As the cityscape of Washington D.C. continues to evolve, another project is in the works at the National World War One Memorial at Pershing Park. Today, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission announced that 25-year-old architect Joseph Weishaar of Brininstool+Lynch and New York veteran sculptor Sabin Howard won the Centennial Memorial design competition with their proposal, "The Weight of Sacrifice". Not a bad start for Weishaar's professional career, no? — Bustler
41 Comments
If I were him, aside from having a lovely project, I'd correct the idea that he's an architect, or else the Illinois State Board will go off and jam him up.
where's Ricky when you need him!
25 YEAR OLD ARCHITECT - BOO YAA
BJARKEY BABY YOU'RE GETTING OLD.
He has no obligation to correct any idea. As long as he doesn't call himself an architect he is fine.
And this is as much if not more in the territory of public art as architecture.
Maya Lin Lite
Meh.
Nice shit sandwich. I'll take a maya Lin with people on it please.
++ 'Pete, my thoughts exactly.
At least he's copying something great. Not a bad thing when you look at the shitty name-branded Eisenhower ...
Ooops.
^ok you win that one. Lol
Why are people assuming he isn't an architect?
Because, whenI checked multiple sources, and the Illinois State Board, his name does not come up, as an architect.
Also.
Google is such a great tool.
inspiring
architect in training is an architect.......i know a guy (worked at same firm) who with a sculptor was a finalist in the largest memorial competition at the time, like 5000+ entries.......on the premise of learning (knocking off in her language) from Maya Lin they were finalists. note to all: DC likes Maya Lin style?
I know many licensed architects who couldn't put together a design presentation that is this complete and coherent and I find it hard to prioritize the passing of tests and recording of IDP hours over the actual work of conceiving of and designing architecture. The general public also has trouble with the definition of "architect" for the same reason, perhaps thats why the profession is losing ground to other disciplines. If its a profession defined by qualifications rather than actual skill/ability, the word loses its meaning. I remember when a huge argument broke out on Dezeen over John Pawson. When the focus isn't on the actual work, but on the institutional apparatus, it starts to leave behind a lot of people.
I don't make the rules. So don't shoot the messenger.
^I totally agree with you on that Davvid
PR stunt - some kid working for a larger firm - maybe he designed it, out of the ordinary for the principals to not claim it as their own, but they saw the opportunity in the headline. "25 year old...." Maybe they will get boosted into super-stardom.
chigurh,
Can you realistically imagine a firm proposing that kind of stunt? And why would a firm want only one junior employee in the company to get all the attention?
+++ davvid. Not sure I've ever agreed with you before but you nailed it.
And presentation is the easy part. Lots of licensed guys can make the sale but can't make the building.
yes - do you think we would be talking about this if Brininstool+Lynch won this competition with this boring proposal?
"I know many licensed architects who couldn't put together a design presentation that is this complete and coherent..."
davvid, you may be on to something with this comment, albeit not in the way you expect.
literal
"davvid, you may be on to something with this comment, albeit not in the way you expect."
Can you elaborate?
what difference does it make if there is a licensed architect involved on something that seems entirely within the realm of landscape architecture?
Licensed designers....Lol
hi, it doesn't matter that a non-architect put this together - no matter how many helped - it does matter that he represents himself as an Architect at all, if he's not.
[massive silent disagreement]
What matters is that too many licensed architects suck at designing buildings.
Even on the thread where everyone is ripping apart Diller Scofidio and Refro, did anyone the building behind DS&R's building? The yellow and beige one with the maroon rooftops? Thats the crap that is everywhere. Who stamped that garbage into existence?
man, i bet all he does at work all day is render things and model in Revit.
that must suck.
beautiful visualizations though.
I agree with b3ta that he should at the least contact the publisher for correcting title use. He's a designer or something on that line.
I am not sure he legally can be awarded this project but the project is in Washington D.C. then it will be up to the jurisdiction in the District of Columbia over whether or not he is compliant with the laws there.
Since it isn't in Illinois, they really have nothing they can do aside from making noise. Unless he represent himself as an Illinois licensed architect or using the term "Illinois Architect", there isn't really much they can do. Out of their jurisdiction.
If I do a project in Finland, I would technically use the title Architect and because I am from Oregon a state in the U.S. publications there could very well refer to me as an "Oregon architect" or "U.S. based architect" or whatever and OBAE or the licensing boards couldn't really do anything and all they would be doing is make a lot of noise. As long as I am not directly representing myself as an Oregon architect or whatever.
It becomes an aimless and wasteful chase over words which is more nuisance.
The only reference to Illinois is only because of the firm that the person works at. I don't see the issue.
^^good grief, its like you have a trail of toilet paper attached to your shoe...
In several other articles about this guy he's specifically stated that he's not licensed. This appears to be just another of those situations where the writer doesn't know the difference between an architect, intern, designer, etc.
Balkins, as for your fantasies about practicing architecture in Finland: there is no mandatory registration of architects in Finland, but that is because the requirements regarding designer's qualifications are part of the national building code, and are required to be evaluated by the AHJ as part of the permitting process for every single building. A person without a degree in architecture or construction is relegated solely to "minor design works" and is never allowed to be the design professional in charge of anything but the very tiniest of projects. Regardless of whether you were to call yourself an architect or not, you'd pretty much be relegated entirely to simple residential alterations and garden sheds - so really there's little chance that any publication would be calling you anything. Specifically the building code states: Persons drawing up a building design shall have a construction-related university degree appropriate for the planning functions in question, or an earlier construction related higher-level vocational or other degree, and sufficient experience of working on the type of planning in question.
Buildings that are small or have ordinary technical properties may also be designed by
persons with a college-level qualification in construction or in the relevant line of special study, or a corresponding earlier qualification if they are sufficiently experienced.
In addition, a person who does not possess one of the aforementioned qualifications but is
deemed to have the skill required in view of the type and extent of the construction work or
design task, may also carry out minor design works.
The person in charge of the design in its entirety and of its quality (principal designer) shall also possess solid professional ability to manage the design in its entirety.
Anyway, this is not "architecture" in the legal definition. It is landscape arch, and who's to say that it's not public art? Architects are not allowed to engage this project or they are unlawfully practicing Landscape Arch. Landscape architecture can only be practiced by an architect if it is incidental to a building project according to my states laws. Not sure how it works in DC...
DC does not regulate landscape architecture.
kjdt, funny how my comment was seen as a critique of this project, and of this designer. My comment goes to State Boards, NCARB, and the AIA. If he is not an architect, and he holds himself out to be an architect, and he does that on his Linked-In profile; Project Architect. That clearly indicates something other than "AIT", designer, project designer, or any other use of the non-licensed type. Given how people flinch about the use of "Architect" by other professions, and others on this site, it was more a cautionary note.
I didn't think your comment was a critique of this project at all. I haven't looked at this guy's linkedin profile, but I saw a few other articles today on this particular project and in those he was quoted as stating that he isn't licensed yet. He's not likely to get in any hot water with the board for being identified as an architect in an article written by someone else - it's not his doing or under his control, and it didn't appear to me that he was trying to create that impression. Calling himself "project architect" in his profile is a different matter - the board would likely take action on that.
kjdt, exactly.
I'm fine with him winning a competition, hell Michael Arad won the 9/11 Memorial and was forced to team up with a firm.
As for the project, I think it's "nice" - even though I initially called it lovely - but forgettable, dated and doesn't speak to anyone but a generation that no longer is alive.
kjdt,
I was simply giving an example. It's ultimately up to the AHJ. If the AHJ is local then this national building code is a model code, the interpretation threshold is up to AHJ making the decision. So damn what. It isn't like I would be pursuing projects in Finland anyway. Logistically, it is a pain in the ass. Hell man, lets be a team player as just assume I have approval of the AHJ or it could be Sweden or another country. Lets just say I have the approval for the AHJ of the area for the given project for my hypothetical point.
For my point I was getting at, it was about a legality scope of the licensing board.
kjdt,
Looking at it further, I would probably meet category B when considering my collective education in historic preservation/construction trades and computer aided design. Given I would be operating on a 'foreign degree' (from the perspective of Finland). Add to that, if I taken NCBDC certification, I would probably be able to get authorization for category B at entry level.
While my education would not be exactly the same, I do have education that will be equivalent category B. Therefore, it isn't exactly beyond being able to get such approval to that category.
It wouldn't be far off than what I currently am allowed to do in the U.S. under our own building codes and statutory laws that are commonly the case here.
kjdt, funny how my comment was seen as a critique of this project, and of this designer. My comment goes to State Boards, NCARB, and the AIA. If he is not an architect, and he holds himself out to be an architect, and he does that on his Linked-In profile; Project Architect. That clearly indicates something other than "AIT", designer, project designer, or any other use of the non-licensed type. Given how people flinch about the use of "Architect" by other professions, and others on this site, it was more a cautionary note.
b3ta,
That, I agree with you. I didn't catch seeing that. I do agree with you that such a statement in the LinkedIn profile can be an issue. This is why architecture firms needs to use job titles for employees that complies with the licensing laws. Employers shouldn't issue position titles containing the word architect in regards to employees that do not have an architect license.
This needs to be correctly used. People use their job position titles on their LinkedIn page like they do a resume / CV.
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