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what to do with my career, firm recommendations, blah, blah, blah...

Alright, here's the long story made short:

1. Current job isn't the best match for me (as noted here)
2. I generally know where my architectural interest lie - with where digital and analog fabrication methods cross with architecture (see here for a good article on from The Architect's Newspaper). I have a BArch and am confident in my design skills, but want to get my hands dirty.
3. I'm at a point in my life where I can pretty much pick up and move anywhere and want to do so.

My approach is I should find a job doing what I'm interested in exploring and then move wherever I have to go to do it. No point in limiting myself to a specific area (although leaving the Northeast for once would be nice). I'm want to get rid of a majority of my stuff and just throw the bare necessities in my car and move somewhere. I don't have a lot of money, but I think I could get by fine as far as finding somewhere new and making the move, etc.

Problems:

1. I have no experience on the digital end of things. I can MIG weld, and am more than comfortable in a metal or wood shop, but have never done anything with any sort of CNC work. Is this something that places expect people to know how to do? I know most grad programs have these kind of tools, but I haven't gone to grad yet, and my undergrad was sorely lacking in facilities.

2. Due to lack of resources, the stuff I've been able to build is limited. Right now I'm working on some bent laminate wood chairs (which includes vacuum bagging, and making silicone molds/cast plastic pieces), and will be making a small batch of longboards (more bending of veneers - and skate, not surf) with a friend. is this enough to get my foot in the door?

3. There seems to be a small number of firms exploring this, and my fear is that since I'm not a grad student and don't have a lot of experience in the stuff, it'll be tough finding a job. My list of firms is small, and was hoping people could make recommendations. This is what I have so far:

- m1/dtw
- SHoP (yeah, right...)
- vekyo
- HypeArc
- Marmol Radziner Associates
- Public Architecture/Planning
- Lewis.Tsurmaki.Lewis
- FACE
- Bill Massie
- Freecell
- MADE
- Per Corell (heh)

It seems that the type of firms I'm looking for are smaller and are generally going to be off the radar for me. I personally feel this is a weak list for me to start with, so any help is appreciated.

Feel free to comment on any or all of the points above. I'm more than willing to continue discussion either in this forum or via email if anyone has super specific questions.

 
Jun 17, 05 8:21 pm
Ms Beary

wanna start a design/build with me? You can do the welding and I can do the digi?

EOE - (gay people can apply), low wages but good benefits.

Jun 17, 05 9:31 pm  · 
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I wish it was that simple. If I had the money I would set up shop in Boston, as (to my knowledge) there aren't any offices experimenting along these lines too much besides Kimo Griggs.

Jun 18, 05 6:07 am  · 
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vado retro

if u wanna learn cnc just go to a tech school dude. cheap and handson.

Jun 18, 05 6:24 pm  · 
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I know theres more to it than learning CNC... but I was just curious as to if not knowing it would be a big deal.

Jun 19, 05 1:26 pm  · 
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liberty bell

Pixel - I can't address the first two points, really, but as for #3: If you are at a mental and emotional place where the thought of throwing bare minimum stuff into your car and taking off to try something new appeals to you, I say go for it.

There is so much to be learned from going someplace new. And later in life it will be harder to do this. It is always possible, of course. But it sounds as if you don't have a network where you live now - that is, a network of professional contacts that will be valuable later on if you should try to go out on your own. Being in one place for awhile you build up those contacts, and it is hard to leave them for something new, not to mention the accoutrements of life partner, mortgage, kids....

Throwing everything into a car and driving across country is something everyone should experience at some time in their life.

I don't know about firms, but maybe Austin would be a good place to head toward? That's definitely out of the northeast!

Jun 20, 05 10:45 am  · 
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Tectonic
http://cryingwhileeating.com/
Jun 20, 05 10:50 am  · 
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Ms Beary

I'm throwing everything in a U-Haul come August. Heading across the country. YAHOOOO what a great feeling.

Jun 20, 05 10:57 am  · 
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A

I envy you strawbeary. Where are you heading?

Pixel - there is a small firm in Minneapolis that might be interesting to you. http://www.locusarchitecture.com/ Mostly residential but design/build. They spoke at the AIA convention a few years back. An office that's all hands on. Some days they are in the field swinging hammers and other days in the office designing. I'm sure there are many around the country that have similar set-ups.

Jun 20, 05 11:20 am  · 
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strawbeary-

right after undergrad i went home, loaded up my bronco, and headed north from va looking for work. the idea was to hit the cities along the way and walk-in, interview, whatever. i said if i hadn't found something by mpls i'd stop there - since it was pegged by rand mcnally as the 'most livable city' that year. interviewed in timonium md, dc, cleveland, madison, and landed in mpls.

can't exactly say how it worked out for me. on one hand, i worked in a mall for 1 1/2 yrs in mpls while doing contract/independent work in arch. finally found a job after 18 mos. but despite the downtime, i regard this 18 mos. as one of the most creative periods of my life.

Jun 20, 05 11:35 am  · 
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A

Steven - I have a friend that did a very similar thing. After spending a summer doing construction labor he decided he'd had enough and was going to find a job. Since he had been striking out in Chicago all summer he loaded up the truck and aimed south. After trying St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville and other random cities in-between he landed in Atlanta, walked into a 3 person firm, and got hired on the spot. Years later he's still there, loves the job, met someone and got married. All in all, very happy with what he did.

Jun 20, 05 1:04 pm  · 
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kapoot

I've worked for and with a few of the firms on your list... connections definitely help, but you never know where they will come from either. Put feelers out, get some fabrication experience, pester some small firms and show them how badly you want to work there and why they should hire you. Figure out exactly what you want to learn and tell them why you want to learn it there. relocate if you want, but you may have an easier time of it with no experience if you keep where your contacts are. work for minimum wage and sweat it out. Be humble.

Jun 20, 05 5:03 pm  · 
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vado retro

make no small plans. set your sights on being the next brad pitt.

Jun 20, 05 8:15 pm  · 
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Ms Beary

... i don't care to say where i'm going. sorry.

Jun 20, 05 11:44 pm  · 
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Suture

PW-

with wood and metal skills you would be surprised by the money you can make on your own fabricating pieces and making art. Perhaps you dont have to exclusively work for one firm but instead could make custom pieces for several firms.

make a portfolio and sell your abilities to area firms. wealthy clients are happy to pay big bucks for a custom fireplace or desk that their neighboors cant buy off the shelf.

marketing is your key.

Jun 21, 05 12:31 am  · 
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suture:

yes, I am aware of the $ that can be found doing custom work for various firms, and its something that I definately plan on revisiting in the future. But right now I'd prefer to fine-tune my skills (and build up my portfolio) by working on someone else's dime: the start-up investment to get something off the ground is out of my reach at the time.

plus I want to just pack up my car and head somewhere different. I've lived in Massachusetts my whole life and its time for me to see what else is out there...

Jun 21, 05 9:02 am  · 
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liberty bell

Go west young man!!

But don't f*ck up the west like so many before you have done - learn a new way to live that is appropriate to your new surroundings.

I'm excited for you, Pixel. As I've said in other threads, "Leap and the net will appear"

Jun 21, 05 10:06 am  · 
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"Go west young man"

Can't tell you how many times I've heard that from friends.

I'm excited too. I feel that I know what I want to be doing and have started the wheels in motion for getting there. I know its not going to be easy, but I'm up for a challenge. Hopefully I won't come up with a bunch of excuses at the last minute to delay things...

And where ever I end up, my single speed bike will come with me...

Jun 21, 05 10:31 am  · 
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J3

Same here. After 6 years in DC, I have tired of this and I'm heading back to Miami, FL. What am I going to do? well, not really sure. I am taking 4-6 weeks off to think...and then see what the options are. Continuing with my current employer is an option, but so are going to a small firm or better yet going out on my own (expensive start-up but rewarding) We'll see.
I am jumping, with the notion of a safety net...because I lived/worked in Miami in the past. But it's still a little scary...

Jun 21, 05 11:42 am  · 
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Ms Beary

J3 - what are you doing for health insurance during the 4-6 weeks? I have financial means to keep myslef afloat all except health insurance. It is frustrating that this single matter can determine my life course and FORCE me to be employed even though I have money saved up for other living expenses.

Jun 21, 05 12:00 pm  · 
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J3

Well, my current employer (HR) assured me that by working on Friday July 1st, I would be covered until the end of July (that takes care of 1 moth) then I will most likely have to get the COBRA supplement Ins. which runs about $3-400 for a month (for 1 month)

Jun 21, 05 1:19 pm  · 
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J3

I just re-read my post and realize that by saying "for a month" negates the extra use of "(for 1 month)"
I am such a fuck!ng retard!

Anyways...getting back to your dilema. Another one of my reasons for making the move is because I want to spend next summer working in Spain (no idea for whom yet). To do this I need to save money, and the only way to save the ammount I need (including getting self insurance) is by moving in with one of my sisters and not paying 1g+ a month on rent + other exp. of living in the NE (I know DC is not SF/NYC, but it's still expensive)
Sure, I could go uninsured for a while...but how smart is that? It's sad that health insurance is such a big problem in this country (big political subject, which I do not wish to elaborate on at the moment)

Jun 21, 05 1:26 pm  · 
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A

I once went a couple months no insurance. Mostly I was young and didn't really think about it. Then again, if you are young and healthy the COBRA option isn't so bad. For older persons it's unreal how expensive COBRA is. Had a family member switch jobs and the month in-between cost him over $1k for COBRA coverage.

Jun 21, 05 1:34 pm  · 
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Ms Beary

It (cobra) will cost me and my husband $700/month. We are both in mid twenties and healthy. It is outrageous how much it costs, and that health insurance is tied to your employment.

Jun 21, 05 3:25 pm  · 
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Ms Beary

sorry pixel for hijacking your thread.

Jun 21, 05 3:25 pm  · 
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eh it happens, I've hijacked my fare share of threads.

But, relating to all that:
When I go on my little journey to where ever I end up going, I'm planning on being without health insurance for a small bit. Figure I'll take care of doctor's appointments, dentist visits, perscription refills, etc. before I head out, and just hope for the best. Yeah, I understand how stupid that is, but if its gotta be done its gotta be done. Hopefully there won't be too much of a lag inbetween jobs so I'll be all set.

Jun 21, 05 3:29 pm  · 
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Ms Beary

going without health insurance is fine until something happens. then your whole life can change for the worse if you are in a car accident or what have you, you can lose everything you own and more. i guess my mom has drilled into my head that you do not go without it, and i have to take her advice.
but this is what someone told me (will vary by state, maybe by previus employer) that you can elect cobra within 60 days after your last day if you should happen to need it. so if you get in an accident where you have thousands in bills, you can elect cobra that day and get coverage. otherwise, if you get sick, and it won't cost as much as cobra would, you just pay for it out of pocket.

Jun 21, 05 3:36 pm  · 
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Aluminate

Only firms with at least 20 employees are required to offer COBRA coverage.

There are fairly inexpensive insurance policies that are intended for short-term catastrophic coverage. I've had two of these policies during two different periods when I didn't have coverage elsewhere. The policy is intended to cover a major health crisis - serious illness or accident. There is no coverage for routine care - so you'd be paying out of pocket, and the deductible is quite high ($800 to $1500.) But: you'd be covered for any unexpected major disaster. The premiums both times I did this were under $100 per month (it was $81 the last time I did this about 2 years ago.)

I got my short-term policy through a credit union at which I have an account. If you don't have someplace offering this sort of policy you could search on the internet. Fortis is one company that offers these policies. I think there's a 6-month limit with an option of renewing for one more 6-month period.


Strawbeary: did you finally find a new job? Or just going to pack up and search wherever the UHaul truck takes you?

Jun 21, 05 8:36 pm  · 
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dia

So, in the US, health insurance is pretty much compulsory? I have heard horror stories about healthcare in the states...

In NZ, you dont even need health insurance because healthcare is cheap. If I decide to, I [age 29] can get full health insurance for myself, fiance and child for NZD$80.20 a month...

ps: good luck pixel...

Jun 21, 05 9:12 pm  · 
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Aluminate

Well there are a shocking number of people without health insurance in the US, so "compulsory" may not be the right word....
But one illness or accident could easily bankrupt you, so if it is at all affordable health insurance should be a top priority. To put this in perspective: I had a fairly routine test as a hospital outpatient recently. The bills were supposed to go directly to the insurance company, but there was some paperwork problem and they came to me. The total was over $12,000 (about half of this was for the test, supplies used, technicians involved, etc. and the other half was the fee for the specialist who reviewed the results.) Now in all likelihood if I hadn't had insurance I wouldn't have had the test at all - but naturally not all medical issues are that optional, and besides, depending upon test results, people opting to not have tests due to financial limitations could be pretty dangerous...

Not all employers do offer insurance, but the AIA shows over 90% of firms covering at least part of their employees' insurance (it's not uncommon for the firm to pay about 70% and require the employee to foot the rest.)

Jun 21, 05 9:53 pm  · 
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dia

Aluminate - thats pretty frightening. The difference between the two countries probably comes down to public liability. In NZ, I think there is a cap of $250,000 that can be awarded to a complainant. There is also a scheme called ACC [Accident Compensation Corporation] which covers everybody for injuries at work - paid for by an employer subsidy. It makes it a good place to get ill, if you had to...

Jun 21, 05 10:05 pm  · 
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Aluminate

The US has Worker's Compensation which pays for injuries sustained at work (or illnesses directly caused by work.) Employers must pay into worman's comp for all of their employees. But, it can sometimes take a long time to collect for a qualifying injury, and sometimes there are problems with getting an injury recognized as work-related (especially if it is a repetetive stress type of injury.)

Jun 21, 05 10:10 pm  · 
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dia

Right, happens here too - particularly with RSI, sore backs etc. I havent had the displeasure of navigating that particular minefield yet.

I just found it interesting that you guys need to be thinking about insurance so heavily, because of the consequences. Here, it is not an issue...

Jun 21, 05 10:32 pm  · 
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I'm going to bump this up to maybe get some more feedback from people. Yes, I'm being selfish, but if Per can do it, so can I!

oh, and add PlyArch to my original list.

Jun 30, 05 2:49 pm  · 
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liberty bell

Pixel, if you do follow through with your move, please make sure you continue to post here - you would be missed.

Jun 30, 05 2:53 pm  · 
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why thank you, liberty.
seeing how this is my number one waste of time, I'm sure I'll keep posting regardless of my location.

Jun 30, 05 4:10 pm  · 
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feelandtriple

liberty-
i'm in austin, i'm not sure there's a whole lot here. lots of small firms doing stone ranch houses. saturated intern market with UT here. a few firms doing cool houses. dying to get out of texas, to do anything but residential. are you here too? do you know something i dont?

as for needing to know CNC pixelwhore, i think if you know any CAD program you're basically marketable. most firms dont have the capacity to do rapid prototyping, with the exception of the main ones that make that their main gig. being able to build stuff, you might look at joining up with a design-build, or a firm that does lots of hands on prototyping.

and as for insurance, i went a year and a half without it, it sucked. but primacare clinics aren't tooo bad. insurance is better.

Jun 30, 05 8:40 pm  · 
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fullofit

Bump, because i'm interested in the list of firms the OP started. There was a fabrication shop doing some architecture in Richmond, VA called Tektonics for a while, but they dropped architecture after the recession. I'd love to see who else this is working for. 

I can add El Dorado, although they don't really do the physical work any more. 

Sep 28, 12 6:25 pm  · 
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