The Worst Degree?

My Yahoo is my browser home page, and this week there was a posting about the "Best and Worst Degrees for Employment". The Highest Unemployment Area of Study #1: Architecture. See for yourself at http://goo.gl/LCYlK. Yikes! I knew things had been bad, but is it really the worst?

For years now, there has been information about various professional degree programs where the graduate pool is greatly larger than the available jobs. Law Degrees, for example have been increasingly hard to peddle. But is it really this bad now for Architects?  Perhaps it is.

Architecture as a skill, maybe unlike law, is often not viewed as "transferable". In hard times, the "generalist" training of an Architect may not be valued by anyone other than other Architects.

Out of school, we're not writers, teachers, historians, or builders. If we're lucky, we're "Architects In Training" - interns in our chosen field. Now there are way too many of us.

For what seems like ages, I have counseled staff members and aspirants alike - that Architecture most be chosen because you enjoy it, not because you can expect to get rich doing it. Now that jobs are less plentiful, I guess we should factor in the odds of actually making a go of it.

Is there a solution? Tougher entry requirements? Better training in College? Alternate career paths, with better preparation? I'm not altogether sure, but I know I keep searching.

More to follow...

Frozen Music

Goethe is credited with the quote "Architecture is frozen music", sometime in the early part of the 19th century.  Apocryphal, perhaps, but definitely prescient. Yesterday marked the sad passing of two legends - one in Architecture, the other in music.  The two, in their own way, embodied Goethe's vision.

Oscar Niemeyer, now passed at age 104, fascinated us all by his masterful assembly of possibly tortured function into swooping geometric and sculptural forms. His iconoclastic work was the inspiration for all those who wanted to have their buildings viewed as enduring icons. Few have been equal to the challenge. Personally, I suspect that 104 years form now Niemeyer's buildings will continue to be destinations; while those of the current in-vogue sculpturalist Frank Gehry may not.

Dave Brubeck, now passed one day short of his 92nd birthday, was the artist who implanted the musical rhythms of many design studio environments. Along with millions of others, I was a fan.  One anecdote: For a long period of time, Dave Brubeck and his quartet were the musicians at special yearly Christmas-time service at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York. One year, I was fortunate to find the perfect balcony seat looking over Dave's shoulder as he played loose compositions selected for the occasion. The experience was very moving.

A moment of silence is appropriate. Followed by quiet satisfaction that we are better people for their contributions.  Say Halleluiah.

Getting Started

When I was a student of Architecture at McGill University, I had one of the most brilliant, yet troubled, professors ever to walk this planet.

Chain smoking, hard drinking Stuart Wilson was the bane of our existence for virtually every minute of our fourth year. Late at night (actually early in the morning), he would bounce from desk to desk in our studio, flicking cigarette ashes on the drawings of our latest design endeavors. We were all affected.  He was an equal opportunity offender. The retelling of the night old man Wilson remarked to the sadly outmatched Badar Khan "Going to go down fighting, eh?" is a highlight of our class reunion reminiscences.

Through all this, Professor Wilson demanded we exert effort and strive for whatever excellence we were capable of. For some, the scrutiny was withering. For others, motivating. In my case, I had one semester of each - fortunately the good followed the bad. His bullying (probably carefully planned) forced me to grow in ways that serve me to this day.

Why would Professor Wilson be on my mind?  For a few weeks, I have had writer's block about something relevant to say in this blog. Nothing seemed to coalesce. Eventually, though, I was reminded of one of Professor Wilson's lectures. The subject was "How to Design". As I recall, he paid lip service to historical precedent setting, visual massing concepts, adjacency matrices, and all the other "tools" of our trade. He adamantly insisted that ideas flow out of what might be unfocused doodling of ideas. (Remember, this was for Architects.) He loudly insisted that our process would find it's resolution, if only we "JUST GET STARTED!!"

He saw this as all about doing whatever it takes to overcome the inertia brought on by over-analysis and uncertainty. I should have been more obedient, I suppose. Actually, we all should. Peering though Stuart Wilson's rheumy eyes was a profound vision.

How High?

Here in Connecticut, we were on the edge of hurricane Sandy. Nevertheless, several million people were left without power.  Fallen trees and power lines were the the bulk of the problem; but substations were also at risk from rising tidal surge waters.

During one briefing, a representative of one of the two electrical utilities explained the company's policy for construction standards. Substations were protected against flood waters that were 1 foot above the "100 year flood" level. What does that mean actually? A 100 year flood has a 1% chance of happening in any year, and they were one full foot above that.

Some of the press asked if this policy was open to review. The representative demurred. But much added safety is enough? One foot, two feet, ten feet? I have no answers, other than a suspicion that this may be a search for added cost. How much more is justified? Great question.

Safety margins, redundant systems, backup devices. Some experts say their cost should be weighed against the potential for savings by avoiding possible damages or other expenses. Others say convenience or public safety are valid considerations.

Oh well, all of this speculation is easy for someone who sits here with power and no fallen trees.

Fear of Falling

For some mysterious reason, a common affliction amongst Architects is a fear of heights. Have you ever seen the guy with the shaky knees on the staging around a tall facade repair? Well, that's likely to be your Architect. Me? No such fear!

I appear, though, to have a variation - fear of falling. I can stand at the edge of a precipice unperturbed; but if the guardrail is loose or the walk across the open joists is unprotected, you may find me holding on for dear life.

So, there I was yesterday, along with over 7 million others watching the live video of Felix Baumgartner as he stepped off from his balloon capsule more than 24 miles above the desert floor of New Mexico. As a youngster, I fell from my just-finished tree house, breaking my wrist. Maybe that's when my fear was implanted. Baumgartner, on the other hand, clearly has no hesitation. Or, does he?

Maybe, when the downside consequence is instant death, the trepidation is different than fearing broken body parts. One thing I do know is that I have no intention of finding out.

Roof inspection? Have you finished the parapet yet? Yes? OK fine, I'm on my way. No? Please call Felix.

Phone Five Frenzy

I have claimed to emulate Groucho Marx's adage: "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member." Now what has overcome me?

Two days ago, I took my place in line for the iPhone 5. At the moment, the image to the left approximates my current status.

This has been an interesting journey. Years ago, I was in a facilities management position, where I had to be forewarned in the expected development of a unionized labor strike; and managers, like me, were expected to instantly react to the event. I was FORCED to get my first cell phone. Only a year or so previously, I had been FORCED to get a pager. I called them both electronic leashes, and bristled at the intrusion.

Time marched on, and all my staff started to clamor for phones. This, after I had FORCED them to wear pagers.  Now, we can't imagine living unhooked. My Graphic Designer wife said "Without a smart phone, I'm feel like I'm falling behind in technology." What has become of us?

Two days ago, I was on a long distance bike ride. I had a list of turn directions, but was soon confronted by a sign that said the upcoming bridge was closed - twenty miles from the car, and no idea where I was. I had a cell phone with me to call for help if forced to, but wished I had a mapping app to get me the heck out of there. No way, Jose'. I was lucky to flag down another local cyclist for guidance.

Now, we're waiting for business/pleasure salvation - with a new "Share Everything" plan, and two smart phones on the way. Not only will we have two electronic leashes to wrestle, but two years of commitment to rationalize the self-inflicted choice.

Are we better at our jobs, or have we have we been peer-pressured into Groucho's club?

Admission?

When you choose not to stop what somebody else is doing to hurt you, is it an admission that they're correct in their actions? That's the question that many bicycling enthusiasts are pondering, as they witness Lance Armstrong's decision not to stop the USADA's unilateral action against him.

They say he was doping for years, and intend to sanction him if he doesn't refute it. He says they are on a witch hunt, and will no longer exert himself in his defense. Who's right? Is this the corporate sport version of Lance turning the other cheek? Does USADA have adequate standing and credibility to tarnish the name and the sport?  Is it deserved?

In 1999, as Lance was winning his first Tour de France, my wife and I watched from her hospital room, where she was recovering from the life-threatening injuries inflicted on her by a hit-and-run driver who hit her from behind as we cycled before dinner one night. My wife found inspiration in Lance's victory over cancer and his rise to the top of his sport. The ensuring years added to our respect; but, then the doubts started to creep in.  Did he or didn't he - dope, that is?  There were compelling explanations on both sides of this issue.

Now, what are we to think?  UCI, the organization which governs international bicycling, has said to USADA essentially "Show your evidence.". They indicate they will not act until they see the justification. Until they do, I understand that Lance still holds his titles. It's all very sad. Regardless, this story is far from over. Will there be any heroes standing when we see the conclusion?

London 2012

Actually, it's about London Olympics - the font.

This is the weirdest damn font.  Look at the spacing of the characters in the line above. The word "Actually" looks miserable. The word "London" only may look reasonable because I played with the kerning of the letters.

Ever since London went public with this new style, graphic designers have been arguing for and against the presentation. I've read that the intent was to have a gritty graffitti image for the games. I guess there may be some agreement that the logo gets there, but I'm not so sure about the font.

"Branding" experts, I suspect, will say it's been a success.  Oh well, at least the games have been entertaining.  What do you think?  

Summertime Fiction?

Actually no.

Tune in to the latest No Left Turn newsletter at http://www.noleftturn.biz/architecture/NotesFromTheRoad.html. It goes out every few months to the regular mail list of business recipients.

There you will find a light story of a few entertaining months in the career of hapless Acey Trey. All true, not fiction.

Actually, it's stories such as this that give me the confidence to talk about how we can and/or should do business.  Experience is a fine teacher.  If you like what you see, you can sign up for more at http://goo.gl/PL6Sj

Who is Acey Trey, really? I'm not tellin'.

Bain Existence

Bain & Company (NOT to be confused with Bain Capital) is extensively quoted by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The headline: "One-Third of Colleges Are on Financially 'Unsustainable' Path, Bain Study Finds".

To say this conclusion strikes a nerve is an understatement. Commenter markneustadt had this to say: "I can't imagine why the Chronicle decided to give media space to such an obviously flawed tool. It only takes a few minutes with the "interactive website" to see that the Bain process has yielded ridiculous results. And I don't understand why the folks at Bain weren't embarrassed to release this table. In any event, business leaders and politicians may love this report and it may be quoted many times. Looks to me like another example of extremely shoddy work by a high profile consulting firm."  Others will, I'm sure, be equally critical.  There's no denying there may flaws in the approach and the veracity of some of the conclusions offered by Bain.

However, the article as well as Bain's analysis and white paper, all circle around a common subject in Higher Education. Administrators are all well aware that their financial futures are murky to say the least.  In many colleges and universities, real estate is the single largest asset class, and thoughtful analysis is essential in the management of those assets.

Those of us who are in the consulting business of advising clients how to do that best are smart to appreciate the context of their activities. In Higher Education, stemming the the extraordinary rise in tuitions recently has become a cause celebre.  I try to appreciate the nuance of what's going on with the bigger picture as I look at buildings.

For reference, see http://goo.gl/q5ALr and http://goo.gl/mpcsM.

The Power of Faculty

As I offer consulting services to higher education faculty officers, I often ask about their rapport with the chief academic officer. My theory is that, barring extraordinary circumstances, virtually anybody in an administrative position serves at the pleasure of faculty consensus.

When I voice this opinion, sometimes there will be pushback. Arguments vary: the faculty is weak, the board is strong, the president wields the power, the University is public, facilities people are invisible. I'm now emboldened in my opinion. Why? You might ask.

Developments this past week at the University of Virginia have been extraordinary.  The ouster of the President (no less) was reversed by the the Board of Visitors (Virginia-speak for the Board of Trustees) after a rebellion led by many groups, including the university faculty senate.  See what the Chronicle of Higher had to say at http://goo.gl/uOYNA. In any event, do you suppose a lowly facilities officer would ever survive a faculty movement? I still doubt it.

At a minimum, facilities people need to have an awareness and appreciation for the academic mission. Too preachy? Let me know what you think?

Apple Rules!

Does this look like an iPad?  Well, it should, because it is.  Media automation company Crestron now has a wall-mounted dock for iPad - to control all sorts of things in your home, office or classroom. Crestron is hardly unique.

The dominance of Apple products in this 'wireless interface' business is truly remarkable. With scores of small apps, as well as full software integration available for iPhones, IPads, iPod Touches - not to mention regular computers - Apple is everywhere. It's fascinating that the expansion of tablet use is based on a product type that had virtually no market share prior to the iPad.

Earlier this week, I was at a demonstration of LED lighting applications. The manufacturer and local installing contractor were doing handsprings to show the potential for remote control. Emphasis on "Remote".  With your Apple product (or other device, if you're so inclined), you can talk to controllers from the other side of the globe. No more "Did I forget to turn off the lights?".

Me - I'm more or less satisfied when my wall switch works. Maybe I'll come around. Send $$ please.

Crumbling Campuses

The latest issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education has a sobering article on the exacerbating effects of recessionary pressures on maintenance budgets at North American Colleges and Universities. Take a look at http://goo.gl/yp3JC.

Let's say you live in a $200,000 house. Are you setting aside $4,000 to $8,000 per year to address the inevitable expenses?  My guess is not. You just struggle with tapping into savings when the roof has to be replaced.

Now, put yourself into the shoes of the local College president who has to look after  hundreds of 'houses', all with a replacement cost of 6, 7, 8 or even 9 figures.  To further extend the analogy, imagine that you have no 'savings'.  Decades of underspending are approaching catastrophic on some campuses.

It used to be that some amount of Capital Renewal with new construction, renovation and replacement was offsetting the accumulating deferrals, but recent budgets have curtailed those expenditures as well. What does the future hold? I hope it's not the educational version of a bridge falling down, but my fear is that's what it will take to force some readjustment.

Are you Virtually Working?

The latest version of this blog's big brother has just hit the streets. Looking at how we do business these days is quite fascinating. If you have plans to collaborate without being there, you're far from alone. Businesses large and small have been trending in this direction for decades.

Click on over to http://noleftturn.biz/architecture/NotesFromTheRoad.html to see my musings on the subject.  Then come back to leave cogent comments. I'd like to hear about your experiences.

The Trouble With Building Science

This month's issue of Fine Homebuilding includes a very thought provoking article that should be mandatory reading for all the Deans and Directors of Schools of Architecture in North America. Author Kevin Ireton presents a compelling case for the need to improve our collective understanding of the sciences which determine how structures work. See http://www.finehomebuilding.com/design/articles/the-trouble-with-building-science.aspx

The issue in which this article appears happens to be the 2012 awards issue, where the editors choice for the best homes of this year are lauded. They're all very impressive. They also all have highly refined technology in their bones - materials and construction techniques which test many entrenched practices.

Mr. Ireton suggests that we need to take responsibility for self-education. True enough I suppose; but wouldn't it be nice if the School curricula were ahead of the curve. Agitate. Maybe we can make it happen.

Revit Rules

Archibus says so. (Or, at least implies it.)

Archibus is well known to to the IT people in facilities organizations as a significant provider of real estate, infrastructure and facilities management solutions in the world, and they just started their 2012 International Users Conference in Boston. Attendees are there from around the world.

I was very impressed with the commitment Archibus has made to synchronize the facilities database with Revit building models, when the organization has both available to them. It makes sense. Revit building models are databases - why not import components into the resident facilities software? The links between the BIM model and the Archibus data can even be two-way. Great stuff.

MIT, for example, has now apparently made a commitment to developing Revit BIM models for its entire campus, using old AutoCAD to create the necessary files. All this with a hope of populating its Archibus database.

What I've seen is not perfect, but the integration is still evolving. The trend, however, is undeniable.

Have you boarded the BIM bus yet?

A Reminder

This blog has a big brother.

No Left Turn publishes a newsletter every few months that offers insight on subjects I find interesting, and hopefully pertain to the business of those involved in facilities design, construction and management.

They're all there on my web site, and the latest can be seen at http://noleftturn.biz/architecture/NotesFromTheRoad.html.  This one is somewhat out of the ordinary, in that it focuses on the cost implications of a specific building type: College Housing. More typically, I write about business aspects of our endeavors.

If any of this interests you, you can jump on the mail list at http://noleftturn.biz/subscribe.  I'm still pondering the next topic, so you'll have to wait and see if it's intriquing. Wade on in - the water's fine.

Now Presenting ...

LXDi

Check it out: Linowes Executive Development Institute.  The very heady name for Joanne Linowes' organization devoted to coaching for quality presentations and professional development. Specifically - get her book The Savvy Presenter.  If you read this blog, you may recall that I won my copy by correctly answering her monthly quiz question.

I first met Joanne when a mutual client hired us to help with an important presentation. I was there because I knew the context. She knew HOW to present.  It was a stimulating experience.  I think I learned as much as our client, and I look forward to more encounters.

Her book - written in an appropriately breezy tone - claims to be organized around 100 tips. The fact is there is much more than that in the narrative. I thought I was experienced, but now know better. Tip #16: "Anticipate potential boomerangs" is one of my favorites.  In fairness to Joanne, you should buy the book to see what it's all about.

Find Joanne at www.lxdi.com and www.savvypresenter.com

You won't regret it.

IPD ... Not!

There I was - listening to a panel discussion led by an AGC representative.  Seven leaders from seven major construction companies.  Not a one has done a real, honest-to-goodness three-party Integrated Project Delivery contract.

I asked many of them directly why not.  The answers were varied:

• The lawyers hate them
• They can't be done by public agencies
• They will only happen when an owner drives the process
• Nobody wants to give up the ability to have a contract with recourse

Actually, they're all mostly true.

This idea has now been around for a number of years, and may continue to gain steam; but implementation has been arduous. There was interesting contrast to IDP during the evening - BIM. The implementation of this software and technology is now seen as SOP - almost mandatory.  Noone disagreed.

Why? BIM implementation has demonstrated positive consequences. But, importantly, its use doesn't seriously alter the contractual relationship of the typical three parties. (OK, I know - there's always the argument about "who owns the model?")

Now - I like cooperative ventures as much as the next person. Continuing the IPD conversation advances that concept. I just won't hold my breath waiting for the contracts to appear.

The Best Two Weeks Of The Year

Every spring, I look forward to the blooming of the magnolia tree in the front yard.  It arrived a full month early!  I sit at my desk and, as it is every year, watch the buds form, grow larger day by day before they explode - sometimes overnight.  It's glorious, and vaguely spiritual.

A few weeks ago, my neighbor asked if he could trim some of the branches that were hanging low over his driveway.  A reasonable enough request, but I was uneasy.  We cordially negotiated a compromise that  wasn't too severe, but I was still somewhat pained.  Fewer flowers to enjoy, I suppose.

Now, I see the petals starting to fall to the ground.  Sadly, it's the inevitable passage.  The coming greenery, of course, lasts all summer into the fall.  Pleasant enough, just not as exhilarating as these precious two weeks.  If I were more poetic, I might be able to aptly describe a metaphor for the seasonal change.  Lacking that, I just enjoy.

Each year I take a picture.  The most recent is shared above.  Looking close, you can see why the business is "No Left Turn".  The glancing morning sunlight caught the sign just enough to make it glow - almost ostentatiously.  The tree is more appealing, I think.

Happy Spring.

Equivalent?

Yesterday I attended a conference where an Architect and the College client proudly boasted about their new "LEED Silver equivalent" building under construction.

No - it wasn't LEED (c), or LEED Certified, or even generically "Green" - just "equivalent".  Now, although I'm a LEED AP myself, and committed to all the important design principles; I have some sympathy for those unprepared to deal with the fees and bureaucracy of the USGBC approval process.  Nevertheless, it seems disingenuous to use this "equivalent" phrase.

Let's say I graduated from Architecture School, went through years of apprenticeship; but didn't feel like taking the exam.  Would anybody care if I called myself "Registered Equivalent"?  I'm pretty sure the answer is yes.

Are we condoning the facilities version of street sale Gucci bags?  Who's to know?  The sincerity and honesty of the designers and clients are the only validation.  Is this good enough?

My suspicion is that it may resolve itself when the USGBC takes someone on legally.  It'll be an interesting fight to watch.

How savvy are you?

Me?  Sometimes not so much.

Imagine my surprise when I was the winner of my friend Joanne Linowes' monthly challenge question.  My prize is a copy of her book, The Savvy Presenter.

If you want to give it your go, you have to get on her e-mail list, which you can do at her website by the same name: http://www.savvypresenter.com/ .  It's there you can register for her Tip on the 10th.

It was my pleasure to work with Joanne as we were both hired as coaches for a CM hoping to gain an edge as they prepared for a crucial interview presentation.  I learned as much as our client, I suspect.

Take a look!

What's the Point? Power?

So - here we are.  There are two of us (my co-presenter and I), and nine of them.  We're seated at a reasonably sized conference table.  The room is well lit, and eye contact is easy to accommodate.  The content of our presentation is all verbal - no video or images required.

You'd think if ever there was a time to simply have a conversation, this would be it - but no.  My partner and the principal client contact person both made it clear they wanted a PowerPoint show.  I must admit, I was somewhat deflated.

Now, the software and format are routine for me.  This was not hard to accomplish; but all the time I was putting the file together, I was still wondering how this situation has developed to the extent it has.  Have we lost the ability to have a simple conversation?  Is the show now a part of the justification for the fees we charge.  Have our clients gotten to expect this, perhaps without knowing why?

OK, we did it, and things went well.  We had a good projector, and the lights could stay bright.  We encouraged interjected questions.  We handed out hard copy afterward, so the attendees had formal record of the proceedings.  Looking back, I must admit there were some advantages of such a simple format.

Each of our bullet points were brought in sequentially, as the presentation unfolded.  This technique kept our audience focused on the correct topic, without them jumping ahead to some other place in a handout or agenda.  Of course, if you can command attention, I suppose this could be done without all the hardware.  It's a shame, in a way.

Just another example of new technology changing how we converse.  It's like emailing your co-worker in the adjacent office.  What have we lost?

What do you think?

The Unfair Game

How often have you seen people move from one company to another because they're fed up being passed over?  How often have people moved because they're labeled or pigeon-holed into a specific category or task?  My guess: fairly often.

How could this be?  Ignore, for the sake of this argument, the times when the holding back or the labeling is justified.  But what about all the other times?

I blame the managers.  Threatened by competence.  Blind to potential.  Unwilling to make an investment.  Lazy.  Or just plain dumb.  Unfortunately, I can say that I have even had this happen in places where I was a manager.  So, I may have been part of the problem.  At minimum, I failed to persuade my co-workers of the foolishness of our actions.

Is there a way this behavior can be improved?  Sure.  However, effectiveness varies.  Training programs for both staff and managers.  Performance appraisals, again for BOTH staff and managers.  Third party evaluations.  But, what is the incentive that drives these programs?

Staff participates to the extent they are coerced or desire to advance.  But, they have the option of leaving when they get fed up.  (Less so, perhaps during down economies; but that is subject to change.)  Most of the time, they improve in their new setting.

Owners and managers, on the other hand, seek benefits that may be harder to measure, and harder to incent.  Less staff turn-over.  Higher productivity.  Improved marketability.

Here's a hair-brained idea: For every time a company loses a staff member who leaves out of frustration, the company has to make a donation to the mentor program of the staff member's professional association.

Would it help?  Would the game be any more fair?  

Zen Furniture

So much of what we do is mental, verbal or virtual.  Even when we get our buildings constructed, it's usually by the hands of others.  We have to derive satisfaction from seeing that the executed work comes together in a functional and attractive manner.  As satisfying as this may be when it comes off well, there's a missing element.

In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explores the metaphysics of Quality.  The analysis was obscure and convoluted to say the least, and probably was well over my head; but there well elements I could relate to.  When he wrote about the majesty of engineered components fitting together, it rang true.  High function is high art.  The closest I can get, it seems, to achieving this is in the work I do designing and building furniture.

The effort is, without question, an ongoing work in progress.  Nirvana has not been has not yet been found.  Nevertheless, I persevere.  What's the right species of wood?  How are the pieces joined?  Is the finish durable and appropriate?  A thousand questions - with thousands of answers.  The fact that I can attempt to create the resolution with my own hands is the attraction.

Maybe this infatuation is genetic.  After my grandfather retired from his butcher shop, he made things in his basement.  Just be cause he wanted to - and because he could.  I remember fondly his living room fireplace standing against the wall.  It was furniture - connected to nothing; but it was beautiful.  Sure, it lacked my ideal of function, but he had other things in mind.  I can relate.

Regardless, the notion of furniture as therapy works for me.  I need to get into the shop.  I'm pretty sure my problem is more than S.A.D.  Wish me well.

And now, for something completely different ...

Last night, I had an experience that tested my usually composed demeanor.

For those of us who regularly present to clients and professional associations, "public speaking" (as some call it) can be relatively stress-free.  Think about it - we have agendas, plans to explain, PowerPoint shows which we are running, sometimes even a script or at least notes in our hand.  MouseMuse Productions knocked all those boxes out from under me.

They do evenings of story-telling where the performers/presenters are asked to tell a cohesive story on the chosen subject of the evening.  A few months ago, I went to watch a friend, and was badgered into putting my name into a hat to tell an impromptu short story.  The producers asked if I would come back to be "on the bill".  With trepidation, I said yes.

"Love Hurts" was the theme (It is approaching Valentine's Day, after all), and seven of us shared experiences on the concept.  In my case, I only got cotton mouth once.  I can't speak for the others.  At least one local reporter found the experience noteworthy - see "Love Hurts" So Good - http://goo.gl/lno5k. Who knows, maybe she's easily impressed.

I'm glad I did it, and I hope to do more.  Perhaps, I can learn how to be calmer when presenting.  Link to http://www.mousemuse.com/ to stay on top of upcoming schedules.  There's a rotating cadre of story-tellers.  Great fun.

How Could This Happen?

A few days ago, I was having a pleasant dinner with friends when I was asked how I fell into Architecture as a profession.  How people choose what to do in life is a fascinating subject. Sometimes it's very intentional and calculated.  Other times, it's pure serendipity that lands you in an unexpected place.

The question actually gave me pause, since I had rarely been called upon to explain myself with authentic details, as I was that night.  Here's how it goes:

I grew up in northern New Jersey at a time when suburban expansion was overwhelming the many former truck farms of the "Garden" State.  Not necessarily a good thing, but I was too young to influence my parents, much less history.  In any event, home-building was everywhere, and I was a weekend interloper.  Climbing about the unfinished houses, I was fascinated by how things were built; and I wanted to DO that.  So there I was, barely a teenage, saying that I planned to be an Architect.

Doing this on ones own may be possible, but not likely.  In my case, as I look back on it, I had a mentor.  My mechanical drawing teacher saw something in me, I guess.  Before I graduated from high school, he had me designing houses, that I would draw up - sometimes for credit, sometimes for the heck of it.  Mr. Czirr (now there's a name you can't forget - pronounced Sheer) wasn't coercive, just an enabler.  With his encouragement, I had opportunity.  I still have the drafting set he gave me as a graduation gift.

Lately, many have sadly vilified the teaching profession - a movement I must admit I can't find sympathy for.   My dedicated mentor represents all that is worthy about the underpaid, under-appreciated teachers out there.  All this introspection led me to explore what happened to him.  I found information that he is now 108 years old living in the home he retired to shortly after I graduated.  Thank you Mr. Czirr.

Better Than Bitcoin!

There's a new currency insinuating itself into our economy.   Bitcoin is an experimental new digital currency that enables instant payments to anyone, anywhere in the world.  Well, I can do better.

Right now I'm working with a College that has built up an inventory of the routine consumables - paper towels, liquid soap, floor cleaning solvent, and - yes - lots of toilet paper.

They have plans on transferring the responsibility of owning the inventory to their housekeeping contractor's account, and don't want to inventory all their current stock.  What to do?  Here's the proposal: The College will make payment to the contractor in materials as they are used, in lieu of monetary compensation.  Value will be set at "fair market".

Toilet paper is now monetized.  Think of it as large rolls of tear-off bills.  Better than Bitcoin.

Is LEED bloated?

This past week, I have been working furiously to complete and report the mandated hours of continuing education to maintain my LEED AP credentials.

In my readings, course work & exams, I was struck by the extent to which trade organizations have gone to offer alternatives for certification.  A notable one is the relatively new National Green Building Standard,  The Whirlpool Corporation, in some continuing education course material, describes it as "the first ANSI (American National Standards Institute) consensus standard on sustainable Green Building for residential construction. A collaborative effort between the ICC (International Code Council) and NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), the Standard provides the ‘green’ practices that can be incorporated into new homes including multi-family buildings, home remodeling and additions, hotels and motels and the site upon which the green homes are located."

Why?

The NAHB has published a comparison of green home rating systems (http://www.nahbgreen.org/Content/pdf/GreenHomeRatingComparison.pdf).  There's a very telling passage in the Executive Summary of that document.  They state the cost for the first level of compliance in LEED-H (“Certified”) was calculated at roughly three times as much as the NAHB Model Green Building Guidelines or the National Green Building Standard equivalent levels (“Bronze”) overall for this sample chosen.   Other comparisons were similar.

Even the Department of Defense is apparently reconsidering its commitment to LEED, according to a recent blog by The Builders Counsel (http://www.builderscounsel.com/2012/01/no-more-leed-gold-or-platinum-for-department-of-defense-maybe-not/).

Are we moving on?