sloArch » NCARB http://www.sloarch.com architecture in the real world Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:30:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Join us every week as we interview Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Architecture alumni and students and talk about the things that matter to us! sloArch no sloArch thestudio@sloarch.com thestudio@sloarch.com (sloArch) 2010 sloArch.com the only podcast for Cal Poly students and alumni CalPoly, San Luis Obispo, Architecture, Alumni, Students, Architect sloArch » NCARB http://www.sloarch.com/thestudio/TheStudioAlbumArt.jpg http://www.sloarch.com The Studio 46: Humpback Whales http://www.sloarch.com/2010/11/the-studio-46-humpback-whales/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/11/the-studio-46-humpback-whales/#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:30:48 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=1742

We dissect why you might want to rethink being an architect, the world’s largest chimney, and would you want to live over a freeway?

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

Show Notes

Site News

  • New Facebook Fans
    • Steve Jones
    • Carlos De Haro
    • Jeannette Senn
    • Ryan Fetters

Cal Poly News

  • “Deconstructing Japanese Architecture”
    • Lecture by Prof. Don Choi
    • Thursday, November 4th, 2010 11:00 to 12:noon
    • Bldg. 186, Room C-103.
    • Don’s lecture is part of the Asian Studies Lecture Series presented by the Asian Studies Minor.
    • Don is currently writing a book that addresses major themes of architecture in modern Japan form 1850 to the present.
  • Hearst Lecture: Jason K. Johnson and Nataly Gattegno, Future-Cities-Lab
    • 4-5pm in the rotunda
    • Grasshopper Workshop with Future-Cities-Lab
    • Saturday, November 6th, 2010, 10:00am – 4pm, Berg Gallery, Room 05-105
  • AIAS Cal Poly Presents: Pecha Kucha Night
    • See 6 Current 3rd year professor present information about their studios in the unique format of 20 slides for 20 seconds each for a total of 6 minutes and 40 seconds.
    • Monday, November 8 · 6:00pm – 9:30pm
    • The Fishtank (Courtyard Gallery, 21-105A)
    • http://www.pecha-kucha.org/
  • Vellum Competition winners

Pop Culture Feature

General News

  • Exactly how many architects in the U.S. are unemployed?
  • Foreign work keeps Denver firms flying
  • Tallest structure proposed
    • http://architect-media.com/portal/wts/cemc6Fa9iBibaAnseezbyxa-jQFF2c
    • Planning is underway for a $700 million “solar chimney tower” that would be more than twice as tall as the Empire State Building. David Zax reports that EnviroMission hopes to get its concept going after receiving a contract for green power from the Southern California Public Power Authority. “The tower represents a hybrid of solar and wind technology,” Zax writes. “The bright surface at the bottom of the artist’s rendering is an expansive glass-covered greenhouse that bakes in the sun, heating air that pours into the 1,000-meter-high chimney, churning 35 electricity-generating turbines.”
  • Freeway views
    • http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/roadside-attraction/
    • Architect Ronnie Self has built himself the ultimate Houston home, with skyline views and a freeway at his front door. William Middleton reports that the architect built his house in Houston’s Third Ward for its artsy vibe and inexpensive real estate. And the location next to 20 lanes of highway protects his views from Houston’s notoriously lax zoning rules. “It seemed that it was pretty much a guarantee that no one was going to block your view,” Self says.
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/11/the-studio-46-humpback-whales/feed/ 0 AIAS,Asian Studies Minor,California,Demolition,Denver,design,Economy,Future-Cities-Lab,international,NCARB,Pecha Kucha,Records We dissect why you might want to rethink being an architect, the world's largest chimney, and would you want to live over a freeway? We dissect why you might want to rethink being an architect, the world's largest chimney, and would you want to live over a freeway? sloArch no 1:05:12 The Studio 41: A Rare Breed http://www.sloarch.com/2010/10/the-studio-41-a-rare-breed/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/10/the-studio-41-a-rare-breed/#comments Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:30:22 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=1683

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.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

Show Notes

Site News

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

Cal Poly News

General News

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
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/10/the-studio-41-a-rare-breed/feed/ 0 Amtrak,EIT,Engineering,Hearst Lecture,High Speed Train,Laura Joines-Novotny,Le Corbusier,LEED,Los Vegas,NCARB,PE,Penn State 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. 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. sloArch no The Studio 35: The Facebook Thirteen http://www.sloarch.com/2010/08/the-studio-35-the-facebook-thirteen/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/08/the-studio-35-the-facebook-thirteen/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:30:53 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=1551

Ben Mickus, B’Arch ’02, M’Arch ’03 (UCLA), AIA, NCARB gives some insight into the New York skyline as well as what it has been like working for some of the most notable firms in the nation.  Oh, and did we mention that he has his own furniture company?

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

Show Notes

Site News

  • 13 New Facebook Fans!! It’s a record!
    • Steve Shimmin
    • Khoa Trang
    • David Spittler
    • Allan Timko
    • Seung Paek
    • Mark Gelvoria
    • Rikki M. Dy-Liacco
    • Alex Ceballos
    • Erika H. Mendoza
    • Gregory Benson
    • Sean Lahijani
    • Bryan Quiton Panen
    • Janice Hahn

General News

Rapid Fire Questions

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

SCORE: 4,742,411

Interview

  • What is the story with being NCARB Certified?
    • He’s actually registered in California and New York.
    • He started licensure in CA, but was living and working in NY.
    • He got licensed in CA and thought he could just get reciprocity in NY, but found out that NY would make him do IDP, which he ended up logging all at once and got his NCARB Certification and then was able to get reciprocity in NY.
  • What has he been up to since graduation?
    • He went directly to UCLA to pursue a Masters, which coming from Cal Poly with a NAAB degree he only had to complete 1 year.
    • UCLA was very different from Cal Poly, it was a 12 month intensive program almost entirely digital and different type of design work.
  • Why did he decide to pursue a Masters?
    • After attending the Denmark program he felt like he wanted to pursue the digital world of architecture more in depth.
    • He became interested in digital architecture in Denmark and came back and decided to further his education in the subject at UCLA.
  • What was the UCLA process like compared to that of Cal Poly?
    • While at Cal Poly he felt more free to design and create, where the professors felt more like consultants.
    • At UCLA the professors were more instructional rather than advisory, there were more complex questions to answer with less freedom to explore. Almost like the professors were interns in the professors studio.
  • What was the next move after grad school?
    • He moved to New York and ended up working at Diller Scofidio Renfro for 6 years
    • He and his wife then wanted to move back to California to be near family and being from the bay area he landed a job at SOM and has been there for about a year now.
  • He’s renovating his home in Alameda…
    • 2 story Victorian built in 1900, they live in the 2nd story and the bottom level is split into two rental, which has been a whole different experience of architecture working on his own home.
  • Comments on Cal Poly grads out in the industry
    • The grads that he keeps in touch with seem to be doing well. They seem to gravitate to leadership roles in the firms they work in and become great assets to their firms.
  • Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
    • No, he just really enjoyed his time there!
  • What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly students?
    • Never be afraid to cold call. While it’s important to have a network and connections, but there’s nothing wrong with just cold calling and trying!!
    • Keep asking question in design, keep challenging yourself there’s always room to learn and improve.
  • Ben has also started his own furniture company.
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/08/the-studio-35-the-facebook-thirteen/feed/ 0 Alameda,Diller Scofidio Renfro,Disney,Facebook,Los Angeles,NAAB,NCARB,UCLA Ben Mickus, B'Arch '02, M'Arch '03 (UCLA), AIA, NCARB gives some insight into the New York skyline as well as what it has been like working for some of the most notable firms in the nation. Oh, and did we mention that he has his own furniture company? Ben Mickus, B'Arch '02, M'Arch '03 (UCLA), AIA, NCARB gives some insight into the New York skyline as well as what it has been like working for some of the most notable firms in the nation. Oh, and did we mention that he has his own furniture company? Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter! sloArch no The Studio 27: Assimilation http://www.sloarch.com/2010/07/the-studio-27-assimilation/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/07/the-studio-27-assimilation/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:30:40 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=1422

Justin Ribble, LEED AP, Associate AIA, B’Arch ’03 joins us for a conversation about a number of great three letter acronyms:  CAB, CSE, IDP, AIA, ARE, ACE, and BIM.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

Show Notes

Site News

  • New Facebook Fans
    • Monica Shahrokhfar
    • Greg Wynn
  • Tim’s big adventure with the CAB
    • A Big thank you to Elise Drakes and Mark Drwyer
    • What are the CAB offices like?
      • Shout out to Erin, receptionist at the CAB
      • Number of employees in the CAB office
    • Why do commissioners volunteer to give the oral exam?
      • They care about the profession
      • Free Food!
    • Shout out to Lily Dong!
    • What about loosing the oral component of the test?
      • Can IDP add it?
    • Pass rate of the California Supplemental Exam (CSE)
      • Haley has some numbers!
        • 2006-2007 –  1,082 candidates – pass rate = 47%
        • 2007-2008 – 901 candidates – pass rate = 50%
        • 2008-2009 – 1,043 candidates – pass rate = 48%
        • 2009-2010 – 838 candidates – pass rate = 51%
      • Tim thinks the pass rate is fair given his understanding of the process
    • Are Californian architects better than other architects from other states?

General News

  • THE SIX-MONTH RULE
    • By the time you’re probably listening to this, it’s probably in effect, so get informed and get to logging those IDP hours!!
    • Due to system performance under severe volume pressure the reporting deadline for the Six-Month Rule has been extended to Friday, July 2, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The e-EVR is operating at full capacity. Please be patient as you may encounter lengthy response times. It is strongly recommended that you continue to be diligent in your efforts to access the e-EVR during off-business hours.
    • http://ncarb.org/

Rapid Fire Questions:

  • Cal Poly or Berkeley? Cal Poly
  • Autocad or Revit? urgh… Revit
  • Parallel bar or T-Square? T-square
  • Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
  • Arch Record, Arch Digest, or Architect? Record
  • Drafting dots or tape? tape
  • Yellow trace or white? yellow… only communists use white
  • Ad Markers or Prisma? Ad
  • Pen or Pencil? pen, all the way
  • Mac or PC? both… Mac for home, PC for work
  • What’s the Meaning of Life? FUN (to enjoy the time that you have while you’re still here)

SCORE: 746

Interview

  • Who are you?
    • From Oregon, decided to see the world and rather than go to Univeristy of Oregon he decided to go to Cal Poly.
    • San Luis Obispo was actually like his hometown, so the adjustment was good.
    • He finished in 6 years, and is glad that he took the time to enjoy his senior year rather than hurrying up to finish and get out.
    • He was able to work in a few offices before he , so when he needed to find a “real job in the real world” he was able to apply those past experiences.
  • He has felt disconnected in the years since graduation?
    • When he found sloarch.com, after searching for a Revit question, he was happy to have a place to feel more connected.
    • He’s only a few hours away from SLO and feels that he should get back and get involved.
    • It’s interesting since it is a larger program and students move all over the place after graduation, so having a chance to reconnect and get back into the network being created is a really good thing.
  • He’s worked with a lot of Cal Poly grads.
  • He spent his 4th year in the east coast program:
    • While here in CA, you can almost always find a Cal Poly grad in a firm, on the east coast it was “Cal Poly what?”
    • Living outside of D.C. and Alexandria makes you feel the political pressure in the area, so there is more competition and rivalry in all aspects of life let alone the program you come from.
    • It was a great experience, he was able to step outside and feel a part of programs outside Cal Poly, which was a great experience since it gave him persepctive.
    • The diversity of professors at the program, where they came from and their specialties was great.
    • It was nice to see how other schools teach design.
  • Why stay in CA after graduation?
    • Looking back he wanted to get back east, it’s a great place to live but it’s hard to afford it.
    • Sacramento was a good market and affordable.
    • While there are parts of Oregon that he misses he feels that he has experienced all he could for the time being there, so he’s happy in Sacramento for the time being.
    • Oregon is to California as Sacramento is to San Francisco, to put it in perspective.
  • Working towards licensure?
    • Doesn’t have to complete IDP, so he’s happy about that.
    • Took his first exam about a year or so ago, then work got really busy and it was hard to come home after a long day and study, so recently he’s getting back into studying, taking ARE study classes at the local AIA Chapter.
    • The goal is to take 4 exams between now and September.
    • The firm he works at currently is really supportive about professional development. Use this time to do what you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have time, to become better.
  • ACE Mentoring, how is he involved?
    • It’s one of those things that he always wanted to do, mentoring high school students about what the profession is and what a career in the building industry is really like.
    • Pay it forward a bit.
    • He’s learned a lot about how others view our field, their perception of “architects” and what they do.
    • Exposing students to the multidisciplinary aspect of our profession as well as the professional and office conduct that you need to know to be a professional.
  • Strong feelings about Autodesk??
    • His office recognizes that Revit is the direction to go, so they’re in the process of transitioning everyone to Revit one by one and they’re currently working on their first Revit project.
    • After going to an outside training session there was a need to develop their own way to use Revit based on the type of high end design and modern work his firm does.
    • His biggest gripe is the license process and releases, having to re-up every year isn’t sustainable or do-able, especially right now with the economy.
    • He’s slowly prying himself away from Sketchup and CAD.
    • He recognizes how powerful Revit is and how you can make it do what you want it to do… as long as you keep up your subscription.
    • Transistion is always slow and has it’s hang ups and resistance.
    • Revit is changing the role of the “CAD drafter”.
    • On the flip side, students now are learning Revit, and by the time they become employees think of the change the profession will have seen.
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/07/the-studio-27-assimilation/feed/ 0 ACE Mentor Program,AIA,AIAS,architects,ARE,Autodesk,BIM Management,CAB,CSE,Greg Wynn,IDP,NCARB Justin Ribble, LEED AP, Associate AIA, B'Arch '03, joins us for a conversation about a number of great three letter acronyms: CAB, CSE, IDP, AIA, ARE, ACE, and BIM. - Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, Justin Ribble, LEED AP, Associate AIA, B'Arch '03, joins us for a conversation about a number of great three letter acronyms: CAB, CSE, IDP, AIA, ARE, ACE, and BIM. Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter! sloArch no The Studio 26: It’s the Medicine Talking http://www.sloarch.com/2010/06/the-studio-26-its-the-medicine-talking/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/06/the-studio-26-its-the-medicine-talking/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:30:46 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=1409

Long time Poly Canyon resident Ben Ross talks about his experiences living in two of the residences in the canyon and why he got a Bachelor of Architecture, two minors and is now working for a general contractor!   Tim also reveals some exciting information about the new California Supplemental Exam.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

Show Notes

Site News

  • Facebook Update:
    • Hao Phung
    • Angelica Ting Steinmeier
    • Ben Ross
  • Haley talks about NCARB live
  • Tim is going help write the CSE!

Cal Poly News

  • New interim President
    • Robert Glidden, president emeritus of Ohio University, was named today as interim president of Cal Poly, effective August 1. (The CSU press release can be viewed at www.calpoly.edu.)
  • CAED & AIA CCC Design Awards Gala
    • http://www.caed.calpoly.edu/
    • CAED: The college and the local American Institute of Architects Central Coast Chapter invite you to the 2010 Design Awards Gala Reception on Saturday June 26 at the PAC. It will feature professional work and highlight projects by five CAED architecture students who recently displayed at the Cal Poly 5th Year Architecture Show. RSVPs are appreciated by June 10.
    • Download the Gala Reception Invitation (pdf)
    • Email Laura Gough at laura@studio-2g.com

General News

Rapid Fire Questions:

  • Cal Poly or Berkeley? Cal Poly
  • Autocad or Revit? Autocad
  • Parallel bar or T-Square? Parallel bar
  • Facebook or MySpace? Facebook
  • Arch Record, Arch Digest, or Architect? no comment… Dwell
  • Drafting dots or tape? tape
  • Yellow trace or white? yellow
  • Ad Markers or Prisma? Ad markers
  • Pen or Pencil? Pen
  • Mac or PC? MAC
  • What’s the Meaning of Life? Living

SCORE: 252FW%

Interview

  • What has he been up to?
    • Working for a General Contractor (Hensel Phelps) since graduating from Cal Poly
  • Why did he take this route?
    • took his time through Cal Poly, while working on his general ed he started working on his construction managment minor
  • What’s it like working on both sides, the architecture side and the construction side?
    • he’s able to bring equal parts to each side but feels that each needs the other, he loves design
  • What’s he been working on?
    • recently, hospitals, when he interviewed he asked to be put on the most difficult projects and that was hospital design build
    • prior to his current job he did custom residential, so now it’s really about team work since it takes a team to get the project through construction
    • there are many consultants and owners involved with healthcare work
  • How has the economy hit him and his work?
    • his company is pretty open about work flow and backlogs, it’s about how much work you have and if you don’t have enough backlog you have to move to where it is or find another job
  • Working in 3D?
    • the subs are usually the ones having to put the design into 3D, they’re the ones that know the ins and outs of their materials so in some ways they’re the best ones to be modeling their scope
  • Has he been able to use his minor in sustainable environments?
    • not directly, but he has helped a bit with another LEED project achieving gold certification
    • there are other little things involved with his projects that are sustainable such as reusing forms and recycling programs
  • Ben lived in Poly Canyon for three years while he was at Cal Poly!
    • he had interviewed to become a caretaker out in Poly Canyon and was selected
    • Poly Canyon and Design Village were why he came to Cal Poly and study architecture
    • he hasn’t missed a Design Village since he first competed in 1998
    • he grew up in south Georgia, so he liked the open land and the rolling hills up there in Poly Canyon
    • plus living there, surrounded by the student architecture projects, was really living the “learn by doing” mantra, which Design Village just further supports
    • Check out the photos from Design Village 2010
  • Currently working towards licensure? progress?
    • he was before the IDP cut off, so he doesn’t have to complete that, but he does need to start his ARE
  • Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
    • would have loved to have gone abroad, but living out in Poly Canyon was more important
  • What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly students?
    • don’t give up!! take any of your failures and make them into positives, learn from your failures and don’t make the same failure twice
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/06/the-studio-26-its-the-medicine-talking/feed/ 0 CAB,CSE,Design Village,Heathcare,NCARB,Poly Canyon,Starbucks Long time Poly Canyon resident Ben Ross talks about his experiences living in two of the residences in the canyon and why he got a Bachelor of Architecture, two minors and is now working for a general contractor! Long time Poly Canyon resident Ben Ross talks about his experiences living in two of the residences in the canyon and why he got a Bachelor of Architecture, two minors and is now working for a general contractor! Tim also reveals some exciting information about the new California Supplemental Exam. Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter! sloArch no 54:58 The Studio 24: A Little Bit of Everything http://www.sloarch.com/2010/06/the-studio-24-a-little-bit-of-everything/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/06/the-studio-24-a-little-bit-of-everything/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:30:04 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=1368

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.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

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

General News

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:
  • 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?
  • 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.
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/06/the-studio-24-a-little-bit-of-everything/feed/ 0 AIA,Alpha Rho Chi,Frank Lloyd Wright,LEED,NCARB,Richard Meier 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. - Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, 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. Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter! sloArch no The Studio 21: Just the Two of Us http://www.sloarch.com/2010/05/the-studio-21-just-the-two-of-us/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/05/the-studio-21-just-the-two-of-us/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 14:30:40 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=963

Just the two of us today!  Haley and Tim talk about the latest economic news, are impressed by Doug Jackson’s studio review, and contemplate if they would be willing to work for ten dollars and hour.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter!

Show Notes

Site News

  • Tim has a new mic! The  Zoom H2
  • New Facebook fans this week!
    • Duane Steele
    • Lingh Ha
    • Amy Knerr
    • Rebecca Groves
  • We will be at Chumash next Friday!

Cal Poly News

General News

]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/05/the-studio-21-just-the-two-of-us/feed/ 0 ARE,Bilboa,Chumash Architecture Show,Doug Jackson,Economy,Green Architecture,NCARB,Permits,Spain Just the two of us today! Haley and Tim talk about the latest economic news, are impressed by Doug Jackson's studio review, and contemplate if they would be willing to work for ten dollars and hour. - Don't forget to tell your friends about us, Just the two of us today! Haley and Tim talk about the latest economic news, are impressed by Doug Jackson's studio review, and contemplate if they would be willing to work for ten dollars and hour. Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes, vote for us on Podcast Alley, and follow us on Twitter! sloArch no The Studio 12: Chaaaaarge! http://www.sloarch.com/2010/03/the-studio-12-chaaaaarge/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/03/the-studio-12-chaaaaarge/#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:12:42 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=699

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?

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes and vote for us on Podcast Alley!

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

  • 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)
    • Do I think I passed? No … Maybe? Yes?
    • Should the test be changed to a written format?

More LEED / Green discussion

  • Rain, even urine, would help make Bullitt HQ city’s ‘greenest building ever’
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/03/the-studio-12-chaaaaarge/feed/ 0 architects,ARE,CSE,fire,Green Architecture,IDP,LEED,NCARB,Seattle 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? 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? Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes and vote for us on Podcast Alley! sloArch no The Studio 11: It’s Not All About Tim http://www.sloarch.com/2010/03/the-studio-11-its-not-all-about-tim/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/03/the-studio-11-its-not-all-about-tim/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:30:47 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=691

Peter Kaupert ’05, joins us for a discussion about working in a small firm.  Tim gets a job, tries to start a fight and panics about his pending test.  Haley goes back in time and we say good bye to an Architectural icon.  Oh and theStudio at sloArch.com!

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes and vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Show Notes

Tim, Haley, Lucy, and Peter: Poly Canyon April 2002

Tim gets a new job!!!! woo hooo!!! Out of a few hundred applications he made it through a marathon of interviews. Cheers! (http://www.rls.com/)

Introducing Peter!

  • Blast from the past!! We all met in studio during second year (just a bit of trivia for you all).

News

Lots of reviews happening this week!  Great job to all of you students this week.

Rapid Fire Questions

  • Cal Poly or Berkeley? Cal Poly
  • Autocad or Revit? Autocad
  • Parallel bar or T-Square? Parellel bar
  • Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
  • Arch Record or Arch Digest? Arch Record
  • Drafting dots or tape? Electrical Tape!!!
  • Yellow trace or white? white
  • Ad Markers or Prisma? Ad Makers
  • Pen or Pencil? depends on what he’s drawing — pen right now
  • Mac or PC? PC

Final score: 1000 points and a high five from Haley

Interview

  • What are you up to?
    • Currently lives in Morro Bay.
    • Works for a small firm in Atascadero, only a few people in the office. He’s been working there for over five years since graduating from Cal Poly.
    • The firm does a wide range of work, mainly residential work, small scale assisted care facilities, mulit-family, a few churches.
    • Enjoys being part of a small firm and seeing everything happen
  • Currently working towards licensure? progress?
    • Completed most of his IDP
    • Goal to take most of the exams this year.
  • Why has he been putting off his AREs?
    • It seems daunting, putting it off until he has more professional experience to help with knowledge needed for the AREs.
    • Tim says: If you’ve gone through Cal Poly you’re well prepared for the exams in his opinion.
    • We chat about the AREs, the reformatted 4.0 exams and passing rates.
  • Observations of economy, how is he seeing the effects?
    • Personally he is working less hours.
    • As far as work goes, his firm is seeing less projects in general and current project pace has slowed as well.
    • One of the problems with the slower economy is not just the lack of work but the general disposition about the lack of work, it’s perpetuating itself.
    • Students graduating now must be depressed with all the negativity out there.
    • Staying positive in these down times is key, your attitude helps office moral and reflects well on clients.
  • Thoughts on Cal Poly grads out in the industry?
    • Grads are strong in some areas, hence the reputation that we have.
    • From a practical standpoint, Cal Poly Arch. grads.
    • When he came out of school he didn’t know the computer drafting programs well, so that was something he had to develop out in the industry.
    • Now it seems that current Cal Poly Arch students know software more, but it seems that they have acquired that knowledge on their own for the most part.
    • Tim chimes in: At his new job they’ve commented that the Cal Poly Arch Grads are more grounded all around, they know more about how things go together and how to apply that knowledge.
  • We bring on a possible street fight with Berkley Grads (all in good fun).
  • Thoughts on how the program is changing/improving?
    • Technology and software, it seems that there are more tools at the disposal of students so the final project is more interesting.
    • He’s planning on getting over to Cal Poly and checking things out to give us an update.
  • Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
    • He would have spent more time trying to learn the computer drafting programs.
    • In retrospect he would have paid more attention in practice.
    • Appreciate all the knowledge from design and the ability to think like a designer but keep in mind practice is important too.
    • The practice side is something we sometimes lose sight of as students.
    • Having opportunities to work during school helps prepare you for your time out in the indusrty.
  • What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly students?
    • Besides some of the above points…
    • Don’t spend every hour in lab, enjoy the community that you live in and the beauty of the place you go to school.
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/03/the-studio-11-its-not-all-about-tim/feed/ 0 ARE,Berkely,Bill Gates,Bruce Graham,Google,Legos,NCARB,Times Square Peter Kaupert '05, joins us for a discussion about working in a small firm. Tim gets a job, tries to start a fight and panics about his pending test. Haley goes back in time and we say good bye to an Architectural icon. Oh and theStudio at sloArch. Peter Kaupert '05, joins us for a discussion about working in a small firm. Tim gets a job, tries to start a fight and panics about his pending test. Haley goes back in time and we say good bye to an Architectural icon. Oh and theStudio at sloArch.com! Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes and vote for us on Podcast Alley! sloArch no The Studio 9: It’s A Disease http://www.sloarch.com/2010/02/the-studio-9-its-a-disease/ http://www.sloarch.com/2010/02/the-studio-9-its-a-disease/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:30:12 +0000 Tim Alatorre http://www.sloarch.com/?p=664
Noelle Lee, LEED AP ’08, brings a unique story of lost jobs, world travels, and fighting off “Architecture brain mush”.  She shares what she’s doing to stay connected to the profession while waiting for the economy to recover.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes and vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Show Notes

News:

  • Last Hearst Lecture for the season, this Friday
    • Scott Marble: Marble Fairbanks
    • Friday, February 26th, 2010, at 4:00pm
    • Business Rotunda, Room 03-213
    • Teaches at Columbia and taught one of the first “paperless” design studios.
    • His Firm website: http://www.marblefairbanks.com/
  • New Practice/Un-Practice
    • As traditional jobs vanish, startups bloom.
    • Recessions tend to accelerate the formation of new firms.
    • Gen X & Y are perhaps better equipped to startup their own practices more than their predecessors were.
    • With the lack of internships and associate positions, they have to set their own career path.
    • Improved technology makes communication more accessible.
    • Many low to no overhead business models are sprouting up across the country.
  • US architecture billings index down in January-AIA by 2.9 pts to 42.5
    • New project inquiries index lowest since July.
    • Lenders set stringent equity requirements.
    • All 4 US geographic regions stayed below 50 in billings for January, as well as 3 of the 4 construction sectors.
    • The AIA’s billings index, begun in 1995, is considered a measure of construction spending nine to 12 months in the future.
    • Billings and Inquiries Indices Last 4 Years
  • AIA Names 9 Recipients for the 2010 Young Architects Award
    • The Award is given to professionals who have been licensed for 10 years or fewer (regardless of age) and have demonstrated leadership as well as made significant contributions to the profession early in their careers.
  • Architects Synthesize Carbon Nanotube Buckypaper
    • http://nanoarchitecture.net/
    • Decker Yeadon Lab Synthesis Video
    • Decker Yeadon, a NY Firm that focuses on applying advanced materials in architecture, has developed a substance called “Buckypaper”
    • Buckypaper is made from carbon nanotubes, or buckytubes.
    • sidenote: carbon nanotubes are cylindrical Fullerenes, sometimes they might also be spherical as in the buckminsterfullerene C60 molecule, regardless of the variety of shapes they come in, all the molecules in the Fullerene family are composed entirely of carbon.
    • This is another reason why Haley LOVES Bucky :)
    • Buckypaper is said to be hundreds of times stronger than steel, it can filter particles, conduct and disperse heat like metals and can conduct electricity.
    • Being the first architects to make Buckypaper, a great deal of interest from the scientific community has surrounded the research of Buckypaper.

Rapid Fire Questions

  • Cal Poly or Berkley? CAL POLY
  • Autocad or Revit? AutoCAD
  • Parallel bar or T-Square? Parrellel bar
  • Facebook or LinkedIn? Facebook
  • Arch Record or Arch Digest? Arch Record
  • Drafting dots or tape? Tape
  • Yellow trace or white? indifferent! – white
  • Ad Markers or Prisma? Prisma
  • Pen or Pencil? Pencil
  • Mac or PC? indifferent!  Again!! – only had PCs, but Cal Poly runs on Mac’s so they’re the same in her book

Score: monosodiumgluteate: MSG

Interview:

  • What is she up to?
    • Graduated in 2008, currently not working in an architecture firm.
    • Prior to graduation she had a job lined up in SLO but a week before graduation the department she was to work in was dissolved.
    • Moved to Idaho, where her sister lives and had a bunch of interviews and things looked promising but most of the firms were waiting to decide on any new hires.
    • Trying to figure out where to go, what to do… currently working as a general manager in a restaurant?
    • Planning to come back to architecture when things turn around.
    • While it’s driving her crazy that she’s not currently working in architecture she’s still trying to stay plugged into architecture by visiting a local firm, Modus Architects, and sitting in on meetings and she used their study materials to get LEED Accredited, this firm is awesome for doing that!!!
    • Entering competitions to stay creative and involved.
    • Arquitectum Competitions and Events
    • Death By Architecture
    • Trying to make the most of keeping her skills and using them so she doesn’t lose touch with the design process.
    • Writing articles, reading articles to keep her mind from “going to mush”.
    • Looking at possibilites to do things locally, like converting an empty lot into an openair market.
  • Are you currently working towards licensure? If so what is your progress?
    • She’d like to get going on it, but money is an issue right now.
    • Haley mentions some resources to work towards your IDP requirements without working in architecture:
    • Refer to NCARB for opportunities to gain IDP experience while unemployed:
    • Use the FREE online resource: the Emerging Professionals Companion, where you can complete activities and exercises that count towards your IDP experience requirements:
    • Attending AIA Continuing Education seminars/lectures can also count towards IDP.
    • But you NEED an NCARB Record to record these hours ($285)
  • Noelle talks about her cross country trip, since she’s unemployed she has time to travel.
    • Being speechless while visiting buildings that she loves and studied in school keeps her inspired and driven.
  • Current observations of economy
    • Directly, trying to make it for the time being until she can find a job in a firm.
  • Any thoughts on Cal Poly grads out in the industry?
    • Love, love, loves her education from Cal Poly!!
    • She feels that her education has given her a great background of design in general, architectural design skills are the mother of all other design skills.
    • Use your vocabulary of design skills can be applied to a myriad of other fields, she’s gotten into jewelry design.
  • Any thoughts on how the program is changing/improving?
    • More integration of technology and having to learn programs on your own as well as the need of hand drawing, it would be good if they offered a whole quarter to learn programs but still emphasized the importance of hand drawing becuase there are still applications where it is appropriate.
  • Is there something you wish you had done or known when you were still at Cal Poly?
    • Wished she would have gotten into IDP at the time she was in school and had interned every summer, so she missed out reporting those hours.
  • What kind of advice can you give to current Cal Poly students?
    • Try to intern as much as you can. Cal Poly teaches you the design aspect, but working in a firm helps you see how a firm really functions and how to apply your drafting skills.
    • Most of the time the job offers you get are from the firms you’ve work for in the past.
    • Take advantage of the work shop.
]]> http://www.sloarch.com/2010/02/the-studio-9-its-a-disease/feed/ 0 CalPoly,Competitions,Idaho,IDP,LEED,Licensure,NCARB,Restaurant,Unemployment Noelle Lee, LEED AP '08, brings a unique story of lost jobs, world travels, and fighting off "Architecture brain mush". She shares what she's doing to stay connected to the profession while waiting for the economy to recover. - Noelle Lee, LEED AP '08, brings a unique story of lost jobs, world travels, and fighting off "Architecture brain mush". She shares what she's doing to stay connected to the profession while waiting for the economy to recover. Don't forget to tell your friends about us, join our Facebook Group, leave reviews on iTunes and vote for us on Podcast Alley! sloArch no