Architect-Life

We Care

2011-11-17T04:35:00.001-08:00

Take a look at what we are doing…

Bits of ribbon or relatively small scraps of wrapping paper, with some creative reuse, they become custom pens and creative pads to give away.We Care is a project headed by the Boys & Girls Club of Costa Mesa in Partnership with Herman Millar and local design firms and Orange Coast College students.

2011-07-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

Autodesk tries marketing differently. I watched it in HD. Four stars.

Augmented Reality

2011-05-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of what you can do with 3d visualization software. Don't like you surroundings? Build new ones in Revit and wear Augmented Reality Goggles.

test

2011-04-27T06:45:00.001-07:00

Moderation

2011-04-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

I read every comment. If your comment is off topic it is marked as spam.

Accessibility

2011-02-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

I came across another blog that recounts the myriad codes surrounding accessibility. You may find it here.

Sustainability & Autos

2010-10-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

There is not one true road to using less resources. Many car designers and manufacturers have focused their efforts on creating electric or gas-electric solutions to using less petrol in day to day usage. These efforts are not the only direction. Toyota built a 200 million dollar factory just to produce batteries. Mazda has taken a different tact. They put their efforts into making a better gas engine and a lighter space frame for the car. Here is an article reviewing the subject.

Accessiblilty

2010-09-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

I read, a lot. Presently most of what I read is posted online. Here is one blog post about someone that toured a center for the vision impaired. In this case there was not only a design philosophy to inform the design, the design was critical to helping the vision impaired people navigate the space and use the facilities. If more builders and architects spent this much care in their work, the world would be a better place. Attention to detail can easily make the difference to a usable pleasant space and one that detracts from the experience.

Like Wind Power

2010-09-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

I been following www.selsam.com for several years. I like the idea of a gearless wind turbine. You can go to this website and vote for the idea.

Summer Reading

2010-07-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

I've started reading this book.

It is an attempt to correct over seventy years of mis-characterization of the religiosity of our first president of the United States under the Constitution.

After reading a few chapters, it is very clearly documented that George Washington attended an Anglican Church as a Christian.

725 pages of text and over 100 pages of appendixes.

New Bike

2010-07-09T08:08:00.001-07:00

Check out this article about a new bike.

10 point program of Communism - from wikipedia

2010-06-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Centralisation of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralisation of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of the population over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.

Communism is not going away. There still are many proponents of these ten points. Let us not forget where the enactment of the points by governments led.

I saw this on Gizmodo last year

2010-05-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

Now it looks like the combo toilet sink has become a real product. While it does not comply with ADA standards, it will have its place in the water closets of the future.

Cloudy Sky

2010-02-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

Original art.

Sky Factory

2010-02-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

I had a lunch seminar provide by SkyFactory. Check out the custom work they do here.

Grid bubbles in Revit

2010-02-05T14:37:00.001-08:00

I read this blog post and it made me laugh. I've had this happen to me on every project since I started in Architecture. Grid bubbles are either too large or to small.

Revit could be faster

2010-02-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

Here is a blog post that explains why Revit does not make use of a processor's multiple cores.

Another Blog...

2010-01-22T13:33:00.001-08:00

Revit components and commentary.

Snow on the Grapevine (I-5)

2010-01-22T08:15:00.001-08:00

On the way to a job walk I drove through some snow.

REVIT external App

2009-12-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

I came across this app. It speeds up the sheet creation process in Revit.

House Edible

2009-12-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

This was my entry this year for the "gingerbread" house contest.

AU Virtual 2009

2009-12-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

Autodesk University has a virtual component this year. Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute is one of the keynote speakers. You can watch it here. All I can say is WOW. He has some great ideas.

HOW MUCH DO BUILDINGS COST?

2009-12-01T16:34:00.000-08:00

Check out this PDF from ICC. They chart how much buildings cost with a survey of their members.

Wire Glass

2009-12-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

If you ever wondered what wire glass looks like up close, this is it...

Revit Tutorial on calculating Concrete Pours

2009-11-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

I found this article fascinating. Good comments too.

California License fee increase

2009-11-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Anthony Lum,
I am opposed to the increase in fee. The stated reason for the increase is increased work imposed by the continuing education requirement. Added continuing education is not necessary to protect the public. The public is rarely harmed as evidenced by the few number of disciplinary actions taken by your office. Architects are already bound by law to design for accessibility. To require additional continuing education is a slap in the face of the profession.

Please rescind the fee increase and rescind the continuing education requirement.

Sincerely,

Architect
CA License Number

2009-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of BIM showing mechanical structural and architectural elements.

Mira Costa College Creative Arts Building

2009-10-20T16:38:00.001-07:00

I worked as the Job Captain on this building. It served as a replacement for several nondescript buildings that were suffering from structural damage. It is three stories and houses students for the fine arts and music programs.

Calculating Allowable Area

2009-10-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

I came across this website. It can help you to see if you have a viable basis for adding area to a project under the IBC. Please note that it will not work 100% for the California Building Code because it does not have the amendments built into it. However it is a good starting point.

Breaking it down

2009-10-07T21:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it doesn't take much to break up a boring space. Take a look at this article on how to make dramatic changes with only electrical tape and foam core.

reminder of where accessibility laws come from...

2009-09-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), a federal law created in 1968 that stipulates all buildings, other than privately owned residential facilities, constructed by or on behalf of, or leased by the United States, or buildings financed in whole or in part by the United States, must be physically accessible for people with disabilities.

The Rehabilitation Act is a federal law first passed in 1973. The purpose of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was to make sure that people with disabilities will have the same opportunities in federally funded programs as people without disabilities. For example, this section is very important in the design of schools and universities. Both physical access to the buildings and spaces, as well as equal access to participation in the programs, must be available.

Thanks to ICC for summary

Thanks Steve

2009-09-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a great blog post that brings up a major BIM/Revit issue.
Who owns the model? The creator of it.
What happens when it is shared to a contractor? They use it to do area take-offs and they build to the model and ignore the documentation.

Heavy Stuff.

The Pocket Book of Patriotism

2009-08-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

This book includes a history of the world compared with the history of the United States. It marks notable events from science, religion, arts, popular culture, war and disaster. The second half of the book is a collection of documents that influenced our present day United States. It is well worth a read and could easily be used as a reference.

Learn about the world

2009-08-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

Test

The above website brings together facts from the CIA with Google Maps. You can see where your country ranks compared to others on many issues.

BMW Energy Efficiency Building

2009-07-28T22:39:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the building described here. A design with a purpose.

Kitchen Remodel is almost done.

2009-07-19T20:40:00.001-07:00

Wind powered building

2009-07-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

I've seen numerous examples of wind generators attached to buildings. The typical problem is that the cyclical action of the generator starts a vibration in the structure that makes the buildings noisy. Another problem is the generators themselves detract from the look of the building. Take a look at this one.

Solar Power

2009-07-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Solar power is ideal for outdoor activities. Like this. As generators of electricity, solar panels have no moving parts and are virtually silent.

Accessible drinking fountains

2009-07-07T11:37:00.001-07:00

For those of your that work in California:

The DSA Access Manual shows an image of an accessible drinking fountain. The clear space is listed as 32" between cane detectable rails. What if you have a high/low fixture? Is 32" clear enough? I spoke to Scott Davison to gain some clarification. He said that the 30" x 48" clear space (in plan) should be centered on the accessible drinking fountain.

Why we have the IBC...

2009-06-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

Architects and engineers and plan checkers work together to make sure this does not happen.

6/22/09

2009-06-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

California's Division of the State Architect (DSA) has changed some of their Interpretations of Regulations. You may find the new manual here.

One major point is a clarification on occupancy loading in schools.

Small homes, Prefab homes

2009-06-24T08:20:00.001-07:00

Small homes mean less resources to build. Less land. Less Wood. Less energy to run.

Prefab homes mean tighter quality control. Less waste. More durability since the home needs to survive the jolts of travel to the site.

Follow this link to see half a dozen prefab, small homes.

Living in a small home means having to live with less. You need a more streamlined lifestyle. You need less stuff. You are more social because you are away from home since you don't have room to entertain.

Government Style Health Care

2009-06-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been thinking about the Big Government plans to compete with private insurance by providing a health care plan for all Americans (citizens and non-citizens alike).

Newt Gingrich made an analogy about Big Government solutions in a video. We all use one particular government solution - the Post Office. How well has it served us? The Post Office is touted as the only government service that runs a profit. By law the only way to send first calss mail is through the Post Office. It is a monopoly for first class mail and must compete for extra business services. According to yahoo, it will lose more than a billion dollars this year. How does it make up short falls like this? Cutting jobs or gaining tax dollars? The United States Postal Service (USPS) has many sources of revenue besides the sale of first class delivery of mail. Packages, collectable stamps, enhanced services, advertising, just to name a few.

The competition is FedEX, UPS, DHL, and many regional services. When Big Government sets up its health services, I imagine that it will be similar to the USPS in comparison to the competition with one big exception. The USPS cannt tax the services of the competition in order to fund itself. The private health care insurance and providers will offer premium services for greater fees. The Big Government health care will be like first class mail. Everyone will get "junk mail" or "junk health care" as part of the price of having a Big Government solution. The prices of services will rise periodically just like the cost of first class mail. Special interests will get special treatment just like direct mail marketers get with the USPS. Since the Big Government solution will be able to tax the competition, only the super rich or super politically connected will get the "Next Day" service.

If you don't mind going to the Post Office for purchasing stamps, sending packages, picking up mail, and getting junk mail at home the Big Government health care solution will be a dream come true. If you have millions of dollars working for you, so you live off the interest, you can sit out the debate on health care. If you have great health care and you wish the freeloaders with no health care deserve the same plan you have (without paying as much as you do) then stay out of the debate. However, if you think that you should make health care decisions for you and not some manual the thickness of your waisteline, you need to make your voice heard. If you think health care is too complicated now, then imagine the complexity after tens of thousands of new pages of regulations go into effect in October 2009.

I don't rely much on health insurance for myself, but my family depends on it. I don't want my families health care dependent on a USPS model of care or level of service. I can wait for my mail. My children's doctor is already so busy that we can't get an appointment less than a month away. I shutter to think what kind of wait times we'll have to endure when Big Government takes over.

Blog

2009-06-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

I've started following a blog by my college classmate Gideon Burton. We share several interests. More importantly, he is a much better writer than me. You can also read his posts here.

Revit Rendering

2009-06-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Check out a great post revealing the secret to increasing rendering times here.

International Building Codes

2009-06-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

The new I-Codes are now available. Buy them at the ICC website.

Why Wind Mills cost so much...

2009-06-03T08:13:00.001-07:00

If you ever wondered why we don't use more wind power in this country, examine the image carefully. Windmills require plenty of land. Every windmill needs a road to service it. A series of wires must connect the windmill to the grid. Each of these items are capital expenditures. The fuel for the windmill is free, but the initial costs are so large that it takes quite a longtime to recover them.

Leaning tower

2009-05-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

RMJM's design is in progress in Abu Daubi.

Read about it here.Or here.

We can design and build just about anything we can imagine. I am interested in how the design concept began and what it plans to accomplish. What problem does the leaning tower solve? Is it just about pushing the structural envelope?

Tata Apartments

2009-05-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

Tata the maker of the $2-3000 auto in India, is now selling small apartments. See floor plans here.

From Gimp

2009-04-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

I made this in about 30 seconds with GIMP

Flooring over a wet slab

2009-04-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I met with Joshua Reed of Floor Seal Technology. He had some very interesting photos of failed flooring installations over concreete slabs. Read the specifications for your adhesives and flooring materials. Concrete slabs can sweat moisture. Average flooring can handle 1-2 pounds of water pressure from the slab. Epoxy sealers can hold back a water pressure of 3-5 pounds. He mentioned one slab that had 20 pounds of water pressure upending the flooring.

Always test your slab moisture content before laying down the flooring. ASTM F1869-04

Order of assembly of concrete slabs

2009-04-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

Reinforcing steel

Concrete forms

Vapor retarder

Compacted sand

Capillary break

Natural Earth

Detailing in Revit

2009-04-15T11:53:00.001-07:00

Autodesk University 2009 had a presentation on detailing in Revit. Paul Aubin provided a free chapter from his book here.

Structure of tall buildings

2009-04-15T06:00:00.001-07:00

The structure of buildings can be described as a cantilever starting at the ground.
Take a look at the continuing education piece here.

Here are the pictures

2009-03-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

I survived

2009-03-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I was in a car accident. I entered the 5 freeway going North at the Dana Point PCH on-ramp. There was some debris in the acceleration lane. It was pretty big. I doubt I was traveling faster than 50mph because my car has been having transmission issues and does not accelerate very fast. I swerved left to avoid it moving into the next lane. My car started to fishtail (I think i hit the debris). I turned right to try to compensate and started into a spin-out that ultimatly lead my car to the curb and off the road and onto its roof. The passenger side window shattered and the roof above my daughter crushed in a bit. A flood of roadside dirt and sand flowed into the car's ceiling. I immediately unbuckled my seat belt. I think that is when I hit my head and got a scrape. I looked for a way out. I kicked open the driver side door, unbuckled my daughter and helped her out. I unbuckled my youngest son and helped him out. I crawled out and gathered them together. We hugged and prayed thanking God that we survived. The moment I stood from our prayer a man from a white pick-up truck was standing ready to help. He called the California Highway Patrol and I called my wife. She and my older son were in the other car. They turned the other car around and headed back to pick us up. It was not more than a few minutes and CHP arrived and started taking a police report. He had some sort of an accent. My body was pumping adrenaline. My knees were shaking. My daughter had a small cut from the glass on her right hand. I got the keys from my ignition and opened the trunk to get my first aid kit. It fell open and everything dropped out - except the spare which was bolted in place. Needless to say I was not thinking all that clearly. I did eventually remember to remove my son's blanket and my dad's hat from the car. My registration and insurance fell adjacent to the driver side door. Rather convienient for when the officer asked for them. The tow truck showed up and started preparing to roll the car back to its wheels. The rear axle was bent from where the driver side rear wheel hit the curb. There was some fluid streaming from the upside down hood. A few minutes after the tow truck arrived, my wife arrived. I sent the kids to her while I walked around with the CHP officer trying to piece together the accident details. The debris that looked like the size of a giant sea turtle was no where to be found. We did find a flattened box (the size of a case of 8-1/2" x 11" paper) and a trash bag (large size). There were a couple of skid marks and a large chunk from a tire that I thought may have been from my car. I don't think my car left any skid marks because we were spinning not skidding. I placed all the paper work (insurance, registration, card from the CHP) in the Book of Mormon that fell out of my trunk. There wasn't much else to do. The towing company flipped the car back on its wheels. We called our insurance company and left for an emergency room. We decided against a hospital emergency room and went to an urgent care. Unfortunately the urgent care closest to my house does not accept adults after 8pm. It was there that I visited the restroom and saw what the nurse saw. I had a blotch of dirt from the crown of my head to my jaw. It went around my left eye and into my left ear. I washed up as best I could and called my wife to take me home. I figured that I could go to Hoag Hospital's Emergency room later. While at home I received a call from a neighbor. She called by accident, but helped answer some of my questions; she is a nurse. I called Hoag to see how busy they were. They were out of beds. I figured that would get better care here at home than waiting all night for a bed at Hoag (just for evaluation).

Architecture & Design

2009-02-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

Architects and design professions take set of design parameters, goals, objectives, suggestions, codes, and execute a design.
If a designer only opens an ear to one faction, the design will not serve the whole set of user well.
Design is setting priorities on the inputs.
Is the use of a single material the top priority? The result becomes a hotel entirely made of ice in Canada.
For projects such as elementary schools, the design must serve the needs of many factions: teachers, principals, children, the public, parents, maintenance staff, construction crews, code officials, state funding reviewers, bond committees, the design community, engineers, taxpayers, (I'll add to this list...)
As you can see what once was a simple building to house school children has become a major complex project involving balancing many interests.
Designs can easily become the subject of criticism because of the variety of users and their competing interests. A school that has excellent design appeal, may not serve the interest of teachers or students well. A school that is very easy to maintain, won't necessarily have much success in increasing test scores. A very expensive school may score highly across many of the factions, but becomes a burden on the taxpayers because of high costs. Economics teaches that the world is full of trade-offs, Architecture is exactly the same.

Family

2009-01-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

Here are the Ganiere Siblings. I'm the one wearing the USC shirt.

USGBC

2008-12-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday I passed the Leadership in Energy & Environment Design exam and became an Accredited Professional.

2008-12-19T21:07:00.000-08:00

Here is the Competition.

Edible Construction

2008-12-18T23:46:00.000-08:00

Sorry the elevations did not come through.

Check out Christopher's photo on Photoshop.com

2008-12-02T08:52:00.001-08:00

I took this photo while on a job walk in Palm Springs. No photoshop here, I was walking and shooting at the same time and this is how my Kodak interpreted it.

Baking Cinnamon Rolls

2008-11-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

On occasion, I find it beneficial to indulge in some sweets. Here I am making Macadamia Nut Raisin Cinnamon rolls. Yum.

Terms

2008-11-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

Many people have heard of NIMBY. Not In My Back Yard. This term describes the common feelings about property owners or renters that wish to block development or resist change to their immediate environment. For example: tracks of single family homes wishing to keep homeless shelters or liquor stores out of their immediate vicinity.

Fewer people have heard of BANANA. Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything. This term describes the attitude of people that oppose any development regardless of need, financial incentives or quality.

If you are concerned about the environment, be reasonable. No development means slow disintegration of the built environment and preserves nothing. Cities do not become wonderful places to live without growth.

Found

2008-11-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

Today I accidentally found a feature of Revit Architecture 2009. You can use call outs to create new views - typical. You can Use the mirror command on the call outs to create "mirrored" views of the model. So you are not actually creating extra geometry, you are showing the same geometry mirrored. Pretty cool.

gkkworks

2008-11-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

Today I started at gkkworks. They have a sharp organization with plenty of friendly employees.

Small Wheel Bikes

2008-10-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

Tree Hugger has collected 21 bikes in this quick hit review.

Public Domain

2008-10-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

I found an organization that does what I believe in. They get the law into the hands of the public and fight to get more access to government by the governed. They are Public Resource .
If we are to follow the law we must have the law.
We have too many laws.

WSJ.com - Opinion: Obama's Magic

2008-10-10T12:44:00.001-07:00

* Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified.

He's Magic

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Bill of Rights - US Constitution

2008-10-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

Article III

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Article IV

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Article V

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Article VI

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Article VII

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Article VIII

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Article IX

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Article X

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Article XI

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article XII

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Civil Rights

2008-10-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Many of the opponents of California's Proposition 8 argue that it limits rights. Proposition 8 does not establish a "gay" police. Gays may continue to marry and enjoy all the rights that we share. Proposition prevents gays from using government to take away the rights o others.

Californians have the opportunity to decide this November which right is more important than gay identity Is freedom of the press more important? Freedom of religion? Freedom of the press? Shall businesses be allowed to limit their customer base to non-gays? Is privacy more important?

The political and judicial classes have spoken. Gay identity trumps all other rights. Boy Scouts don't want openly gay leaders - they lose preferential treatment for use of city, county, and state property. A doctor refuses to get a lesbian pregnant - the judges tell him to quit being a doctor. Hate crimes are crimes of the mind - elected officials drafted these unnecessary laws and judges use them. Violence and property crimes are already against the law. By adding state of mind it places people on unequal footing.

Article I

After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred representatives, nor less than one representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than two hundred representatives, nor more than one representative for every fifty thousand persons.

Article II

No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

Article III

Article IV

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Article V

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Article VI

Article VII

Article VIII

Article IX

Article X

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Article XI

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Article XII

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

California's Proposition 8

2008-10-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-readies-members-on-proposition-8

Here is the entire text of the amendment:
"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

Simple. There is no text changing anyone's rights. There is no new government regulation. California is the most progressive state when it comes to special rights for gays. For some gays equal rights are not enough, hate crimes laws are not enough, special rights are not enough, they want government to enforce their beliefs at the point of a gun and modify the English language.

Let's keep everyone on equal footing. Let's not change our language. Let's vote yes on Proposition 8.

Yikes!

2008-10-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Several of our clients put projects on hold. Potential clients haven't signed contracts. Now I'm out of a job.

New License

2008-10-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

I finally received my new License from the State of Nevada. License number 6296.

My Letter to Congress

2008-09-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Senator, The $700,000,000,000.00 bailout is a fraud. Don't borrow to make the Treasury Secretary the richest man in the USA. We already have over $500,000,000,000.00 in deficit spending this year, DON'T pile an even bigger burden on taxpayers. We don't need to borrow $700,000,000,000.00 from China to save people that KNOWINGLY gave loans to people that could not repay. DON'T save companies that KNOWINGLY bought bad loans from those that made them. Remember the GOVERNMENT guaranteed Fannie & Freddy, not every other company that copied their bad practices.

Revit Tutorials

2008-09-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

Revit is a multi-function tool. While it may ahve been designed for architectural design. It can be used for some light civil calculation.

Calculating Cut & Fill

The curtain wall is a very complex part of the program. Here is a tutorial to help one understand how to get the power out of it.

Curtain Walls

Old License

2008-09-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

I have been Licensed by the State of California since 2002. License number C29178.

New License

2008-09-04T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am now licensed to practice Architecture in the State of Utah. Effective date 8/27/08. License # 7099546-0301

UBC, IBC, CBC

2008-08-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Looking for the codes? find them at Scribd.

Gibb lives in my City

2008-08-12T13:03:00.001-07:00

Exclusive Summer Olympics news & widgets at NBC Olympics.com!

Cadalyst

2008-08-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

One of the backbones of the Architecture documenting industry is Cadalyst Magazine. As a new graduate from USC, I read the magazine regularly at my job. They covered hardware and software. Since the software portion of the industry is dominated by Autodesk, they covered Autocad and its family of products extensively. One particular column was entitled "Hot Tip Harry." The magazine started an online componant where you could download AutoLisp code from other readers. Contributers were given a shot at $50 for best tip of the month. Now that the magazine is exclusively online, they have compiled all the tips into a searchable database. Enjoy!

New Cycle Ideas

2008-08-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

I like technology. I like innovative design. I like cycling as a means of transportation and recreation.

Check out this design.

I already ride a D-Drive Bike. It works great. No need to worry about grease from the chain. The bike is easier to keep clean.

Revit City

2008-08-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

I've been a member of Revit City since Feb 15, 2005. It is a useful site for finding "families" for use in Revit. You may find me there under the username "cganiere". I've not spent much time in the forums (AUGI is where I spend forum time). Most of my time in the forums is to find a command that I have forgotton or to see if anyone else is having the same problem I'm having.

http://tesanaliving.com

2008-07-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

I visited the site mentioned below in the comments (and above in the title of this post). Thank you for the comment.

The website looks nice. It navigates cleanly. The images clearly describe the architecture and surroundings. There is not much mentioned about the greenness of the architecture. The only "green" information is in reference to the preservation of a particular species of tree. While preserving old trees on a site is commendable, a developer can describe other things they do as well.

What other amenities are available to residents?
Is the stone on the houses from a local quarry?
Will the residents have higher or lower utility bills compared to the national average?
How are storm drainage issues handled?

Green Architecture

2008-07-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

It was not long ago that many architects dismissed the "green" label for architecture. It seemed a fad. For many the principles were so basic that it was common sense. Well it seems that it is not a fad, but a new wave. Dozens of cities across the nation have codified green design guides. Multiple non-government organizations have proposed standards. The USGBC has LEED. The Green Building Initative has Green Globes. Almost every professional association of manufacturers has some committee or marketing arm showing how their members are sustainable or environment friendly. Even Walmart has caught the vision. The federal government has gotten into the act with an expansion of their Energy Star program. The Department of Energy has become more vocal about their myriad programs.

Green design is the wave of the future. Our challenge as architects is to not just slap it together but coordinate all the components into a coherent whole.

Modifications

2008-07-15T07:04:00.002-07:00

I've skipped a few big events, but started adding a list of Architectural Projects I've been involved in. I have worked in a variety of capacities. I started at the bottom and worked my way along.

Head Room

2008-07-15T07:04:00.001-07:00

Sometimes in architecture you need to check for head clearance. In the USA head clearance for accessibility is 80".

Solar Power

2008-06-20T08:23:00.001-07:00

I am interested in solar power. I have been studying the subject for at least a decade (from the first solar landscape lights to building integrated photo voltaics). Here are some new technologies that look to slash current prices.

Nano Technology Solar
Concentrated Solar

New Car

2008-06-11T12:26:00.001-07:00

I love this design.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/06/bmw-builds-a-ca.html

http://www.bmw-web.tv/en/channel/new

Imagine changing your car's paint job in a matter of minutes. What if you wanted to show your support for your favorite team (Clippers, Dodgers, Raiders, Trojans) and could change based on the season. I thin that BMW is making a mistake by just placing it directly in a museum.

Entry Doors

2008-06-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

Close by my house a neighbor has remodeled the front of their house. They added a room and enclosed the area in front of their front door. The newly enclosed space forms an outdoor room with a fireplace. It looks nice, but removed the sense of entry to their house.

Architecturally the front door should be obvious. One designs a transition from the out of door to the interior. The transition can be processional like the red carpet to the Academy Awards. Even tract homes have something to set the front door apart from the rest of the building.

My home has a larger overhang than the rest of the house. The door is set back from the rest of the West wall. It conveys a sense of shelter or transition.

My neighbor's remodel has the entry to the new outdoor space and the garage wall in the same plane. The overhang is exactly the same. The only feature to identify it as an entry is the shape and size (it is the only man door). The same wall has a door for cars, the back of a fireplace, and 5' tall windows.

Plans

2008-06-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

I guess it had to happen sooner or later, an architect is offering home plans for free online:

http://www.freegreen.com

From the look of things they are a typical firm trying to differentiate themselves by offering a free base model with customization extra. Their income is supplemented by advertising and selling their emailing lists.

I downloaded a set of plans. It looks pretty complete. The plans are copyrighted so they cannot be resold or modified and resold.

Detail

2008-05-31T16:15:00.001-07:00

Here is an overhang detail at a brick wall. The weathered brick is meant to imitate brick from 250 years ago. You can see a metal drip around the top of the wood. Where the overhang juts out from the wall, there is metal flashing as well.

Gates

2008-05-19T20:57:00.000-07:00

I detailed this gate. The project was "Harbor Lofts" for the CIM Group. It is located in Anaheim, California. Sales began in 2008.

Made with paper & light cardboard

2008-05-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

Architecture is not always building with sticks and bricks. Sometimes it is working with surfaces. Here is a collection of surfaces made to look like a flaming dagger. It was part of a costume for a medieval themed awards dinner (Rancho Del Mar District of the Orange County Boy Scouts of America www.ocbsa.org)

Photography by CJ Ganiere

:-)

2008-05-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers' Day.
To every mother, past, present and future. Thank you.

History of Accessibility

2008-05-10T22:14:00.001-07:00

Sometime it helps to learn about the past before pressing into the future. Accessibility is presently considered a civil right in the United States of America. I received the e-mail below from one of the most knowledgeable people in California on the subject.

From: Mankin, Michael [mailto:Michael.Mankin@dgs.ca.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:51 AM
Hello,
Well, no online history – just the Attorney General's site:

http://ag.ca.gov/civilrights/highlights.php#disabilityRights

CA has little institutional memory, yet archives exist in various agency records where the law requires retention. One of the best timelines is online at DREDF:

http://www.dredf.org/about/dredf_timeline.shtml

DSA had a ANSI standard applied to new state funded buildings from 1969 until 1982, but no path of travel for existing buildings until after that. Local enforcement followed suit in 1970.

I find that every administration develops its own version of history according to the current political agenda.

Here is federal timeline:

TIMETABLE OF LEGISLATION AND ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES FROM 1961 TO 1998:

1961 ANSI publishes ANSI A117.1, Making Buildings Accessible to and Usable by the Physically Handicapped.

1965 Congress passes the Vocational Rehabilitation Amendment Act (P.L. 89-333).

1968 Congress passes the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) (P.L. 90-480).

1973 Congress passes the Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 93-112).

1978 Sections 502 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112) are amended.

1980 ANSI publishes a revised version of ANSI A117.1, designated ANSI A117.1-1980.

1982 U.S. Access Board publishes Minimum Guidelines and Requirements for Accessible Design (MGRAD).

1984 Federal ABA rule-making agencies (HEW, DOD, HUD, USPO) publish Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (UFAS).

1986 ANSI publishes revised version of ANSI A117.1, designated ANSI A117.1-1986.

1988 Congress passes the Fair Housing Amendments Act (P.L. 100-430).

1990 Congress passes the Americans with Disabilities Act (P.L. 101-336).

1991 U.S. Access Board publishes Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG).

1991 U.S. Departments of Justice and Transportation publish the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

1992 ANSI publishes a revised version of ANSI A117.1, designated CABO/ANSI A117.1-1992.

1995 Congress passes the Congressional Accountability Act.

1998 ANSI publishes a revised version of ANSI A117.1, designated CABO/ANSI A117.1-1998.

1998 Congress reauthorizes the Rehabilitation Act.

2004 U.S. Access Board publishes new Americans with Disabilities Act / Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guideline (36 CFR Parts 1190 and 1191)

Michael J. Mankin

Supervising Architect

Division of the State Architect, Headquarters Office

Department of General Services

1102 Q Street, Suite 5100

Sacramento, CA 95811-6550

Michael.Mankin@dgs.ca.gov

BUILDING GREEN • BUYING GREEN • WORKING GREEN

Photo Editing

2008-05-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

While studying at USC (www.usc.edu), I discovered Adobe's Photoshop 3.0. It came during my 4th year of architecture school. I was experimenting with CAD and rendering. At the time AutoCad was its eleventh version and the rendering was very primitive. My instructor suggested using Photoshop to enhance the images of my glorified boxes. You could add trees, cars, people or add the appearance of glass (without having to render glass which at the time took multiple hours).

Photoshop improved year over year and left my price range to stay current with the updates.

One freebie I found is Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). http://www.gimp.org/ After using GIMP at work for nearly a year, I find it suitable for most of my work with images.

Another freebie is Picasa2 by Google. http://picasa.google.com/ Picasa2 cannot draw or paint, but it can organize and add effects.

Newport Beach Temple

2008-05-04T07:50:00.001-07:00

Attached is a photo of the Newport Beach Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The architect described the structure as a steel with some concrete. It is clad with a stone that is supposed to leech it's pinkish color over time to become whiter and whiter.

--
http://www.cafepress.com/ganiere
Buy My Stuff

Revit

2008-05-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

As an architect I am always looking for the best way to express my design ideas. We use many tools. Pencil, pen, paper, plotter, computer, software. One bit of software that I use regularly is Revit Architecture 2008 by Autodesk. It is not a simple tool, but it is a powerful tool.

http://resources.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/Revit-Architecture/overview.htm

Selling something

2008-05-01T12:09:00.000-07:00

Many blogs have advertising or advertise. Well who am I to break the trend?

http://www.cafepress.com/ganiere

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