So you call yourself an Architect too? So many people call themselves architects: the software developer, the campaign manager, the author, the enterprise strategist - so on and so forth. But can we as architects call ourselves doctors, managers or authors? The title just doesn’t seem fitting. So why is it that so many can freely call themselves architects of in their professions? It is because an architect is so much more than a person who designs buildings. An architect is an individual … [Read more...]
Almost 40 Tips for Starting an Architecture Firm
This article was written by architect Timothy Ung of JourneyofanArchitect.com. It is being republished here at EntreArchitect.com with permission from the author. Enjoy! Almost 40 tips for Starting an Architecture Firm After obtaining my license as an Architect in New York, I brainstormed several long term goals and decided to start a personal blog, develop design projects, and learn everything that I could about starting an architecture firm. So I purchased several inspiring books … [Read more...]
What Was I Thinking?
Four Lessons in Telling the Truth
My First Assignment Many years ago, before Annmarie and I started our residential architecture firm, I was a project manager with Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects in Mt. Kisco, New York. I worked very closely with the senior partner at the time, Dick Kaeyer. My first assignment as Project Manager was a major addition and renovation project for a church and facilities in Yorktown Heights. Dick designed the project and I developed it through construction drawings. Then, in order to … [Read more...]
The Single Most Important Action You Can Take as an
Entrepreneur Architect
10 Simple Steps to Develop Standard Operating Procedures for Architects Every week, throughout the EntreArchitect Community, I hear or read questions from small firm architects struggling to find the success they seek. “How can I make more money as an architect?” “How can I find the work I want?” “How can I get my employees or contractors to do what I want them to do?” “How can I get more done?” There is one answer for all these questions. To build the business we want and … [Read more...]
How To Find Happiness
How To Find Happiness Architecture is a tough profession. We worked long hours, for years, with passion and dedication, to become architects. We struggled to launch our firms, often without the education or a firm knowledge of the basic fundamentals of business. We searched for the best clients and we serve them each, to the best of our ability. Yes, architecture is a tough, tough profession... and we wouldn't have it any other way. We've chosen this life. We're entrepreneur … [Read more...]
4 Simple Marketing Strategies for Residential Architects
Marketing Strategies for Residential Architects Have you listened to my interview with co-founder of SALA Architects, Dale Mulfinger, FAIA over at EntreArchitect Podcast? It was a fantastic discussion about how SALA was founded and the journey to where Dale finds himself today as a principal at the firm, a teacher and an author of several books published by Taunton Press. If you haven’t yet listened to the episode, you can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes or listen directly from the website … [Read more...]
Culture is Critical for Success at Your Architecture Firm
A Culture at Your Architecture Firm Will Make or Break Your Firm As your small firm grows beyond its infancy of the sole practitioner and you develop a strong team, the culture of your firm will evolve. The different personalities and experiences brought to your firm will mix and a firm culture will develop; with or without your guidance. You are a busy architect seeking your next contract and working hard to complete the current projects on the boards. You just need to get the work done. … [Read more...]
The 21 Rules for
Success in Architecture
The following is a compilation of my professional practice lecture on the last day of class. Instead of recapping the course or giving a final exam, I share with my students a presentation titled Advice as You Finish School and Start to Practice. I present a series of statements followed up with a brief explanation. Advice as You Finish School and Start to Practice... 1. GET STARTED ON YOUR CAREER PATH You can start earning AXP (NCARB Architecture Experience Program) hours right … [Read more...]
Mentoring the Young Architect Will Enrich and Strengthen Our Profession
Mentoring the Young Architect The profession of architecture has historically been dependent upon older architects mentoring younger architects. Due to the complexity of the profession, older architects need to train and mentor our young architects. One of the requirements of becoming a licensed architect is the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) which logs job training under certain tasks which is then signed off by a licensed architect. Aside from just a licensing requirement a … [Read more...]
How Project Accounting Will Transform Your Architecture Firm
Take the Time to Examine Project Financials—You Won’t Regret It Your projects have many moving parts, and sometimes tracking their financials might seem overwhelming. You might not get all the information you want or maybe, you don’t even bother to determine the profitability of each project because it would involve too much time. It’s completely understandable, but if you want to get serious about boosting your firm’s efficiency and profitability, you need to start monitoring your project … [Read more...]
Do Good While Doing Well
Benefit Corporations for Architects Recently, I have been chatting with numerous members of the design community about Benefit Corporations (or B-Corps) and have been met with an equal number of blank stares. The Benefit Corporation movement is gaining momentum daily; 34 states plus the District of Columbia have legislation authorizing B-Corps, while 6 additional states have legislation pending. [1] What is a Benefit Corporation? The Benefit Corporation is considered a hybrid of a … [Read more...]
Architects Are All The Same
Clients see us as all the same. One architect is just like another. We are all expected to be wonderfully talented designers. We are expected to know the codes and technical details required to construct safe and healthy buildings. In the eyes of our clients, we are all the same… unless we do something to stand out from the crowd. My firm does it differently than the rest. One example is our pre-design process. Before we design, before we sketch our first line, we perform a process of … [Read more...]
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