FINAL EXAM

The study guide for the final exam  has been distributed.  Keep in mind the final exam will be held MONDAY MAY 4TH @ 9:15am in Harding Hall room 128.

ARCHITECTURAL FINANCES IN THE FIRM & THE FINAL EXAM

The final lecture, Lecture 10_Architectural Finances in the Firm, has been posted to the website. Next week, April 27th, Les Rowland from DesignArc will be presenting on Architectural Finances and the Architectural Finances Case Study is also due.

The date, time, and place of the final exam have also been confirmed…

ARCH 572 FINAL EXAM _ MONDAY, MAY 4TH @ 9:15AM IN HARDING HALL ROOM 128

ARCHITECTURAL FINANCES & CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATING

On Monday, we discussed the various approaches to Cost Estimating.  Take a look at Lecture 09_Architectural Finances_Cost Estimating for access to yesterday’s discussion and to look at the two Readings that are due for Monday, April 20th.

We have two weeks of class left.  Next week, we will discuss Architectural Finances in the firm and the following week, Les Rowland from DesignArc will be joining us for a presentation.

The Final Exam will be held MONDAY, MAY 4TH @ 9:15AM IN HARDING HALL ROOM 128.  

ARCHITECTURAL FINANCES

This week, we finished our discussion on Fee Structures and started our discussion on 08_Architectural Finances.  One part of Architectural Finances is Construction Costs, which comprises one of the sections of NCARB’s IDP.  For your final Case Study on Architectural Finances you will reconcile an estimate through writing.  As mentioned in class, there is an opportunity to earn eight (8) IDP supplemental units for completing this assignment.  Finally, click on the Emerging Professional’s Companion to download the pdf.

ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE & FEE STRUCTURE

On Monday 03.30, we discussed the various structures of Architectural Practices & Fees.  Follow the links to Lecture 07_Architectural Business Practice & Fee Structures for more information. The reading, GUTMAN_Financial Problems of Careers & Practices, will be due for next week.

The above image is a photo of the white board after we discussed the pros/cons of the various architectural practice structures.  The Methods have been written below…

HORIZONTAL METHOD:
Pros: specialty (expertise), in-house, stability
Cons: steepened communication, liability, less flexible, large

VERTICAL METHOD:
Pros: collaborative, flexible, exposure to work, investment
Cons: less specialization, amount of time (individual), personalized

MATRIX METHOD:
Pros: it mixes the horizontal & vertical method
Cons: flexibility

ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE & ORGRANIZATION

Last week, we looked at Lecture 05_History of Business Practices and this week we focused on Lecture 06_Organization of Business Practices. The Questions & Ethical Dilemmas we looked at are attached and included below…

THE PRUITT-IGOE MYTH
1- What were the issues with Pruitt-Igoe?  Which ones were architectural?
2-How did Pruitt-Igoe compare to the housing you saw around the High Line?

THE FOUNTAINHEAD (To watch the Fountainhead, click here)
1- How does Architectural Practice seen in The Fountainhead compare to the practices you saw in New York (i.e. PCPA & Shop)?

ARCHITECTURAL ETHICS: A DOZEN DILEMMAS
1- What is the “Veil of Ignorance”?
2- An architect employed by an office is instructed to work on a building design that she or he believes will be aesthetically offensive.  Is it ethical for the architect to proceed with the work?
3- A small number of firms is invited to make formal presentations for a large job.  The presentation requires a substantial commitment of resources with only a nominal fee.  Is it ethical for the architect to enter such competitions?
4- The client for a large project offers the architect a percentage of the profit in lieu of a fee, but potentially far greater than the fee.  If the project does not proceed to construction, then there will be no fee.  Is it ethical to accept?

For next week, you must read CH 6 from the Segal book and the Thomas Gluck interview has now been posted.

INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE

Gary Cooper as Howard Roark in The Fountainhead, 1949

Today we asked “What is Architectural Practice?” and we discussed its changing role throughout architectural history.  Check out Lecture 05_Introduction to Architectural Practice.

For Monday 03.16, you will need to read the following:

REQUIRED:

1- Dovey, Kim. “Architectural Ethics: A Dozen Dilemmas”. Architecture Australia.1989.

2- Segal, Paul. “CH 2 – The Parties in the Construction Industry”. Professional Practice: A Guide to Turning Designs into Buildings. 2006.

SUGGESTED:

3- Roth, Leland M. “CH 6 – The Architect: From High Priest to Professional”.Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning. 1993.

 ENJOY STUDYING IN NEW YORK NEXT WEEK…SAFE TRAVELS!

THE RIGHT STUFF

National Federal Housing Act 1934 _ President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Act

Above is the CORRECT image of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the New Deal.  Lecture 04_Architecture + Capital & Currency has been corrected and uploaded to the website.  For Monday, you must watch The Pruitt-Igoe Myth…be ready to discuss it on Monday, March 2nd.     

 

CAPITAL & CURRENCY

T & O Map _ 8th century 

Today we discussed the role of Capital and Currency (03_Capital and Currency) in architecture.   The project brief, Architectural Economics Case Study has been posted to the website.

The following books will be kept in 5th year studio.  Unless the book is taken to the library for scanning, all books MUST remain in studio so they can be used by all.

1- 04 Currency _ Scapegoat
2- The Project of Autonomy _ Pier Vittorio Aureli
3- Architecture and Capitalism _ Peggy Deamer
4- Money _ Perspecta
5- Architectural Practice: A Critical View _ Robert Gutman
6- Governing By Design _ Aggregate
7- The City Reader _ Richard T. LeGates & Frederic Stout

ARCHITECTS & ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Radiant City _ Le Corbusier

In class we discussed the work of Le Corbusier in relation to Capitalism as well as the Architecture spurred by the Countercultures of the 1960’s and 1970’s in the US & France.  Through A Contemporary City for 3 Million Inhabitants and Radiant City, Corb sought a utopian city that addressed the economic conditions of France in the 1920’s & 1930’s.  On the other hand, the architectural ideas set forth by the countercultures in the US and France moved to break the Hegelian dialectic of Communism versus Capitalism by propagating their own economic ideas and inserting them into architecture.

Check out Lecture 02_Architects & Economic Systems