Letter from the Chair

Greetings! Please join me for a trip down Memory Lane. This collection of SPP Journal articles covers nearly nine years, reminding us of a bygone time when the profession was searching for a word to capture what “green design” is all about, and when CAD was the new kid on the block. Many of the articles are still timely and timeless – after all, serving our clients and producing a clear set of documents still form the foundations of practice, even though our instruments may have changed.

In this issue you’ll find tips for marketing and working with clients that are always relevant. Rosemary McDondigal’s suggestions for sharing staff with other firms makes great sense and include tips for maintaining positive relationships while staying out of legal trouble. Laura Montllor’s proposal for “walk-through” services can expand our client bases in a slow economy. Now, three generations later, the advice in these articles is as relevant as ever.

As with our work in renovation, inspiration can come from looking back as well as looking forward. As we all navigate this wacky economy, let’s remember that we don’t always need to re-invent the wheel!

Deborah Pierce, AIA
2009 Chair, Small Practitioners Project

Features

Walk-Through Service
Laura Montllor, AIA

A friend, who is a real estate agent, first suggested the idea of providing walk-through architectural advice to his customers. In our area, which has an older housing stock, many prospective homebuyers are looking specifically for a house with potential to renovate and add-on. Before they submit firm offers, homebuyers need solid professional advice about project feasibility, zoning limitations, and construction costs. With some minimal preparation, we began providing this specialized, walk-through service of quickly assessing properties...Read More

Water Doctor
Manuel Camilo Parra

It was a lazy Sunday morning, cloudy and cold from a strong northern storm that had passed through the night before. My friends called me in angst: they were remodeling a room and noticed a huge puddle of water right in the middle of it. Yet there was no evidence that the water was coming from the ceiling...Read More

Producing Garages, Kitchens, and Other Small Projects Successfully
Thomas S. Shiner, AIA

A small project is a sprint. From the moment the architect makes contact with the client, the small project develops quickly through several abbreviated phases in one seamless motion. Often the whole process lasts three or four months, beginning to end. Ironically, the simplest small project often involves challenging planning and collaboration. For example, a basic kitchen remodel will involve numerous diverse professionals, craftspeople, and suppliers. Nonetheless, the small project is, by definition, limited in its scope, budget, and duration...Read More

Borrowing Staff from Other Firms
Rosemary McMonigal, AIA

By choice, our firm has remained a steady size of five people, which has been an ideal work group size for the firm and projects. When we become too busy or have someone on leave, we look to other firms for help. The first time we tried this approach was 17 years ago, and it has remained an important part of our staffing equation...Read More

The Architect's Offense
Lisa Stacholy, AIA

Architects are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to business management. Our educational process does not afford us the time to learn about business matters, our internship process devotes only a small percentage of time to the functioning of office and business operations, and we love design so much that we jump at the chance to do it. The staff at one firm I worked at during my internship joked, "So we lose a little bit on each project we work on. We'll make it up in volume." Rather than heed that advice, I urge you to make notes and develop your own tactics for the Architect's Offense...Read More

News and Events

Upcoming Web Seminar

How to Make In-Roads into Government Design-Build Projects
Tuesday, November 17 | 2–3:30 p.m. ET | (1.5 LUs)

Free Sustainable Design Programs Online

The 2030 Challenge: Setting and Achieving Energy Goals with Integrated Design
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 | 2–3:30 p.m. ET | (1.5 LUs HSW/SD)

AIA Seattle and AIA National will jointly present this new Web seminar is free of charge to all AIA members. Based on the first of AIA Seattle’s AIA+2030 Professional Series, the session will be presented by Joel Loveland, professor of architecture and director, Integrated Design Lab for Puget Sound at the College of Built Environments, University of Washington. For more details, contact Janet Stephenson at janets@aiaseattle.org or 206-448-4938.

NEW: Google SketchUp for Energy Analysis
(4 LUs HSW/SD)

These free, step-by-step online tutorials on 3D modeling and energy analysis tools—Open Studio, SketchUp, and EnergyPlus—qualify for 4 LUs (HSW/SD) following completion of the four-hour program and a quiz. This is a quick, easy way to fulfill your annual AIA sustainable design (SD) continuing education requirement at no cost.

AIA Contract Documents

Documents on Demand Now Available!
AIA Documents on Demand is a web-based service that allows you to purchase and download individual forms and agreements in PDF format which you can fill out electronically. The documents available include 16 of the most popular selections from the AIA Contract Document library. This service is ideal for MAC users or those that only use a few contracts per year. Additionally, it is a cost effective solution for those of you that only create a few contracts per year, but still want the convenience and the clean, professional appearance of electronically generated documents. Learn more about AIA Documents on Demand.

Resources

Call for Submissions to SPP Journal Nos. 48 and 49

The AIA Small Project Practitioners (SPP) requests articles (approximately 500–700 words) and practice tips (approximately 100–400 words) for upcoming issues of the SPP Journal. Please share an experience, an anecdote, a failure (lessons learned the hard way), or a proven best practice...Read More