Practice Management Member Conversations

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

Having not completed a traditional architectural education, perhaps I'm not the correct one to comment. However, over the course of my career I have hired and mentored several architectural graduates from our country's finest institutions of higher education and can comment from an external point of view.

I have also lent my opinion for many years while sitting on a drafting and engineering technology advisory committee at a local community college.

Although an NAAB accredited degree carries a consistent list of course requirements, every student brings their own personal preferences, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes to the table. Compound that with the same individual characteristics of the faculty from each individual school and you will get graduates with very different skill sets and talents coming out of the same NAAB accredited degree program.

That being said, I did have rather good experiences from graduates from some schools compared to graduates from others. The better graduates firmly grasped assignments of practical situations with time deadlines on "real" projects. I know I may offend some, but the graduates that required more work were those that rather excelled such worthy projects in design studio as "sculpting hope" and such, only to find that at their first job, they were assigned to draw construction details in CAD.

I think the NAAB program is well intentioned and generally well conceived overall. Of course a poor faculty member, or a great faculty member can really make a difference. "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.

Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of?

-------------------------------------------
Gordon Rogers, AIA NCARB LEED AP
EAS Executive
Kitchell CEM, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for your thoughtful response and your willingness to get involved in the conversation.  

I would like to respond to your last paragraph and question: 
/// "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.  ///

I agree, change is uncomfortable.

Can any new endeavour ever be ensured 100% success?  Sometimes, not always.  However, if we are not willing to try something new, then we must be afraid of risk (or we are afraid of breaking or messing up a 'perfect' system- the mentality of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" reigns). 

Is there really nothing new we could change or add to improve the existing architectural curricula (such as Project Management classes specific to aec projects, or more hands-on construction classes, or structures classes that incorporate applied knowledge of details rather than pure theory and math)?  Or maybe these changes have already been added since I graduated long ago.

What about doing away with all 4-year degree programs since they are vastly becoming obsolete as most State licensing boards are now requiring BArch or MArch programs for licensure.

Is it really a good set-up to allow folks to become licensed architects after only a 3-year MArch curriculum after they've studied another field?

Do schools still ignore the work of women pioneers in the field such as Julia Morgan or Denise Scott Brown?

I had not learned of Julia Morgan's work until after I graduated from architecture school; her name and her work had simply been missing from our curriculum (unless I was absent that day).

Lastly, you asked me:
/// Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of? ///

I'm afraid (or concerned-- a better word) of a few things:

1. Personally, I am afraid (worried, concerned) of "dying with my music still inside me." At my age (39 and holding), I see opportunities closing off and I regret not having stayed in architecture in favor of a more lucrative business opportunity that I took advantage of in the early 1990's. What I gained in business experience was of great value, however, so it's not a total loss or complete derailment; and I was able to return to architecture- with a Herculean effort.

2. That we won't have a productive, honest conversation about this subject for several reasons: a) some folks seem entrenched in their respective stances out of self-preservation. b) lack of information-- where are the earlier ARC white papers that Mr. Casius Pealer asked Mr. Szymanik to provide?  Rather than reinvent the wheel or keep spinning our wheels on endless, meaningless debates that go nowhere, this kind of information would be helpful and c) apathy from leadership at AIA, NCARB, ACSA, and NAAB.


3. I see the divide between architecture school and practice ever-widening and few people who want to help emerging architects or moms returning to the workforce to succeed.  It's very much a dog eat dog world in architecture and an every man for himself atmosphere.  Truly, interns must be Trailblazers in order to succeed in today's market.  I don't think schools should focus on BIM necessarily, but where are the students supposed to learn this?  Who IS supposed to teach it?  The workplace?  Only a few conglomerates can afford to do that and only if you're young enough will someone be willing to invest their firm's time in your learning curve.  Who will train the "dinosaurs?" 

4. The unique position of women in architecture is no more as noted by one Houston PhD, futurist.  While women make up 40% of the undergrad classes in architecture, only 13% (may now be 17-20%) of women go on to architecture grad school and remain in the profession.  Of those who do, only about 11% become licensed, if my stats are current.  I sense that if an older woman is not in architecture, there is very little chance she ever will be unless she owns her own firm.  Women are being objectified as older ones are being passed over in favor of younger ones.  Age discrimination is not unique to women-- I've heard some men in architecture say the same thing.  One could argue that these older architects are not being discriminated against, it's just that they simply could not or would not keep up with new technology.

5. The loss of current knowledge may not be passed down to the next generations for two reasons: the loss of older generations who were laid off (there goes the 'database' of info out the door) and the hollowing out of the profession due to the Great Recession where we lost 60,000 architecture jobs since 2008.  As one astute architect asked on the AIA LinkedIn forum today-- can this knowledge be replaced by an info-embedded BIM database?

I think that covers it for now.

I would like to share two related links to posts that I think help frame this debate further:
1. http://www.archdaily.com/244251/practice-2-0-the-elephant-in-the-room/
2. http://cannondesignblog.com/?p=6979

Thank you for the oppportunity to share.

Kind regards,
Tara

-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA, CSI
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 07:51
From: Gordon Rogers
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Having not completed a traditional architectural education, perhaps I'm not the correct one to comment. However, over the course of my career I have hired and mentored several architectural graduates from our country's finest institutions of higher education and can comment from an external point of view.

I have also lent my opinion for many years while sitting on a drafting and engineering technology advisory committee at a local community college.

Although an NAAB accredited degree carries a consistent list of course requirements, every student brings their own personal preferences, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes to the table. Compound that with the same individual characteristics of the faculty from each individual school and you will get graduates with very different skill sets and talents coming out of the same NAAB accredited degree program.

That being said, I did have rather good experiences from graduates from some schools compared to graduates from others. The better graduates firmly grasped assignments of practical situations with time deadlines on "real" projects. I know I may offend some, but the graduates that required more work were those that rather excelled such worthy projects in design studio as "sculpting hope" and such, only to find that at their first job, they were assigned to draw construction details in CAD.

I think the NAAB program is well intentioned and generally well conceived overall. Of course a poor faculty member, or a great faculty member can really make a difference. "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.

Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of?

-------------------------------------------
Gordon Rogers, AIA NCARB LEED AP
EAS Executive
Kitchell CEM, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
-------------------------------------------





-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

I suppose I am afraid that we will keep doing what we are doing.  I have written previously comparing the perspective from which my architectural education was delivered to the perspective from which my legal education was delivered.  I fully believe we get out what we put in.  The process conditions graduates to view themselves and their profession negatively, and we get that out as a result.  Couple that with a licensing process that gets longer, more difficult and more expensive every year (and I have to wonder if it really turns out better Architects than the simpler system we had 20 years ago) and we know (or should know) why the state of the profession is as it is.

Emerging professionals and diversity should not be a discrete issue because it should simply be a subconscious part of everything we do.  The fact that we continue to view them as discrete "issues" says it all - we don't know what to do so we do nothing while time slogs on

But I am just "that lawyer" and as I have heard many AIA members say over the past few months "why should we listen to that lawyer".

Well . . . if you want to know my fear, "that lawyer" is afraid that nothing will change and we will continue to repeat the past, hoping for different results.



-------------------------------------------
Frederick Butters FAIA, Esq.
Attorney
AIA Detroit
Southfield MI
-------------------------------------------

Well said Gordon.  

While I suppose it may be theoretically possible that a gifted student could wring the education they sought from any institution, my experiences over the last three + decades with over a hundred 'intern architects' leads me to the belief that some approaches and programs are far more likely to equip students with the skills and mindset required to thrive or survive in the rough and tumble real world of building and place design. 

What I have found rather distressing is the large number of young people who select a particular program with little to no insight into what they are looking for from their education, what approach a particular program takes, and how the choice of institution may affect their future.  This becomes clear to many it seems only after years and tens of thousands of dollars of investment.

I suspect there is one key reason for this wide range of approaches.  

Can you imaging future doctors being trained by 'non doctors'; accountants or attorneys being trained by professors who have no legal standing to practice the profession being taught?  Only it seems in architecture is there such a disconnect.  

Yikes!
  

-------------------------------------------
Michael Malinowski AIA
AIA Director - California Region
Applied Architecture, Inc.
Sacramento CA
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 07:51
From: Gordon Rogers
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Having not completed a traditional architectural education, perhaps I'm not the correct one to comment. However, over the course of my career I have hired and mentored several architectural graduates from our country's finest institutions of higher education and can comment from an external point of view.

I have also lent my opinion for many years while sitting on a drafting and engineering technology advisory committee at a local community college.

Although an NAAB accredited degree carries a consistent list of course requirements, every student brings their own personal preferences, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes to the table. Compound that with the same individual characteristics of the faculty from each individual school and you will get graduates with very different skill sets and talents coming out of the same NAAB accredited degree program.

That being said, I did have rather good experiences from graduates from some schools compared to graduates from others. The better graduates firmly grasped assignments of practical situations with time deadlines on "real" projects. I know I may offend some, but the graduates that required more work were those that rather excelled such worthy projects in design studio as "sculpting hope" and such, only to find that at their first job, they were assigned to draw construction details in CAD.

I think the NAAB program is well intentioned and generally well conceived overall. Of course a poor faculty member, or a great faculty member can really make a difference. "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.

Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of?

-------------------------------------------
Gordon Rogers, AIA NCARB LEED AP
EAS Executive
Kitchell CEM, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
-------------------------------------------





-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

To quantify the disconnect in my earlier post: 75% of the faculty in professional architectural programs are not Architects.  

Yikes!

-------------------------------------------
Michael Malinowski AIA
AIA Director - California Region
Applied Architecture, Inc.
Sacramento CA
-------------------------------------------


Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-20-2012 16:37
From: Michael Malinowski
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Well said Gordon.  

While I suppose it may be theoretically possible that a gifted student could wring the education they sought from any institution, my experiences over the last three + decades with over a hundred 'intern architects' leads me to the belief that some approaches and programs are far more likely to equip students with the skills and mindset required to thrive or survive in the rough and tumble real world of building and place design. 

What I have found rather distressing is the large number of young people who select a particular program with little to no insight into what they are looking for from their education, what approach a particular program takes, and how the choice of institution may affect their future.  This becomes clear to many it seems only after years and tens of thousands of dollars of investment.

I suspect there is one key reason for this wide range of approaches.  

Can you imaging future doctors being trained by 'non doctors'; accountants or attorneys being trained by professors who have no legal standing to practice the profession being taught?  Only it seems in architecture is there such a disconnect.  

Yikes!
  

-------------------------------------------
Michael Malinowski AIA
AIA Director - California Region
Applied Architecture, Inc.
Sacramento CA
-------------------------------------------





-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 07:51
From: Gordon Rogers
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Having not completed a traditional architectural education, perhaps I'm not the correct one to comment. However, over the course of my career I have hired and mentored several architectural graduates from our country's finest institutions of higher education and can comment from an external point of view.

I have also lent my opinion for many years while sitting on a drafting and engineering technology advisory committee at a local community college.

Although an NAAB accredited degree carries a consistent list of course requirements, every student brings their own personal preferences, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes to the table. Compound that with the same individual characteristics of the faculty from each individual school and you will get graduates with very different skill sets and talents coming out of the same NAAB accredited degree program.

That being said, I did have rather good experiences from graduates from some schools compared to graduates from others. The better graduates firmly grasped assignments of practical situations with time deadlines on "real" projects. I know I may offend some, but the graduates that required more work were those that rather excelled such worthy projects in design studio as "sculpting hope" and such, only to find that at their first job, they were assigned to draw construction details in CAD.

I think the NAAB program is well intentioned and generally well conceived overall. Of course a poor faculty member, or a great faculty member can really make a difference. "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.

Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of?

-------------------------------------------
Gordon Rogers, AIA NCARB LEED AP
EAS Executive
Kitchell CEM, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
-------------------------------------------





-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

Part of the solution can be simple changes within the programs that having nothing to do with curriculum.  I served on a university architectural advisory council for several years.  Two things came out after a while.
We juried many projects that were not done.  We were told to crit the concept not the completion. We encouraged the faculty to set and hold to deadlines.  We reminded them that when the students went out into offices they had to understand what deadlines were.  Finishing is as important as the concept.
The other was that the faculty did not believe they should fail anyone that was in the professional program.  At that time only about a fourth of the already vetted applicants were accepted into the program so the students were already all exceptional.  After much conversation it was agreed that some people needed to be directed elsewhere because the selection process, like all processes was not perfect.

-------------------------------------------
Robert Carlson AIA
Principal
Carlson Design Team PC
Iowa City IA
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 07:51
From: Gordon Rogers
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Having not completed a traditional architectural education, perhaps I'm not the correct one to comment. However, over the course of my career I have hired and mentored several architectural graduates from our country's finest institutions of higher education and can comment from an external point of view.

I have also lent my opinion for many years while sitting on a drafting and engineering technology advisory committee at a local community college.

Although an NAAB accredited degree carries a consistent list of course requirements, every student brings their own personal preferences, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes to the table. Compound that with the same individual characteristics of the faculty from each individual school and you will get graduates with very different skill sets and talents coming out of the same NAAB accredited degree program.

That being said, I did have rather good experiences from graduates from some schools compared to graduates from others. The better graduates firmly grasped assignments of practical situations with time deadlines on "real" projects. I know I may offend some, but the graduates that required more work were those that rather excelled such worthy projects in design studio as "sculpting hope" and such, only to find that at their first job, they were assigned to draw construction details in CAD.

I think the NAAB program is well intentioned and generally well conceived overall. Of course a poor faculty member, or a great faculty member can really make a difference. "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.

Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of?

-------------------------------------------
Gordon Rogers, AIA NCARB LEED AP
EAS Executive
Kitchell CEM, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
-------------------------------------------





-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

Having been out of "school " for over 30 years now and having hired my share of interns, I'd like to add my two cents.

Employers and clients expect to hire professionals who know what they are doing.
If we expect to graduate from school and make the kind of money engineers make, we need to have marketable skills.

Unfortunately too many schools feel they should spend 4 years teaching students how to think, "explore"  and become top designers who win awards. That may work for a few, but most of the graduates will end up learning about their field at their first jobs. That puts an enormous burden on the employer in a field that is already notoriously unprofitable.

If we expect to be profitable, employees must have a minimum level of expertise to work on simple projects and elements undirected.

If we expect clients to pay architects well, we need to have a level of knowledge to be of value.
That means knowing more about what to draw, how to draw, details, materials, waterproofing, construction, and constructability. And in that regard, most schools fail miserably.

 
-------------------------------------------
Betty Trent AIA
Architecture Plus
Austin TX
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 07:51
From: Gordon Rogers
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Having not completed a traditional architectural education, perhaps I'm not the correct one to comment. However, over the course of my career I have hired and mentored several architectural graduates from our country's finest institutions of higher education and can comment from an external point of view.

I have also lent my opinion for many years while sitting on a drafting and engineering technology advisory committee at a local community college.

Although an NAAB accredited degree carries a consistent list of course requirements, every student brings their own personal preferences, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes to the table. Compound that with the same individual characteristics of the faculty from each individual school and you will get graduates with very different skill sets and talents coming out of the same NAAB accredited degree program.

That being said, I did have rather good experiences from graduates from some schools compared to graduates from others. The better graduates firmly grasped assignments of practical situations with time deadlines on "real" projects. I know I may offend some, but the graduates that required more work were those that rather excelled such worthy projects in design studio as "sculpting hope" and such, only to find that at their first job, they were assigned to draw construction details in CAD.

I think the NAAB program is well intentioned and generally well conceived overall. Of course a poor faculty member, or a great faculty member can really make a difference. "Change" is always uncomfortable and must always be evaluated to ensure that the results of the change will generate a better final product. I'm not sure I see a lot of reasons to change the current system. Graduates of the current system have served me very well.

Tara - I'd be interested in how you answered the question... What are you afraid of?

-------------------------------------------
Gordon Rogers, AIA NCARB LEED AP
EAS Executive
Kitchell CEM, Inc.
Sacramento, CA
-------------------------------------------





-------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

Some things never change. The arguments back and forth about architectural education have been the same for generations--not practical enough, too liberal, training vs. knowledge, design vs. practice, codes vs. creativity--the monologues just keep coming without adding anything new.

I've been on both "sides," full-time architectural educator for ten years and full-time practice for twelve years. The fact remains even since I was a student (back in the 1800s) that education of any sort is entirely up to the student. Indeed we have a system of standardization through NAAB, IDP, and ARE that helps establish institutional consistency ultimately for (among many other concerns) the protection of public welfare (as broadly as that may be considered). However, each individual student is responsible for how s/he learns, absorbs, understands, and puts into practice the knowledge presented to him/her. Educators understand that and do their best to prepare students for the broad spectrum of all aspects of the profession--also understanding that not all architecture students will become licensed architects, nor should they all be.

However, we architects are in the business of serving clients, getting projects done, and done well, and making a profit to ensure the continuation of our businesses. Since our educational system for architects is mainly how we obtain employees, managers, leaders, and ultimately successors, for our businesses, we are looking at the system quite differently.

As long as educators (in general) and practitioners (in general) are looking at the same thing with totally different goals and expectations, the chances of arriving at agreement is unlikely--as has been the case for generations.

What we can do, together, is encourage, mentor, and sponsor our youth interested in entering the study of architecture--beginning in grade school--on an individual basis so each student arrives at their own understanding--hopefully in a well-rounded way--of what the expectations are for becoming an architect; what they should be learning for their own self-development and preparation for a career entailing considerable responsibility that transcends both education and practice.

-------------------------------------------
David W. Clarke AIA
President, AIA Southern New Mexico Chapter
Senior Architect, Williams Design Group, Inc.
Las Cruces NM

Show Original Message -------------------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------

In response to David Clark, whom I quote:


"Some things never change."



Precisely.



-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA, CSI
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 09:35
From: David Clarke
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

Some things never change. The arguments back and forth about architectural education have been the same for generations--not practical enough, too liberal, training vs. knowledge, design vs. practice, codes vs. creativity--the monologues just keep coming without adding anything new.

I've been on both "sides," full-time architectural educator for ten years and full-time practice for twelve years. The fact remains even since I was a student (back in the 1800s) that education of any sort is entirely up to the student. Indeed we have a system of standardization through NAAB, IDP, and ARE that helps establish institutional consistency ultimately for (among many other concerns) the protection of public welfare (as broadly as that may be considered). However, each individual student is responsible for how s/he learns, absorbs, understands, and puts into practice the knowledge presented to him/her. Educators understand that and do their best to prepare students for the broad spectrum of all aspects of the profession--also understanding that not all architecture students will become licensed architects, nor should they all be.

However, we architects are in the business of serving clients, getting projects done, and done well, and making a profit to ensure the continuation of our businesses. Since our educational system for architects is mainly how we obtain employees, managers, leaders, and ultimately successors, for our businesses, we are looking at the system quite differently.

As long as educators (in general) and practitioners (in general) are looking at the same thing with totally different goals and expectations, the chances of arriving at agreement is unlikely--as has been the case for generations.

What we can do, together, is encourage, mentor, and sponsor our youth interested in entering the study of architecture--beginning in grade school--on an individual basis so each student arrives at their own understanding--hopefully in a well-rounded way--of what the expectations are for becoming an architect; what they should be learning for their own self-development and preparation for a career entailing considerable responsibility that transcends both education and practice.

-------------------------------------------
David W. Clarke AIA
President, AIA Southern New Mexico Chapter
Senior Architect, Williams Design Group, Inc.
Las Cruces NM
-------------------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-19-2012 00:31
From: Tara Imani
Subject: Re Architectural Education: What are you afraid of?

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Conference ARC Preparation .
-------------------------------------------
Dear Colleagues, fellow Architects, Educators, and Emerging Associates:

The famous author and blogger Seth Godin recently noted that if there is a vehement response- or no response- to your post, question, or position on a given topic, then the next logical step to take is to ask the reader, 'what are you afraid of'?

Thus far, this conversation (on how to improve architectural education) seems to be missing some key voices- academics, ACSA members, NCARB leaders, and YAF community members.

Of the few brave folks who have proffered their ideas, it seems there are two opposing responses-- demolish the current curriculum and start over again or don't change a thing and let the student determine her/his coursework.

To anyone who may be hesitant to change the existing curriculum or offer even the slightest recommendation or improvement, I ask:
 
What are you afraid of...?


Respectfully yours,


-------------------------------------------
Tara Imani AIA
Principal
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
-------------------------------------------