Let’s say you’re a property owner, small business owner, real estate investor or even a new buyer purchasing property. Design, renovation and construction should be synonymous with architects. They have the experiential ability to envision and transform mundane inefficient rooms or even entire buildings to spaces that flow and work with the user’s intended needs. Or maybe certain materials, assemblies or system (such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc.) have become outdated, deteriorated and no longer serve its purpose. An architect can design a new assembly or coordinate with engineers to renew your building or home’s systems. Having said all that, where do we start? What should you expect? Well that’s just what I am going to run down in this blog post.

Typically an owner reaches out to an architect wishing to retain their services for several property improvements. Here are some things you should expect them to ask you:

​1. What is the full property address?
This is pretty much a given. An architect will need to know the project location to assess if it is within their area of service and licensure. Also the location will determine what jurisdictional regulations will be present as well as where to ask questions about obtaining permits and official inspections.

2. Confirm that you are the owner of the property in question (or at least one of the owners) and are able to make decisions on the project.
This is important for legal reasons and transparency starting the project off. We want to be sure we are dealing with the decision makers. Most architects will do some property research, usually with the Town/City Assessor, to be certain the person or persons whom have reached out match the records. This information is usually public record. If it’s owned under an LLC, then the manager should be readily available to make decisions.
There are circumstances where you may not have taken ownership just yet. However unless services are prior to the property purchase for a specific reason, it usually does not make sense to retain an architect to far in advance of taking ownership. Real estate purchases can be erratic having many unknowns. If the deal falls through, there’s no sense in dedicating too much time and money toward a project that may never come through.

3. Do you have a construction budget?
Usually this is a gauge to see if you already have or have begun gather funds for the impending project. Oftentimes the funds are being secure in some way such as a renovation loan, home equity line or liquidation of another asset. It’s not a deal breaker if you do not know your budget. We can develop a budget as we progress with the beginning stages of design. However most architects will gauge early on if the wish list heavily outweighs the foreseeable budget. For example if your project entails a full kitchen renovation but your construction budget top is $10,000. Then I may recommend to save or obtain more before starting. Or maybe you’d like an addition to house which includes a new bedroom and full bathroom but only allocated $25,000. Once again I’d recommend saving more. Skimping on the budget can make for rocky construction when working with older or existing homes if unforeseen issues arise. We must cover a reasonable amount for materials and labor but also a contingency for unknowns. Usually this should be between 10-15% to be safe.

4. Schedule?
This is two part: Construction Schedule and/or Design Schedule
These both are interconnected. If you have a time you’d like construction to start then we can work backwards to determine when Design should start. Or if you know when you’d like to start Design, then Constuction would start subsequently after the Design. Estimating the length of Construction is solely the responsibility of the owner-selected Contractor. However we can ball park this. The length of Design is determined by the project complexity and Architect’s work load. Additionally and likely the part with the biggest impact is how quickly decisions are made. Being decisive speeds up the Design process. No Architect wants you to rush, but waiting weeks or months for decisions could really stall progress. Coming to the right decisions which works for you, your family or the end users may not be obvious. Sometimes visualizing what activities that will occur can help tremendously. Architects are skilled at helping you figure this out.

5. Have you worked with an Architect before?
This question sets a precedent on our initial discussions and future interactions. If you’ve utilized an Architect previously for a project, then most likely you learned a great deal about the design process and what it takes to get your project constructed and completed. If not, then I know I’ll have to spend some extra time explaining the processes and the what steps to expect. I also like to know if you enjoyed the experience. If not, what parts did you dislike? Then I can work to overcome these shortcomings in the current project, if possible.

6. Do you already have a Contractor or will you need assistance with selecting one?
Some people come to an Architect with a Contractor on board ready to start work. This is great! The due diligence of Contractor selection has already occurred. This makes coordinating very easy from inception. On the other hand, if you do not, we can always Bid the work out to several local contractors. Then an Architect can assist in “leveling the bids,” which generally consist of ensuring all Contractors have included all the scope in their pricing. Then you interview each and make your selection.

7. Lastly- Do you have the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) and a Property Survey?
These are two vital property record documents which usually hold a large amount of information helpful during the Design process. Some town/cities will require these in order to submit for a construction permit. I won’t go into huge detail on these but they’re typically given to owners when they Close and take ownership of a property. I would always recommend to ask your real estate attorney before purchasing about these two documents so they are included when applicable. A CO especially if it’s a multi-family or mixed used property and a survey if planning an addition or expansion.

Establishing a good working relationship is paramount to the Owner-Architect project collaboration. Architects feed off the information provided, so the more information you’ve already decided upon, the better. In the next blog I will speak about the investigation and schematic design phase which is typically first phase of design for an Architectural project.
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*Article credit Mamta Jain

This is a small sample of the projects Architect Owl PLLC has completed and are in progress. Thanks to Mamta Jain of Rethinking the Future for the write-up. 
You can see the full article here: Rethinking the Future

​My time has shifted from making baby food and heating bottles to helping steer my children to the beginnings in the world of academia. This all while giving them room to investigate their own interests, forge habits for basic life skills and foster a sense of confidence in even their smallest of efforts. And let’s not forget the whole feeding, clothing and providing a roof over their head! It’s no easy task but they are my heart and I am rewarded daily. 

My daughter will be 5 in October. She is more reserved and definitely a fashionable girly girl. Thanks to my wife, she’s already gotten the hair, make up and nail care bug which she loves. Her dolls and dancing with music makes up an enjoyable day for her. 

I think as their father, they’ve taught me almost as much as I’ve taught them. We all know the cliché quotes. Well it takes only one child to relate to them. 

“Don’t take life so seriously.” 
“Enjoy the moment.” 
“They grow up so quickly.” 

I am still struggling with not being so serious  and also giving myself a break from work to relax. My overly analytical brain is always concocting new things to try, learn and master. I have to strategize my efforts efficiently and not take on too much. 

​An interesting conversation came up recently after watching a Disney movie called “Zombies.” Not what you think, it wasn’t a scary movie at all. In the movie, zombies are tamed due to a special wrist band and lead normal lives opposite a large ‘wall’ (segregated). They were always apart from average humans. After a change in policy zombie high schoolers were allowed to commingle in the regular human school. 

Though they were allowed there, there was a fear (prejudice) of their motives and differences (diversity). My son comes to me and asked “Why don’t the people like them?” I explained that they were different and some people don’t like other people based on how they look or based on their customs. He replies “Well that’s not right and doesn’t make sense.” I hugged and kissed him acknowledging that he was absolutely correct but I had no good reason why it happens.

My son (and daughter) are all inclusive. They try to include everyone in every game or activity. Albeit sometimes to the detriment of their own safety #StrangerDanger. Then I must limit unknown interactions however their heart is always in the right place. In architecture or any other profession in this world, we could use that 5 year old mentality.. 

I have a saying I ask my kids after there’s been an altercation. They both know it by heart:

Laura and Leonardo are thee epitome of loving parents. They will soon welcome another baby into their family. This photoshoot commemorate this new addition. Their first son, Leandro, is also ready and excited to meet his sister! This shoot was filled with energetic jubilee. Please enjoy some of our favorite shots.    

​Within Architecture, there are projects that run smoothly among all parties and there are others which... just run.. and run.. and run. The difficult ones seem to have endless problems with client expectations, contractor errors & miscommunication or unforeseen conditions at the construction site. You may feel like a failure. Though many may be out of ones control. 

In a profession where services are provided, there are many unknown variables which must be carefully researched and coordinated. These can include: Client expectations and anticipated end result(s), the contractor (or any third party) which is helping to facilitate the completion of the client's wishes, and the site. This could be an actual physical location or product or even a type of digitally generated item, just to name a few. Regardless of the medium, the end result is to meet the needs of the client and within architecture to honor any aspect of existing surroundings where it will be located. 

​Even reminiscent of my Architecture Registration Exams (ARE), I remember vividly my first, and thankfully my only, failure. I rushed home to find the letter laying in my parent's black mail box. My hands shook as I opened it. Reading FAIL across the top of the letter made my eyes water. My mom gave me a pep talk in the midst of my frustration. I took a long pause to regroup but came back strong to complete my exams. It's not a race and it's not about competing with anyone else. You must run in your own lane headed to your goal. (Mike of Young Architect can give you some more help with this post on how to recover from an ARE failure: Failing Architect Exam)

When I was in my youth it was a common notion to practice and practice so you wouldn't fail. This is quite possibly the reason failure has such negative connotations. We are taught that failing is bad. However sometimes you need to fail fast to forward your progress. At the end of the day, an architect will learn the most during a challenging project. This is the same for any successful entrepreneur who has to try many iterations before coming up with a combination which works. We must not find failure as the end all... it's just a pause on the road to success.  

You can read more about the author and his story HERE. 

​I figure I'd start the 2017 year off with a light blog post related to Photography. It regularly relates to architecture which surrounds me from day to day. I feel as though I've begun to established myself as an architect as well as an emerging architectural blogger. I am happy, blessed and thankful for where I am. I am working fervently to improve my skills as a photographer. Just as architecture and blogging, it's a craft which requires hours of practice to hone the skills necessary to be great.  
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Living and working around New York City, there's a limitless amount of great "subjects" to capture. 

I wouldn't be a family man without some shots of my wife & children and some of our expeditions.   

As I graduated high school, my quest to continue building expanded to abstract models made of Plaster of Paris, wood, chip board, foam-core and Plexiglas. This was fundamental design. These materials are familiar to any architecture school students, past and present. As a child I built from my imagination with only a small idea of what the finished product would look like. Within architecture school we are taught to translate a set of programmatic requirements (lists of spaces/rooms) coupled with a site (specific location) resulting in some spacial problems which had to be solved. Ultimately solution resulted in a tangible structure. 

The Arckit A90 is that tangible structure. With no set instruction it looks like a creative outlet for any young designer or seasoned professional. As a licensed architect, you can say I've EXPERTLY CHOSEN this building set. With the holiday season here, I couldn't think of a better gift.

I've now passed down the building tradition to my two children. As my educator wife would say, they are well aquainted with small building blocks and pieces thus improving their fine motar skills. Aside from my daily architect tasks in the office and on construction sites, in future when time permits I hope to continue cultivating my passion through woodworking, even occassionally loosing myself in an architecture building kit much like the Arckits. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jared W. Smith 

For more information and details on the Arckit A90 giveaway, go to the giveaway page HERE. 

If you enjoyed with post, please visit the Blog main page and read on: Architect OWL Blog

As part of the Arckit giveaway, I've brought some fellow architects together to blog on their childhood experiences with building toys also. Please be sure to check out their post below: 

Lora Teagarden of L^2 Design: Link forthcoming

Samantha Raburn of The Aspiring Architect: From making toy villages to designing real buildings

Michael Lavalley of Evolving Architect: An Architect's Childhood of Creative Making

​Adam Denais of Defragging Architecture: Building Blocks: Toys and Architecture 

Architecture is no different than any other business when it comes to communication. As architects we must communicate with our clients, office colleagues, contractors and manufacturers, just to name a few. Miscommunications are part of the process. However, the less occurrences, the better. Here's an anecdote of my youth where I learned a valuable lesson.

Related topic: Architects are more than..

Early in my teens, I made a questionable series of choices which helped me realize that communication is crucial in relaying ideas, as well as succeeding in various areas of life. At the time, I was very outgoing, but never overly boisterous. My schooling had not been marred by any major problems—only a few scuffles and occasional detentions for minor infractions. 
Little did I know that one spring job would change my thinking about communication. (You won’t want to miss the ending.)

​This story has run through my head many times over the years. What mistakes did I make? What led to the miscommunication? What could I have done differently?

Related Topic for fellow professionals: Communicating your value as an Architect 

There were four principle errors:
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•    I had no agreement with the director, or even the basic program details in writing. I expected the other party to abide by their word and provide all necessary information. When I didn’t receive any, I didn’t request further details. Lesson: Communicate often, and get the specific points in writing.
•    I let my emotions dictate my actions. Temporary emotions shouldn’t make permanent decisions, especially when they have future ramifications. My careless actions could have landed me in serious trouble. Lesson: It might feel justified, but you look at the bigger picture, it’s really only a bump in the road.
•    Being angry, even if it’s justified, doesn’t give anyone the right to lash out at others. Not everyone was necessarily part of the problem. Even if you were speaking to the one at fault, how does lashing out help? Lesson: It’s more productive and positive to work toward a solution—even if the best solution is walking away.
•    Lastly, I didn’t ask for help. Close family and friends were available for advice, or even to intervene. Arriving with my mom, dad, or older brother would have changed my entire approach drastically. Lesson: Talk through your problem with those whose opinion and trust you value. A fresh perspective may lead you to a solution you didn’t think of. However…you learn the most from your mistakes, right!?

Overall, I am glad I had this experience, since it helped shape the way I communicate today. No one is perfect, nor is anyone exempt from dealing with difficult people. Therefore, we must diligently guard our mouth. Treat every interaction as a way to gain positive progress, or at least learn how to remain calm in adverse situations in order to reach an amicable result. DID THE STORY END THERE?

Some years later, I was in my twenties, attending college, and the altercation had been tucked away into the back of my head. I came to hear that this same director was being investigated for fraud and allegations surrounding the organization’s finances. He took a leave of absence and never returned to the job. My suspicions were validated some eight years later when his dishonesty in this bigger circumstance landed him in serious trouble.

Names and locations were purposely omitted. My intention is not to point fingers and blame, but to show that you can bring out the best in any situation and learn from it.

Want to hear more about the author as an Architect and his everyday life? He is known as a ArchiDad. ​

September is here and the cooler, less humid weather will forecast the approaching Autumn season. The hot and humid summer has many looking forward to this. "Back to School" is synonymous with school kids, yellow buses and backpacks. What does it mean to you? Is there a change in your schedule? 

Before having children, there wasn't much change in my daily and weekly routines. I'd just know it would be a longer commute with more people on the roads. However, now I've become ArchiDad. It's a full blown operation in "Back to school" mode. My wife becomes an extra super woman prepping, ordering, and stockpiling my children's clothes and supplies. Her extraordinary motherly exuberance couple with her "educator" mindset astonishes me on the deals and creative ways she gather and finds the best things. (Honestly... I'm usually in awe most of the school year.) It's bittersweet. 

​Nevertheless, this start to the school year brings me back to my college years. Architecture school is unique in its own right. If you Google it, you're assured to hear some outlandish anecdotes of overnight design studio projects or the most difficult critics at design reviews. 

Like any other profession, while in college we are trained for what we will ultimately do. Experence plays a large role also, however much is attained through books, research and understanding how and what to look for. It becomes ingrain and second nature. 

I had a good friend approach me years ago about his role on a large new project. The scope of work involved a mixed use building in an urban city center. After hearing the ambitious plan he was proposing, I gave him some general advice: It would be best to get a zoning / property analysis as part of a feasibility report. Basically let's see if your plan is even doable. (Yes with money most anything is doable. However, most people don't have an unlimited budget.) 

What threw me off was when he asked if I could show him how to do the report. I had to be honest. Like any good architect, we do our due diligence when consulting design services. There's no way I can give you my knowledge and understanding of building codes, zoning and general architecture in an hour. 

You hire an architect for a reason. We are specialized in an area you, a client, need and / or just need someone knowledgeable to explain what design possibilities you have. Having read a book, watched an HGTV show or took a "how to flip houses" course does not make you an architect or even a designer. 

After leaving college, years of experience, I develop a mindset, honed to the technical yet artistic craft. This hasn't grown in an overnight but with time. It plays a major part our professional judgment and design decision making. This is what we do. This is why you hire us. 

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR STORIES FROM MY FELLOW ARCHITALK PARTICIPANTS.