Life of an Architect

If you are a young architect or plan on becoming an architect one day, I think the best advice I can give you is to find your way onto a construction site – even if that construction site is your own. I can’t help but think how working on my own houses over the years has fundamentally shaped how I think as an architect when I walk onto a job site. As a result of all the time I spent trying to get...

In order for social media to have an impact, you first have to decide on what you want to achieve and from there, you actually have to put yourself out there as an individual because social media only functions when you are social - which means there has to be a 1st person narrative. I should point out that this doesn't necessarily mean talking about yourself, it means talking about things from yo...

How much time have you spent thinking about the legal side of architecture?  If you are like most architects, you probably haven't spent enough time thinking about it. While it may not be the sexiest part of the architectural profession,  it is something that every licensed architect must consider on every single project.

“Your first architectural job is important.” Let me clarify that I’m not talking about summer jobs or internships … those don’t really count because they have a known shelf-life associated with them. No, what I’m talking about is the first real job a person takes once they’ve graduated from college – the job that signals the beginning of their professional career.

Everyone knows what a bucket list is – things you want to do or achieve in your life before you kick the bucket. Today we are talking about Architectural Bucket lists.

Unlike most professions, architects are fairly accustomed to standing up in front of a group of people and public speaking ... but that doesn't mean they like it (or even worse)  - that they are any good at doing it. The concern going through almost everyone's head before they get up in front of a group is that they will look stupid, sound stupid, or generally come across as someone who shouldn't...

Sometimes bad things happen, and it impacts you in a way that you weren’t anticipating – takes you out of your normal headspace. Since I don’t like feeling bad, we’re going to do something about it. Welcome to the “Fun Show".

Residential construction costs are not that complicated unless you really want to make them that way. There are some general broad stroke pieces of information that if you know them, you will not be surprised when it comes time to plan your budget.

Becoming an architect is the dream of many people, but it is rare that these individuals learn enough about themselves and what it means to be an architect prior to finding themselves in a position to have to make the decision to actually become an architect.

Every client wants to know what their project is going to cost and who’s going to build it. That means sending the drawings out and getting contractors involved … Let’s get ready to rumble because “The Construction Bid Process ” is today’s topic.

Architectural Fees are a mystery to most people and there is no shortage of methods that architects charge for their services. How do you make sense of which method works best for you and your clients?

Architecture and photography have a symbiotic relationship with one another and every architect knows that a picture is worth a 1,000 words. For today's episode, Andrew and I sit down with photographer Poul Ober to discuss the role photography plays in telling an architectural story, as well as the evolving impact photography is having on popular culture.

It happens to almost all of us eventually, and for pretty much everybody, the experience ranges from unpleasant to downright panic-inducing … so get your moving box ready because “Quitting Your Job” is today’s topic

What is it like to be an architect? Architecture in the real world is a lot different than people think. Does school prepare you for being an architect?

All industries have specific tools that make their business work - and architects are no different in this regard. Today, we will be discussing virtual reality, 3D printers, drafting software and many more modern day tools for architects.

As an architect, every space I walk in to, I look at … intensely. I scrutinize, evaluate, process, and redesign. Every. Single. Space.

For the 9th year in a row, Life of an Architect presents its "What to buy an architect for Christmas" - gift ideas that will please even the most particular and demanding of architects.

What does a day in the Life of an Architect look like? There are a lot of different answers to that question and even if I look at what my day looks like, it has varied over the years as I move through my career and took on different roles and responsibilities.

How much money does an architect actually make? Most people assume that architect's make a substantial salary, which would make sense considering how difficult and how long it take to become an architect.

What are the traits that a designer must have? There are many skills a designer will demonstrate, but here are the 6 most important traits.

With their clarity often confused with simplicity, modern houses require far greater attention to execution and as a result, seem to surprise everyone with how expensive modern houses actually cost.

If you are interested in becoming an architect, what are the best reasons to pursue your dream? The field of architecture can be extremely rewarding and today, we discuss a few reasons why.

Fall is just around the corner and that means it's time for students around the country to return to their desk at architecture school. For most, this time is a mixture of excitement and enthusiasm while for others, it's a mixture of anxiety and sleepless nights ...

Architectural offices do a lot more than simply provide a space in which the occupants do their job ... they represent the culture of the office

In this fifth episode of the Life of an Architect podcast, Landon and I take on the topic of Architects and cooking and how those two things come together in a way that could be unique.