I remember back when Archinect banned two long-time users who had started dating, and apparently spent an evening chasing each other around the forums flirting or some such. In the morning one was banned. That was back when there was a good amount of daily commenting so it seemed a bit heavy handed and arbitrary of a response, although it was hard to tell what really had gone down unless you happened to be online and witnessed it. Donna and beta, do you guys remember why mdler was banned? And tumbles wasn't, I think. Anyway, I bring it up just to note that archinect has, in fact, banned people in the past. That one kind of seemed perhaps less than deserved so maybe it left a bad taste for the powers that be? Just speculating...
josh, I am jealous! What buildings are you planning to see?
if rick was given a warning, he wouldn't understand what it means. wasn't quondam banned for a while? I thought i remembered his username disappearing for a bit.
I feel like mdler and tumbles were given warnings when every thread turned into them flirting with one another, then mdler got mad about the warning and posted something really ugly and was then temporarily banned? God that was years ago, way before Facebook, when Archinect was the *only* social media around, pretty much. Back when we'd all post what shoes we were wearing that day or argue over whether a German Shepherd or a Red Panda was cuter.
Various other people have been temporarily banned or warned. Problem is, managing all that is a lot of work for Archinect, and the general policy os for the forums to self-police. Although I love a good kangaroo joke, we need to stop egging Richard on. But I know, it's hard, when he - when anyone - posts something blatantly incorrect the desire to set the record straight is overwhelming.
Maybe someone will correct my memory of tumbles/mdler if I'm totally incorrect?
Yes Donna that sounds about right. I think they deleted whatever the ugly thing he posted was, so I never actually saw it personally. And you're right... I'd forgotten, that probably WAS back before facebook. Before the archinect redesign, probably... goodness, probably only 2 people know what I'm talking about, at this point. Holy shit, time flies. The forums were so LIVELY back then! Remember the garwondler?!
Different topic:
We've been hearing anecdotally from a few different GCs that things are starting to thin out after fall. Does anyone else sense a potential slow-down in the offing? Or is it just the midwest, maybe?
Separately, the other thing I've been noticing anecdotally is a shortage of job-seekers in the ~3 years experience bracket. I've been wondering, is it possible that there really IS a shortage of candidates in that time frame, and if so, is it a legacy of the recession?
mdlr hasn't changed a bit. I recently unfriended him on FB when he wouldn't stop shitposting on my wall, after several warnings to knock it off.
evilplatypus is another former regular who finally got banned for being a prick. Can't say I miss his presence one bit. IMO, RB's sins far outweigh ep's.
evilp, tammuz, mdler etc. weren't ALWAYS spammers -- sometimes they had good things to contribute, and usually relatively on-topic. Didn't mdler end up doing some kind of design-build work somewhere? PNW, maybe? Wonder if tumbles is still making cheese...
Yeah, mdler is here in Seattle. Married and just had a kid. He was with the Starbucks corporate office for a while but I'm not sure what he's doing now.
Susan Surface is also here in Seattle. She doesn't post here on the forum anymore, but I occasionally run into her at local AIA events.
Sep 7, 16 11:47 pm ·
·
Perhaps my biggest sin is choosing architecture / building design.
Over the past 10 or so years, this profession is like a marriage relationship that at times I feel like divorcing yet haven't done so.
Sep 8, 16 12:41 am ·
·
We've been hearing anecdotally from a few different GCs that things are starting to thin out after fall. Does anyone else sense a potential slow-down in the offing? Or is it just the midwest, maybe?
An architect with 40+ years experience once told me even 4 years ago, that in his experience, there is a certain level of slow down during fall during big election years (Presidential elections) and fall and winter time often does entail some degree of slow down in construction in places where there the weather gets bad.
In the PNW coastal area, that is particularly true. Especially in the framing work. There is a reason why foundation work, construction framing and exterior envelope is done during the late spring to early fall before the bad weather sets in. Otherwise, you can be stuck with nearly non-stop bad weather from weeks to just over a month straight where you might get one or two day time of sunshine. Where I am at, during the winter months, we sometimes have close to 35 days long of bad weather. What's bad about it is, the breaks between storms tends to happen in the middle of the night. The weather pattern and subsequent train of storms tended to have the 4 to 8 hour reprieve between the end of one storm and the next to be at night so by the next morning, you are already into the next storm. This leaves the feeling of near Biblical like Noah's flood of 40 days and 40 nights. Since most of us would be sleeping at night... we don't notice that break period but construction work is a day time job.
If you experience similar conditions in Fall and Winter, I am sure that you'll notice a certain level of slow down of certain type of construction work at that time of the year. In election years, there is a general slow down in demand of architectural services and clients holding off decisions during fall time of Election years.
The inherent uncertainty that surrounds big elections have this effect. When developers/clients have feeling of uncertainty, some tend to react by holding off decisions or delaying them. You'll probably notice some pattern.
Sorry... a little lengthy but there are certain reasons for slow downs that are common basis. I see the election year being a big factor. Especially with the choice of candidates that we have so we have. This is not meant to open a discussion of politics about candidates so lets agree not to go there.
Separately, the other thing I've been noticing anecdotally is a shortage of job-seekers in the ~3 years experience bracket. I've been wondering, is it possible that there really IS a shortage of candidates in that time frame, and if so, is it a legacy of the recession?
I don't know.
What are you wanting of someone with 3 years experience bracket?
Sep 8, 16 1:15 am ·
·
Before anyone gets bitchy about the lengthy, first part. A slow down for weather is not an absolute in all locales but certain types of construction work is not done during seasons in incliment / bad weather. There is a lot of safety reasons for that. In addition, concrete must have a controlled water process but wood framing is such that you want to control moisture level in the wood and you don't want to close up the building envelope when the wood is saturated with water.
As for during major election seasons, there are general pattern of slow down. This may not always show up with everyone. Some types of projects may not really slow down because of elections but some projects types are more fickle to these kinds of issues.
This isn't a hard rule but it is more gut instinct and experience. I can't say it will always ring true to everyone's experience.
Who are you talking to Ricky? True that elections can affect the construction market but it also affects many other disciplines such as real estate. Keep in mind that most projects span years and perhaps more than one election. These are less likely to be affected.
As for the weather observations, plenty of construction can still proceed even in freezing or wet temperatures. Additives can be added to the concrete and propane tents for exterior masonry are very common.
Definitely a shortage of people with 3+ years of good experience in Chicago right now. We're trying to hire but can't find the right people. I think it's a recession thing, but it has allowed some of us who came on right after the recession to take on more responsibility and get more experiences than we might have otherwise.
There is usually a slowdown at election time, but my firm's current pipeline is still pretty full. Not sure how that would change depending on who is elected.
And to answer Mantaray's question:
Steven Holl's Knut Hamsun Center, the stops along the Lofoten tourist route, a lot of the architecture in Trondheim including Nidaros Cathedral, Hallgrimskirkje and Harpa in Reykjavik. It's actually kind of a lot of nature/hope to hell I see Northern Lights on this trip.
in 2013 the economy was rebounding somewhat and there should have been some firms hiring new grads? the big hole is people who would have graduated 2009-2011 i would think (7-5 years experience).
I was a 2009 person too. Plenty of interviews, but no one hiring. I took the one job offer I had, and held on for too long. Lots of statements like "we'd love to hire you, but we can't".
My school was ranked #1 at the time, but only about 1/4 of the people had solid jobs when we got out. 2009 was a shitty time, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
There are some situations - and the current one may be one - where banning may not be in the best interest of the public. I don't remember most of those folks on archinect who were banned, so I'm not sure if this is the case with them, but if their posts that were deemed offensive were removed when they banned then anybody searching for them in the future will not find those - and that may be a disservice. I don't know if anybody here remembers the late-1990s AIA forum "e-architect"? There was once a woman on there who went by "California Intern", who monopolized every post. Over a year or so she went further and further off the deep end with conspiracy theories, a fascination with guns, and repeated graphic threats of pornographic violence against the then-president of her local AIA chapter. Eventually she voluntarily posted her real identity and resume. But shortly after that she was banned from the site, and all traces of her were removed. I concede that her disappearance without a trace was a good thing for the flow of discussions about architecture. However, that woman has since become an elementary school teacher in California, which makes me worried and sad for children in her classroom - and I have some doubts as to whether she would have been hirable in that position had her posts been google-able. In the current situation, since the poster has always gone by his actual name, his copious posts here should serve as a warning to anyone doing their due dilligence who is considering hiring, commissioning, or admitting him anywhere, and for that reason I hope they are not disappeared if he is eventually banned. I think a policy of not conversing directly with him is the best, as on other forums that has eventually starved him into seeking attention elsewhere.
As for slow-down: I'm in the midst of one now - it started a couple months ago and looks lean through October - but then a lot of long-simmering back-burner work is looking like it's ramping up again all at once - mostly fall/winter work on construction sets for mid-size commercial projects wanting to break ground in the spring.
Sep 8, 16 11:36 am ·
·
Who are you talking to Ricky? True that elections can affect the construction market but it also affects many other disciplines such as real estate. Keep in mind that most projects span years and perhaps more than one election. These are less likely to be affected.
I do agree with you that it does effect other disciplines such as real estate. As for most projects, (Lets say, most 'medium to large scale' projects), Small projects by far outnumber the medium to large scale projects combined in terms of number of projects. Most residential remodels/additions and non-tract development new construction tends to out number medium and large scale projects combined. Just saying.
I can see that what you say with regards to medium to large scale projects that spans years may very well be less likely to be affected by election season 'panic' (just being colorful). Not so sure about small projects.
I know some kinds of projects tends to have more immunity to being delayed because of uncertainty surrounding big election season.
Lets say, I do agree with your essential points.
As for the weather observations, plenty of construction can still proceed even in freezing or wet temperatures. Additives can be added to the concrete and propane tents for exterior masonry are very common.
That is true. If you read thoroughly what I said, I did say some types of construction work tends to slow down or taper off during that time. Particularly times of the most prevailing bad weather in an area.
I didn't say they go to a complete halt. For many of the projects, often small projects (houses,etc.), many or some clients aren't going to be willing to spend for the extra costs involved in putting additives into the concrete for rainy and freezing weather and tents or other means to covering over the concrete/masonry work .
Extra labor = more money. Additives = money. Low budget projects which most projects are, don't want to go through that.
Ricky, most projects are not, as you so wrongly assume, "low budget".
Plenty of factors to consider when increasing the cost of construction (and therefore the schedule), not all of them are bad. You would know this if you had real experience instead of a repertoire of copy-paste oversimplified generalities.
Regarding the dearth of young interns, I was actually thinking it had more to do with kids not going INTO arch school in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 -- theoretically. Not sure if schools actually did see a drop in admissions/graduation at that time, but I can tell you, if I'd been considering an arch degree in those years I probably would have reconsidered. Anyway the time line would fit, if indeed there had been a drop in enrollment then.
Or maybe it's just Chicago. Do people not want to move here anymore? Maybe we stopped being cool.
Donna--just heard on fresh air that one of the main characters in Jonathan safran foer's new novel is a lady architect. Too bad I fucking hate his writing...
Sep 8, 16 2:26 pm ·
·
b3tadine,
Try building in a hurricane with winds of over 100 mph. How's the idea of having roof shingles and nails flying past your face sound to you?
This is what fall and winter weather is like in our locale.
N.S.,
MOST projects are residential remodels such as deck rebuilds, kitchen & bathroom remodels. THEY ARE low budget compared to building a hospital or college building. There are maybe 80 to 100 remodel projects (from small kitchen / bath remodels to complete remodels), additions to homes for every medium to large scale project. Think about it.
Houses are generally small sums of money compared to a high-rise apartment buildings.
Think about it, $750,000 house versus a 750 units of 750 sq.ft. (average size) apartment with amenities building that costs maybe $250 Million.
That 750-unit apartment building is one project but quite a large project while a house is just one project but there are many more houses built than large apartment buildings. There are also many more remodels & addition type projects than there are new construction projects.
When I say they are low budget, from that contextual perspective.... yes. $750,000 is low budget compared to a $200+ Million project.
Remodels can be less than half the $750,000 projects. They can be well under $150,000.
I'd love to have a residential client with a $750k budget. Then again, around here, a contractor presented that budget would just build a 7500 sf house rather than a nicer house.
Ultimately, you can't just say low budget and compare all types of clients. I've done $12,000 renovation projects for state agencies. That's a low budget project for them. But, a $12,000 project for a home or a small business is a healthy chunk of change. A state agency won't hesitate on a 12k project, even in the slow times. But you can bet your ass a homeowner or a small business will. Likewise, a developer is going to view projects differently. It comes down to the type of client and their needs. Then, you can define low budget. I don't use the term. I just worry about projects being underfunded. They almost always are. I excel at cramming ten pounds of shit in a five pound bag.
this brings up another thought. Rick, you often take the approach that most work being done by architects is in the residential and developer world. Most of what you say leans that direction. There is a big world out there with all kinds of different clients.
Mantaray, I think we are kind of uncool here in Chicago. Everyone wants to go to New York, where they are so uncivilized they put their trash in front of the house.
Sep 8, 16 3:32 pm ·
·
Ricky, most projects are not, as you so wrongly assume, "low budget".
Plenty of factors to consider when increasing the cost of construction (and therefore the schedule), not all of them are bad. You would know this if you had real experience instead of a repertoire of copy-paste oversimplified generalities.
Oversimplified is what you get when you try to answer a very open ended question in a relatively short forum post.
I do agree with you, there are plenty of factors when increasing cost of construction but remember on SFRs, clients controls everything.... even design. That is how it's done because you made it that way.
Disney Hall when tourists are taking back lit photos at high noon
Sep 8, 16 4:00 pm ·
·
senjohnblutarsky,
Around 80% of all projects are residential.
You bring up good points. I'll concur that 'low budget' is probably not the best choice of words but I was not using that kind of analysis for the literary framework. It would have over complicated the post into one that would be far too lengthy.
I was using a simpler comparative between small sum projects and large sum project. Sure, $100,000 will seem like a lot of money to a middle-income person. When it comes to building a building like Donald Trump's Trump Tower or an apartment complex on that scale, $750K is hardly a drop in the bucket.
The point was, there is far many more of these small budget projects compared to the number of large budget projects.
Yes, I agree, a small bathroom remodel might be ~$5000 to $15,000. A kitchen & bathroom remodel might be $25,000 but there are many more of these projects than there are number of high rise apartment buildings.
Thread Central
Although I'm still dead tired and thinking about going to bed at 8:30 tonight.
I remember back when Archinect banned two long-time users who had started dating, and apparently spent an evening chasing each other around the forums flirting or some such. In the morning one was banned. That was back when there was a good amount of daily commenting so it seemed a bit heavy handed and arbitrary of a response, although it was hard to tell what really had gone down unless you happened to be online and witnessed it. Donna and beta, do you guys remember why mdler was banned? And tumbles wasn't, I think. Anyway, I bring it up just to note that archinect has, in fact, banned people in the past. That one kind of seemed perhaps less than deserved so maybe it left a bad taste for the powers that be? Just speculating...
josh, I am jealous! What buildings are you planning to see?
There have been warnings and bans to address others behavior since, if I recall correctly. Think perhaps done a bit more "behind the scenes now"...?
Also, probably is limited vis a vis to a specific ip address, username etc...
if rick was given a warning, he wouldn't understand what it means. wasn't quondam banned for a while? I thought i remembered his username disappearing for a bit.
I feel like mdler and tumbles were given warnings when every thread turned into them flirting with one another, then mdler got mad about the warning and posted something really ugly and was then temporarily banned? God that was years ago, way before Facebook, when Archinect was the *only* social media around, pretty much. Back when we'd all post what shoes we were wearing that day or argue over whether a German Shepherd or a Red Panda was cuter.
Various other people have been temporarily banned or warned. Problem is, managing all that is a lot of work for Archinect, and the general policy os for the forums to self-police. Although I love a good kangaroo joke, we need to stop egging Richard on. But I know, it's hard, when he - when anyone - posts something blatantly incorrect the desire to set the record straight is overwhelming.
Maybe someone will correct my memory of tumbles/mdler if I'm totally incorrect?
Yes Donna that sounds about right. I think they deleted whatever the ugly thing he posted was, so I never actually saw it personally. And you're right... I'd forgotten, that probably WAS back before facebook. Before the archinect redesign, probably... goodness, probably only 2 people know what I'm talking about, at this point. Holy shit, time flies. The forums were so LIVELY back then! Remember the garwondler?!
Different topic:
We've been hearing anecdotally from a few different GCs that things are starting to thin out after fall. Does anyone else sense a potential slow-down in the offing? Or is it just the midwest, maybe?
Separately, the other thing I've been noticing anecdotally is a shortage of job-seekers in the ~3 years experience bracket. I've been wondering, is it possible that there really IS a shortage of candidates in that time frame, and if so, is it a legacy of the recession?
mdlr hasn't changed a bit. I recently unfriended him on FB when he wouldn't stop shitposting on my wall, after several warnings to knock it off.
evilplatypus is another former regular who finally got banned for being a prick. Can't say I miss his presence one bit. IMO, RB's sins far outweigh ep's.
evilp, tammuz, mdler etc. weren't ALWAYS spammers -- sometimes they had good things to contribute, and usually relatively on-topic. Didn't mdler end up doing some kind of design-build work somewhere? PNW, maybe? Wonder if tumbles is still making cheese...
Yeah, mdler is here in Seattle. Married and just had a kid. He was with the Starbucks corporate office for a while but I'm not sure what he's doing now.
Susan Surface is also here in Seattle. She doesn't post here on the forum anymore, but I occasionally run into her at local AIA events.
Perhaps my biggest sin is choosing architecture / building design.
Over the past 10 or so years, this profession is like a marriage relationship that at times I feel like divorcing yet haven't done so.
We've been hearing anecdotally from a few different GCs that things are starting to thin out after fall. Does anyone else sense a potential slow-down in the offing? Or is it just the midwest, maybe?
An architect with 40+ years experience once told me even 4 years ago, that in his experience, there is a certain level of slow down during fall during big election years (Presidential elections) and fall and winter time often does entail some degree of slow down in construction in places where there the weather gets bad.
In the PNW coastal area, that is particularly true. Especially in the framing work. There is a reason why foundation work, construction framing and exterior envelope is done during the late spring to early fall before the bad weather sets in. Otherwise, you can be stuck with nearly non-stop bad weather from weeks to just over a month straight where you might get one or two day time of sunshine. Where I am at, during the winter months, we sometimes have close to 35 days long of bad weather. What's bad about it is, the breaks between storms tends to happen in the middle of the night. The weather pattern and subsequent train of storms tended to have the 4 to 8 hour reprieve between the end of one storm and the next to be at night so by the next morning, you are already into the next storm. This leaves the feeling of near Biblical like Noah's flood of 40 days and 40 nights. Since most of us would be sleeping at night... we don't notice that break period but construction work is a day time job.
If you experience similar conditions in Fall and Winter, I am sure that you'll notice a certain level of slow down of certain type of construction work at that time of the year. In election years, there is a general slow down in demand of architectural services and clients holding off decisions during fall time of Election years.
The inherent uncertainty that surrounds big elections have this effect. When developers/clients have feeling of uncertainty, some tend to react by holding off decisions or delaying them. You'll probably notice some pattern.
Sorry... a little lengthy but there are certain reasons for slow downs that are common basis. I see the election year being a big factor. Especially with the choice of candidates that we have so we have. This is not meant to open a discussion of politics about candidates so lets agree not to go there.
Separately, the other thing I've been noticing anecdotally is a shortage of job-seekers in the ~3 years experience bracket. I've been wondering, is it possible that there really IS a shortage of candidates in that time frame, and if so, is it a legacy of the recession?
I don't know.
What are you wanting of someone with 3 years experience bracket?
Before anyone gets bitchy about the lengthy, first part. A slow down for weather is not an absolute in all locales but certain types of construction work is not done during seasons in incliment / bad weather. There is a lot of safety reasons for that. In addition, concrete must have a controlled water process but wood framing is such that you want to control moisture level in the wood and you don't want to close up the building envelope when the wood is saturated with water.
As for during major election seasons, there are general pattern of slow down. This may not always show up with everyone. Some types of projects may not really slow down because of elections but some projects types are more fickle to these kinds of issues.
This isn't a hard rule but it is more gut instinct and experience. I can't say it will always ring true to everyone's experience.
OKAY ?
As for the weather observations, plenty of construction can still proceed even in freezing or wet temperatures. Additives can be added to the concrete and propane tents for exterior masonry are very common.
There is usually a slowdown at election time, but my firm's current pipeline is still pretty full. Not sure how that would change depending on who is elected.
Steven Holl's Knut Hamsun Center, the stops along the Lofoten tourist route, a lot of the architecture in Trondheim including Nidaros Cathedral, Hallgrimskirkje and Harpa in Reykjavik. It's actually kind of a lot of nature/hope to hell I see Northern Lights on this trip.
in 2013 the economy was rebounding somewhat and there should have been some firms hiring new grads? the big hole is people who would have graduated 2009-2011 i would think (7-5 years experience).
^that's my zone. Graduated summer of 2009. Found full time job within 2 weeks... with plenty of interviews in other firms.
I was a 2009 person too. Plenty of interviews, but no one hiring. I took the one job offer I had, and held on for too long. Lots of statements like "we'd love to hire you, but we can't".
My school was ranked #1 at the time, but only about 1/4 of the people had solid jobs when we got out. 2009 was a shitty time, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
^ I actually turned down job offers in 2009...
There are some situations - and the current one may be one - where banning may not be in the best interest of the public. I don't remember most of those folks on archinect who were banned, so I'm not sure if this is the case with them, but if their posts that were deemed offensive were removed when they banned then anybody searching for them in the future will not find those - and that may be a disservice.
I don't know if anybody here remembers the late-1990s AIA forum "e-architect"? There was once a woman on there who went by "California Intern", who monopolized every post. Over a year or so she went further and further off the deep end with conspiracy theories, a fascination with guns, and repeated graphic threats of pornographic violence against the then-president of her local AIA chapter. Eventually she voluntarily posted her real identity and resume. But shortly after that she was banned from the site, and all traces of her were removed.
I concede that her disappearance without a trace was a good thing for the flow of discussions about architecture. However, that woman has since become an elementary school teacher in California, which makes me worried and sad for children in her classroom - and I have some doubts as to whether she would have been hirable in that position had her posts been google-able. In the current situation, since the poster has always gone by his actual name, his copious posts here should serve as a warning to anyone doing their due dilligence who is considering hiring, commissioning, or admitting him anywhere, and for that reason I hope they are not disappeared if he is eventually banned. I think a policy of not conversing directly with him is the best, as on other forums that has eventually starved him into seeking attention elsewhere.
As for slow-down: I'm in the midst of one now - it started a couple months ago and looks lean through October - but then a lot of long-simmering back-burner work is looking like it's ramping up again all at once - mostly fall/winter work on construction sets for mid-size commercial projects wanting to break ground in the spring.
Who are you talking to Ricky? True that elections can affect the construction market but it also affects many other disciplines such as real estate. Keep in mind that most projects span years and perhaps more than one election. These are less likely to be affected.
I do agree with you that it does effect other disciplines such as real estate. As for most projects, (Lets say, most 'medium to large scale' projects), Small projects by far outnumber the medium to large scale projects combined in terms of number of projects. Most residential remodels/additions and non-tract development new construction tends to out number medium and large scale projects combined. Just saying.
I can see that what you say with regards to medium to large scale projects that spans years may very well be less likely to be affected by election season 'panic' (just being colorful). Not so sure about small projects.
I know some kinds of projects tends to have more immunity to being delayed because of uncertainty surrounding big election season.
Lets say, I do agree with your essential points.
As for the weather observations, plenty of construction can still proceed even in freezing or wet temperatures. Additives can be added to the concrete and propane tents for exterior masonry are very common.
That is true. If you read thoroughly what I said, I did say some types of construction work tends to slow down or taper off during that time. Particularly times of the most prevailing bad weather in an area.
I didn't say they go to a complete halt. For many of the projects, often small projects (houses,etc.), many or some clients aren't going to be willing to spend for the extra costs involved in putting additives into the concrete for rainy and freezing weather and tents or other means to covering over the concrete/masonry work .
Extra labor = more money. Additives = money. Low budget projects which most projects are, don't want to go through that.
My face when I read "she teaches elementary school now":
FFS WE BUILD IN THE FUCKING DEAD OF WINTER IN MY PART OF THE NORTH WOODS.
[FUCK YOU, I LIKE CAPS, TODAY]
IN FACT, THIS IS HOW I AM TALKING TODAY.
Ricky, most projects are not, as you so wrongly assume, "low budget".
Plenty of factors to consider when increasing the cost of construction (and therefore the schedule), not all of them are bad. You would know this if you had real experience instead of a repertoire of copy-paste oversimplified generalities.
WELL, I JUST PUT MY APPLICATION IN TO BE A HS GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, AND SUICIDE HOTLINE LISTENER.
NEXT, TIMES SQUARE GIZZ MOPPER.
b3ta, please feel free to join in on the white male architects in film thread. IT WILL BE FUN!
Regarding the dearth of young interns, I was actually thinking it had more to do with kids not going INTO arch school in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 -- theoretically. Not sure if schools actually did see a drop in admissions/graduation at that time, but I can tell you, if I'd been considering an arch degree in those years I probably would have reconsidered. Anyway the time line would fit, if indeed there had been a drop in enrollment then.
Or maybe it's just Chicago. Do people not want to move here anymore? Maybe we stopped being cool.
Donna--just heard on fresh air that one of the main characters in Jonathan safran foer's new novel is a lady architect. Too bad I fucking hate his writing...
b3tadine,
Try building in a hurricane with winds of over 100 mph. How's the idea of having roof shingles and nails flying past your face sound to you?
This is what fall and winter weather is like in our locale.
N.S.,
MOST projects are residential remodels such as deck rebuilds, kitchen & bathroom remodels. THEY ARE low budget compared to building a hospital or college building. There are maybe 80 to 100 remodel projects (from small kitchen / bath remodels to complete remodels), additions to homes for every medium to large scale project. Think about it.
Houses are generally small sums of money compared to a high-rise apartment buildings.
Think about it, $750,000 house versus a 750 units of 750 sq.ft. (average size) apartment with amenities building that costs maybe $250 Million.
That 750-unit apartment building is one project but quite a large project while a house is just one project but there are many more houses built than large apartment buildings. There are also many more remodels & addition type projects than there are new construction projects.
When I say they are low budget, from that contextual perspective.... yes. $750,000 is low budget compared to a $200+ Million project.
Remodels can be less than half the $750,000 projects. They can be well under $150,000.
... $750,000 house... low budget.
Fuck.
I'd love to have a residential client with a $750k budget. Then again, around here, a contractor presented that budget would just build a 7500 sf house rather than a nicer house.
Ultimately, you can't just say low budget and compare all types of clients. I've done $12,000 renovation projects for state agencies. That's a low budget project for them. But, a $12,000 project for a home or a small business is a healthy chunk of change. A state agency won't hesitate on a 12k project, even in the slow times. But you can bet your ass a homeowner or a small business will. Likewise, a developer is going to view projects differently. It comes down to the type of client and their needs. Then, you can define low budget. I don't use the term. I just worry about projects being underfunded. They almost always are. I excel at cramming ten pounds of shit in a five pound bag.
this brings up another thought. Rick, you often take the approach that most work being done by architects is in the residential and developer world. Most of what you say leans that direction. There is a big world out there with all kinds of different clients.
Mantaray, I think we are kind of uncool here in Chicago. Everyone wants to go to New York, where they are so uncivilized they put their trash in front of the house.
Ricky, most projects are not, as you so wrongly assume, "low budget".
Plenty of factors to consider when increasing the cost of construction (and therefore the schedule), not all of them are bad. You would know this if you had real experience instead of a repertoire of copy-paste oversimplified generalities.
Oversimplified is what you get when you try to answer a very open ended question in a relatively short forum post.
I do agree with you, there are plenty of factors when increasing cost of construction but remember on SFRs, clients controls everything.... even design. That is how it's done because you made it that way.
Yeah ok.
Next topic: which is cuter? Red panda or Gehry's Disney Hall. Discuss.
^again ricky, not so much. Shitty and micro managing clients exist for sure, but they are not the norm... even for SFR.
Josh, Disney hall but only when it's sleeping.
senjohnblutarsky,
Around 80% of all projects are residential.
You bring up good points. I'll concur that 'low budget' is probably not the best choice of words but I was not using that kind of analysis for the literary framework. It would have over complicated the post into one that would be far too lengthy.
I was using a simpler comparative between small sum projects and large sum project. Sure, $100,000 will seem like a lot of money to a middle-income person. When it comes to building a building like Donald Trump's Trump Tower or an apartment complex on that scale, $750K is hardly a drop in the bucket.
The point was, there is far many more of these small budget projects compared to the number of large budget projects.
Yes, I agree, a small bathroom remodel might be ~$5000 to $15,000. A kitchen & bathroom remodel might be $25,000 but there are many more of these projects than there are number of high rise apartment buildings.
^
.
Seriously, how can you all pick Disney Hall over an adorable Red Panda?
But, of those residential projects claiming 80% of the market, how many actually have a designer.
My money is on most of them being owner concocted crap, contractor concocted crap, or book/stock plans.
Josh, sad owl does not approve:
Around 80% of all projects are residential.
According to the US Census Bureau 38.6% of construction projects in 2015 were residential projects, including new homes and renovations.
You would come across as much more credible and professional if you would stop making up fake statistics.
Shoot, we used to bulleye sad desert owls back on Tatooine. They can't be more than 2m.
Josh, red pandas are second only to Malamute puppies in my book.
And now I want a puppy. I bet they are low budget.
^ 80% of puppies are low budget.
"Around 80% of all puppies are residential."
assuming a GC, full gut bathroom is going to start around $20k, & a kitchen is going to start around $70k
plus professional fees, permits, etc
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