Slammin's serious life thread.

[z31maniac]

Friend of mine in college at Ok State in college was doing it........IIRC, the Architecture part is a ton of hours and A LOT of work.

He was constantly pulling all nighters. Basically a 5-6 year degree taking classes full time.

[evandael]

what do you love about architecture? this is an important question, the answer to which will propel you through the sometimes nonsensical dream world that is architecture education and the occasionally drudging profession.


so much of architecture school now a days is being prolific in 3D modeling, graphic presentation, salesmanship, 'creativity' for creativities' sake, innovation for innovation's sake.

architecture as a profession, has everything to do with knowing CAD in and out, codes (building codes, ADA codes, fire codes, zoning codes, city, municipality, facade height, foundation depth, utility codes), detailing and spec'ing fairly bland and disinteresting aspects of building construction (ADA handrails, anyone? how about the bathroom?) and knowing your place in the firm's hierarchy.


depending on where you go to school, you may get an education based on one of those ^ approaches, or both, or none at all. everything is digital now, hand drafting is dying, don't forget it. algebra, geometry, and basic physics are only slightly emphasized, at least where I took my courses (PSU)l what is generally more important is common sense and memorization of generally understood building codes and construction guidelines. many curricula are studio based, not classroom based, which means a lot of one-on-one with peers, profs, and guest critics.. this is both good and bad.


you're looking at 5 years for a Bachelor's of Architecture or 4+3 for a Master's from an accredited university, otherwise you cannot get licensed to practice (if you want to go to UVA and be an architect, you must earn their Master's degree). the real world and the fantasy world mesh in architecture and if you don't know how to tip toe the line and make everyone, from the clients to the contractors to the accountants happy, it's a slippery slope into the realm of the starving artist, especially given the rate at which recent architecture grads are being hired out of school.


if you have any questions PM me. i applaud the notion of going back to do something you feel you have a passion for.



TL;DR... architecture is the proverbial snakepit, good luck.

[ttrousdell]

I recently graduated from a college that had many engineering degrees and a naval architecture major option. Although I was an engineering major a lot of the classes I took had the naval architecture students in it. These classes included statics dynamics, calc 1-3 and differential equations, material science, strength of materials, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and a ton of design classes. Most of them dropped out after the first year and those that continued took 4.5 to 5 years to get their 170 credit degree. If youre serious, you can do it. There is a lot of money to be had with an education especially one that is in demand.

This is my schools curriculum guide to naval architecture to give you an idea of what to expect page 26 and 27

http://www.sunymaritime.edu/documents/2008/1/22/DegreeCurricula012108.pdf

[Thizzelle]

you have to pass algebra to get to geometry. Engineering yes it is 4 semesters of calculus ending with the worst of all differential equations <--blows. for CAD it's probably going to be autoCAD and it really hasn't changed from the begining just more menu and icons. I can still hop on autoCAD and own people and all I have ever used was autoCAD r14, super old school, close to the first release I believe. You had to type in everything and it still works to this day. Architecture is fun, it's what I wanted to do when I was in high school but changed to Mechanical engineering so I can design cool stuff that moves.

[Massimo]

My dad is an architect with his masters in architecture from Virginia Tech. He has designed and built residential homes, high rise NYC condo/apt building, business offices, and medical facilities. He has never in his life touched CAD and does everything by hand with a pencil and a drafting table. Yes it might take longer and he is a dying breed of architect, but the end result is always really great. Ive seen him do elevations on cocktail napkins that put some CAD work to shame. He is incredibly talented and has been very successful up until recent years. (Being a self employed architect in this economy is shit)

That being said, it is a great profession. He has Genuine passion for his work and the talent to match. I have asked him in the past about the math involved, and he has told me many times that school/architecture programs really blow it outta proportion. Yes there is math involved, but it is not completely overwhelming.

Slammin, if you'd like to see some of his work or have any questions you'd like me to ask him let me know. He has been building and designing for around 35 years and has really done some impressive work.

Architects should never, ever, ever, ever, ever, touch CAD! I deal with them on a regular basis they just love to fuck up CAD drawings. Multiple drawings in one model, things set to by colour, line type, line thickness, models not xrefed, attributed title blocks exploded, the list goes on.

There is a major problem with drafters these days, they have no fucking clue on presentation. Since you cannot see what they drawing will look like until you print it. 99% of the drawings I see look like shit. Also due to the PC there is no pride taken in their work, they just pump it out. I try to take ownership of jobs so only I can work on the drawings, that way I know they will look bad shit crazy good.
I look at old hand drawn blueprints, and it just amazes me how good those drawings look. It helps me to take pride in every drawing I do.

[InuFaye]

I could welcome you into the IT field, but you don't like self loathing.

Your gonna have to learn math if you wanna do this, but I've told you that before.

[george graves]

....and all I have ever used was autoCAD r14, super old school, close to the first release I believe.

lulz - Only ~15 years off.

• AutoCAD 1.0 December 1982 (Release 1)
• AutoCAD 1.2 (2) April 1983 (Release 2)
• AutoCAD 1.3 (3) August 1983 (Release 3)
• AutoCAD 1.4 (4) October 1983 (Release 4)
• AutoCAD 2.0 (5) October 1984 (Release 5)
• AutoCAD 2.1 (6) May 1985 (Release 6)
• AutoCAD 2.5 (7) June 1986 (Release 7)
• AutoCAD 2.6 (8) April 1987 (Release 8)
• AutoCAD R9 September 1987 codename White Album (Release 9)
• AutoCAD R10 October 1988 (Release 10)
• AutoCAD R11 October 1990 (Release 11)
• AutoCAD R12 June 1992 (Release 12)
• AutoCAD R13 November 1994 (Release 13)
• AutoCAD R14 February 1997 codename Sedona and PInetop for 14.01 (Release 14)
• AutoCAD 2000 (15) March 1999 codename Tahoe (Release 15)
• AutoCAD 2000i (16) July 2000 codename Banff (Release 16)
• AutoCAD 2002 (17) June 2001 codename Kirkland (Release 17)
• AutoCAD 2004 (18) March 2003 codename Reddeer (Release 18)
• AutoCAD 2005 (19) March 2004 codename Neo (Release 19)
• AutoCAD 2006 (20) March 2005 codename Rio (Release 20)
• AutoCAD 2007 (21) March 2006 codename Postrio (Release 21)
• AutoCAD 2008 (22) March 2007 codename Spago (Release 22)
• AutoCAD 2009 (23) March 2008 codename Raptor (Release 23)
• AutoCAD 2010 (24) March 2009 codename Gator (Release 24)
• AutoCAD 2011 (25) March 2010 codename Hammer (Release 25)
• AutoCAD 2012 March 2011 codename Ironman (Release 26)

[nando]

Architects should never, ever, ever, ever, ever, touch CAD! I deal with them on a regular basis they just love to fuck up CAD drawings. Multiple drawings in one model, things set to by colour, line type, line thickness, models not xrefed, attributed title blocks exploded, the list goes on.

There is a major problem with drafters these days, they have no fucking clue on presentation. Since you cannot see what they drawing will look like until you print it. 99% of the drawings I see look like shit. Also due to the PC there is no pride taken in their work, they just pump it out. I try to take ownership of jobs so only I can work on the drawings, that way I know they will look bad shit crazy good.
I look at old hand drawn blueprints, and it just amazes me how good those drawings look. It helps me to take pride in every drawing I do.

Haha, agreed. And it gets even worse when you get into 3D modeling. People can't even draw a straight fucking line, in autocad...

I love old hand-drafted drawings. It's artwork. And even some of the "old school" guys who started when everything was hand drawn have gotten lazy. I cringe at what some of my superiors put out.. :|

Architecture sounds like fun, but really, you'd be better off as an engineer, both financially and as far as what you can do with your career. I think you have to be exceptionally gifted and creative to really go anywhere with architecture, and most people aren't (I'm not). We make jokes about architects all the time, it's almost a dirty word around here. :p

BTW, even "hand drafting" in autocad is going the way of the dinosaur. We don't really "draw" anything - it's all done in a 3D model, and then exported to a 2D drawing automatically. People who don't have the skills to do the modeling get stuck adding dimensions, notation, and boring shit. zzzzzzzz. The only "autocad" tool I really use is the pline..

[ohthejosh]

are you going to design an ultra modern synagogue bro?

[InuFaye]

are you going to design an ultra modern synagogue bro?

Made out of melted e28s.

[TurboJake]

Haha, agreed. And it gets even worse when you get into 3D modeling. People can't even draw a straight fucking line, in autocad...

Nope. That's why I use solidworks. I can't draw a straight line there either.
[/sarcasm]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=234204

If someone can't do a straight line in autocad (ANY version). Something's wrong. It's all so damn simple. Especially with snaps....

[lambo]

If someone can't do a straight line in autocad (ANY version). Something's wrong. It's all so damn simple. Especially with snaps....

Exactly...I drew up an E30 M3 in autocad with not that much experience (it was only 2-D of course...)

[nickpro]

My dad is an architect with his masters in architecture from Virginia Tech. He has designed and built residential homes, high rise NYC condo/apt building, business offices, and medical facilities. He has never in his life touched CAD and does everything by hand with a pencil and a drafting table. Yes it might take longer and he is a dying breed of architect, but the end result is always really great. Ive seen him do elevations on cocktail napkins that put some CAD work to shame. He is incredibly talented and has been very successful up until recent years. (Being a self employed architect in this economy is shit)

That being said, it is a great profession. He has Genuine passion for his work and the talent to match. I have asked him in the past about the math involved, and he has told me many times that school/architecture programs really blow it outta proportion. Yes there is math involved, but it is not completely overwhelming.

Slammin, if you'd like to see some of his work or have any questions you'd like me to ask him let me know. He has been building and designing for around 35 years and has really done some impressive work.

Same exact situation here. Both my parents are Architects who have their own firm. I've seen them do some awesome stuff, I'm living in a house my dad designed now. They both use pencil and a desk, but they have hired interns for some cad stuff. We live outside Philadelphia, and for the past 3 or so years, every single job (except one or two) has been in NYC. My parents make the commute twice a week normally. Ever been to a NYC building department? And you thought the DMV was bad

Like Joe said, The money if you have your own firm is horrible. I've had to support myself since I was 16/17. A few years back, it was MUCH better, but everyone knows the current state of the housing market. That being said, I also know some Architects who are working for large firms, and are doing better than ever. On the flip side, them not having any work looked awesome on my college apps, and is the reason I'm paying 5K a year to go to a 40K a year school :nice:

I've thought about going into architecture, however I hate sitting at computers. They don't even have drafting courses at my school (University of the Arts) due to the fact that everything is digital now.

[Massimo]

BTW, even "hand drafting" in autocad is going the way of the dinosaur. We don't really "draw" anything - it's all done in a 3D model, and then exported to a 2D drawing automatically. People who don't have the skills to do the modeling get stuck adding dimensions, notation, and boring shit. zzzzzzzz. The only "autocad" tool I really use is the pline..

That is true in the civil road design I could get away with out even giving them drawings just the 3d model and the report and specs.

[Red88]

My cousin graduated with a master's in architecture about a year and a half ago, she finally found a job as an intern with some guy two months ago.... Not a great field to be trying to get into now, but who knows what it will be like once you graduate