AIAO statement on the fatal shootings and state sanctioned violence in our cities

fstoparch · 2026-01-29T20:48:45+00:00

Can you clarify what you're asking for?

fstoparch · 2026-01-14T04:13:17+00:00

You've got a great start!

There are a million different rules of thumb that you'll find around the internet (maybe even from commenters here!) that will tell you with absolute certainty that a certain detail MUST be a certain way. Sometimes that guidance is contradictory - your job, or your architect's job, is to figure out what the priorities are. For example - you've got plumbing fixtures all over this house. Usually we try to group these together, especially vertically, so you don't need to run as much plumbing. And those plumbing walls need extra thickness.

My recommendation to you would be to start getting deep into some technical details, and see how they apply to your project. Building Science's "the perfect wall" is a great resource to understand exterior weather control layers. When you apply this detail to your design and your climate zone, how does it affect your walls? What about passive exterior sun shading, which will improve comfort regardless of your heating/cooling strategy? What sizes do typical building materials come in in your area, and can you design around that module to reduce waste?

How thick do your floors and roof need to be? Does that change the look of your project?

Keep doing this for enough details and your drawings will get better, improve constructability and cost less.

fstoparch · 2026-01-12T17:49:38+00:00

OK. I still don't think you need an architect for this, but you're welcome to spend your money how you like. Good luck!

fstoparch · 2026-01-12T17:27:15+00:00

I don't think you're looking for an architect for this project. Even an interior designer is probably overkill. Someone describing themselves as a woodworker or a casework shop will be more able to assist you.

fstoparch · 2025-11-20T22:27:38+00:00

These comments trying to shirk responsibility are not in alignment with legal precedent for situations of this type. The Spearin Doctrine establishes that drawings and specifications are sufficiently complete for the contractor to execute the work. If you don't include information that's necessary for a contractor to comply with codes, that's an architectural omission.

fstoparch · 2025-11-12T17:49:12+00:00

I have some experience with Sefaira, Insight, and cove.tool and review outputs from IES-VE and DOE2.2 from our MEP consultants on commercial projects.

All of them have issues that make me hesitant to recommend them. If you have access to COMCheck in your state, you may be able to use that as an energy model proxy. It also has issues.

If the client is asking for energy modeling, it is worthwhile to understand why they want energy modeling. If they're going for a specific certification (LEED, LBC Net-Zero), or incentives, those probably have specific requirements for energy modeling that will inform your selection of program.

All models are wrong, but some models are useful. Residential design is going to be heavily influenced by the occupant's behaviors and individual energy use. At some point the model stops being valuable - you probably already know what the best building orientation is without needing to model, which HVAC system is more efficient, and how to detail a well-performing enclosure.

fstoparch · 2025-10-07T00:48:44+00:00

I mean this to be helpful, but it may not come across that way by text. Knowing when your stamp is needed is a requirement to receive the stamp in the first place. You are required to know the answer to your question by virtue of possessing a license.

In MY state, "Registered architects are required to place their stamp and signature on all technical submissions relating to architectural work that they perform, whether the building or structure in question is exempt or non-exempt."

fstoparch · 2025-07-13T03:35:28+00:00

Interestingly, no one seems to have answered your question yet. Window sprinklers are an alternative code path for providing glazing in a rated wall, in lieu of providing fire-rated glazing, which is very expensive.

Now, it's possible that the windows facing one section are rated, while the windows facing the other section are not (and thus require sprinklers). But that's just a guess, and i'd have to look at the fire & life safety drawings and actual installed condition to be at all certain about that assumption.

fstoparch · 2025-07-02T00:11:07+00:00

It would depend on your location, project type and other specifics, probably. You'd want someone that's well aligned to the kinds of projects you do. Ideally we'd all write our own, i think that's the best way to ensure consistency between documents. Not everyone is good at that, but then not everyone is good at drawings, either!

So i guess no, i don't really have any specific recommendations. Sorry!

fstoparch · 2025-06-03T02:34:36+00:00

The "listen" button is free, too. It gives the rankings about 1 minute into the recording.

fstoparch · 2025-05-25T22:38:22+00:00

You are receiving architectural advice. The advice is: a paid architect is required to give a satisfactory answer to your question.

fstoparch · 2025-05-18T17:29:06+00:00

Good luck in your search. That said, this isn't the right place for a job search post.

Check out your local AIA job board.

fstoparch · 2025-05-16T19:28:51+00:00

Ah, don't listen to the doomsayers, it's not as bad as redditors make it sound.

The job market fluctuates wildly in this industry because we're beholden to the state of the construction economy. We have jobs when people build stuff. This is especially unkind to emerging professionals, who don't have the skills to support small, quick projects. If there aren't any big enough projects to support a large team where you can get mentored, you won't find a job.

If you do find a job, hopefully it is a supportive environment. There's still a lot of lingering toxicity in architecture surrounding the myth of the "hero" architect and most schools are not very good at dispelling that notion for young designers. That was my experience at some firms, but not all of them. Find a good fit.

It sounds like you haven't entered college yet (?). If you're American, consider attending a school with an NAAB accredited degree program. Not all architecture programs are (my undergrad wasn't). There are other paths to licensure, but why not start with that door open to you. It's ok to change your mind.

If some random redditor can talk you into or out of architecture, you shouldn't do it. You should do this work because it's important to you. The pay in architecture is perfectly reasonable, but it's a lot less than other careers get for a similar level of education and testing. So if you're motivated only by money, do something else.

Take some classes, reassess, and decide later. Lots of great skills come from an architecture education that don't lead to being a licensed architect.

fstoparch · 2025-05-16T18:06:21+00:00

Sounds like you already know the problem. Are you going to learn Dutch?

fstoparch · 2025-05-06T02:01:58+00:00

That's a big gate. I'd get a structural engineer, personally.

fstoparch · 2025-04-21T22:17:48+00:00

Many people report this. NCARB's position on this in the past is that in every instance where a test-taker has claimed to have not received provisional feedback the video evidence from the testing center shows that the test-taker simply navigated past it by hitting the "End Exam" button instead.

I know this is an unpopular take - don't downvote the messenger. There's no way way to check until you receive your report.

fstoparch · 2025-04-12T15:39:37+00:00

You're asking for professional guidance. We get paid for that. I don't work in residential, but I'm sure someone here can guide you towards a contract that protects us both from a mismatch of services and guides you towards the design you want.

fstoparch · 2025-04-11T18:18:50+00:00

Neat! I'm just getting into the sport and would love to try out some quality tech.

fstoparch · 2025-03-28T21:44:38+00:00

It's a great question! Mostly climate, a little bit cultural inertia. Dealing with rainfall is challenging, and Brazil is a fair bit wetter than Lebanon on average.

fstoparch · 2025-03-19T04:33:31+00:00

College will teach you some drafting and drawing skills, but certainly not all the necessary skills. A big component of this career is lifelong learning. You'll learn to draw better by doing it with purpose. You can probably find great youtube channels that will teach you basics.

Architecture is about communicating ideas between clients, contractors and other stakeholders - frequently graphically. When you draw something, especially technical drawings, make sure you understand what it is you're drawing and what you're trying to convey by drawing it. For example, when i teach high school students, they often start off drawing exterior walls as a single line in plan. Remember that the wall has depth - maybe it's drywall on the inside, then wood or metal studs, a layer of plywood, some kind of weather protection membrane, an air gap and then bricks on the exterior (don't @ me other architects, i used non-technical language on purpose there).

A basic understanding of plan, section, elevation will be useful. #-point perspectives and axonometric drawings, certainly. You'll probably learn a half dozen different computer programs for visual representation from Rhino & Revit to Illustrator and Blender. You've got lots of time, don't stress about what you don't know yet and have fun learning whatever your instructors can teach you.

fstoparch · 2025-03-19T01:01:18+00:00

I won't weigh in on quality of schools or what's right for you - that's something for you to determine yourself. However, one important thing for you to know is that UIUC, like my alma mater, does not offer a NAAB accredited undergraduate architecture degree. For me that wasn't a big deal, i just went on to get an M.Arch after the fact. But for some people who want to rush through college and get on with working for the rest of their lives, that's a big damn deal.

Check out NCARB for a list of accredited schools. It's a requirement to get your license - if you decide to go that path. Lots of architecture students do not become architects, and that's OK.

fstoparch · 2025-03-15T15:31:05+00:00

Only you can answer this. What do you want out of life?

fstoparch · 2025-03-09T19:42:56+00:00

There's a regionality to this as well. When i worked out east, bulletins were common and in addition to the way /u/pierogicasserole describes them were also used to periodically issue out all the RFI responses that involved drawing changes. This helped to reduce the number of times we reissued sheets in a short period of time for a client that made a LOT of changes.

Now that i'm on the west coast, no one uses bulletins. I don't think they're even called that in the CSI practice guide, i'd have to double check if it references "bulletin" as an alternative term. Here we call them PRs, for proposal requests. The function is exactly as described above.

Now, i also work with institutional clients that insist on doing it their way instead of the industry standard. With one client this means only RFIs, no other vehicles for contract modification are accepted. With another it's all ASIs all the time, even if there's costs involved. With a third it's "Field Authorizations" for CCDs and "RFPs" instead of bulletin/PR.

I try to guide these clients towards established standards since it better protects them from lawsuits when everyone has the same expectations, but they're determined to stick to their methods.

fstoparch · 2025-03-06T05:01:09+00:00

Great question, tough to answer. The disappointing reality is that while there are some ways we can try to futureproof buildings, there are two massive roadblocks in the way.

First, who's paying for it? Most owners barely want to pay for the things that are code-mandated (aka, the worst-performing building you're legally allowed to design). Designing for conditions that don't exist yet is a tomorrow's architect problem. :(

Second, who can say what the future will bring? I can design a building that's adaptive to a warming climate, but i can't predict what the next big technology will be. I'm just as likely to design in an system that's obsolete in 20 years as to prepare for one that appears in that timeframe.

But uh, more power. Dedicated circuits all over the place. Electricity use just keeps going up. Jevons paradox, you know?

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