What goals do you have?
  • Get licenced, gain a better understanding of how buildings go together
  • More experience with different building types
• How has LEED been accepted in educational design?
  • CHPS, (Collaboration for High Performing Schools) is the school version of LEED. More curriculum based approaches in addition to design and building
  • http://www.chps.net/dev/Drupal/node
  • CHPS can be more affordable and funding may be available
• Jaime has been making jewelry! You can buy if here:
  • www.jvsjewels.etsy.com

• Also check out Adam Mayberry’s new T-Shirt venture – Mayberry Workshop
  • http://shop.mayberryworkshop.com/

Featured Local Artist

Somer Scott, Cal Poly class of ’05, LEED AP, puts up with Tim’s new sound cart and shares with us her perspective on working with large corporate firms.  We mourn the loss of a Cal Poly student and discus the new LEED accreditation program.

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Show Notes

Site News

Big thanks again to Henri, he’s listening to the show!

Cal Poly News

• Cal Poly student killed on Highway 101 Sunday
  • http://mustangdaily.net/cal-poly-student-killed-on-highway-101/
  • Industrial engineering junior Matthew Hurlbutt (21) was killed on the first southbound lane of Highway 101 early Sunday morning.
  • Investigators are still trying to determine why he was walking on the freeway
• Follow up regarding the Hearst Lecture Series
  • http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/news_releases/2010/January/hearst.html
  • The free public lectures are made possible through a grant from the Hearst Foundation
• Hearst Lecture, April 9th, 2010, at 4:00pm Business Rotunda, Room 03-213:
  • Andrea Ponsi, Andrea Ponsi Architect
  • (Sorry we called “him” a “her”)
  • For additional information, visit Andrea Ponsi’s web page:
    • http://www.andreaponsi.it/home_content.html
• Alpha Rho Chi sponsors Portfolio workshop
  • Berg Gallery
  • Saturday, April 10th, 12-5pm
  • Lunch will be provided

• Next week is National Architecture week
  • http://www.designtaxi.com/news.php?id=31326&page=2
• April 14th event at Eve Lounge, on Howard st, 6:00
  • email him if you want more info: adam at mayberryworkshop.com

• D.C. architect Paul Devrouax led the way for black firms
  • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/27/AR2010032702914.html
  • Diversity and Inclusion in the AIA
    • http://aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAS078656?dvid=&recspec=AIAS078656
• Not Architecture but a great CalPoly success Story
  • Follow-Up File: Franchisee sees refreshed Jamba Juice
  • http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/03/27/1082749/follow-up-file-franchisee-sees.html

• California solar projects rush to beat deadline for subsidies
  • http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2010-03-31-californiasolar31_CV_N.htm
  • http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/san-francisco-approves-major-solar-project/
  • http://sfmayor.typepad.com/sf_mayor/2010/04/-construction-underway-at-sunset-reservoir-solar-project-nearly-5000-solar-panels-installed-todate-.html

• Growth of Unpaid Internships May Be Illegal, Officials Say
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/03/business/03intern.html?pagewanted=1&src=mv
  • SUMMARY: Federal and state enforcers of labor regulations are taking a harder look at unpaid internships with the suspicion that many of them are little more than attempts to extract free labor from willing workers, reports Steven Greenhouse. There are six federal legal criteria to meet before it is permissible to offer an unpaid internship—not least is a requirement that the employer “derives no immediate advantage” from the arrangement. A Stanford University career center director says he sees signs that the number of unpaid internships is ballooning.
• PGE Classes that Haley attended
  • http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/edusafety/training/pec/classes/

Interview:

Rapid Fire Questions

• Cal Poly or Berkeley? Cal Poly
• Autocad or Revit? Revit
• Parallel bar or T-Square? Parallel bar
• Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
• Arch Record or Arch Digest? Record
• Drafting dots or tape? Dots
• Yellow trace or white?… or BLUE?? White
• Ad Markers or Prisma? Ad Markers
• Pen or Pencil? Pencil
• Mac or PC? PC

Final Score: Kake — the yummiest score so far

Interview Questions

• What is she up to?
  • Anything and everything she didn’t have time or money for in college!
  • Hired at KTGY in Orange County after graduation, part of the huge convoy of Cal Poly ’05 grads, she thinks there were 50-60 new hires that year, maybe half were from Cal Poly and of different disciplines.
    • She was hired into a design position, doing mulit/single family, did a lot of site and urban design, planning, then moved to more high end design.
    • She left in ’07
  • After a road trip with her sister from Huston to LA she found herself learning Revit in an effort to get employed.
  • Now with HOK in Culver City doing Medical Design, Healthcare planning. She does some limited travel to project sites.
    • HOK taught her how to use Revit and made it possible for their employees to get LEED accredited.
    • After three years at HOK, you’re given the opportunity to transfer to other HOK offices.
    • Last year HOK did a three month employee exchange between New York and Los Angels
• What’s her insight after working in a few large firms?
  • They’re all different, whether it’s size or being part of a corporation.
  • But starting out in a smaller firm, with internships, allows you to get that breadth of practice.
  • There are a lot of trade offs either way you go.
• Revit becoming part of employment requirements for grads and students
  • Should Revit be part of the education curriculum?
    • http://www.arch.calpoly.edu/programs/undergraduate.html
    • http://www.arch.calpoly.edu/programs/documents/flowchart-0911rev3.pdf
• How has she used her LEED knowledge
  • How are Clients reacting to the LEED process
  • Most clients are asking for it, they’re seeking the certification
• currently working towards licensure? progress?
  • In process of IDP and has yet start her exams
• Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
  • Wishes she had been made aware of licensure
  • Take the AREs structural portion right out of school
• What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly students?
  • Learn how to draw!!
  • Enjoy the classes that aren’t architecture related as well
• Somer gives us some questions to ponder:
  • Tim: His goal was to get licensed… now what?
  • Haley: After school, it was hard trying to figure out what to and how to start that new set of goals after graduation

• We’re interested in hearing from Cal Poly Architecture grads that have left the profession
  • Has their background helped them?
  • What fields did they migrate to?

Teagan Andres MIT ’08, joins us for a passionate chat about the California Architects Board, the California Supplemental Exam, and we throw in a little green stuff for flavor.  Also, what’s the licensing process if you don’t have an accredited degree?

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Show Notes

• We break from tradition this week to talk with Haley’s roommate Teagan.
  • Teagan graduated in 2008, with a four year unaccredited undergrad.
  • She is originally from Connecticut and went to school in Boston.
  • After graduation she headed to Fresno to work for Darden Architects.
• She is also currently enrolled in Boston Architectural College (BAC), in the distance masters program. The program is designed for people like her that don’t have an accredited degree and are currently employed. She started in Jan. 2010 and should be done in Jan. 2012.
  • The program has a strong online component, most of the assignments and discussions take place online.
  • Teagan flew out to California to interview at Darden Architects and Haley was one of the people from the firm that she met with and gave her a tour of Fresno.
• She is currently in the middle of reporting her IDP hours but is holding off on taking her AREs. When she is done with her masters program she plans to start her AREs.
  • Her goal is to be licensed by the time she is 28, seeing that there are no hang ups.

News / Discussion

• Fires!
  • Theta Chi House on Upham at about 12:40, Mon Morning
    • http://920kvec.com/Fraternity-House-Fire-in-SLO-An-Accident/6578414
  • Piedmont Lumber Yard, Walnut Creek, Sat Morning
    • http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14674966
    • http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7331391
    • http://cbs5.com/crime/lumber.yard.fire.2.1561562.html

• Home Construction down from last month but up slightly from last year
  • http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/16/news/economy/housing_starts/

• Off Topic, best Craigslist Ad ever!  (language may not be appropriate for your kids)
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/19/the-most-amazing-craigsli_n_468664.html

• Tim’s CSE Experience – Okay so I could seriously rant about this for an hour
  • More CAB maddness. Changed testing center from Walnut Creek to Burlingame, South of the SF airport.
    • Testing letter sent on Feb 12th had the hotel address as 250. When I Googled for directions it showed the hotel was on a bridge, thats when I knew something was up. The CAB website had the correct address of 150.
    • The website had BART directions pointing to the former testing site in Walnut Creek!
  • Not all complaints, staff was very nice
  • Met Chuck Crotser (He says “Hi” Haley) – Haley says “HI” right back!!
  • Many Architecture Alumni, Dan ’05 (flew in from Australia), Jakie ’03, Jose? ’92
  • Overall the test seemed incredibly random in parts and very repetative in others. Test seems more like luck of what questions you get than anything else.
    • From ARE forums: “3 robots read pre-written questions and the exam taker [tries] to come up [with] an answer that matches that on a standard answer sheet”
  • CSE pass rate ~45% or ~50%
    • can’t find a verifiable source for this statistic
  • Bar exam pass rate ~70% (for graduates of CA ABA accredited schools)
    • http://www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/Statistics/JULY2005STATS.pdf
  • Do I think I passed? No … Maybe? Yes?
  • Should the test be changed to a written format?

More LEED / Green discussion

• LEED Support Slips Again in Construction Industry
  • http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/03/12/leed-support-slips-again-in-construction-industry/?graph=full
  • More than half of all respondents indicated that a LEED Gold rating increased project costs by four percent or more, while nearly 30 percent of respondents reported the costs of LEED Gold rating at significantly lower than four percent.

• Rain, even urine, would help make Bullitt HQ city’s ‘greenest building ever’
  • http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011354845_bullitt16.html
  • Goal is to create net-zero building for energy and water
  • Requires changes to potable water laws
  • “Living Buildings”
    • 24-29% cost increase – per the USGBC report also mentioned in the prior article
  • Resource Cost of building an entirely new structure vs. upgrading their old un-insulated historic building.