All tech people are now working from home remotely and safely. Can architects/engineers/designers work remotely from home? Or, are we the last one to left out in ghost town, commuting by public transportations, touching public buttons and handrails, having face-to-face meetings until we all get sick? Please share your challenges and concerns, success and failure stories here!
The immediate issue I can see is the laptop requires very high spec to run multiple heavy software, and we need to inspect actual samples with multiple people.
Non Sequitur
Mar 10, 20 5:46 am
stop with the paranoia.
newbie.Phronesis
Mar 10, 20 2:52 pm
Seconded
joseffischer
Mar 10, 20 7:47 am
The immediate issue is your boss letting you, no? My computer at home could run circles around our computers at work. If not, remote login options are widely available. It's definitely not going to be the technology that stops you.
Non Sequitur
Mar 10, 20 8:06 am
The main issue I see is supervision of the grunt workers and quality control. Harder to control hours spent, drawing coordination, and deadlines when no one is present... plus clients management + CA require decent level of physical presence.
zonker
Mar 10, 20 12:06 pm
I'm one of those "grunt workers"
Wood Guy
Mar 10, 20 2:46 pm
Code, are you an office-based or home-based grunt worker?
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 10, 20 9:51 am
I work remotely for a couple of firms plus do my own work. It works great for me. My (new) computer is far more powerful and has more software than any computer in a firm. The job is drawing buildings, reading codes, and writing emails with occasional meetings. Of course it can be done remotely. I think it is better suited to remote work than office work.
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 10, 20 9:57 am
I do work for an architect who lives about 40 miles away so we meet at our "office" about halfway between us about once a week. We meet in an atrium that has a bunch of large tables that's always available and free. I've noticed several others do the same - people with drawings, pocket protectors, and calculators (engineers?) and people with hard hats (construction workers!)
tduds
Mar 10, 20 12:14 pm
That sounds like a great setup.
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 10, 20 1:52 pm
Just about perfect.
Wood Guy
Mar 10, 20 2:40 pm
tintt, if this is too personal please ignore it, but when I have subcontracted to others I have charged a steeply discounted rate, and when I've subbed work to others it's the same. If you do this as well, do you have any trouble prioritizing work based on compensation?
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 10, 20 6:35 pm
I don't charge other architects what I charge other clients for sure. Kinda like wholesale vs retail pricing. My costs are less too because I don't have to seek new work all the time if they just feed it to me. Win-win. They still make money but don't have to draw or design or they just do the parts they want. Then they use their extra time to get more work.
Taso
Mar 11, 20 2:19 am
tintt, how do you work when you need to coordinate with other team members during early design phase? And
selecting materiality?
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 11, 20 11:58 am
taso, it depends. Early design is either headed up by one person with support from others or you start by everyone coming up with something, everyone taking a look, and then finding a path forward. Materials - through samples, drawings, cut sheets, and photographs like everyone else.
Wood Guy
Mar 10, 20 2:38 pm
I've had about ten different architects or drafters work for me remotely, and only two were experienced and self-directed enough for it to work for me, and even those were hard to manage in some ways. It probably reflects more on me than on them, as I know ithe arrangement can work for others. But I've decided that at least for now I can't have remote help.
I do somewhat complicated residential projects on relatively tight budgets, which doesn't make it easy to get help. It also doesn't help that I'm not licensed (but legal for the jobs I do) which limits my labor pool to some degree.
OddArchitect
Mar 10, 20 4:59 pm
I'd say it's entirely possible. I've just never worked for a firm that allows it. :(
To be fair at least 20% of my work from home time would be spent telling my dog that he's a good boy instead of doing architecture.
citizen
Mar 10, 20 5:33 pm
^ Supportive work environment... especially if he is, in fact, a good boy.
OddArchitect
Mar 10, 20 6:16 pm
Oh he is. He also knows it.
archi_dude
Mar 10, 20 8:28 pm
I mean I feel like more than 20% of peoples time is spent on needless bathroom breaks, playing on phones, exploring google earth. So essentially same result less souls ground into the dirt
OddArchitect
Mar 11, 20 5:54 pm
Your utilization ratio sucks if you're at 80%. That or you're a partner.
atelier nobody
Mar 11, 20 7:26 pm
When I was in Technical Services (supporting all the project teams, not a regular part of any of them), my target utilization rate was 80%.
atelier nobody
Mar 11, 20 7:28 pm
Also, Chad, if you're claiming you record GO time every time you pee or get a cup of coffee, or every time a coworker comes to your desk for a chat, I call BS.
\
citizen
Mar 10, 20 5:31 pm
I'd settle for folks being remotely competent.
OddArchitect
Mar 10, 20 6:16 pm
Harsh. You should write that on redline set.
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 10, 20 6:50 pm
ouch, but yeah
Non Sequitur
Mar 10, 20 8:09 pm
agree... would have made my day much better if that was the case.
OddArchitect
Mar 11, 20 10:03 am
Pffft. I typically have a utilization factor 90-95%. All my posts here and bathroom breaks take up the remaining 5-10%
midlander
Mar 11, 20 11:26 am
I work from home up to 3 days a week depending on the nature of my tasks and team needs. In a previous job mid-management up was usually traveling at least a week every month and essentially worked remotely those periods full time. it works just fine. at home i waste time exactly as much as i do in the office, and which only when there is nothing obviously important at hand for me to do.
there really is no part of architecture desk work that can't be done remotely if an office is willing to support it. it takes extra effort to set things up and plan the team's time, but it also seems to help the team react smoothly to unexpected issues that require extra labor.
it is important to arrange regular time together with the team though to enable colleagues to develop relationships so that they can work together well. and make sure younger staff are pulled into roles where they learn and feel well supported.
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 12, 20 7:14 pm
Best part of remote work is naptime.
snooker-doodle-dandy
Mar 31, 20 8:15 pm
I have had no problem working remotely from Mud Butte, South Dakota for years. When every the feeling hits me I go toss a couple of Mud Pies!
All tech people are now working from home remotely and safely. Can architects/engineers/designers work remotely from home? Or, are we the last one to left out in ghost town, commuting by public transportations, touching public buttons and handrails, having face-to-face meetings until we all get sick?
Please share your challenges and concerns, success and failure stories here!
The immediate issue I can see is the laptop requires very high spec to run multiple heavy software, and we need to inspect actual samples with multiple people.
stop with the paranoia.
Seconded
The immediate issue is your boss letting you, no? My computer at home could run circles around our computers at work. If not, remote login options are widely available. It's definitely not going to be the technology that stops you.
The main issue I see is supervision of the grunt workers and quality control. Harder to control hours spent, drawing coordination, and deadlines when no one is present... plus clients management + CA require decent level of physical presence.
I'm one of those "grunt workers"
Code, are you an office-based or home-based grunt worker?
I work remotely for a couple of firms plus do my own work. It works great for me. My (new) computer is far more powerful and has more software than any computer in a firm. The job is drawing buildings, reading codes, and writing emails with occasional meetings. Of course it can be done remotely. I think it is better suited to remote work than office work.
I do work for an architect who lives about 40 miles away so we meet at our "office" about halfway between us about once a week. We meet in an atrium that has a bunch of large tables that's always available and free. I've noticed several others do the same - people with drawings, pocket protectors, and calculators (engineers?) and people with hard hats (construction workers!)
That sounds like a great setup.
Just about perfect.
tintt, if this is too personal please ignore it, but when I have subcontracted to others I have charged a steeply discounted rate, and when I've subbed work to others it's the same. If you do this as well, do you have any trouble prioritizing work based on compensation?
I don't charge other architects what I charge other clients for sure. Kinda like wholesale vs retail pricing. My costs are less too because I don't have to seek new work all the time if they just feed it to me. Win-win. They still make money but don't have to draw or design or they just do the parts they want. Then they use their extra time to get more work.
tintt, how do you work when you need to coordinate with other team members during early design phase? And
selecting materiality?
taso, it depends. Early design is either headed up by one person with support from others or you start by everyone coming up with something, everyone taking a look, and then finding a path forward. Materials - through samples, drawings, cut sheets, and photographs like everyone else.
I've had about ten different architects or drafters work for me remotely, and only two were experienced and self-directed enough for it to work for me, and even those were hard to manage in some ways. It probably reflects more on me than on them, as I know ithe arrangement can work for others. But I've decided that at least for now I can't have remote help.
I do somewhat complicated residential projects on relatively tight budgets, which doesn't make it easy to get help. It also doesn't help that I'm not licensed (but legal for the jobs I do) which limits my labor pool to some degree.
I'd say it's entirely possible. I've just never worked for a firm that allows it. :(
To be fair at least 20% of my work from home time would be spent telling my dog that he's a good boy instead of doing architecture.
^ Supportive work environment... especially if he is, in fact, a good boy.
Oh he is. He also knows it.
I mean I feel like more than 20% of peoples time is spent on needless bathroom breaks, playing on phones, exploring google earth. So essentially same result less souls ground into the dirt
Your utilization ratio sucks if you're at 80%. That or you're a partner.
When I was in Technical Services (supporting all the project teams, not a regular part of any of them), my target utilization rate was 80%.
Also, Chad, if you're claiming you record GO time every time you pee or get a cup of coffee, or every time a coworker comes to your desk for a chat, I call BS. \
I'd settle for folks being remotely competent.
Harsh. You should write that on redline set.
ouch, but yeah
agree... would have made my day much better if that was the case.
Pffft. I typically have a utilization factor 90-95%. All my posts here and bathroom breaks take up the remaining 5-10%
I work from home up to 3 days a week depending on the nature of my tasks and team needs. In a previous job mid-management up was usually traveling at least a week every month and essentially worked remotely those periods full time. it works just fine. at home i waste time exactly as much as i do in the office, and which only when there is nothing obviously important at hand for me to do.
there really is no part of architecture desk work that can't be done remotely if an office is willing to support it. it takes extra effort to set things up and plan the team's time, but it also seems to help the team react smoothly to unexpected issues that require extra labor.
it is important to arrange regular time together with the team though to enable colleagues to develop relationships so that they can work together well. and make sure younger staff are pulled into roles where they learn and feel well supported.
Best part of remote work is naptime.
I have had no problem working remotely from Mud Butte, South Dakota for years. When every the feeling hits me I go toss a couple of Mud Pies!