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The Practice of Architecture from Three Perspectives

In Events,Wisdom (Lessons Learned) on May 14, 2012 by HBA Tagged: , ,

Recently, three of us from HBA had the privilege of speaking to a group of architecture students at Hampton University. Since students often work solo on projects with unlimited budgets, we attempted to bring a heavy dose of reality through the topic “A Day in the Life of an Architect.” The lecture was given from three different perspectives: me, a rookie intern architect, Mike Winner, HBA’s newest Principal, and Mike Molzahn, an HBA Principal with many successful years in the practice. We aimed to provide students with a glimpse into the everyday workings of a medium-sized architecture firm.

As a recent graduate of Virginia Tech’s architecture program, I spoke on the importance of setting oneself apart in today’s competitive job market. I encouraged students to be memorable to potential employers, humble in their daily work, and proactive about planning for the future.

Mike Winner presented the South Norfolk Library, a project currently on the boards at HBA. Throughout its lifespan, this stand-alone library which responded to its site became an interior build-out of an existing building. Mr. Winner used the unique circumstances surrounding this project to demonstrate how one project can go through two completely different design processes, and that the ability to be flexible affords valuable opportunities to learn and grow.

Mike Molzahn finished up by describing the variety of projects he has built throughout his 30+ years in the profession. Although not every building is glamorous, “there are design opportunities in everything you do,” said Molzahn, “You can always make something a little bit better than it otherwise would have been.”

One prevailing theme among our talks was the crucial importance of salesmanship in the profession of architecture. Not only do architects have to sell their ideas to project owners, but in order to get work, firms must effectively market their skills. Client relationships are built on trust and understanding, and take time to develop. We strove to drive home that the sooner these students can begin to intentionally build connections, the better off they will be in the profession of architecture.

As HBA ambassadors we were delighted to have the opportunity to speak with and meet many of the students after the lecture. Perhaps, just like client relationships, this partnership with our neighbors at Hampton University will grow and strengthen over time, with student and professional alike learning and being challenged to make something a little bit better in the practice of architecture.

  Becky Cook

 

Image source: Kevin Coles’ Flickr photostream and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License


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Trifecta Day at the James House

In People on May 11, 2012 by HBA Tagged: , , ,

Some holidays have more than the traditional meaning for the James family in 2012… On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, my 8th grade son, Ben, had the biggest adrenaline rush day he can remember… his undefeated recreation basketball team won the league championship, his undefeated middle school wrestling team won the city championship and he personally won the city wrestling championship for the 185 pound weight class! BIG trifecta day… And on Easter Sunday, April 8, the Virginian Pilot featured Ben’s outstanding day in the Beacon – check it out. Now it’s time to decompress and reset the clock for Big Ben!

 Candi James 


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iHandy, our latest favorite phone app

In Design,Technology on May 9, 2012 by HBA Tagged: , , , ,

My favorite new iPhone app is the iHandy Level. This free app includes a bubble-type level and can be used for leveling horizontal surfaces, measuring exact angle from level, or auto-switches when phone is held vertically, and can be used to plumb and measure angle from plumb. The precision is remarkable and the user interface simple. No architect should be without it. The free version is fully featured and includes links to other iHandy apps, all of which work well. I recently was in my attic and used the app to measure angle of the roof rafters. The app is great to check floors that might be out of level and to verify direction of slopes. I have also used it to check angle of stair handrails. It’s great on the jobsite and around home. “Carpenter,” $1.99, includes Protractor, Ruler, Plumb Bob, Level and Surface Level, and is probably worth all 199 pennies needed to buy it.

iHandySoft, Inc. makes a great line of simple, inexpensive and free apps including a barcode scanner, mini-flashlight, translator and alarm clock. Translator Pro is a must-have app for overseas travel, and was featured in an Apple commercial a few months ago, when a young man looking for the town his grandfather was born in used his iPhone to translate a question from English to Italian to a man who did not speak English.

  Richard Corner


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The AIAHR tours the Williams Farm Recreation Center

In Design,Events on May 4, 2012 by Mike Tagged: , , , ,

The Local Hampton Roads AIA toured Williams Farm Recreational Center, one of the buildings in the region that HBA Architecture is involved in designing and constructing:

The recreation center consists of a gym:

Family friendly swimming pool complete with a climbing wall and a slide that goes outside and comes back into the building:

Gymnastic and aerobic exercise rooms:

And spaces for exercise machines:

There is a large ornamental stair,

And a running track that winds its way through the lobby and along a catwalk in the gym.

 

  John Den Boer


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Sertoma Club of Norfolk Spring Fever

In Events on May 2, 2012 by Candi Tagged: , ,

Have Some Fun and Help Others at the Same Time!

The annual Norfolk Sertoma Spring Fever is the premier spring celebration that allows our community to gather in a festive atmosphere while contributing directly to Norfolk Sertoma sponsorship projects. Saturday, April 21st was a beautiful 80 degree day with good food, ample drinks, great music and an overall good time. The event averages around 2300 in ticket sales.

Organizations supported by the Sertoma Club of Norfolk include:

 Candi James 


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HBA weighs in on the Army’s move away from LEED

In Sustainability/LEED®,Wisdom (Lessons Learned) on April 30, 2012 by HBA Tagged: , , , , ,

Earlier this month we read a blog on the Army’s new strategy toward sustainable buildings, and the part that raised some eyebrows: it doesn’t involve the USGBC’s LEED Rating System. Instead, it seems that the Army is developing its own set of standards based on ASHRAE 189.1 “Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings.”

HBA Architect Les Murfin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, offers this opinion piece about the whole subject of sustainable rating systems and the trend toward codified sustainable design:

Is the end of the USGBC’s growing monopoly near?

What the Army appears to be planning to do and the Navy’s reduced requirements for “Certified Buildings” could be the start of what I have thought would be inevitable: the demise of dominance of the United States Green Building Council.

The intent of the USGBC was to promote green technology and create a healthier environment by how we select sites, construct buildings, and utilize materials and resources. I believe they have accomplished all of this. The USGBC, however, has pushed and continues to push so hard to set the ever increasing standards higher that costs will soon outweigh benefits. Business savvy developers and owners will no longer be willing to pay for a certification letter to verify their building(s) are “Green”.

In my opinion, Green construction is becoming the norm: the bar has been set. Major improvements have been seen even over the last five years, including many government mandates to construct more energy efficient and healthier environments, and to eliminate environmentally hazardous materials. There are many other factors that drive environmental and energy efficient design: the economy, diminishing resources, people’s awareness of working and living in healthier environments, and even large City’s trying to recapture the older dilapidated and unused sections of town through revitalization.

Why then, would owners and investors pay for the privilege of registering their project to get a certificate and a plaque to mount in their building(s) on top of the extra design fees and construction fees to document all the potential “Green Credits”, when all they have to do is ask that their projects be energy efficient and environmentally sound?

Do I think the USGBC should go away? No, absolutely not.

Do I think we should work with what we have and stop pushing, for a while anyway? Yes!

 Les Murfin

 

Image source: US Army Corps of Engineer Los Angeles District’s Flickr photostream and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

 


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Virginia Beach Development Authority April Meeting

In Events on April 25, 2012 by Candi Tagged: , , , ,

Last week Chris Michael and I made our monthly pilgrimage across the street to the VBDA meeting. The City of Virginia Beach Development Authority facilitates the expansion of the tax base through increased business investment. This is always an information-packed meeting with an impressive cast of characters thoughtfully steering Virginia Beach through its ongoing success.

Some of the highlights of the meeting included:

  • Request for approval of three-year extension to Town Center Option Land Agreement for Block 2 (former Beacon site), Block 9 (green space), and strip of land adjacent to One Columbus Center. This was approved by the authority.
  • Town Center update – Target and Walgreens to open this fall, and Pembroke Mall is planning new main entrance.
  • The Centerville SGA (Strategic Growth Area) planning will start May 2nd, and the Hilltop SGA is in progress.
  • Form Based Code and Parking Strategy –The City is issuing a revised version of the code based on stake holder comments this month on April 23rd.

Barry Frankenfield and Ashby Moss presented the 2012 Update on the Oceanfront Form-Based Code – take a look at the highlights they provided…

  Candi James

 


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Happy Earth Day!

In Sustainability/LEED® on April 23, 2012 by HBA Tagged: , , , ,

To commemorate Earth Day 2012, HBA joined Earth Day Network’s effort to reach one billion pledges for “Acts of Green.”  So far over one billion people and organizations have pledged their Acts of Green, which involve anything from eating local food to using public transportation to converting household lightbulbs to LEDs!

HBA pledged to “Support and promote sustainable design, and encourage HBA employees to participate in Acts of Green at home and the workplace!”

In addition to incorporating sustainable design strategies into our projects as often as possible, we participate in a number of green initiatives right here in the office! We recycle over 50% of waste generated, use hybrid vehicles, and even use pens made up of recyled material!

Earth Day was April 22, but it’s not to late to join in!  Follow this link to commit to our pledge or create one of your own!

-Becky Cook 

images are from http://act.earthday.org/


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Computer Donations

In People,Technology on April 18, 2012 by HBA

Last month I decided to clean out my growing collection of PCs, keyboards, and other electronics.  Not wanting to send it to the land fill, it’s been just collecting while I figure out what to do with it.  Eventually I gave it to an e-recycling center, the kind that sets up for a day in the big-box parking lot.  They told me that after they pull the more valuable parts, the rest will be ground up and made into park benches and the like.  But recently I found out about a solution that was WAY better and being done right here by HBA… The TCC Computer Club’s “Computers for Student Success” at Tidewater Community College.  This program accepts unwanted computers, wipes the hard drives, and gives them new life before turning over to students in need.  According to the program director, the first year the club started, they refurbished and issued 200 computers.  Recently that number has topped 1,000 and this year they are shooting for 1,200.   Not only are the overhauled machines going to the student body, but the program has provided the same service to deserving community programs, community members, and a local women’s shelter.

This year HBA donated 7 CPUs, a laptop, 10 CRT monitors, and 2 LCD monitors, and we’re happy to spread the word on this excellent local program.

Donations are accepted 25 hours a week, from 12 pm to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.  For more information see the program’s Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/computersforstudentsuccess

- Andy Craven

Image credit: ericnvntr’s Flickr stream


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Today, once again, we are all Hokies

In People on April 16, 2012 by HBA

Orange and maroon balloons are released in memory of April 16, 2007.

It’s hard to believe that it has already been 5 years since April 16, 2007. As a freshman at Virginia Tech, I remember huddling in my dorm on that strangely cold morning, watching the news in unbelief as images of my beloved campus flashed across the screen, too numb to process the tragedy that was unfolding live just a few hundred yards from where I sat. The only way to get word out was through AIM Instant Message, and I desperately tried to tell friends and family that I was ok, thanking God that my class in the building next to Norris Hall had been cancelled that morning. I gathered with friends on my hall and we prayed together; cried together.

In the days that followed it seemed as though all national media personnel descended on our little Southwestern Virginia college town, and the Governor and President came to offer their condolences. Support and encouragement poured in from the community, state, nation, and world. Little by little, wounds began to heal, and life returned to normal. I will always remember the lives of the 32 lost that day. I will always be intensely proud to be a Hokie. But today let us echo the sentiment that banded a community and nation together in the wake of a senseless tragedy: Today, once again, we are all Hokies.

-Becky Cook

Image from buridan’s flickr photostream and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

 


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