Hello ArCH members and others.  There is some recent trouble regarding the difference between a Septic Permit and a Septic Construction Permit.  See this article on my website to understand the difference:

http://www.homearchitects.com/septic-system-construction-permitting

For those of you practicing in urban areas like Chicago, this probably means nothing, but for any of our clients in more rural areas, this can be a very big deal.

ArCH co-founding member, Rand Soellner, just bid a fond goodbye to the CRAN-AIA people. Both entities asserted their positions that our organizations can coordinate efforts on programs that both feel would benefit from our cooperation.  ArCH indicated that new members are not presented with an either-or scenario.  Any licensed architect is welcome to be a member of the CRAN-AIA and ArCH, if they so choose.  David Andreozzi of CRAN, stated: “The more representation for architects we have, the better the profession is.”  Rand Soellner could not agree more with him.

For more information about the AIA:
AIA

Hi ArCH Folks,

Please look at your ArCH website menu on the far side of the horizontal menu bar under the Big Picture Slide Show of our website: Blog.  If you hover your mouse there, you will see a couple of drop-down menu items there that will give you instructions on how to do things in WordPress; the software in which our website consultants have created our website.

Those may help you deal with situations you encounter, while you are trying to edit your Firm Page, Insert Media, text, and install URL links and the like.  For instance: you cannot just copy a page from another website and paste that (images and all) into a WordPress website.  You have to install each image, one at a time, using the procedures indicated under the Blog menu choice.

Same thing with URL links.  You don’t just copy and paste them onto a WordPress page.  They will be dead text.  You need to name the text something, like: Interesting Houses, then highlight that text, then click on the Link symbol in the WordPress edit mode, THEN paste the URL.  See the sub menu instructions for this and other techniques under the Blog menu heading.  Thank you!

These samples belong in the category ‘Storybook Style’ which apparently grew from Hollywood film studio inspirations in the 30’s.  http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2012/12/17/hobbit-houses-tolkien-home-design/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000058#photoID-5506076

12-19-2012

Re: ArCH Motto

Don Duffy has suggested this as the ArCH Motto:

It’s not just a house; it’s your Home.

I happen to like that one a lot.

And it may be that this works just fine for us.  It might be nice to have a motto that included something about using an Architect, however.  So if you clever architects can think of a catch-phrase motto for us that rivals Don’s please share that with us.

I am also posting this on our blog, in hopes that we can migrate from these group e-mails to our Blog.  Thanks.

12-19-2012

Re: Click on PUBLISH, then UPDATE

 Hello ArCH Folks,

 I suppose I could have made this an ArCH Blog post, but frankly, I wonder how many of you are looking at those.  Are you?

 At any rate, some of our members have lost some text, when updating their Firm Page or creating a new topic Post.

Here’s what you need to do to not lose your work:

 If you haven’t yet published a Post, then you need to click on the right side Blue Button: PUBLISH.  This will put your post onto the ArCH Blog. 

Then, every time you want to save new text or images, you will notice that the Publish button has changed, it now reads: UPDATE.  So click the Update button, each time to want to save your work, which in my opinion, should be frequently.

 The process is similar for your Firm Page in the Find An Architect section on the ArCH website, only I have already Published these for you, so you will need to click the Update button, which will be your only option to save your work onto your Firm Page.

 P.S.: you can also save your work as a draft, if you are not sure that you want to publish it yet.  Look above the Update/Publish button for the Save as a Draft button.

This post refers to part of ArCH’s Public Awareness Program, in which various problems are featured on residential projects not involving an architect.

See: ArCH Public Awareness Program for more information.  The more of us that talk about this, the ideas we have for possible videos.

Would all ArCH members please take a look at our website menu and look at FOCUS AREAS.  When you click on that, you will see several suggested Focus Groups to address those Focus Areas.  Oh, you might say: “You mean that I might have to serve on one or more of these committees to solve these issues?”  Well, ArCH doesn’t exactly have paid minions to do our bidding.  ArCH = US.  You and me and all of us.  In order to figure out how all of us want to address the issues that concern us, WE are all going to have to discuss it with others among us and SOLVE the problem with suggested courses of action.  Preferably for “0” cash or reasonably minor expenditures.  We haven’t even had our first election and have not yet taken in any dues yet.  So: be realistic about approaches.

Everyone: please comment on our Blog here, to this post, as to what other, additional Focus Areas you believe ArCH needs to address and make sure that YOU are prepared to do something about that, by at least serving or chairing that committee.  And if you are interested in one of the posed Focus Groups, please e-mail: Rand@HomeArchitects.com and he will put your name on that group.

Thanks!

Here are my thoughts on a motto. Some of it comes from the Baord Of Architecture and what in means to earn the title of Architect.

I solemnly swear I am a person of good moral character. I am am a licensed Architect professionally educated for five or six years by an accredited university or college. I  have completed  three years of training under a licensed architect. I have passed the professional exam leading to the title of Architect.

I am licensed by the state I provide service in. I will uphold the laws of the state, county, municipally or community I serve in.

I pledge to use good judgment in our service to clients and to our community in whole. I will work to ensure the health, safety and protection of property.

My decisions are based on my  education, training and practice.

I will work to the highest levels of integrity, judgment, business, artistic and technical ability.

I will use professional judgment and be unprejudiced in my decisions.

I will provide service that leads to the creation of the built environment for use and beauty of individuals, families and the greater community.

I will continue to learn and educate myself in poser vice to my clrot shear

I pledge to share my skills and knowledge with my peers and to help further the education of my clients, builders, and trade partners in persuit of a better built environment.

I pledge to be a good stewart of this worlds natural resources and to work towards a sustainable environment.

Don,

Here are some stream of conscious thoughts on home building in no special order.  They may help you or someone spare a headache.  Generally we would change < 1% and thoroughly loved our experience.

Russel the home owner acted as his own GC. and HVAC contractor. His back ground is land development and this was his first experience building anything other than  neighborhoods. He has been in his house 8 months now. This type of feed back is first in my career. What have you all experienced?

Insulate interior walls with foam or cellulose for sound deadening

Don’t nail boxes in baseboard for rooms with wainscoting or paneling – Trim guy should set final location

Install Christmas light switch turn centrally turn on/off candles

limit windows opened during construction.  Workers will DAMAGE / BREAK

Protect door thresholds and limit access

Security panel should NOT be under the main stair

Wire for generator on panel (welding 220 outlet)

LED outdoor lighting

Iris Reading lights over master bed

4way switch MBR ½ hot outlets

3way secondary bedroom ½ hot outlets at bed and doors (turn lamps off from bed)

Locate lights on plan AND field mark ahead of contractor

Wire CAT 6 all bedrooms, TV’s etc.  Minimum 4 in Office

Cut Floor outlets after furniture is in place.

Block baseboard outlets 1 2×4 up from sub floor.

Hide subwoofer in wall media room

Fantech bath fans

Plan for art lighting (ceiling pinhole lights best)

Plan upstairs areas for noise below ie exercise should NOT be over master bedroom.

Review coffer layout for room on plans to understand door symmetry.

Locate a safe in the house

Set house elevation for drainage.

Ensure no water at front drive / walkway

Frame pockets for vents and outlets to center

Know trim width to set switches (minimum 3 studs blocking)

Block for towel, toilet paper, curtains etc

Extend closets to eaves (if you have clipped ceilings)

Set pocket doors (probably 1”)  “high” to match adjacent doors trim heights. Set from HW floor NOT Sub floor.

Plumb for gas starters all fires

Dig irrigation well

Take more digital pics than you think you need.  Deliberately photograph plumbing, electrical, insulation etc.

MBA – bench should have ankle recess for comfort

Decide opening side of shower to relate to Steam / light on off.

Make 2×6 wall for major plumbing side

Remove low flow plugs from rain head

Don’t slope ceiling in steam shower

HVAC

Use wall returns sparingly and decorative woodgrills

Have ERV on HVAC system

Seriously consider geothermal HVAC