An answer to the $34,000 question

Did anyone see the latest issue of Architect? They had a great (sarcasm) article about interns and pay within the arch. profession. It is called, "The $34,000 question".

Apparently, the answer to the $34,000 question, "Do interns earn enough?" is a meek, "No, but that's OK because they are dedicated idealists who love the work." What an utterly disappointing and embarrassing glimpse at our profession. Why is the low pay inevitable and why isn't Architect magazine writing about what's being done, if anything, to change the situation? This article says nothing new and answers nothing about a problem all architects have seemingly resolved to accept.

A profession like ours should not be relying on idealism to attract and keep talent. Architecture is artistic and potentially altruistic but not nearly enough of either that idealism alone will keep talent. Who are we kidding? I don't know if other architects like the "starving and angst-ridden artist" image, but it is stupid and inaccurate. If architects say, "I'm not in it for the money, I love the work". Who are they saying this for? Is it to convince themselves they didn't screw up on career choices or to convince others that they have somehow attained a higher calling? When did architecture become monastic? This assumption about our profession degrades it.
The warm optimism and anecdotes in this article about the few firms that offer alternative benefits to good salaries felt like veiled chastisement to those with second thoughts. This insultingly implies that people who are tired of bad pay just don't care enough and should get out or stop complaining. Or maybe the author's intent was to be that of a cheerleader pushing us on through the tough fight that is our careers. Well, I agree it's time to stop complaining. The reality is that most buildings that are designed and built in America are not works of art but works of economy and devoid of transcendental meaning.

Many architects are leaving the profession without leaving, by taking corporate architect positions. These companies pay well above the average at every level of experience. Corporations are out for profit. An interesting take for this article, instead of the fatalistic idealism, would be to study how those companies justify paying higher salaries to their architects and what can be learned for the profession as a whole.
The quote from the architect principle regarding interns, "We can't pay them $100,000 / year because they are not worth it." is especially poignant. Interns are not worth it, architects are not worth it. Why is that? Why after 5-6 years of high priced higher education are interns coming into the profession unprepared and therefore of little value? The undervaluing of one member of our profession undervalues the entire profession. Why is one of the main questions on the AIA website for perspective clients, "Why hire an architect?" Shouldn't our value be obvious? The other members of the construction and real estate industry, with few exceptions, are in it solely for the money. Architects are not on some higher plane. Architects play an important role in building but with increasing control and responsibility ceded to other professions: engineers, contractors, developers, architects are expendable.
Maybe architects need to go out of business. If we can not show our value and gain the respect through proper payment, we shouldn't just complain about it, or take it meekly as artistic martyrs. We should act to take more of the industry profit share, train to deserve better compensation or eliminate the profession altogether.

What color was the apple?

For those that think we are loser self-absorbed architects, we are not always consumed with things architectural. This morning, we were having a lively discussion about Adam Eve. It went something like this:

Pete: Marcus and I were just discussing the apple of knowledge from the bible Adam and eve story. Does the color of the apple matter to the story? was it even mentioned? Would the world be a different place if it had been a green apple? Eve might not have eaten it, no one likes green apples nearly as much as red ones....except probably Chris because he's got strange tastes in fruit.

Chris: I do think the color matters - size too. It wasn't some small crab apple -it was definitely big and round but they never really mention that, do they?There is a shit-load of reading between the lines in the bible.

John: I don't think they even say it was an apple in the bible. I thought that was more a school/social thing that everyone says apple because its a concrete item that kids can understand. The bible just says it was a fruit. Maybe I am wrong about that and I don't have a bible handy so I can not check, but that's what I remember. Do they even grow a lot of apples in the Iran/Turkey area that this was written in?

Pete: serious reading between the lines...how do they even know it was an apple? it seems like a banana makes more literary sense, it's phallic. (Chris likes cold black bananas, coincidence?) after eating it she's all about the dick, so a banana makes more sense.

After looking at the bible on this cool website, we realize that there is no apple mentioned: http://www.biblegateway.com/

John: I am going with it being a lemon. Lemons were probably the sweetest fruit in the universe and then god, in his standard old school spiteful rage, turned it into a sour fruit that most people do not like to just bite into and eat. However, the pear argument seems logical also.

Chris: I still like the idea of a sardine tree - the magical sardine that brings knowledge to all!!!

Pete: How does a sardine tree make any sense? Most people hate sardines. Plus they are fish and don't grow on trees. But if we are suspending disbelief and the garden of Eden really did have everything growing from trees, well a sardine tree would be great for a Finnish Adam and Eve or Sven and Svetlana.

Marcus: A sardine tree is possible.

This whole examination of ambiguity brings up another interesting question: Were there dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden?

We're told that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh and that Adam and Eve kicked it around Eden for a bit, living in trees I guess. But we also know that no one, especially Presidents, should take the Bible literally and that its all metaphors and the six days could actually be six billion years or however long it took for bacteria to become hairless apes. And that there wasn't a specific "Adam" and "Eve" (and most certainly not an "Adam" and "Steve" as said President would like to remind us).

But it's also fun to imagine Adam racing around Eden on the back of his pet raptor "Buttercup" while Eve roamed the fields on her unicorn "Princess." And if they DID live with dinosaurs, did the dinosaurs get along with their human companions or did the T-Rex keep eating the Adam to the point God got so pissed off he killed all the dinosaurs off so that man could live, only to have Man (or, rather, Woman) go and fuck things up for everybody?

Chris: I got in trouble in grade school (I think I was in 3rd grade) for drawing dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden. If the Polish nuns at Sacred Heart say there were no dinosaurs in the garden of Eden, I would tend to believe them. What was great is they told me I need to choose what I believe in: I either believed in dinosaurs or the bible (there was no gray area with those ladies).

Maybe it does need to be a fruit or vegetable though. I like the image of Adam or Eve just being able to bite into the fruit - the experience needs to be direct. If you have to take the time to peel it, you might have second thoughts about actually eating it. In this case, a lemon or orange, lime, or tangerine wouldn't work. It needs to be an apple, grape, pear, tomato or something you don't peel.

John: obviously the stupid t-rex ate from the magic sardine tree and thus our lord and savior the Big Guy did strike down the dinosaurs. he told adam, eve and steve about this as a warning not to eat the sardines or black bananas, but god, being a woman, kept going on and on about the tree and of course the guys did not listen because they were distracted by eve's sexy, naked body. except for steve who was distracted by adam (but we will not discuss that). Eve knew all about the warning but became jealous of god as adam started staring at her instead of eve. So out of spite (damn women) she ate the sardine and convinced adam to do the same (who can resist a naked, hot eve?). The unicorn/zebra was destroyed and adam and eve were given the boot.

Marcus: Tina Fey had a great joke on SNL about dinosaurs and Jesus during the 2004 Presidential Campaign:

"A Supreme Court in Georgia ruled that high school biology teachers were permitted to continue using the term 'evolution' when teaching their classes. However as a compromise, they must now refer to dinosaurs as 'jesus horses'."

Pete: I like the concept of Jesus Horses.

What do Polish nuns have against evolution? The Catholic Church pretty much supported evolution, I thought. Pretty sly move on their part.

Where they completely naked in the garden? Does it really say that? I think they would wear something on their feet, sandals or socks. It's still a garden and no one likes stepping on crap.

John: your point about pealing is well taken and I like the tomato as a good option. it could explain why it was ostracized from the fruit world and treated like a lowly vegetable. Or taken the opposite way, it is the most magnificent of the fruits and vegetables because it functions as both.

So that's how it was. We accomplished at least one thing today. We figured out what the fruit on the tree in the Garden of Eden was - all before lunch.

What's in a website?

What makes a good architect’s website? This seems to be the big question on everyone’s mind around the office these days. We are on the verge of introducing the new website so everyone is on pins and needles.

For lack of any originality, we’ve started a top 5 list of things that make a good architecture firm website. In order to illustrate the point, we’ll pick on a few architecture sites from Chicago’s top designers. Since architect's have no sense of humor, I am sure this won't go over well with most of these folks. Anyway, hope you enjoy it.

1. Since this is one vehicle that introduces firms to potential employees, clients, and collaborators, it needs to communicate what your firm is all about.

These guys are not subtle at all but at least you get the point:
http://www.architectureisfun.com/

Conversely, would you trust these guys with your building design?
http://www.prosidesign.com/

2. Since people mentioned in number 1. typically come to websites to find info, it should be easy to navigate. A lot of architects screw this one up big time.

I dare you to find (or catch) anything on this site:
http://www.jrarch.com/

Conversely, this is a little boring (see #4) but at least you can't get lost:
http://www.wkarch.com/project_home.htm

3. It needs to have accurate info. Since people are looking for info, after they find it, it has to be correct and up to date. Nothing is more annoying than going onto a site that has employees listed that were fired years ago or building’s built in the last century. How tough can it be to update???

C'mon guys, it's 2007, there has to be some new news:
http://www.hedev.com/

You can't tell me the most current things these guys did was in 2005:
http://www.murphyjahn.com/english/frameset_intro.htm

4. It needs to get your attention – it has to be cool. No one wants to surf on a boring site so how you actually find things, how images and stuff scroll or fade is important. Be careful, there is a fine line between cool and annoying. Hint 1.: lots of Flash does not =cool. Hint 2.: If you have to add a "skip intro" button to your site, most likely people that visit the site will hit that button immediately - who wants to wade through your self-indulgent bull shit?

Pretty cool but almost pushing it a bit too far:
http://www.garofaloarchitects.com/home.html

Same idea as the above site (whose came first???) taken to the limit. Can this be more annoying?:
http://www.perkinswill.com/

Christ, can they jam more moving shit onto this thing:
http://www.wbarch.com/index2.html

Ouch, check out the scrolling. It looks like Hitler Architect took over Times Square:
http://www.buildordie.com/index2.htm

Make sure you have your seat belt on for this one:
http://www.nadelarc.com/

5. It has to be beautiful. This is different than being cool. Yeah, it sounds kind of corny and subjective but the site needs to be visually attractive. Let’s get serious, you are trying to impress people here – and most people that check out architect’s websites are other architects. That is setting the bar pretty high/ If you can’t create an attractive website, then what kind of shit are you actually making in terms of architecture?

I guess this is beautiful... ...if you like bumble bees:
http://www.oculusarchitecture.com/

Not bad - they truly need to update though a fellow SGWer is listed as an employee:
http://www.rossarchitecture.com/

Simplicity is sometimes best - I hope these guys finish this site some day:
http://jj-arch.com/

Stuart in California

Stuart's "real" California job is finally revealed:

Another (HOT) one bites the dust.

We are all absolutely devastated. Yes, it was rough when they laid off 4 people a couple weeks ago but today is really rough. It is Alison's last day. For those of you that didn't know it, we had the hottest architect in the world working at our firm. No, it was not Frank Gehry, it was Alison. She's so hot, she almost gives Jessica Biel a run for her money.

Upon getting hired, her bio was sent around the office. How can someone "into watersports" be boring? And she has looks to boot. With last weeks firings, (oops, I mean lay-offs) the male to female ratio has gone way off and losing Alison is just another nail in the coffin. Sexual innuendos took a nose dive after Stuart left. Now, I think they will be non-existent.

To give this woman some credit, she was also a hell of an architect. Though she was monopolized by everyone's favorite pen-chewing project manager, we are all sure she had to be doing something right. We all wish her well as she moves on to whiter pastures (in architecture, white is always better).

The "life without... " list is getting pretty long these days - almost a little too long. Let's hope that we have a little stability before the asteroid hits.

Hmmmm... ...Justin or David

Stuart’s move to LA has paid off. Unless you have been living in a box under a highway without a television or unless you don’t give a damn about soccer (or football as some people of questionable sexuality call it) you would know that Stuart’s idol, David Beckham, has signed with LA’s professional soccer time.

New questions are being raised even as I write:

Did Stuart know about this prior to moving to LA?

Will Posh be starring in her own reality show?

How will Stuart ever split his stalking time between Beckham and Timberlake?

Will Pete soon be joining Stuart in LA to stalk Posh?

Does anyone in America give a damn about this news?

A Festivus for the rest of us!

Frank Costanza: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son. I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way.

Cosmo Kramer: What happened to the doll?

Frank Costanza: It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was born … a Festivus for the rest of us!

Cosmo Kramer: That must've been some kind of doll.

Frank Costanza: She was.

It is that time of year again and even without Andy, life goes on. Feats of strength will not be the same without Andy beating down the women and children, but alas there are a plethora of grievances to be aired. The fisticuffs that erupted at the annual festivus cookie throw-down has lead to a long list of grievancesa and the banning of cookies at future festivus events. But it is time to get beyond that ugliness. So putup your aluminum pole, sit back , relax and enjoy the holiday.

Frank Costanza: I got a lot of problems with you people! And now, you're gonna hear about it. Kruger! My son tells me your company STINKS!

George Costanza: Oh, God.

Frank Costanza: Quiet. You'll get yours in a minute. Kruger. You couldn't smooth a silk sheet if you had a hot date with a babe.... I lost my train of thought.

This site has been dormant one day too long. The amazing news that they will finally be building an ABBA museum in Stockholm has had us all in a buzz this week. There has not been much to get excited about at SGW but this news has ignited a fire in all of us.

Everyone has been celebrating with the wearing of the blue and yellow (as well as a lot of other odd apparel). The partying has gotten a little out of hand – like Christmas has come early.

We are also all jockeying for days off in ’08 to be sure that we can be there for the opening ceremonies. The only news that would eclipse this would be if they announced a 24-7 ABBA radio station.

The debate, Anni-Frid or Agnetha, rages on!!!!

Brokeback Mountain - Now available on DVD

Heeehaaaw!

What will happen next?

It’s that time of year. We reached a whopping 75 degrees today; a feat in Chicago even in July. As our thoughts begin to drift towards summer hours and new summer interns, we can’t help but wonder if Andy will return. For those of you that have been following the nail biting saga here, I’ll bore you with the details.
About 21 years ago, a poor couple was wandering the cold streets of Chicago with a newborn baby in their arms. The only place that would let them in out of the cold was a small architecture firm. This act of gratitude did not come without a hitch. For their act of “kindness”, the couple was to sign over their son, their first born, into servitude to the firm until the child graduated from college.
For years, this small band of architects nurtured the young baby into a full grown architect. Introduced to Froebel blocks at an early age, Andy developed a keen sense of space and form. The excitement in the office when Andy could hold his first exacto was something to behold only to be outdone by his prowess at computer aided drafting. This May, the day of reckoning has come. After years of cutting foam-core, rendering relentless masonry piers on Photoshop, writing transmittals, and creating fantasmagoric details of bathroom tile, this child, Andrew, will be graduating from college. It is a bittersweet time. A time when Andrew might realize his freedom or realize in his heart that those people that took him in years ago turned out not to be such bad guys after all. Will he return to assist in making those piers even more relentless, to make those bathroom tile designs really shine, to create the perfect office form so that transmittal writing becomes a joy for everyone or will he break out and leave Chicago for greener pastures?
As summer approaches, we know that Steve the younger will be returning and that there will be a number of new employees at SGW but will Andy be back. The big question is: how will we ever properly debate movie trivia without is facility with IMDB?

Stuart Was Right!!!

LONDON (AP) -- Gay cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" took four awards including best picture Sunday at the British Academy Film Awards, a result that boosts its hopes for the Oscars in two weeks' time.



Stuart has been vindicated and has been in a constant state of celebration since his country applauds what he considers the greatest film of all time. Now, if we can only get him to stop coming to work in his cowboy "outfit"

SGW - not your typical architecture firm

It's nice to know that life at SGW does not resemble the attached cartoon at all.

Update: New Orleans (shuffleboard with the ladies)

Well, I’m back here in Baghdad….I mean New Orleans. Things are going great down here, if you like mud, trash and a foul stench permeating everywhere. OK, so that is not so different from before K-day. Since returning to the fine city I have been drinking and wondering around aimlessly shouting at the roaches, which seem to have faired quite well while everyone was gone. Luckily the beer still flows and there is no shame in sitting on your stoop with a 40. Of course I’ve had no stoop to sit on being on a cruise ship for a few weeks. That was quite an adventure. You would not believe how crazy the 70 year old women are when you start playing shuffleboard. ‘Ol Betsy almost took my head off with the shuffle stick after I beat her a second time last Saturday. Why the hell would they put a deck full of retirees on our boat anyway? Luckily I will be moving out this week to this fine new apartment. I took a picture for all to enjoy. Looks good doesn’t it? There’s a little cleaning to be done, but I think it should be fine.
Well, I will have more to say later, right now I have a date with a spry 67 year old lady I met at the early bird special on deck 12. Maybe I’ll get lucky, but first I need a couple Pabst to loosen up.
One last thing, Stuart is right on with the Bareback review. That movie has been burned into my brain for weeks now. It really changed me…..I really miss Pete now.

-Steve the younger

Stuart Gives "Brokeback" a Two Thumbs Up!

BROKEN TEARS

A review of ‘Brokeback Mountain’
by Stuart Dickie

In Hollywood, there are few movies that appeal to me as a Briton. Very rarely is a movie produced that can relate to my sensibilities in a way only any movie based on ‘Pride and Prejudice’ can. Immediately, I found that ‘Brokeback Mountain’ could, and does, deliver that tour de force I have been looking for.

Heath Ledger, best known as a ‘Brother Grimm’ to the four people that saw that movie, delivers in his role as a gay cowboy, struggling through life with his wife and kids after a randy affair with fellow caballero, Jake Gyllenhall, best known as the brother of the girl who liked to get spanked in ‘Secretary.’ If anyone knows how hard life can be after a tête-à-tête with another man, it is me, Stuart Dickie.

At first, I thought America might shy away from this movie, even boycott it. In the end, though, art has ruled the day. Gay or straight, I highly recommend this movie. It can appeal to all race, class or creed. Michelle Williams delivers a powerful performance, portraying a wife constantly trying to hump her husband, only to have him constantly turn her away to sit by the window, wearing only his cowboy hat.

To be continued…

Why You Should See Brokeback Mountain

If it doesn't make you better understand Pete & John's relationship, it will at least let you join conversations like this one found on a movie blog (sounds like the movie is moving):

#1: I'm curious to see who has seen this film, and what your reaction is. I saw it Sunday (four days ago) and I still can't get it out of my head. It was so powerful and had a HUGE impact on me; unlike any other film I have ever seen. It's mind-boggling what it is doing to me. Anyone who's seen it, please let me know your thoughts.

#2: You said it made a huge impact on you--in what way? Can you elaborate on your thoughts? I haven't seen it yet, but I'm very curious about what others with an open mind might think about it. Thanks.

#1: I can’t be very specific without ruining the film for you. PLEASE go see it. Everyone should see this magnificent film; it is really making waves, everywhere. It is such a beautiful, moving, magnificent piece of art. You won't be disappointed and it will stay with you for a long time.

#2: Try telling that to the religion forum. :-)

#1: They’re the ones that need to see it the most. I have been corresponding with a self-labeled "conservative Christian" (via message boards in imdb.com) who was "coerced" into seeing this film, and he said it totally changed his mind and heart about gay people. He has vowed to challenge people whenever he hears anyone slam gays. Isn't that amazing? That is the power of this film. It is changing hearts and minds all over the world, and I've never seen anything like it in my life.

#2: Have you seen "Ned Kelly"? Another movie where Heath Ledger shines. He was also the son in Mel Gibson's "The Patriot."

#1: This is the only film I have seen Heath in and I am an instant fan. He is AMAZING and if he doesn't get a Best Actor Oscar out of this there is no justice. One doesn't just "see" this film; one EXPERIENCES it, and for a long time. It is so powerful and moving.

Fucking Robbed . . .

Well, hell of a welcome back to South Bend and a great way to kick off that last semester of school . . . let me tell you. I got a call Friday night from two of my roommates who had just gotten back to the house to find that it had been broken into, and any and all electronic devices, etc. (and pretty much anything else of significant monetary value) had been stolen. Bastards. So, needless to say, I spent most of the night on the phone with them and my other 2 roommates.

The brain surgeons that are the South Bend Police (shown here scratching head in disbelief) had a tough time lifting any prints, and also couldn't find any signs of forced entry . . . which makes it very suspicious to me. Only other person that we know has a key to our house is our landlord (in San Diego), and the maintenance guy, who's about 65, seems to be a nice guy, and generally seems harmless. He is a "townie" though, so you never really know.

As for my personal stuff - TV, Stereo, Fridge, DVD player (had the DVDs at home, thankfully), video game crap, camera, bike (which we all took ours out of the garage to keep them safe . . . haha . . . and even locked them to one of the steel columns in the basement) . . . all among the pricier things. For some reason, and thankfully, they didn't take all my architecture books . . . must not have thought they were interesting, when in actuality, they could have made a killing reselling those probably.

My one roommate also had his sketchbooks from Rome stolen . . . which is one of those losses that are irreplaceable. (See CPayne for first hand account.)

Well, more updates as we apprehend the criminals, discover the warehouse full of looted items, and keep the ball rolling on this semester's rocking start in the Bend.

The Dancing Queen . . .

In a fitting tribute to me on my last day at the office, Laura requested that we break a CD of her favorites to send me off in style. Coincidentally, her favorites coincided perfectly with Chris' Abba's Greatest Hits (even in the same order). Then Laura smiled and had a good laugh with all of us in the "annex." Good times at the office. I'm so glad to have Laura as a friend.

Here's a quick photoshop drawing she just did and asked that I include:

John's Dilemma

John has spent a bit of time out of the office the past few days. It is apparent what is going on as his face has been swollen like a balloon for days. He has had visits to dentists and subsequently, the doctor and no one could figure out what was going on until today.

John has a conjoined twin. This fetus has sat dormant for John’s life, implanted in his cheek, and for some unexplainable reason; it is finally becoming “active”. This is nothing to laugh at and is not a subject solely for cartoon sitcoms. It is not an uncommon problem but it is a little odd that is has manifested itself in the facial area.

Some doctor’s have surmised that similar conditions are psychologically related that the "minor twin" begins growth as manifestation of a "host's" drammatic loss of a close friend or lover. In this case, it is obvious that John is suffering from the departure of Pete from our office on a level that many of us just can’t understand. True, he has been a little “down” lately but none of us would have suspected just how close Pete and John were.

Due to the severity of the situation, John is currently undergoing “removal” of the twin. After removal, a drain will be placed through John’s cheek, followed by minor cosmetic surgery to disguise that drain as a mole. Pro-life activists are already getting wind of the removal process and have started picketing the office. If you ask me, they are getting carried away. I hope things don’t get out of hand. If only they could understand John’s pain.

The legend of "Peaches"

One day Michael came to work and walked his lunch directly to the kitchen. When he left the kitchen, he left with a single peach in his hand. Sherrette, who was washing her hands while Michael came in, came out of the bathroom and looked around the annex, tentatively asking, “Where’s my peach?” She obviously thought that the annex was playing a joke on her. Unfortunately, they had no clue what she was talking about.

Having noticed Michael walk through the annex on his way back from the kitchen, the members of the annex told Sherrette that she should check and see if he had her peach. She went to the front of the office and to Michael’s surprise, found her peach.

Michael immediately returned to the kitchen as he was sure he brought a peach to work. “I packed a peach this morning and put it on the table when I put my lunch in the fridge”, he remarked. An embarrassed Michael came from the kitchen after pulling a PEAR from his lunch bag and brought the pear back to his desk. From that day on, he has been known as “peaches”.

I hope you found this story as funny as we did when it actually happened. If you see this man coming, hide your peaches (from the looks of his desk, you should pretty much hide anything you don't want stolen).

Pete, Frolicking In The Wilderness, Checks In . . .

A little update on what Pete has been up to since he left us here at the office . . . We received a letter today with no return address, but it was signed, "Lovingly yours, Peter" (followed by excessive hearts & smiley faces). Enclosed in the envelope was the attached photo - Cowboy Pete & his new 'friends.' He says that they met one night amidst the sheep & under the stars at 'Brokeback Mountain,' and ever since, their lives together have been sheer bliss. This photo, however, was taken as they prepared for hijinks involving some rival cowboys, and he apologized that they weren't "wearing their happy faces."

He asked that we send his profound love to the office, and extended a personal invite out to John to come visit "the boys on the ranch" and take a ride with them into the sunset.