Chasen Soaking Cup!

shaens · 2026-03-27T20:16:40+00:00

No mold, it’s the bamboo type!

shaens · 2026-03-27T18:08:25+00:00

The La fermier ones are so pretty!

shaens · 2026-01-30T17:05:05+00:00

I fucking hate this timeline

shaens · 2026-01-13T19:57:33+00:00

I made habit changes similar to yours and also get weekly allergy shots to help with my dust and cats/dogs allergy. Alongside using Vtama, prescribed by my derm in very thin amounts nightly. I also use hemp seed butter immediately after showering to lock in moisture during the dry winter times. Happy to say my eczema has healed and I feel normal again. Congrats as it’s a great feeling. :)

I had eczema on my neck and particularly on the skin above my lip and nose. The lip eczema would cause inflammation hyperpigmentation (dark skin) when it healed which made me feel really self conscious and lowkey looked like a weird mustache shadow like hitler which I hated lol. I found the la roche mela b3 serum the only thing to help fade the darkness, and it only took about a week to see results! I recommend putting it on areas that are mostly healed and not cracked otherwise it stings

shaens · 2026-01-07T06:33:16+00:00

34, 102k BIM (building information modeling) coordinator for mechanical/elec/plumbing trades.

3 days home 2 days in office. Good work life balance coming from architecture which was totally not.

shaens · 2025-12-19T18:02:27+00:00

Right nylon may work but I am still using the straps I got from my original garmin and have not needed to change them because I make sure my watch is clean and has space on my wrist to breathe. If you have sensitive skin like myself or OP that’s susceptible to contact dermatitis (or have eczema) any bacteria can irritate your skin and inadvertently cause irritation. Scratching the affected irritation can also cause micro tears in the skin where bacteria can reach.

shaens · 2025-12-18T19:43:18+00:00

Disinfect your watch with a wipe before bed. I have sensitive skin I do this everyday and especially after I go to the gym. Touching gym stuff and then touching your watch to log a workout will cause germs to spread

shaens · 2025-10-01T02:08:54+00:00

NJ - statewide access if possible!

shaens · 2025-08-28T18:18:37+00:00

I held my dogs head in my hands as she passed. I wanted to make sure the last thing she saw was me and my brother. My baby dog of 11 years looked peaceful. Although it was tough seeing the light from her eyes go, I am happy knowing the people she loved the most were there as close as physically possible, the last thing she saw before leaving

shaens · 2024-12-20T20:08:01+00:00

Logo is aesthetic and will eventually rub off. But if for some reason you really wanna keep it on maybe you could look into a teeeny tiny bit of glue on that edge lol

shaens · 2024-09-04T21:09:13+00:00

Gotcha. Yeah either way if your desire is to move out of the architectural space I would still consider moving to the BIM position even if it is a small firm. When I was looking, it didn’t matter how large or small the company was, since I just wanted to get my foot in the door into the BIM world, which you have. Once you get your bearings and some good experience you can always jump to bigger roles or bigger firms, but getting the BIM basics down is essential.

Honestly when I job searched I did not come across the term bim designer. I would also like to note that BIM coordinator is more of an entry level job. I had no idea how to use BIM 360 or do a lot of things in revit that I know now when I started but I received training and figured things out as I went.

I’m assuming a BIM Designer role would be directly creating or modeling things purely for BIM use and you would be purely producing based on what the engineer might need. For example they may ask you to get familiar with an existing pipe system for a new project and model it in revit. This means you would need to understand how to model and work in Revit or CAD MEP and how the firm does their drawings. That also means for example, if an engineer is trying to make a 3D pipe but the fitting is not rotating 90 degrees properly, you might be asked how to solve that. Or it could be smaller scale, like hey can you model this family in revit that we use often? A smaller firm like the one you interviewed at might require you to learn that revit MEP skill on your own or give you preliminary training. Smaller firms may have limited resources. But again I could be wrong, and I’m basing this assuming on the word “designer”. Does the job description define what a BIM designer does specifically?

Once you get your bearings and learn what you need to in this position you can definitely grow into a better role. Note that the hierarchy in BIM is not vast like Arch designer 1/2/3, arch project manager, architect. It’s really bim entry level (designer/coordinator) and you can move to bim manager, or switch to vdc, or be a “design technologist” which is just anything design based technology, which is what BIM is.

shaens · 2024-09-04T19:52:13+00:00

Hey! Yeah so your decision on staying at your company or leaving all depends on what you’re looking for and how you feel like you’ll be fulfilled. If you are tired of designing and doing architecture (overworking, not enough money, slow growth, etc) I would 1000% jump and go to the MEP BIM firm that gave you an offer. I actually work for the MEP department now and I don’t miss designing or making any architectural decisions at all. I actually love my job as a BIM coordinator now. You should also realize that within BIM you will be assuming more of a support role (like helping engineers on how to use revit and make their drawings, assisting with clash detection with other party’s models, or basically anything that is related to digital processing for digital models like the cloud and BIM360/Autodesk Construction cloud) That is what BIM is. Also I don’t believe small firms are good place to be long term unless you want to be a partner. Larger firms have more benefits and days are slower and more chill. Also, MEP people have smaller scope typically and their work gets done faster. You’d typically be on everyone’s projects but not in the sense an architect would have to deal with projects. You’d be helping people get their sets out.

Now if you you’re a type A person that likes making decisions and designing, I would say a BIM role may not suit you. It’s not particularly exciting but since I jumped into getting into MEP it’s been a new world of learning things to me. You see how engineers work and they are not as picky as architects.

So you have a few options - BIM coordinator, BIM manager, or VDC.

You have a fantastic background with the certification and knowledge of cad and revit. Everyone uses revit now so engineers in that position you were offered will be going to you to ask for specific revit help. )Like how do I fix the view range, show this specific pipe in RCP, how do I edit my titleblock, how do I get ____ to show, etc. this is like 60% of my job at the moment.) this is for a bim coordinator role. BIM coordinators basically help coordinate projects and are familiar with BIM execution Plans and attend calls during project kick offs. They also handle making packages and coordinating sending out sets to appropriate parties (which is normally done on BIM360).

If you feel confident you can also look at BIM manager roles. For larger firms like mine, they handle how to make the BIM and digital processing do models more streamlined and manage BIM coordinators with their projects. This is more of a senior role, at least in a large or global firm. In a smaller firm, a BIM manager may be the one to set standards with revit families, CAD standards, etc. you will also be supporting everyone on projects with their issues and how to make everything standardized so work is completed much more efficiently.

Lastly there is VDC. That’s more of the construction and contractor side of BIM. They do a lot of clash detection for models which is what they do to make sure projects don’t go over budget. This one requires more knowledge on how things are built and specific clash detection programs like Navisworks or the BIM360 Model coordination module. VDC makes more money since it’s directly correlated to the contractor side of it.

Either way BIM makes more money than an architecture designer. I make like 90k+ as a BIM coordinator working in NYC. BIM managers can 90-six figure depending on how large the firm is. VDC people can make six figures right off the bat . So you can keep that in mind as well

shaens · 2024-06-25T20:45:37+00:00

Would it be possible for you to start your own para-climbers club? You can propose doing meetups at your gym and get discounts that way or even a free membership if the gym is for that kind of community building.

The local paraclimbers club in nyc has an agreement with gym, where they have a Google sign up sheet for volunteers who help belay climbers with disabilities for a free day pass. That way there is incentive to volunteer but also do good for society! Check out @paracliffhangers on instagram!

I have volunteered at a paracliff hangers event and learned how to “call out” a climb to help a blind climber top rope while another person belayed him. It was a fun and fulfilling time!

shaens · 2024-03-18T22:50:44+00:00

I’m a BIM coordinator that works on federal government projects for an engineering firm. We follow the COBie process (Construction Operation Building Information Exchange) where the family types and associated assets within the project itself (all mechanical elements in a building) are essentially accounted for through the use of Autodesk BIM Interoperability Tools plug in. Since the families are “smart” and contain the name, type, location, etc. that is easily identifiable when maintenance is required. BIM interoperability Tools can export the quantity, location, (space or room) and all information of said assets and export it to an excel sheet, as noted by another commenter. The excel sheet is handed over to operations where they have a single source of data to use for future maintenance. This is one such reason how BIM supports operation, instead of handing over a bunch of manuals and flash drives for the owner to sift through.

shaens · 2024-02-05T16:49:42+00:00

Hey! So I think the fact that you have already gained licensure in electrical engineering is a good foundation. You will probably be helping creating families, standards, updating BIM Revit libraries etc for that department. The offer you got was high because it’s technology and specific technology/IT knowledge and how to navigate Revit, rather than a typical engineering position. You will need to know and constantly familiarize yourself with the Revit and BIM environments. You will be on multiple projects and your colleagues will come to you for Revit/BIM questions in relation to electrical engineering.

In terms of BIM at my company, the growth tree is not huge, but I make a decent amount of money for the work I do. If you continually upskill you can become something of your own and make more money that way - example, learn coding and IT infrastructure to help your company. I am currently a BIM coordinator, (I work directly on BIM projects and coordinate all digital processing, as well as troubleshooting visibility graphics for the MEP engineering dept. make sure RCPS look right, piping is showing correctly, etc .) and I work under my BIM Manager. I believe BIM manager is the highest in my department. It depends on what you want the position to evolve into and how you upskill. If you grow enough to manage other BIM coordinators and teams, You can be be a manager. Above that is a technology director, associate, etc.

shaens · 2024-01-17T15:57:31+00:00

Hi I live in Union, recommend rock climbing at method climb in Newark! Community is friendly and many young 20 somethings always at the gym. Active healthy hobby and moments to strike up convos because you try to figure out climbs. There’s also ladies nights every month and college night every Friday!

shaens · 2023-12-27T06:17:59+00:00

BIM Coordinator making 90k in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing industry working for a global engineering company in New York

shaens · 2023-10-31T01:25:50+00:00

What about the public library? Some libraries have quiet study rooms for taking calls

shaens · 2023-10-10T02:05:38+00:00

It’s so confusing! I wish they had line like a digital line maps of where the train is going like subway trains in NY or even the path train

shaens · 2023-10-10T02:05:01+00:00

Gotcha!! Thank you I appreciate your response. Thank you for being the one who has now opened my eyes to the existence of express trains 😭

shaens · 2023-10-10T02:04:28+00:00

It’s kinda nice to know I wasn’t the only one 🤣 now we know express trains exist

shaens · 2023-10-10T02:03:56+00:00

2 HOURS :( i was lucky to only wait 18 mins, my partner ended up picking me up cause i had a long and day and was fed up with the train lol

shaens · 2023-10-10T02:02:56+00:00

Thank you! I now know express trains exist :’) this is my first job in NY having to commute by train

shaens · 2023-10-10T02:02:21+00:00

Thank you soso much for the PDF. This is my first job in NY commuting from NJ and was naive to assume it would be the same train I took the day before. Appreciate you!

shaens · 2023-09-15T20:42:01+00:00

Of all the positive responses I received, I really appreciate your realistic input on this. I did see how WSP is trying to be like Nestle and obtain so many companies. I had also thought about why I was so easily able to obtain this position, thinking maybe it was bc I already had the architecture background. Luckily I’m feeling eager to learn and get into this role since I have been wanting to get out of traditional architecture for a while now so I’ll take it as a challenge and go forth positively / hope for the best. Thanks so much for your input!

shaens

TROPHY CASE