Thursday, January 27, 2011

Guest Blog: Advocates For Architecture Day Recap

Architects convene at the Capitol for TSA's Advocates for Architecture Day.


TSA member Andrew Hawkins participated in the Society's Advocates for Architecture Day on Jan. 25.  See his recap below.

YESTERDAY was the first ever Advocates for Architecture Day at the State Capitol of Texas. This was an event designed by the Texas Society of Architects to get architects in front of policy makers in the state. There were 257 volunteer architects that for an afternoon were to be lobbyist for the cause of architects and architecture in the state of Texas. The idea is actually quite simple, but hopefully it was effective also. I was fortunate enough to be involved in this event as one of these “volunteer lobbyist.”

The day began at 8:30 am with check in for our “training session”. We met at the AT&T Executive Center in Austin. This was a nice facility and well suited to our needs. We met in a small auditorium that was just barely large enough. There was quite the turnout! It was nice to see all of my fellow architects suited up and ready to attack the Capitol. We were all given small badges to identify ourselves. It made it easier to recognize our group as we infested the Capitol, but also for those we were meeting with to know our names (and our cause).
Continue reading here.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Guest Blog: New Accessibility Standards, Part II

Jeromy G. Murphy, AIA, RAS

Architects are often surprised when they learn that construction tolerances are permitted by the Texas Accessibility Standards, especially if they have just been informed by an over zealous inspector that a toilet will need to be moved one eighth of an inch.

Just look in section 3.2 of the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS).
3.2 Dimensional Tolerances.
All dimensions are subject to conventional industry tolerances for field conditions.

In the new 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (SAD), the permissible tolerances are more specific.

104.1 Dimensions. Dimensions that are not stated as "maximum" or "minimum" are absolute.
104.1.1 Construction and Manufacturing Tolerances. All dimensions are subject to conventional industry tolerances except where the requirement is stated as a range with specific minimum and maximum end points.

The biggest difference is the clarification that tolerances only apply when a fixed dimension is specified or when a maximum OR minimum is given. If a dimension is expressed as a range with a maximum AND a minimum, the field condition must be within that range.

Here are some examples of how construction tolerance could be applied (results may vary between agencies and inspectors):

To hear the latest from TDLR, subscribe to the TDLR List Server http://www.license.state.tx.us/newsletters/TDLRnotificationLists.asp

And check back here to learn more about the upcoming changes.

Jeromy G. Murphy, AIA, RAS
jeromymurphy.wordpress.com
jmurphy@acico.com




Thursday, January 20, 2011

Screen Printing Process – Advocates for Architecture Day


The Texas Society of Architects/AIA limited-edition poster.


For Advocates for Architecture Day, Jan. 25, 2011, the Texas Society of Architects/AIA created 200 limited-edition posters of the Texas State Capitol's dome structure as a gift to state Senators and Representatives. The posters act as a reminder to the legislators of what is important to the architecture profession across the State.

Industry Print Shop screen printed our posters to give the limited-edition run a unique and special look. While the hand-printed posters were in production, we got a glimpse of the screen printing process.





Blank sheet is aligned to maintain a precision and ready to be printed.



Texas State Capitol image "burned" into the emulsion on the screen. The screen is secured to a vacuum table when ready to print.



Starting vacuum table, which keeps the poster sheet from moving while ink is applied.



Ink poured directly to the screen.



With a downward movement, ink is pushed through tiny holes on the screen.



Pushing the squigey back finishes the application of the ink.



Poster immediately after the inking process.



Stacked wire racks used to dry finished posters.



Completed posters placed on wire racks.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Introducing Dan Hart, 2011 TSA President

Daniel Hart, AIA, PE

Dan Hart, AIA, PE, leads the community practice studio within Parkhill, Smith & Cooper in Midland and focuses particularly on buildings for communities of faith. He is a partner with the firm and began his 19 years with PSC in structural engineering and has been practicing architecture for the last 15 years. Dan grew up in Seymour, Texas (50 miles southwest of Wichita Falls), after evacuating with his family at age eight out of Beirut, Lebanon, where his parents were serving as missionaries. 

He is active in the community, where he serves as a board trustee for the Trinity School of Midland; as a member of the Midland Vision 2020 Task Force for the Arts; and as an elder and teacher at First Presbyterian Church. Dan and his wife Jennifer have two kids: Sam (junior in high school) and Clara (6th grade). 

In 2004, Dan was appointed as the public architect to the Joint Advisory Committee between the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. He has served TSA as treasurer, Vice-President for Outreach, chair of the Design Awards Committee, West Texas director, and as president of the West Texas chapter. 

He graduated from Texas Tech University with degrees in architecture and civil engineering (structures specialization). 

Dan, also a registered engineer, taught the senior level structures course to architecture students at Texas Tech for four years.  

In 2001, he was named the Young Engineer of the Year for the Permian Basin Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. 


Thursday, January 13, 2011

Jan. 18: AIA Fort Worth Awards Dinner

January 18 is the AIA Fort Worth Annual Honors, Awards, and Recognition Dinner. AIA Fort Worth will be recognizing the 2010 AIA Fort Worth Honor and Award recipients, the Excellence In Architecture Design Award recipients and Clients, the Student Design Award recipients, and the recipients of the new AIAFW Associate Design Awards. They will also recognize the 2010 TSA honorees and thank those who served AIAFW in 2010 and welcome the new Executive Committee.

Speaker for the evening will be Bob Ray Sanders, speaking on his book "Calvin Littlejohn: Portrait of a Community in Black and White". It will be an exciting evening and one that you will want to attend. *Bob Ray will be autographing books during the social hour. Purchase your book this week from the Center, or the TCU Press will be selling them at the event.

Among those being honored:
*Service Award in Honor of James Wooten: Bill Slavik, AIA
*Young Professional Award: Mark Trance, Associate AIA
*Honorary AIAFW Membership: Will Stallworth
*Quality in Construction: Travis Construction Company
*Quality in Construction/Artisan Award: Jeff G. Smith, Architectural Stained Glass, Inc.
*Excellence in Sustainable Development: BRIT
*Community Award: Fort Worth Public Art Program
*President's Award: Larry Clements
*25-Year Award: Heritage Park

5:30 Social Hour (Cash Bar)
6:30 Dinner and Program
TCU Horned Frog Grand Ballroom
Student Union Center

Cost: $40 per person
Reservations: By Thur., Jan. 13
to: aiafw@aiafortworth.org or 334.0155
Business Dress

University of Texas, El Paso

From Lisa Napoli, the author of the upcoming book Radio Shangri-La, this video takes a quick look at the odd, long-standing connection between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the University of Texas, El Paso.

radioshangrilathebook.com
lisanapoli.com



About Lisa Napoli:
I'm a journalist (my last job was with the public radio show, Marketplace) who got a chance to go to Bhutan in 2007 to help with the start of a radio station there. I fell in love with the place, as many people do. After my first six-week trip there, I was back home in Los Angeles, and I heard about the UTEP-Bhutan connection from Kurt and Pamela Meyer, who collected the photos of John Claude White in a book several years ago---photos that inspired UTEP's unusual architectural lineage. Later, at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival of 2008, which celebrated both Bhutan and Texas, I had the pleasure of meeting many "Miners," and then visiting the school myself.

I write about this whole fascinating connection in my new book, Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth , which will be published by Crown in less than a month! If anyone out there knows more about Kathleen Worrell, the woman who convinced her husband 100 years ago into making the school in El Paso look Bhutanese, I'd be so grateful to hear from them.

lisa@lisanapoli.com

NOTE: Texas Architect published an article on UTEP's campus in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of the magazine. Click here to read that article.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Emerging Professional: Matthew Duggan




1. How would you describe the culture of the firm that you work for?
The Culture at English + Associates is one that encourages education and career advancement. The culture is conducive to providing each employee with opportunities to personalize their experience based on their desired goals.

2. What role does the intern have in your firm?
Interns participate in all aspects of the firm’s daily activities.

3. How has the IDP program helped you? How has your office benefitted from the IDP program?
The IDP program has provided me with a bench mark to see my progress towards becoming a balanced architect. Through IDP I was able to determine specific aspects of the profession that I needed to spend more time learning. The firm’s employees are well rounded and more knowledgeable as a result of the IDP program.

4. How does your IDP process differ from your friends working at other firms?
It seems like the responsibility of the IDP process, at other firms, falls solely on the individual. Whereas at English + Associates, the firm is a team member in the process.

5. What is the best thing about being an architect?
(I am currently studying for the ARE in order to become an architect. I have completed all IDP requirements.)
The best thing about being an architectural intern or about working in the architecture industry as someone pursing an architecture license is being able to educate others about the built environment so that they can make informed decisions.

6. What do you want most out of your career as an architect?
I want to educate and inspire.

7. Name one thing the Texas Society of Architects could do to support the development of the intern/associate members.
Provide more affordable education programs and study materials to help interns study for the ARE.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Emerging Professional: Chris Sias




1. How would you describe the culture of the firm that you work for?
PSC is a people oriented firm that values its employees, their families, and our community.

2. What role does the intern have in your firm?
Interns are encouraged to seek the highest level of involvement possible. Interns are involved in projects at all levels, from schematic design, code analysis, construction documents, and construction administration to name a few.

3. How has the IDP program helped you? How has your office benefitted from the IDP program?
The IDP provides a structure for Interns to work with their supervisors and mentors to assure that they are exposed to all aspects of professional practice. I was fortunate enough to have a great supervisor and mentor which reduced the IDP to a formality. As for our office, the IDP program has helped establish a formal process for assuring that all interns are receiving the necessary training in order to achieve licensure.

4. How does your IDP process differ from your friends working at other firms?
The level of financial support is bar none. Our IDP fees are paid for, all testing fees paid for, paid leave on test days, TSA record maintenance fees paid for, etc.
Also, being that PSC is a multi-disciplinary firm, interns work with what would otherwise be outside consultants on a day to day basis. This leads to, in my opinion, a quicker understanding of how projects come together.

5. What is the best thing about being an architect?
Fulfilling a childhood dream.

6. What do you want most out of your career as an architect?
To be a positive influence in my community.

7. Name one thing the Texas Society of Architects could do to support the development of the intern/associate members.
It may be hard for smaller firms to provide study material for their interns. Maybe this is an area where TSA can offer some financial assistance to qualifying firms.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Emerging Professional: Ledia Osmani



1. How would you describe the culture of the firm that you work for?
The best way to describe the culture at FKP is that we are a mid-size company, offering many of the benefits and resources of a large firm with a nurturing “small firm” attitude toward employees. FKP is very employee-focused and offers many benefits besides the corporate ones. We have a mentorship program — the My Principal program, which matches every employee with a principal mentor to help guide them in their personal and career growth. Professional Development is highly important at FKP, not just for participants in the IDP, but all employees. Beyond the professional, we all engage in a multitude of extracurricular activities such as a Chili Cook Off every spring, AIA Sandcastle in Galveston, Canstruction, Annual Halloween Party, Annual Holiday Potluck, Annual Holiday Party and many more.

2. What role does the intern have in your firm?
Interns at FKP are fully involved in projects. One great thing about FKP is the encouragement and availability of means they give to not just interns, but all employees to further develop their knowledge and experience. All you need as an intern is the will and dedication, and the firm is there to assist you to do whatever you set your mind to. If an intern needs or wants more construction administration experience, all they have to do is express their desire and the firm will provide the opportunity. I think this has been extremely important to all FKP interns to feel that they are important, that their development is important to the firm, and that the firm is committed to helping them move along all the different steps of the IDP.

3. How has the IDP program helped you? How has your office benefitted from the IDP program?
FKP’s IDP program has helped me gain a diverse, well-rounded education and experience after graduation. I think it is very easy for an intern to get “stuck” in one path or only doing one task at their firm. IDP has also provided me with tools to stay organized and on track to get through all phases of my internship as quickly as possible. I believe the best way a firm benefits from their interns (our firm included) is to have interns that are continuing to further their education and gain as much experience as they can in as many areas as they can. This makes them valuable and indispensable employees. With IDP in place, our firm maximizes its investment in its interns, encouraging and supporting them to become well-rounded professionals in the architecture field.

4. How does your IDP process differ from your friends working at other firms?
There are friends of mine from my graduating class at University of Houston that do have some of the same resources that FKP provides their interns, but a lot of my friends do not. It is pretty common in the industry for larger firms to have strong resources for their interns, but many interns at smaller firms do not get the same opportunities. I think one way FKP’s IDP process is different is the personal attention the interns get not only from their supervisor for IDP, but also their project principal and their mentor principal. Every time I meet with my project principal and my mentor principal, I am asked about my IDP progress, how close I might be to completion, what areas do I need more experience in, etc. I will happily be announcing to both of them on our next meeting that my IDP is complete, approved and transmitted to TBAE.

5. What is the best thing about being an architect?
It’s difficult to answer this; there are a multitude of things. One of the best things for me is that I have fulfilled my childhood dream. I am always asked what I wanted to be when I was a child — and I answer “an architect.” There are not many people that follow their childhood dreams. I can whole heartedly say that I am following mine and it feels great. But above all things, the best thing about being an architect is the ability to shape — shape skylines, a neighborhood, a community, a campus, a medical center — the ability to shape the environment we all live in.

6. What do you want most out of your career as an architect?
What I want most out of my career as an architect is to always have the desire to grow, learn, apply my knowledge to the best of my abilities, make conscious and responsible decisions, be willing to accept change and develop every day into a successful professional and member of the community I work and live in.

7. Name one thing the Texas Society of Architects could do to support the development of the intern/associate members.
I would like for the intern/associate members to have more opportunities to develop as professionals of the architecture field beyond their firm, their city, state and even country. I think we could better serve our profession and Texas if we all had more knowledge of the world, its architecture and other cultures. Maybe Texas Society of Architects, through their magazine or other media, can enrich our awareness or provide more outlets of information about what is going on in architecture beyond our own backyard.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Emerging Professional: Sonia Escobar



1. How would you describe the culture of the firm that you work for?
Our culture is built on exploring innovative environmental practices and finding new ways to incorporate them into our designs.

2. What role does the intern have in your firm?
There are multiple roles we play. Since our firm has 19 employees, this gives us an opportunity to get our hands on all aspects of the architecture field.

3. How has the IDP program helped you? How has your office benefitted from the IDP program?
The IDP program has really made our firm diverse to the types of projects we work on. Since all of the interns are reaching the same goal, we have to put ourselves out there by working on different phases of the projects. By doing so, this helps us to become well-rounded designers.

4. How does your IDP process differ from your friends working at other firms?
Our firm has been really helpful by having us fill out detailed timesheets. This way it is easier to report our hours. We also get frequent reminders about the new six-month rule that was implemented. This shows that our firm cares about our future in the architectural field. My friends that work at other firms miss out on many hours by not having a simple reminder.

5. What is the best thing about being an architectural intern?
I learn something new every day.

6. What do you want most out of your career as an architectural intern?
To have the capability of coming up with better “on the spot” solutions when interacting with future clients.

7. Name one thing the Texas Society of Architects could do to support the development of the intern/associate members.
It seems as though TSA is geared towards an older generation of professionals in the architecture field. It would be great if TSA would reach out to younger professionals to try and encourage them to be more involved with the Texas Society of Architects and American Institute of Architects. I would also like to see TSA reach out to more professionals beyond AIA members. For those who are not AIA members, they are missing out on important and useful information shared by TSA.