Pro-Bono: A Means to an End or a Means to THE END

One of the topics of discussion that has been common place in the past 8 months of sessions has been the benefits and down falls of giving our work away.  In many instances, by “giving away” our services to entities that have the means to pay for our expertise, this could have the opposite effect of what we would hope pro-bono work to have and further degrade the value of having an architect involved in the process of building the world around us.  I would argue that in the right circumstances, this work can be fulfilling, engrain our leaders firmly in the community, and truly raise the benefit of having an architect lead the charge of any project in the eyes of the general public.

We all know that there are multiple reasons that we spend countless hours toiling away at our offices.  To name just a few, most of us fell in love with the prospect of the well-designed built environment and the effects that it can have on the people that come in contact with it. It tends to be in our nature to want to create and to refine down to the way that components are joined together to make it “just right”.  Of course, we also have the basic need to provide for our families.

At our day to day jobs, not every project that comes across our desk, for various reasons, has the potential to energize us on almost a spiritual level.  Be it budget, the prospect of a strictly utilitarian program, or something as simple as replacing a roof on a strip mall, some jobs just don’t get your heart racing or keep you thinking about solutions long into the night (unless a constraining schedule is the case).

When projects are chosen carefully, to appeal to the altruistic nature that many of us have and truly do some good for those around us, pro-bono work can be that catalyst for energizing the spirit, showcasing what we are capable of, and leading towards becoming a trusted advisor within our communities. 

When projects are done, not strictly to affect the bottom line, but because it is helping a sector of the community that otherwise would not have the means to come in contact with good design or helping a cause that is close to our hearts, they can have lasting effects:  

• When people are made to feel a part of something, they by nature become more invested and interested in the outcome and become your biggest cheerleader and brightest students.
• Altruistic work usually either has a challenging budget, challenging problem, or both.  This provides a vehicle with which to showcase our problem solving abilities to work within tight constraints and make a project sing. 

When these come together, this work can be extremely satisfying and energizing, can build long lasting relationships, and engrain us into the community.  While I do feel that “giving away” our services can be an extreme detriment to our profession; when the right circumstances come along, these types of endeavors every now and then can help to put us on the path to becoming that trusted advisor again and hopefully keeps us involved at the beginning of every project.

Friday we had some great meaningful discussion centered around the Architect's Civic Responsibility. I would like to first and foremost thank our guest presenters:

·         John Blake: Coordinator of Community Projects, Miami University - Center for Community Engagement

·         Tony Costello, FAIA: principal of Costello + Associates & Ball State University Professor

·         Mickey Jacobs, FAIA: 2013 AIA National President, Principal - Urban Studio Architects, Tampa FL

I had several requests to provide my presentation on Social Responsibility. So here is a link to a .pdf version. Let me know if you have any issues viewing it.

“Do architects and architectural firms have a social responsibility beyond our practice? We all have heard about the social consequences of architecture and about architects having a responsibility to the community when they create a piece of architecture. But do we have a social responsibility that extends beyond our practice?”

c.Boron_social reponsibility.pdf

Civic Leadership

Do architects and architectural firms have a social responsibility beyond our practice? We all have heard about the social consequences of architecture and about architects having a responsibility to the community when they create a piece of architecture. But do we have a social responsibility that extends beyond our practice?

How do we not? We would be fooling ourselves to think that we don't. All we need to do is ask ourselves why we got into this practice in the first place. It certainly wasn't for fame and fortune. It is because we all believe that architecture creates better places, that architecture affects society, and that it can even have a role in making a place civilized by making a community more livable.

No we aren't curing AIDS, or solving the world’s economy crisis, or ending poverty, but you better believe we are effecting the quality of life. It is why I design schools. While I am not an inspirational life-changing educator, I am providing a building that supports, stimulates, protects, and inspires young minds and encourages bright teachers.

We work in a profession made up of mostly introverts who seem more inclined to follow than lead. We tend to be too cautious and are too timid to set ourselves apart from the rest. Our world is missing out on a lot of conscious-minded individuals who are amazing problem solvers. It is our duty to serve others when we know what kind of talent our Architectural Society holds. Creativity is a form of social responsibility. I hold-heartedly believe that "creativity is how architecture makes itself matter, and how the generations take up the tradition of using architecture as a means of speaking to one another."

WE CAN AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

WE CAN INFLUENCE SOCIAL CONDITIONS

WE CAN BE THE CATALYST FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE

WE CAN PROBLEM SOLVE FOR THOSE IN NEED

WE CAN BUILD A DISCOURSE AROUND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

WE CAN GUIDE OUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR PLANET

We all know we're supposed to.  And for many things in our lives, we already do.  We make time for family, make time for learning, make time for our hobbies and friends, if we're lucky (and smart) we make time for taking care of ourselves, and for nurturing our closest relationships.  But rarely (as stated by many of us) do we make time for design.  In the rush to "the thing" (the building) we zip right past the part where we first ask "why" and "how". 

This week we learned we also rarely (if ever) make time for consideration of the greater-whole affected by what we do;  the interwoven biological and social patterns and processes of the world in which we are active participants - not outside consultant caretakers.  We were given the task to just sit, listen, smell, and BE in a place. To essentially 'meet' it for the first time and come to an understanding of how it really works, not just as an exemplary piece of a master-plan or as an assemblage of structures, pathways and places for activity, but as a living breathing place where life occurs that has its own unique rhythms and  patterns, and that is connected to every adjacent place on out into infinity.  Like physical exercise, I would argue this mental exercise, if practiced and repeated over time, would equip us to be conscious of these things more readily, and allow for an ease of assimilation of this train of thought into how we each approach design.   (hint: John's 15 min. in 1 square meter assignment isn't a one-time gig)

This giant magnet has been posted at eye-level on all of my refrigerators for almost 2 decades.  And yesterday I was made painfully aware that though I pass it every day (multiple times), I can't tell you the last time I actually locked eyes on it and read it, or even noticed it.   Merely posting a reminder, no matter how visible or how bold, doesn't really equip you to DO it, nor does it necessarily gather within you the WILL to make it happen.  The sentence needs to be completed - and I would guess mom's intention was to have it be inside our heads, to bring out the burning issue-of-the-day that we're not paying attention to:  ...to find the pattern  ...to ask the question  ...to learn more ...to __ 

After listening to and conversing with John for the last two days, what will you now make time for?

Do We Really Need NAAB Accreditation?

Do we really need National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Accreditation? Is it to ensure that the thousands of Dollars we spend every year to get an education is really worth it? If so OK, but really its not what it is for, most states require a NAAB accredited degree for application for licensure (as mentioned on NAAB website), but why. As a profession and society, we have determined that the minimum requirement for becoming a licensed architect is to pass the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE). Does graduating from a NAAB accredited program make you better suited to become an architect than someone who did not, I do not believe so on multiple points. First, if as a profession and society we determine the minimum requirement is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, which is determined through the ARE than why is any education accreditation required?

Secondly, any seasoned architect will tell you that experience is worth way more than anything that you will ever learn in school. There are individuals that have worked in the profession for twenty plus years, but are not able to become licensed architects because they have not graduated from a NAAB accredited program, however a young student who recently graduated, with very little experience can become licensed. Who is better to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, most would argue the person who has been working in the profession rather than a new student directly out of school.

Third, is a program that is not accredited, much different from a program that is? The NAAB website specifically states that "The... societies creating this accrediting board here record their intent not to create conditions nor to have conditions create that will tend toward standardization of education philosophies or practices but rather to create and maintain conditions that encourage the development of practices suited to the conditions which are special to the individual school." Since NAAB is not setting a standard of education but rather encourages development of practices suited for the conditions, then really every architectural program could become accredited if the program chose to go through the process. However, NAAB accreditation cost thousands of dollars and man hours to become accredited, so for schools who what to control cost accreditation is not a focal point, even though it could become accredited. So at that point, is NAAB only about Money? What if a school who was accredited, but because of cost chose not to renew or drop their accreditation, (similar to my situation) nothing in their program has changed, only that they did not spend the thousands of dollars or man hours to go through the accreditation process. Is that school any different than it was before or from the other accredited schools?

Since, we already have a minimum requirement to become a licensed architect the ARE, experience is worth way more than education, and the accreditation is not standardized; I pose the question again, do we really need the National Architectural Accrediting Board Accreditation?

"If you don't engage in social issues you're just comparing shapes"

Though this article was focused on a panel of who's who in NY architectural criticism, and the role of their work in a changing world, there were several points that jumped out at me in light of yesterday's discussion.



Gehry to Playboy Jan 2012



"Julie Iovine, executive editor of The Architect’s Newspaper and moderator of the panel, spoke of a “sea change,” the move away from starchitects to a focus on affordability, sustainability and context."

Unfortunately for us, the writer did not delve into his seemingly throw-away statement,

"But while New York sees no end of the trophy -- Christian de Portzamparc’s One57 will soon be the tallest new example -- the rest of the world has seemingly moved on.

Moved on, indeed. Please tell me more!

 

How about something we can work with (in considering what we want our voice to say) ....

The following statement by the author hits home our point about the "other 90%" who don't necessarily consider Architecture at all: 

"And while typical readers of New York magazine may not know the difference between Art Deco and Postmodern, they notice absences and new arrivals."

Individual realities are shaped and informed by past experience.  Until we can provide a clear experience of architecture, it's history and impact, those who do not have the educational or experiential background of an architect will never see the world as we do.  And I don't think they necessarily should - we make awful clients the same way doctors are the worst patients.  

I think our challenge is to clearly and concisely demonstrate that humans are indeed affected by their environments and vice versa - without relying on our beloved archi-speak which only serves to further set us apart.

On a side note, while we're speaking of context.... 

Has Starchitecture Lost its Luster?

Be sure to peruse the first dozen reader responses.  I especially like the chime-in from the real estate agent who can't sell the brand new starchitect condos because the kitchens are pathetic and the "master" bedrooms can't even accommodate a queen-size bid!  It's gotta work, people!  

The Death of Starchitecture? Critics Move to the Small Scale

Oh the many hats we can wear. Who knew? Maybe we should tell someone...

How do we advocate our profession to include more than just bricks and sticks and giving someone walls and a roof? Architects are inherently extremely intelligent individuals. We are naturally very good problem solvers. How else can we help our world? Think outside the box. I encourage everyone to brainstorm about all the hats and roles that architects can play other than the "Michael Brady" role. I love the quotes that Jeff revisited in his previous post. Below are the quotes that explain why we really need to do something about the current state and perception of our profession, or should I say calling. I found these quotes while reading another architect's blog. While I certainly chuckled when reading some of them, it is disturbing that much of what the say is true. Something needs to change:

Architecture (noun): the act of artfully placing complex forms in remote locations to be photographed for magazine covers.

Architecture (noun): the memory of that which could have been, that is invoked by the residual form remaining after extensive value engineering.

Architecture (noun): Public disinterest derived from a combination of self importance and greed.

Architecture (noun): The compromise arrived at by the client and the designers after the president of the firm and the client played golf yesterday.

Architecture (noun): The hard metallic outer shell surrounding confused school children pointing at the large early period Calder mobile hanging from the ceiling.

Architecture (noun): The space between 4 or more glass walls, wherein wealthy people shower.
Architecture (noun): Profession wherein ones salary is amusing to the majority of other professionals.
Architecture (noun): The homes that hipsters admire.

Architecture (noun): Structure approved by banks.

Architecture (noun): The touch, the feel of titanium. The fabric of our lives.
 
Architecture (noun): creativity plus financing minus creativity

Architecture (noun): The solid form of angst