Environetics Group Architects now hiring Architectrual Intern/Jr Architect in New Jersey

Enviornetics Group Architects are now hiring Architectural Intern/Jr Architects 

Enviornetics founded in New York in 1946. They have 4 locations New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. They do have over 100 staff and their projects includes in interior design, architectural design, planning, project management, and sustainable practices. 

There are few qualification for this job:

• B.Arch or M.Arch degree

• Minimum two years of relevant industry experience

• Strong organization skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient in the following programs: AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch-up, Revit, and Rhino

Environetics provides competitive salaries, bonuses, health insurance, a 401k plan, and flex scheduling. 

If you are qualify or interest in this job position, they require you to provide 1-3 PDF pages (5Mb max) with samples of your work along with your resume. 

Your files must submitted to ckoch@environetics-nj.com with the subject Environetics NJ Job Inquiry.

For more information please visit their website: http://www.environetics.com/

   

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)

Get your Free Autodesk software from Autodesk - It is Free and you get 3 year license.

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. 

AutoCAD 2016 Tutorial - Drawing Unit settings in AutoCAD

AutoCAD 2016 Tutorial 

How to change Unit settings in AutoCAD 2016

You can change the Units in AutoCAD. In the US, we normally use inches and feet but sometimes we have to work with centimeters and meters for international projects. I am going to show you how to change your units in AutoCAD and it's short-cut. 

Short-cut to open up the units preference box 

(Drawing Units box)

Type: u + n + enter (do not type +) 

Once you type u + n + enter, the Drawing Units box will be appear as shown (IMG 1).

IMG 1 (drawing units in AutoCAD)

In this unit settings, you can change your AutoCAD units into an Architectural (foot and inch system), Decimal (metric), Engineering (feet and inches but decimal), Fractional (inches only - cabinet makers), or Scientific.

For Architectural units, ( ' ) indicates foot and ( " ) indicates inches. You don't have to put ( ' ) or ( " ) in AutoCAD. The AutoCAD automatically indicate as inches when you put your numbers. For example, if you type in 14, the AutoCAD will indicate that number as 14 inches. 

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/

Dahlin Group Architecture Planning are looking for Architectural Designer/Drafter in Southern California Area

Dahlin Group Architecture Planning are currently seeking talented people to join their team.





Dahlin Group Architecture Planning have three offices in California Pleasanton ( known as main head office), Irvine, and Solana Beach. All of three offices are currently hiring. 



Dahlin Group Architecture Planning - Irvine, CA
Job Captain/Architect

Dahlin Group Architecture Planning - Pleasanton, CA
Intermediate Residential Designer/Architect

Dahlin Group Architecture Planning - Solana Beach, CA
Architectural Designer/Drafter

About Dahlin Group Architecture Planning 

DAHLIN GROUP ARCHITECTURE PLANNING is an international architecture and planning firm with three offices in California. We have 35 years of experience building communities where we live and work, whether it’s through our residential communities, mixed-use developments, urban infill projects, office buildings, recreation facilities, or community centers.  Please visit our website (www.dahlingroup.com) for more information.

They have 3 offices in California and 2 other offices in Beijing and Shanghai.
According to their Website (http://www.dahlingroup.com), they have staff from 18 different countries and over 20 languages spoken at Dahlin Group. We believe Dahlin Group values employees with different cultures and backgrounds. 


According to Glassdoor, Dahlin Group offers good benefits for their employees.  

Full Benefits package (might be more like paid sick-days, paid holidays, not confirmed)
They offer a competitive compensation package based on experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits include 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees.  We also offer the opportunity to participate in a pre-tax Flexible Spending plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and 401k.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k

Their salary levels seems decent.
(Please note: these numbers are not accurate number and might be outdated. In addition, the salaries are might be more or less based on your negotiation with the firm). 

Architect:                         $62,000
Architectural Designer:   $68,000
Junior Architect:              $72,000
Interior Designer:            $50,000

So if you are interest to know more about Dahlin Group or join their team, apply for the job opening.

In order for you to apply:

Qualified candidates are invited to apply online at www.dahlingroup.com/careers. Please include a cover letter, resume, and work samples in PDF format (15MB max).  We suggest including a link to a complete online portfolio in the cover letter. Inquiries that do not follow these instructions may not be considered.

Non-local candidates will be considered. However, Dahlin Group may or may not offer relocation benefits depending on current openings.

We regret that due to the large volume of inquiries, we are unable to accept phone calls regarding applications.

Dahlin Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify