Why Choose Architecture over Interior Design

Why Choose Architecture

Architecture is one of the dreamt courses to take by many. In fact, it is one of the top courses that are offering the best salary for successfully preparing or doing a certain project. This is the same reason why an architect becomes more preferable. In case you are also planning to become one of the professional architects of the generation, it is ideal to know the different considerations in becoming an architect. Learn here the difference of architecture with interior designing, and the benefits of choosing this course to any other courses out there. 

Interior Design vs. Architecture

There are so many similarities and differences between interior designing and architecture. One of this is about the salary. Architects are highly paid so as the interior designers. If it is all about having a big salary, you should really go for either of the two. It is because both surely. Depending on the value that you have in business, you can also take the salary that you expect. However, when it comes to general aspects of learning, they are just similar. There is this wide coverage aspects that both of these two courses come similar with one another. If you are really going to look at each of the course, architecture uses math for having a

Benefits of choosing Architecture

Choosing architecture over other profession is indeed a good decision. It is not just about the salary that you are going to earn but also about applying what you have learned after graduating. Along with your search for the best US best architecture, here are also some of the benefits of choosing architecture for your future.

•  Architecture provides an enjoying and challenging learning experience. If you love challenging yourself with the things you are achieving, architecture may also fit your interest.

•  Learning architecture leads you have an edge over others. It is because architects are indeed practicing skills and knowledge that are applicable

•  Architects perhaps works like inventors. This is one of the reasons that you may want to prove for entering the world of architecture. Building structures, creating new designs, and designing gadgets are only some of the inventions that architects are making.

•  Architecture concerns highly on various fields which can be anything that is beneficial for improving human being and living environment as well. With this benefit, you can always help everyone but also for the improvement of the living environment.

You may become one of the intern architecture students by searching for best US architecture. By starting with such step you may also experience what an architect student life is. However, it is necessary that you know what is to be an architect in case you have made you mind in entering any best school of architecture. From these mentioned reasons above, you can decide whether you will pursue architecture or not. You can also find for more reasons and of course, use your own interest for having this course and possibly earn high salary once you became a real architecture in the future.

Today's Free LEED BD+C V4 Exam Prep Questions

Free USGBC LEED BD+C V4 Exam preparation Questions

I started to posting 3 LEED related questions few past days. The purpose is to practice myself for the LEED exam and it also helps me to memorizing questions and answers while I write. I hope this LEED exam questions also helps others who preparing for the LEED exam. 

Question 1

During the planning process proper exterior lighting direction and intensity will help protect:  (Choose 2)

• A. The development of wildlife
• B. Task lighting usage
• C. Process loads
• D. The developers wallet

Answer is (A) and (D)

Question 2

Development constraints on a project for site selection include: (Choose 2)

• A. Prime farmland
• B. Priority designations
• C. Brownfield 
• D. Species and habitat

Answer is (A) and (D)

Question 3

The boundaries that are focused on in the LEED v4 system include: (Choose 3)

• A. Project boundary
• B. LEED boundary
• C. Property boundary
• D. District boundary 

Answer is (A) and (C)

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Autodesk - 3 year license Free for Student & Educator

If you still does not have Autodesk Software, you should get one through Autodesk. 

If you are student or educator, Autodesk give you 3 year license on their Autodesk Software. 

Free LEED Exam preparation Quiz

LEED AP BD+C Exam Prepartion part-2

Today's LEED AP BD+C Exam 

1. Electricity meters installed for Advanced Energy Metering must record which of the following? 

• A. Consumption Only
• B. Demand only
• C. Consumption and Demand
• D. Neither consumption nor demand

Answer is (C) Electricity meters must be capable of recording both consumption and demand. 

2. Which of the following represents the relationship between a Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment?

• A. A Phase I assessment addresses pesticides, solvents and mold while a Phase II assessment addresses petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals and asbestos.
• B. A Phase I assessment includes the actual testing of physical samples while a Phase II assessment analyzes those samples in detail.
• C. A Phase I assessment is a report that identifies environmental contamination while a Phase II assessment is an investigation that collects samples of soil to analyze for various contaminants.
• D. A Phase I assessment takes place during construction, while a Phase II assessment takes place at or just before occupancy.

Answer is (C) The Brownfield Redevelopment credit describes the difference between a Phase I and Phase II Site Assessment. Answer ‘c’ describes the correction relationship between the two assessments.

3. Which of the following best represents xeriscaping? 

• A. Planting trees that can provide food for the building occupants such as apple or orange trees
• B. A type of advanced drip irrigation system that responds to water demand by sensing soil moisture content
• C. A landscape design that directs the flow of rainwater on-site to the area that requires the most irrigation
• D. A landscape design that requires little or no irrigation or maintenance

Answer is (D) Xeriscaping is a term that describes a landscape design that requires little or no irrigation or maintenance. 

Free USGBC LEED AP BD+C Exam Prepartion

LEED AP BD+C Exam Prepartion

Few days ago, we discussed about the USGBC and LEED exam. 

Click for last posting: What is LEED and how to get you LEED credentials 

Since, I am preparing myself for LEED BD+C Exam, I like to share some resources with others.  I hope I can cover all 5 specialty exams and Green Associates during this resource sharing. 

Few days a week, I will starting to post free LEED exam questions, study guide, and other resources that might help you to prepare for the LEED exam. 

Today's LEED AP BD+C Exam 

1. A project is developing tenant design and construction guidelines as part of its LEED Certification efforts. Which LEED Rating System is it likely pursuing?

Choose one

• A. Commercial Interiors
• B. Tenant Interiors
• C. Schools
• D. New Construction
• E. Core and Shell

Answer is (E) - The LEED for Core and Shell Rating System includes a Credit for developing design and construction guidelines for future tenants. 

2. Which is true regarding FAR (Floor to Area Ratio)?

Choose one

• A. FAR cannot be zero
• B. FAR cannot be greater than 1
• C. FAR cannot be greater than 100
• D. Higher FARs are preferred by LEED

Answer is (D) - Floor to Area Ratio (FAR) is the ratio of the total floor area of buildings on a certain location to the size of the land of that location. As a formula: Floor Area Ratio = (Total covered area on all floors of all buildings on a certain plot)/(Area of the plot). With respect to LEED, in general the greater the Floor to Area Ratio the better since it typically corresponds with a more dense development. Also, building ‘up’ rather than ‘out’ may minimize the land needed for the building footprint, leaving the possibility for more open space.

3. Which is most affected by the LEED Site Boundary? (Choose 2)

• A. Location of bike racks & showers
• B. Exterior light pollution
• C. Size of underground parking garage
• D. Determining where site disturbance must stop

Answer is (B and D)

Steps to get you the USGBC LEED Certificate: What is LEED and how you get to certification from LEED

What is LEED and how to get you LEED credentials 

http://www.usgbc.org/

So why is so important to Know LEED? 

When we are going through the job requirements from the various architecture firms, the "LEED" become one of the requirements for bigger architecture firms. So what is LEED and why it is so important? 

Few years back,  I was preparing  myself to get one of these credentials from USGBC LEED. I ended up not getting one because I was hired in architecture firm and never had chance to look back. The firm that I worked, they did various projects small to big but never did  green building projects. Which means they do not require to be "LEED" employees to work. However, it is getting more important to be "LEED" credentials as many of architectural firm getting projects that requires to be green  or "LEED" certified. 

So what is USGBC and LEED? 

The USGBC founded in 1993 by current CEO Rick Fedrizzi, Mike Italiano, and David Gottfried. The purpose of this membership based non-profit organization that promotes sustainability in buildings design, construction, and operation. LEED is green building rating systems and its annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. 

• USGBC stands for: The U.S. Green Building Council 
• LEED stands for: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

According to USGBC, the LEED is:

The LEED plaque on a building is a mark of quality and achievement in green building.

Leaders across the globe have made LEED the most widely used green building rating system in the world with 1.85 million square feet of construction space certifying every day. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet and profit. 

WHY LEED?

LEED certification means healthier, more productive places, reduced stress on the environment by encouraging energy and resource-efficient buildings, and savings from increased building value, higher lease rates and decreased utility costs. In fact, 88 of the Fortune 100 companies are already using LEED.

 

http://www.usgbc.org/

The LEED have 4 rating systems (Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) and it will be awarded to the projects based on the number of points achieved. 

Time to get yourLEED Credentials

http://www.usgbc.org/

There are 3 main categories in LEED Credentials. one is LEED Green Associate, LEED AP, and LEED Fellow.  

• LEED Green Associate: Demonstrates a solid and current foundation in green building principles and practices.
• LEED AP: Affirms advanced knowledge in green building and expertise in a particular LEED rating system. The LEED AP is available with a variety of specialties for professionals to demonstrate proficiency in certain building types.
• LEED Fellow: A peer-nominated designation awarded to highly accomplished individuals with ten or more years of professional green building experience.

Fees: 

• LEED Green Associate: $200 ($100 for students, $250 for non-members)
• LEED AP: Full exam: $400 ($550 for non-members) Specialty only: $250 ($350 for non-members)
• 5 Specialty from the following or you can take full exam
• LEED AP BD+C: LEED AP Building Design + Construction 
• LEED AP O+M: LEED AP Operations + Maintenance 
• LEED AP ID+C: LEED AP Interior Design + Construction 
• LEED AP ND: LEED AP Neighborhood Development
• LEED AP HOMES

You can get study resources and more information about the USGBC LEED at their website.

http://www.usgbc.org/

ARE Architect Registration Examination Pass Rates

ARE Pass Rates By Division

The pass rates below are by division for all candidates (first-time and repeat) who took the ARE for the last five years. 

ARE 4.0 Pass Rates
DIVISION	Abbr.	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Programming Planning & Practice	PPP	62%	62%	62%	61%	62%
Site Planning & Design	SPD	76%	73%	71%	67%	69%
Building Design & Construction Systems	BD/CS	63%	62%	62%	65%	64%
Structural Systems	SS	66%	71%	75%	71%	68%
Building Systems	BS	65%	68%	69%	67%	68%
Construction Documents & Services	CDS	63%	64%	63%	62%	62%
Schematic Design	SD	74%	77%	77%	76%	77%
Number of Candidates Testing		14,737	14,465	14,369	15,589	17,668

- See more at: http://www.ncarb.org/ARE/ARE-Pass-Rates/DivisionPR.aspx#sthash.AcR6PWOw.dpuf


Every year the number of candidates testing for Architect Registration Examination are increasing. However, the pass rates are maintained about the same rates every year.

Cite: http://www.ncarb.org/ARE/ARE-Pass-Rates.aspx

NCARB Discards “Intern” Title

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the governing body for much of the architectural profession in the US, is taking steps to take “intern” out of architectural vocabulary. In a press statement, NCARB president Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB, said that in the future, NCARB will only encourage regulatory language for post-licensure individuals

“Architects are those who have met all the requirements to become licensed in states and jurisdictions throughout the United States,” McKinney said. “Everyone else is not an architect. But their status also doesn’t need a regulatory title such as ‘intern’ or any similar reference. This has become a term that has been perceived as negative by many in the architecture community and a term that really does not fully value the work that aspiring architects bring to the profession.”

In 2014, McKinney formed the Future Title Task Force to begin a discussion on the importance of titles and guidelines for assigning them as the architecture profession expands to encompass new roles.  This group, made up of architects and interns alike, examined a wide variety of information including the implications of the term, and the potential ramifications of regulating titles for non-licensed individuals.

Based on recommendations from the Future Title Task Force, NCARB has decided to recommend that non-licensed architecture practitioners find descriptive titles that reflect the roles they fill in their jobs. “The new term? There isn’t one. Just don’t use ‘intern,’” states NCARB in a press release. The plan’s impacts on licensure requirements are still unclear, but NCARB acknowledges that the change in title would likely require a change to the name of the Intern Development Program.

Cite

http://www.archdaily.com/633696/ncarb-discards-intern-title/

12 Excel Formulas Every Architect Should Know

Today, I like to share the article to everyone that was posted in Archidaily on May 19th. The title of the article was "12 Excel Formulas Every Architect Should Know". It was very interesting title. Excel and Architect? what is the relationship between them? We uses cool graphic software like AutoCAD, illustrator, Photoshop, Revit, Sketchup, Rhino, 3Ds Max, and so on. "Why should we have to know the Excel?"  

Well, most of us already familiar with Microsoft office which most common ones like Word, Outlook, Excel, and Powerpoint. As you know these software were around us for long time. When Design Firms or it can be any office jobs, when they are hiring, they always lists "Microsoft Office" on their job qualification. Some jobs doesn't do this but this doesn't mean they don't care! It is because they assuming that you might already have these skills. I can't imagine anyone who graduated college without using Microsoft Word. Right?

So it was interesting article for me so I like to share with others.I hope this information might be helpful to some of you.  

12 Excel Formulas Every Architect Should Know

It may not be the most exciting piece of software an architect will ever use, but Microsoft‘s Excel is a powerful tool which can help architects with the less glamorous parts of their work – and if you learn how to use it correctly, it can help you get back to the tasks that you’d rather be doing much more quickly. In this post originally published by ArchSmarter, Michael Kilkelly gives his short rundown of formulas that every architect should know – and a brief explanation of how to use each one.

Excel is more than just digital graph paper. It’s a serious tool for analyzing and computing data. In order to access this power, however, you need to understand formulas.

If you’re like me, you started using Excel as a way to create nice looking tables of data – things like building programs or drawing lists. Lots of text and some numbers. Nothing too crazy. If I was feeling a little bold, I’d add a simple formula to add or subtract some cells. That’s about it.

I knew I was using only about 10% of the software but I wasn’t sure what else it could do or how I could access the other functions. I’d heard about formulas but they seemed really confusing. Plus, I was an architect, not a bean counter.

It wasn’t until I ran into a number problem that I realized the true power of Excel. I needed to analyze the leasable area for a large mixed-use project I was working on. We were getting different area numbers from the developers. Since no one likes losing area, I had to dig through the data to figure out what was going on.

So I rolled up my sleeves, took a deep breath and plunged into the world of Excel formulas. A few hours later, I had a lean and mean spreadsheet that accurately calculated the leasable area. Using the formulas I had built, we could quickly play out scenarios for our client. This spreadsheet ended up being a really useful tool during the design phase.

Get started with Excel formulas

Inserting a formula into a cell is real easy. Just type an equals sign (=) followed by the formula. You can click the formula icon to open the “Insert Function” dialog.

You can also access all of the Excel functions through the “Formulas” ribbon. All of the formulas are grouped into categories. Click the category you want then select the formula from the list. This will open a dialog where you can input the formula parameters.

What’s the best way to learn Excel formulas? I’m a big believer in learning by doing. Take a spreadsheet you’ve created and see how you can make it better with formulas. Not sure which ones to try? Here’s my list of 12 Excel formulas every architect should know:

1. SUM

Adds together all the values in the specified range. The range can be a single column or multiple columns. You can even specify individual cells by using a comma to separate the values.

=SUM(A5:A25)

2. IF

Returns one value if a condition is true and another if the condition is false. Useful for getting a quick overview of your data. You can also use AND or OR within the IF statement to build complex logic.

=IF(A2>B2, “NEED AREA”, “AREA OK”)

3. SUMIF

Performs the SUM function only on instances that meet certain criteria. Use SUMIFS to specify multiple criteria.

=SUMIF(A1:A7, “>0″)

=SUMIFS(A1:A7, A1:A7, “>100″, A1:A7, “<200″)

4. COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK

Counts the number of items in the specified range. COUNT only counts numbers, not text or blank cells. COUNTA counts cells that are not empty. This includes number, text and other types of data. COUNTBLANK counts only cells that are blank.

=COUNT(A5:A25)

=COUNTA(A5:A25)

=COUNTBLANK(A5:A25)

5. COUNTIF

Similar to COUNT but will count only instances that meet the specified criteria. Use COUNTIFS to specify multiple criteria. For instance, rooms that are greater than 200 SF but less than 500 SF.

=COUNTIF(A1:A8, “>100″)

=COUNTIFS(A1:A8, “>100″, A1:A8, “<200″)

6. AVERAGE

Returns the average or arithmetic mean of the specified range of cells.

=AVERAGE(A5:A25)

7. MIN

Returns the smallest number in the specified range of cells. This might be useful for finding the smallest area in a programming spreadsheet.

=MIN(A5:A25)

8. MAX

Similar to MIN but this formula returns the largest number in a range of cells.

=MAX(A5:A25)

9. VLOOKUP

VLOOKUP helps Excel function more like a database than just a spreadsheet application. With it, you can search for values based on other values, which can be located in another part of the worksheet or in a completely different worksheet. In the formula, you need to specify the key value, the range of values you want to search, and the column number of the value you want to return. VLOOKUP is a little tricky to use so I highly recommend checking out this step-by-step guide.

=VLOOKUP(B3,$A$17:$B$20,2)

10. ROUND

Rounds a number to a specified number of digits. Can also use ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWN to specify the direction of rounding.

=ROUND(7.86, 1) results in 7.9

=ROUNDUP(7.23, 0) results in 8

=ROUNDDOWN(8.85, 1) results in 8.8

11. FLOOR and CEILING

These two functions round a number up (CEILING) or down (FLOOR) to the nearest specified multiple. Useful when rounding currency.

=FLOOR(A1, 10)

=CEILING(A2, 0.25)

12. CONCATENATE

Use the CONCATENATE function to join two cells together. This function is great for piecing together text that resides in separate columns. You can also use an ampersand (&) instead of typing out CONCATENATE.

=CONCATENATE(B1, “, “, A1)

=A3& ” ” & B3

A few more things about formulas

Named ranges are great to use with formulas. Rather than typing the cell range (like A3:B4), you can enter the name (like “Level1Area”). Plus, if the range changes, just update it once in the “Name Manager”. You don’t need to update each formula.

You can review all the available formulas by going to the “Formulas” ribbon and clicking one of the icons in the “Function Library” section. All of the formulas are organized by category. Likewise, you can click the “Insert Function” button to see all the available functions.

You can include one formula in another formula. This is known as “nesting function”. In Excel 2013, you can nest up to 64 functions.

Copying and pasting formulas can sometimes be tricky. By default, Excel will increment the cell ranges when you paste a formula. Sometimes this is useful, particularly if you’re using SUM to add up a row of values. However, sometimes you want to calculate specific cells. In order to do this, use a “$” before the cell to designate it as an absolute reference. For example, if I want to multiply cell B4 with cell D3, I would type my formula as “=B4*D3″. Now, if I want to copy this formula down the column but I still want to multiply by cell D3, I would type the formula at “=B4*$D$3″. This designates cell D3 as an absolute reference so Excel doesn’t increment it.

How about you?

How do you use formulas in your spreadsheets? If so, what’s your favorite formula? Leave a comment below!

Article feature image via Shutterstock.com

Cite:

Michael Kilkelly. "12 Excel Formulas Every Architect Should Know" 19 May 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed 20 May 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/?p=632855>