I attended the local Home Builders Association meeting today and one of the points of discussion was that there the two local architects are both on the verge of retirement.
The two larger builders both expressed concern that often a local project that utilizes an out of town architect often ends up being built by out of town contractors that the architect has previous dealings with.
So if anyone knows of an architect looking for a place to hang a shingle, Marion, IN is wide open.
Rich Beckman
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OH GREAT!
Now the rest of the country will suffer a shortage as they all head your way...
;)
Someone is sure to fill the gap eventually, butI'm t5hinking thees guys ought to see opportunity instead of bemoaning the fact. Now is the time for them to get inot design/build to solidify their positions and expand the business. Bring in an archy under their own roof to fill the gap.
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"Now is the time for them to get inot design/build to solidify their positions and expand the business."The two builders mentioned don't do residential. They do commercial/institutional stuff.I'm not sure the retiring architects ever did any residential work either. I'll have to ask around.Rich BeckmanThis signature line intentionally left blank.
I see, Most of the copmmercioal work here on the island goes to contractors from away too. Honestly, I don't think I could do some of these jobs fopr the price they do, and they have to commute to do it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'm thinking thees guys ought to see opportunity instead of bemoaning the fact. Now is the time for them to get inot design/build to solidify their positions and expand the business. Bring in an archy under their own roof to fill the gap.
Maybe you ought to attend the next meeting as a Softplan Salesrep. I can furnish a portfolio of custom design / build homes we have done with Softplan.
Jen, I hope you are not reading this thread. I'll lose my favor with you.
NOTE: Jen is a recent graduate of University of Wisconsin with a Master of Architecture and Land Planning. She recently completed a land plan / residential development design for a hundred acre parcel we own. She did a wonderful job.
See attached plan and rendering of one of my favorite parts, the stables. My construction manager has a horse of my property and has laid claim to the homesite designated for the stable master. He is a city boy who has fallen in love with rural Texas living.
It's bee a while, but I used to frequent some other archy forums besides Splash. a common theme is how bad that business has gottn since there are so many CAD programs available and so many DIY designers out there mucking up the business.A guy at church graduated and went to work in an archy office - his life's ambition.Hard reality bites and within a year, he resigned, bought a house with his wife to turn into a B%B, and then started up a Mailboxes R Us franchise, and is doing quite well selling people styrafoam peanuts
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Styrofoam peanuts as opposed to a career in architecture?
WOW!
I became interested in architecture in the 8th and 9th grade. My ambition was to be an architect. I took elective courses in high school........ 2 years of mechanical drawing and one year in architectural drawing.
NOTE: I had moved from hometown Memphis to Northern Virginia where the high schools were advanced. I attended the all white high school (Francis C. Hammond)that eventually intergrated with an all black high school, the TC Williams Titans , and became the subject of the movie Remember the Titans after I moved back to Memphis.
The distractions related to the inhaled consumption of herbs lead me to drop the architecture dream and sign on as a frame carpenters helper. I loved it and I am glad for the distraction, having learned the building business by continually aspiring to the next postion, helper, apprentise, carpenter, leadman, frame crew boss, contractor, builder, custom builder, custom design / builder and now hope to be labeled developer. As of a meeting yessterday, I am now very close to building 2 - 40,000 SF hotels (Thread: Hotel Build)
I certainly do not discount and have great respect for the awesome (expensive) education and understanding of formal architectural training and a degree. I think I am educated in the school of hard knocks and can produce some pretty good designs with the practical hands on experience of starting as a framers helper being the key.
Jen, if you are out there we need some input, and perspective from one who has a recent Masters in Architecture and Land Planning.
Congrats TX on your progress!
blue"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
I don't know who Jen is, but that stable is too nice for horses. I'd glaze the stalls and move in.
that stable is too nice for horses. I'd glaze the stalls and move in.
Yea, ain't that just like an architect?
I understand your point about outside architects using their own contractors, but on the other hand having different designers can be an advantage. Victoria, the nearest city to me, is a sleepy Provincial capital. The architects who have located their practices here tend not to be too ambitious - or more bluntly very good. Touring the city it is easy to distinguish between the local efforts and those projects where the developers brought in Vancouver talent. The university, which has a policy of using several reliable staid architects, is a mess. Look on the bright side, maybe the quality of design in your town will improve.
I left some big $$$'s with an architect in Anderson, IN, that's close by to Marion, for house plans that were about double the budget we gave him. Sounds kinda normal, doesn't it? Too bad this guy isn't retired ......
Rich Beckman
architects earn a miserable income.. My brother in law is one a partner in one of the more successful firms in Minnesota.. His income is lower than mine is.
HIs son wanted to follow daddy's footsteps and he said, heck you'll make more money the first decade of your life if you work as a janitor. If you consider paying off student loans it will take several decades to earn as much as a decent carpenter can earn..
My bother in law is an Architect in Florida and I swear he was thinking about going back to being a server in a nice resturant in West Palm Beach. He knew he would earn more doing that but he just didn't want to leave the profession that he loved.
He's still doing upscale architcture work as an employee.
The key is to start your own practice...be the owner, not the employee. Anyone ever heard that before?
blue"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
blue-eyed-devil
I don't think owning your own company is a path to wealth.. MY brother-in-law was a partner in one of the most successful firms here in Minnesota.. Turns out that it sure isn't like a successful law practice.. He actauly doesn't profit from the partnership untill the senior partners retire and then he only makes money when he sells it to a junior partner and if that partner is successfull he can make some money.. Untill then his name is on everything that goes out and he's legally liable..
He got an offer to work for a succesful realestate comapny and the pay was better without the liability.. he left and didn't look back.. He still makes less than Half what a supervisor does and doesn't get a company vehicle..
Frenchy, you are failing to recognize the difference between being a partner, and owner.
Two different beasts, as you have pointed out.
blue"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
Blue-eyed-devil
The partners of that very successful architect firm earn an extremely modest living,, less than most job supervisors earn which is my real point..
To give you an idea of how successful they are most of the schools in Minnesota go thru that firm. I'm guessing but I believe they have near a 100 employees and most young college graduates make less than the janitors in the schools they design do..
good salesmen have always made good bucks compared to a lot of occupations
But like you poointed out - it isn't always the money. It's what you want to do with your life sometimes.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"architects earn a miserable income.. "US News & World Report had their cover story about the top jobs for 2007 this week. In pay, architects were next to last. Urban planners were in last place.