Book Description

Ideal for college-bound students or anyone thinking about making a career change

Careers in Architecture offers all the information career seekers need to explore and choose a profession and then narrow it down to a job that suits them. The book provides an overview of architecture, outlines job options, and shows how to plan and prepare for a career.

Reviews (1)

Excellent Architectural Career Guide
In "Careers in Architecture" Blythe Camenson shares the process of education and career development for potential architects. The book is relatively brief, but full of vital information. It details aptitudes and preparation needed for architecture school, as well as the educational process and internship and licensing processes used in the profession. She also details information about allied professions such as urban and land use planners, landscape architects, and historic preservationists.

Central to the book are a series of interviews with a number of practicing architects in different specialties and at different points in their careers, which is very interesting and useful for focusing on areas of the profession most interesting to a specific reader. Also included are several listings of professional organizations, architecture schools, etc., along with contact information for each of them, in what may be the single most useful feature of the book.

The book is certainly enlightening regarding all aspects of the profession, and in some cases is nothing short of eye opening, for instance in the area of salary, in which the author reveals that a beginning architect can expect to make only $25,000 to $35,000 annually after completing school, a figure well below most other professions. Despite the salary wake up call, architecture still comes across as a vibrant, interesting career field, and any reader considering a career in architecture would be well advised to read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

A hands-on guide to running any design-related business from a two-person graphics team to middle-management to CEOs of multi-national firms offering advice on specific problems and situations and providing insight into the art of inspirational management and strategic thinking. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Must Have
How Firms Succeed should be on every Design Firm's must read list. It is the closest thing to a how-to manual in running a design firm. Anyone who follows the principles of the text will reap the rewards as their business grows.

indispensable
How Firms Succeed transforms the poetry of architecture into the prose of practical management advice. This book offers solutions to the questions and problems that distract firms from their quest to provide excellent design. It should rapidly become an indispensable part of every architect's working library.

Refreshing
Too many design professionals think that design excellence and financial acumen are mutually exclusive. Thanks to the authors of How Firms Succeed for putting this myth to rest. This book addresses the issues that, if practiced, will allow for both. One can only imagine the impact of a firm that provides best-of-class design and its impact on our communities.

Deceptively simple
I loved this book! In these highly competitive times acheiving success is just as much about running a quality business as it is producing great design. How Firms Succeed provides deceptively simple, yet ultimately critical guidelines that apply to anyone seeking inspiration and insight.

Uncommonly clear and insightful
All too often design professionals get wrapped up in the grandness of the design and forget what the purpose of the commission was in the first place. They need to manage their relationships and finances with true professionalism. How Firms Succeed is a book that helps acheive holistic health. It's enjoyable too--should become invaluable to the design professions. ... Read more

Book Description

With the growing importance of design-and-build in construction, and the continuing emphasis on design throughout the curriculum, there is an increasing need for material which explains how the design process can be managed within the context of the development of new buildings. 'Managing the Building Design Process' explains the designer's role in the creation of new buildings from the development of the plan through to completion. The focus is on ensuring that the adopted design best fits the needs of the client, and putting that design into practice in the most effective manner. This text uses one key case study throughout, so that the reader can follow the process leading to the creation of a new building, with pertinent issues highlighted as they would arise in practice.

An appreciation of the way in which new buildings are created will help anyone involved in building construction to see how ideas are generated, how relationships are established, and how their involvement contributes to the success of the finished product. As such the book is appropriate for degree courses in architectural technology, construction, construction management, building and architecture.

* Built around a detailed case study to allow the student to see how a project develops
* Shows how to ensure designs fit the needs of the client
* Practical advice on effective implementation of plans ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers architecture students and professionals a hands-on guide to the practical side of operating an architectural practice. It includes contributions from well-known architects and designers such as Charles Gwathmey, Mario Salvadori, Gene Kohn and others. It covers project management, firm organization, legal issues, marketing, risk management licensing, client and contractor relations and more. Actual situations are analyzed and interpreted in the form of helpful case studies throughout the book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

uninteresting
As a new sole proprietor, I found this book to be essentially worthless. It is weighty, condescending, and lacks practical knowledge. I was looking for concise advise that could be applied to running a successful business in the new service economy, what I found was a "compendium" of old world ideas.

Read the book "Blur" instead.

A great resource for setting up shop
Andy Pressman is an expert on professional practice. As a former student, (I hope this doesn't taint anyone else's opinion,) I have had the opportunity of learning from a man that is part of the spearhead to change the education of architects and bring integrity back to an area that seems, in some circles, to have been forgotten: client relations. Written more towards the student, this book brings to light what it is to be a design professional. Also checkout Architecture 101, a more general approach to becoming a designer in the professional world.

And yes that is my real name! ... Read more

Book Description

Project Management for Building Designers and Owners presents the concepts, tools, and ideas to help design firms and owner/client project managers to better communicate and perform their jobs. Topics include:oStreamlining the complexity and costs of current building design and constructionoIntegrating the often-fragmented nature of the team in designing and constructing buildingsoAssessing the reengineering trend of reducing in-house facilities and staff in planning, coordinating, and managing a projectoOutsourcing responsibilities to traditional engineering, architectural, and facilities firms as well as program and project management firmsoComparing traditional design firms and specialty firms - in terms of finding and keeping capable staffs, project scope management, fee and time pressures, and a myriad of other issuesoCommunicating effectively within this highly fragmented, specialized, and complex arenaThis edition comprehensively outlines the fundamental means to effectively manage and control a project's scope, schedule, and budget. ... Read more

Book Description

A savvy, succinct approach to creating value and respect in the design industry by one of its gurus, Ellen Flynn-Heapes. She begins by blasting seven commonly-held assumptions that keep us from gaining real ground, including the unquestioned and distracting glamour of expansion and diversification. She also lays out the essentials of industry economics and trends, highlighting those that will prevail well through the internet age.

Her research reveals four pivotal wealth-creating behaviors: 1) passionate focus, 2) rigorous client selection, 3) systematic innovation, and 4) high credibility.She illustrates, through examples drawn from well-known firms, how six different company cultures can effectively apply these principles. ... Read more

Book Description

Written for both seasoned professionals and industry novices, Marketing Construction Services provides a general overview, as well as a comprehensive understanding, of the projects, trades, money, and market processes of the construction industry. It is a "must read" for anyone working in and about this industry who wants to gain a better understanding of the various processes involved in acquiring and successfully completing a construction project. Written by a professional with nearly three decades of experience in operations and business development, Marketing Construction Services offers the reader a new understanding of market processes, strategic planning, and business development at all levels. Throughout, it provides a comprehensive treatment of contractual obligations, including all phases of construction, from owner requirements, to market niches, to planning, to the bidding process, to project completion and the ability to be paid, and being ready to receive the next contract by owner. And it contains real-life examples that everyone in the industry can relate to. Owners, design professionals, financiers, construction managers, general contractors, and subcontractors within the commercial construction industry will find this to be a handy and invaluable reference. ... Read more

Book Description

Drawing on the author's extensive experience in construction engineering, administration, and education, this reference addresses each of the principal contract administration duties in logical order—from the hands-on viewpoint of a resident engineer on a construction project.Takes a project team approach for improved job efficiency, outlining a construction team operation in which the administrator delegates to the greatest possible extent all those contract administration functions that can be more effectively done in the field. Updates all chapters to twenty-first century technology. Adds coverage on Electronic Project Administration. Revises coverage of construction scheduling, based on contributions from an acknowledged expert in that field. Explores the various relationships between parties involved in construction, offering guidance on what to say or do, and what not to say or do, to avoid the risk of claims.Provides filled-out examples of documentation forms recommended for construction administration. Includes the latest DOT and local standards specs and applications for city and county projects. Provides information to help managers promote on-the-job safety. Helps managers improve job efficiency with guide specs for specifying CPM.Ideal as a review for those preparing for certification exams, a reference for seasoned professionals, and a single-source primer for those new to construction. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good reading in project management
the book covers most of the issues related to project management. Some topics are very informative even for soemone with experience in project management. overall a very good book on this subject. ... Read more

Book Description

The Architect's Essentials of Professional Practice Series provides substantive information on the business of architecture and its affiliated professions to maintain and improve the quality of the professional and business environment

Architects and designers are usually required to prepare and submit proposals in order to secure new business and the success of these proposals has a direct impact on the success or failure of any given firm
* Architectural firms spend an average of £'000s preparing proposals. This guide offers full coverage of how to create a proposal that will get the job
* Looks at how to personalise proposals as well as effectively targetting it to maximise success rates ... Read more

Book Description

Brown considers the gap that can exist between client expectation and realization in building projects. He focuses on the communication interface between the employer and the consultant design team, and specifically on the areas of function, finance, timescale and esthetics. This book includes an extensive review of current thinking and guidance of this and other related subjects. New data was obtained from a survey using questionnaires and personal semi-structured interviews. Data is presented graphically, analyzed and compared with practice as defined in current literature. ... Read more

Book Description

This book describes current best practice in managing construction. It is based on case studies of leading practice responding to demands from customers that construction match the value and quality that international competition is forcing on their own businesses. The case studies show that major customers now partner with construction firms to find more efficient ways of working.



The resulting best practice adds to these cooperative approaches a drive for efficiency and innovation based on benchmarks of world class performance that empower teams to set themselves competitive targets. So the new approach balances cooperation and competition.

This is why Professor John Bennett's book is called ''Construction: The Third Way.'' The third way in modern politics balances the extremes of cooperation and competition in the interests of the whole community. At its best it encourages sustainable economic growth within a fair society. These aims are echoed in leading practice where teams able to balance cooperation and competition deliver better value for their customers and yet earn sustainably higher profits for construction.

The new approach requires managers to rethink construction using ideas from fundamental science that see human organizations as self-organizing networks of relationships. This throws new light on the strengths and weaknesses of both competition and cooperation, and provides the basis for a new paradigm to guide key construction decisions. The book describes this background and provides advice about organization structures that are responsive to changing markets and technologies, and construction processes that enable the industry to earch fair profits by providing customers with the levels of value and quality they now demand.

*Based on case studies of world-class construction
*Links best practice and leading edge management theory
*Helps customers get good value and quality and construction firms be efficient and profitable ... Read more

Book Description

This book helps architects develop a systematic method for tracking and cross-referencing the enormous amount of information generated by a construction project. It provides valuable guidelines on construction project management. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Book Review of ' Construction Administration' by Mays & Novi
This is a very practical book. I was initially reluctant to buy the book as it was published in 1997. However, the practical suggestions and the sample forms etc are something I have been looking for to supplement standard project management techniques. The book covers one of the most important aspects of project management - information flow and record keeping. The attached disk works although one would have expect a CD instead. My only reservation is the high cost for such a small book. But then one should be after quality and not quantity. I am going to make this book available to my staff for running projects in China. The book is not just useful for Architects, it is useful for anyone managing a sizable project.

Easy reading and a refreshing change for technical material.
I have a degree in construction management and have been researching construction documentation strategies for decades.

The lay out of this book details simply the overall process and includes nearly all the forms we would normally encounter. The techniques offered are not a reinvention of the wheel but are the standard tracking practices followed in the A.I.A.'s Manual of Practice.

The book is an easy read, very nicely illustrated and includes a Word Perfect/Winword floppy disk. ... Read more

Book Description

The iF Design Award is a byword for design excellence since it was launched in 1954. In close to 600 generously illustrated pages the latest iF annual presents winners in the fields of product, communication (digital media and graphic design), packaging and transport design, as well as "Concepts" -- the competition for students, the designers of tomorrow. It includes the comments and opinions of the international jury as well as full details on the designers and manufacturers, making it an invaluable orientation and reference work for all decision-makers in management, media and politics. ... Read more

Book Description

Provides a framework for understanding of the legal, contractual and procedural implication of architectural practice. The book acts as a useful aide-memoire for students and practitioners based on the premise that smooth legal administration will provide the conditions under which client relations can be constructive and good design can be achieved.

* Invaluable information to guide architects through the legal maze of the the construction industry
* Clear guide to essentials for students and professionals who want a quick reminder at their elbow
* Procedural diagrams, lucid route maps through complex procedures, useful scenarios and relevant case studies to avoid legal liability ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An Outstanding Sourcebook
This lucid and concise volume presents the full spectrum of legal and practice issues in conducting architectural practice--from inception to completion of projects. Salient topics include contracts, legal liability and insurance, forms of business association, roles and responsibilities of building industry players, codes and standards, and dispute resolution strategies.

The authors deftly balance focused analytical and broad conceptual understandings with an engaging writing style. They crystallize a great deal of sophisticated practice information for real-world application.

Seasoned practitioners as well as young professionals will appreciate the underlying thesis: Knowledge of law and practice empowers architects with "security and certainty." Law and Practice for Architects provides that critical knowledge.

The authors vary the presentation of material--straight text with accompanying diagrams, question and answer sections, and "Practice Overview" essays. The fascinating Practice Overviews augment each chapter by illuminating a specific practice topic and by stimulating critical thinking, making this book a valuable didactic tool for professional development.

Law and Practice for Architects is an outstanding sourcebook, essential reading for all design professionals. Res ipsa loquitur. --Andrew Pressman, FAIA, Professor and Editor-in-Chief, Architectural Graphic Standards, 11e.

A rare and readable blend of experience and practical wisdom
This is a rare and readable blend of experience and practical wisdom on where design meets the law. It is a solid addition to any architect's library and could serve as a strong link in every firms orientation program. It offers the basics on legal issues, but just as importantly provides much-needed perspective. This profession has entered a new and different world- full of worrisome and wonderful opportunities. For those looking to the future, this book will lead the perplexed and strengthen the leader. ... Read more

Book Description

Green design is the major architectural movement of our time. Throughout the world architects are producing sustainable buildings in an attempt to preserve the environment and our globe’s natural resources. However, current strategies for forming sustainable solutions are typically too general and fail to take advantage of critical geographical, environmental, and cultural factors particular to a specific place. By focusing on the Pacific Northwest, this book provides essential lessons to architects and students on how sustainable architecture can and should be shaped by the unique conditions of a region.

Pacific Northwest regionalism has consistently supported an architecture aimed at environmental needs and priorities. This book illuminates the history of a "green trail" in the work of key architects of the Northwest. It discusses environmental strategies that work in the region, organized according to nature’s most basic elements--earth, air, water, and fire--and their underlying principles and forces. The book focuses on technologies, materials, and methods, with a final section that examines thirteen exceptional Northwest buildings in detail and in light of their contributions to sustainable architecture.

Critical case studies by Northwest architects illustrate some of the best environmental design work in North America. Architects in the book include, from Seattle, Mithun Architects and Planners, Jones and Jones Architecture and Landscape Architecture, and the Miller|Hull Partnership; from British Columbia, Peter Busby, Patkau Architects, and Terrence Williams; and from Portland, Allied Works. These projects include innovative design in water and site stewardship, intelligent technologies, passive energy strategies, ecologically sound building materials, and environmentally sensitive energy management systems. ... Read more

Book Description

The year out, or internship, in a professional practice can be the most rewarding experience in an architectural student's education. It can also be a shock to the system to find that architectural working practices are very different to architectural study. This book provides a beginner's guide to professional practice and a step-by-step guide on how to find the placement that best suits your goals. It is the fourth title in the successful 'Seriously Useful Guides...' series.

In order to give you a real insight into professional experience, this guide includes real
life case studies from students who have been through the experience and from practices that have taken them on. It guides you through the steps of finding a placement, outlines the norms and expectations for internship in different countries, and discusses codes of office behavior and professional ethics. Contemporary architectural
practices are becoming increasingly diverse and this guide outlines some Practical experience/Internship choices, providing cases studies of award wining firms that offer practical experience. These case studies range from conventional practices based on the art of building, to practices based on digital media or contemporary urbanism. Finally, the term 'critical practice' is becoming increasingly important, and the book provides some definitions and examples of critically based architectural practices.

* Provides a valuable step-by-step guide on how to make the most of your time in practice
* Prepares you for what to expect from an office and lets you know what an office expects from you
* Includes interviews with students, professionals and tutors who have been through the experience, to give you the best, first hand, advice ... Read more

Book Description

Prepare for the difficult structural tests with the most comprehensive Mock Exams available!

Each Mock Exam contains multiple-choice questions in the style of the actual exam and covers every aspect likely to be tested.The questions are contained in a booklet and the answers in a separate booklet.Each answer is fullyexplained, so that candidates will understand why that answer is correct.

This Mock Exam in preparation for the General Structures test consists of 135 questions in a 43-page booklet, with detailed answers in a separate 36-pagebooklet. ... Read more