The overall convention was invigorating.  It not only re-energized my spirits, but helped show me some directions that I can take my career.  I also had the opportunity to network and talk with some colleagues that I have not seen in the past year or so, as well as meet a couple of up and coming celebrities, the creators of the popular web comic Architexts.  Therefore, until next years convention I am looking forward to getting more involved in the architecture profession again, even if it is just participating in AIA events and meetings.

Last year the presentation was about the results of almost a year’s worth of planning and preparation with three different Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout Ohio.  Giving our attendants the background of the competition as well as a more in depth look into some of our entrant’s submissions with incites from one of the participating habitat affiliates on how the competition would help them to move forward.

Again this year I was asked to present at the AIA Ohio Convention that was held these past couple of days in Toledo to provide a follow up to the results, as the intent was that each of the three category winning designs was to get built, and it is my pleasure to state that all 3 designs are getting built.  Two are well under construction, and one is awaiting a permit.  This year I was joined by one of our winning teams and habitat for humanity representative to discuss their experiences during and after the competition.  Because the intent of the competition was to give younger un-registered architect a chance to take hold of a project and work directly for a client and learn more about energy efficient design.  As well as provide habitat for humanity a new set of well designed prototypical homes that is more energy efficient and more aesthetically pleasing.  We had a good turn out with some good information being shared by our design team on how it helped them progress and learn as well as how the competition helped one habitat affiliate bring community members together as well as foster discussion with other habitat affiliates throughout the state.

Overall the competition exceeded my expectations.  Because I was able to create an opportunity like I had on the LEED Platinum home for someone else, giving them an opportunity to learn about high performance design and work with a worthy organization.  And not only did it help the three habitat for humanity affiliates, it helped all of the Ohio affiliates by increasing communication, coordination and a greater awareness of affordable high performance design.

So feel free to check out our presentations and follow the progress of the Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity affiliate as they track their progress.

CHfH Green Building Blog

2009 AIA Ohio Valley Regional Convention Presentation

2010 AIA Ohio Convention Presentation

I also believe you need to prepare for the worst.  Now for a lot of us, stashing money in a savings account is not an option.  But there are other things that can be done.  My local AIA chapter (AIA Columbus) recently held a seminar for the recently unemployed on various issues to consider if you decide to work for yourself.  Believe it or not, a lot of architectural firms get their start during a recession (article).  Attend AIA meetings and other events and start networking with colleagues.  Let them know who you are and what you are up to.  Even though they may not have work to take you on at that time, keeping an open line of communication with others will put you in the loop when new jobs are available and that personal connection may help you get your foot in the door.  Because it truly is not always what you know, but who you know.

So you may be asking yourself at this point what does this post have to do with the title “INTERN”.  Well I find myself to be in a diffulcult sittuation as I came to realize after my recent interview.  The position that I interviewed for was an intern architect position.  However I am a mere four exams away from becoming a registered architect and have been out of school for a little over 7 years.  So in a lot of cases that makes me overqualified for the postition that they want to fill, which also translate they will not want to pay me for that experience.

Now I know what you are thinking what took so long?  I am not going to go into that (However I do blame NCARB for a full years delay just to get my authorization to test).  So I am going to take advantage of the down time in the office to get a little extra studying done on a daily basis as well as getting back into my routine of studying after the kids go to bed at night.  Because with my first 4 exams, I learned pretty quickly what is successful for me to study and pass the exams.  For those of you who are concerned about hitting the books again, here is a good post I found to help you find your study style (Three rules for studying for the ARE).  So my goal is to complete my last four sections of the ARE by the end of the first quarter of 2010.  Which should allow me more opportunities to work for offices looking for registered architects or even start my own firm if I so choose to, or even forced to do.  So wish me luck.  In the meantime my blog posts are going to be much more sparadic than they are now.  However when I get back into full swing again, I hope to have a new look for the blog as well as my website (Sym-Home) with updated content to actually show some of the projects that I have completed around the house.  And lets not forget a new title Registered Architect!

AIA OHIO AFFORDABLE GREEN HOME DESIGN COMPETITION

It has been a difficult but rewarding experience to organize and coordinate an event like this.  My only hope at this time is that we receive a good amount of submissions and that we can raise enough money to provide the stipends necessary for our winning design teams to produce final documents of their designs.

So I encourage you to visit the competition website at www.aiaohiogreenhome.com and consider entering if you are eligible.

I was able to set up a sneek peak preview of the Ohio State University Solar Decathlon project through the local AIA Committee On The Environment which I chair.  Although the project it in the early stages of construction, it was a good chance to hear from the architecture students on what went into the design of the project and in general learn more about the competition.  So it was more of an informal question answer type presentation than tour.  But the general idea was to make the local architecture community that OSU will be apart of the 2009 Solar Decathlon.  We are hoping to tour the project again when it is closer to compeletion in September and hopefully I can make the journey to D.C. to see the project sitting in the mall.

So in the meantime enjoy the few pictures that I have and visit the projects website to learn more.
OSU Solar Decathlon Website

Posted by Mark Piepkorn via BuildingGreen.com

From the website of The Carbon Neutral Curriculum Materials Project:

The Carbon Neutral Curriculum Materials Project is a joint research effort between members of the Society of Building Science Educators, the American Institute of Architects, and a private donor, the purpose of which is to provide practitioners, faculty and students with the means to meet the 2030 Challenge — that is, to be able to design and construct buildings to a state of carbon neutrality by the year 2030.

Continue reading the article at BuildingGreen.com LIVE:

By Tristan Roberts via GreenSource

Image © Dan Page

The popularity of the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) credential, which is open to all professions, has led to the accreditation of over 77,000. By the time the current version of the program is retired later this spring, it is likely that the number of LEED APs will surpass the membership of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a fairly stable 83,000. While AIA membership is not directly comparable to holding the LEED AP credential, the momentum behind the program is remarkable.

The proliferation of LEED APs has come amid concerns about the program’s lack of rigor, so a major overhaul of the program arriving in late spring should not come as a surprise. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), a nonprofit sister to the U.S. Green Building Council, announced its plans to assume leadership of the program at Greenbuild in November 2008. At the same time, effective January 2009, the AIA made sustainability a requirement for its continuing education (CEU) program, ensuring that all architects will need to integrate green building at least into their education, if not their practices.

Continue reading the article at GreenSource Magazine.

Well to my dismay, the local American Institute or Architects (AIA) chapter was not that thrilled with the idea.  So I decided to take the path of least resistance and had the idea presented to the AIA Ohio board.  So to say the least, the idea was well received and I will now be spearheading the planning for a state wide competition that has the potential to benefit ALL of the Ohio Habitat for Humanity chapters.  And on top of that, we will be partnering with Green Energy Ohio in this effort to bring more energy efficient homes to Ohio’s working poor.

So check back regularly as I will periodically post updates on the progress of the competition planning.

-Josh