JL Architects

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How Do Architects Keep Current with Design Requirements and Trends?

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Do you ever wonder how architects keep up with the changes to building code requirements?  Or how about the latest in design technology?  Or new architectural products and trends?  The answer is by taking continuing education courses.

Why continuing education?

  • In most states, an architect needs to complete continuing education requirements to renew their license; typically, the renewal period is between 1 – 3 years. If the continuing education is not completed on time, their license will expire, and they will no longer be able to practice architecture in that state.
  • Continuing education ensures that architects are always learning. In the ever-changing world of architecture, it is not only important to keep up with design trends, but also the health, safety, and welfare of the community.

What types of continuing education are acceptable?

  • In most states, architects are required to complete at least 12 hours of continuing education credits per year. Each credit is equivalent to one hour of instruction and learning.  These credits typically need to be labeled “HSW” credits by the AIA (The American Institute of Architects), meaning that they pertain to the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
  • In addition to HSW credits, some states may have additional requirements. In Texas, for example, architects need to complete at least 1 additional credit pertaining to accessibility.  New Hampshire requires 4 credits per year pertaining to sustainability, and Nevada requires at least 2 hours pertaining to architectural codes.
  • Some states allow for a percentage of the credits to be in general architecture. For example, in Tennessee during each 2-year license period, 24 credits must be acquired, but only 13 credits must be HSW credits.  The remaining 11 credits can be in any architectural topic of your choosing.

How to earn continuing education credits?

  • There are various ways to earn continuing education credits. Architects can take online courses from registered AIA CES providers. There are many courses to choose from that cover all the different requirements by state.
  • Architects can also attend lunch and learn presentations that are approved by the AIA.
  • Another great way to earn several credits at once is by attending conferences and conventions. Every year the AIA holds a national convention where architects can attend workshops, presentations, and lectures to earn credits.  The Green Building Initiative holds an annual sustainability symposium where architects can earn sustainability credits.
  • Some states even allow for individually planned educational activities or self-directed learning. Architects can research or study architectural topics of interest earning credit for each hour spent. They can also provide pro bono rendering services to the public or even be elected and sit on the board of a planning commission or sustainability committee.

Continuing education is vital for architects to not only maintain their licenses, but also to ensure their designs meet the current standards for the health, safety, and welfare of the public.  Being licensed in 38 states, JL knows a thing or two about continuing education!  We use that knowledge to create contemporary designs that are safe and sustainable.

-Amy Estrella

Using Technology in Project Management

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Technology continues to expand and evolve, changing the way we do things as architects. As the industry had to become comfortable with virtual meetings and screen sharing in 2020, we have seen a change in how projects are now coordinated and managed. In some locations, construction inspections are still virtual, and we wonder if this too may become permanent.

How Will this Benefit our Clients in the Construction Phase of Their Project?

Coordination Prior to Permit Drawings: When you are working with a contractor on a project in a distant location, there is always the challenge of issues arising that need to be resolved. From showing pictures or video of a hidden condition on a project, to verifying various aspects of the material finishes, technology has improved RFI (Request for Information) submittal quality.  With the supply chain and lead times being an issue in construction today, the less back and forth conversation to gain understanding and to get to permit, the better!

Coordination Calls with Building Plans Shared on your Screen:  We have had calls with clients, project engineers and contractors where a coordination item needs to be discussed. When using a screen sharing program, we can proceed quickly to show the options and getting the construction documents updated to not delay projects. This also helps to verify dimensions that are vital to laying foundations and where to take penetrations off during a project.

Technology has made coordinating projects easier and less prone to errors including missing data, miscommunication, inconsistent documents, inexperienced personnel, mistakes in resource allocation, etc.  Going from the 2D paper world to the 3D world of a screen share allows for fewer change orders, and better coordination. Something good has come from 2020!

-Alex Schleicher, Architectural Designer and Project Manager

 

Designing Your Food Establishment

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Restaurant design is more than branding and a sign; diners are looking for an authentic dining experience.  To provide such an experience, clarity surrounding your brand and desired atmosphere is a must.  Creating the right experience includes the coordination of architectural design, menu selections, menu layout, marketing, and operations. As an architectural firm, we work with you to deliver the physical design and environment that tells your eatery’s story.  For our discussion example let’s say you are opening a café that is coffee centric, sustainability conscious, and has roots in the French culture.

The Core of the Establishment:

  • The core value of the business should be clear, and repeatedly emphasized so it is recognized by the customer.
  • Often the core is the product provided. For our example the coffee beans would be the core.
  • Try to reiterate the core to consumers through each of the senses.

-Taste: the exceptionalism of the coffee itself

-Sight: Brown hues in the space for the beans and off whites for the foam of drinks.

-Smell: the aroma of freshly ground beans

-Sound: Crushing of beans, the foaming of milk, music to sit and relax by.

-Touch: Warmth, bean resin, coffee grounds

Sustainability Conscious:

      • I have recently traveled to another state that enforces much more detailed recycling guidelines than where I reside. It felt a bit foreign to me, but afterwards I became appreciative of the efforts.  Try to instill this feeling to customers during their time at your establishment by asking them to separate all the items needed to consume your product.
      • If recycling is not the route you would like to convey, look for alternate functional wares. Use cardboard or paper instead or plastic.  Offer in-house ware only.  Suggest reoccurring customers to being their own travel mugs to be filled.
      • Upcycling is a great sustainable practice. Reusing old types of furniture can give life to something old and provide a unique eclectic experience.  If you have a target consumer, say baby boomers.  Reuse wooden desks as table seating that they can relate to from their past.

Roots from a French Culture:

        • If you want the experience to feel like a café in France, provide that. Include outdoor café seating that everyone thinks of when they think of France and cafes.
        • If the French make something slightly different than other cultures offer or are trained in, make it how they would so when someone orders it the taste and technique is accurate to the core of your establishment.
        • If a French café provides something to their consumers with every order (like a mint or cookie) provide one as well.

There are many layers of design to make a business operate successful, and the core of the establishment is always in the forefront of a customer’s experience.  JL Architects has been designing and working alongside restaurant owners for 30 years and can help these design layers equal success. Reach out to see how we can help.

-Nate Houser, Restaurant Designer

So, You Want to Be an Architect?

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As a recent graduate of Jefferson University with a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree, I have started my first job and am progressing toward my goal of becoming a licensed architect*. Many people do not realize that simply graduating college will not make one an architect. In fact, there are a few steps involved post- graduation, and they will take a few extra years to complete.

Here are the Steps:

  1. Graduate from a NAAB accredited architecture program. This can be done through a 5-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree, or a 4-year pre-professional Bachelor of Architecture degree + a 2-year Master of Architecture degree, or a 4-year non architecture degree + a 3-year Master of Architecture degree. Finances and time play a large role in the difference between each of these programs, yet all of them will allow you to start your journey of becoming an architect. I chose a university that offered a 5-year program, as it was more cost effective, and I was anxious to gain hands-on work experience.
  2. Complete the Intern Development Program (IDP) as administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), which requires a minimum of 3,740 professional practice hours across 6 experience areas. Experience areas include practice management, project management, programming & analysis, project planning & design, project development & documentation, and construction & evaluation. These hours can start being recorded as soon as you graduate high school. To get started you must create an account with NCARB, so that you can keep track of your hours. All hours must be supervised by an AXP supervisor or mentor.
  3. Pass the Architect Registration Exam (ARE). This is the last and most important step in becoming an architect. If you have graduated with a professional degree and have completed the experience areas for the Intern Development Program, you can start taking the exam. The exam is divided into 6 separate sections, and tests on topics associated with health, safety, and welfare as it relates to architecture. Taking the ARE requires a lot of practice, experience, and studying. Not all people get it on the first try, and multiple tries take a hit to your wallet, so make sure you are prepared and ready to take the exam.

If you plan to own your own practice, becoming a licensed architect is a must. Obtaining a license will also allow you greater opportunities for professional advancement, and greater earning potential.

Becoming an architect is not easy, but we hope you find the satisfaction and rewards are worth the hard work!

*The steps listed are requirements for Pennsylvania jurisdiction. Visit NCARB.org to see how your state of licensure may differ in terms of requirements.

-Sydney Hitchens, Architectural Designer

Space Planning for the New Workplace

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March of 2020 began a significant period of adjustment for our everyday lives that included working from home, virtual learning, and social distancing. Now, as we go back to in person school and back to the office, we must again adjust to a new way of doing things. COVID is still with us, and distancing guidelines and restrictions still apply. As we work to keep our offices healthy and safe, redesigning your workspace may be a necessity.

What does this mean?

Arranging a workspace to be efficient and productive can be tricky enough – now we need to keep ourselves socially distant while still being able to work together. Conference and meeting rooms are being used less and less in the post-pandemic work force, as they cannot guarantee a safe distance from one another. So, how do you design your space to achieve all these contradictions?

  • Open workspaces – many professions have adapted a studio-like work area. Many of their employees share a large singular room, with desks arranged often in rows or clusters. This is a great start – however, with needing to remain socially distant from one another, this may not be enough. It often takes up a lot of room to create clusters of desks and creates a disjointed path of circulation through the work area.
  • Wipeable/Scrubbable surfaces and dividers – most workstations already adhere to this, but dividers can sometimes be upholstered to give a workspace a pop of color or to break up the monotony of a space.
  • Natural light – more employees are requesting access to natural light. This has been proven to contribute to higher energy levels and health overall. Of course, you may not have the option to add windows to your space. Your designer can work with you to choose the best artificial lighting for your work environment.
  • Conference and Meeting rooms – Do we get rid of these spaces altogether – or dedicate larger spaces to these needs? Many companies have gone to all virtual meetings, while others have restricted the number of people who can be in a space together at a time. This is helpful, but when a project continues to grow, sometimes it is necessary to get the whole team together in one room.

What can we do?

There are plenty of ways to keep your employees healthy and productive while still adhering to the new rules of the world. From space planning an existing space, to fitting out a building, to designing an entire new facility – the possibilities are endless. Architects can design all of these with the following in mind:

  • Open workspaces while keeping socially distant – this may include physical barriers to define space, while keeping the space open to air changes and creative collaboration.
  • Wipeable and Scrubbable surfaces – there are many ways to liven up an office while being able to disinfect the entire area.
  • Natural light – whether you are designing a new facility or retro-fitting an existing space; you need to know the best way to utilize the sunlight you can get. Even in a studio environment where rows or clusters of desks may be used, you can still expose the entire room to light, which leads to more alertness and increased productivity.
  • Conference and Meeting rooms – although unconventional, it is possible to bring the client into the studio for a meeting. A work space can be arranged around a large central conference space, which not only allows people to feel more comfortable out in the open; it also allows a peak into the behind-the scenes of what goes into your work/product.

A proper space plan can do wonders for any office space. With the world changing and being more aware of the spread of germs, we must adapt and evolve. Change is hard and many don’t know where to begin; it is more than just rearranging an office. It is changing the entire way you think about a space. Work environments should be a safe and healthy place for all. To achieve this goal, while maintaining a collaborative feeling, consult with an architect to seamlessly make this evolution to our new work world.

-Stefanie Wiegand, Architectural Designer

The Future of the Suburbs

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Creativity and resourcefulness has always been rewarded and Commercial Real Estate is no exception.  As retail interactions, life, and work change there is no shortage of lemons for lemonade.

The modern history of retail started with the Central Business District, a place filled with the drug store, grocer, doctor and hardware store.  The desire for greater convenience (parking), larger spaces and heightened customer experience led to the shopping center, the mall, and then online shopping. According to Nuveen Real Estate Investments, 78% of online orders involve a physical store.  Retail is not dead, it is simply changed. The complexion of suburban commercial real estate is changing and here are the top 4 reasons:

The desire to go back to an office 100% of the time is limited

  • There are industries where face-to-face is still important; those offices will get larger.  More frequently the hybrid model is taking hold, yet many offices are requiring everyone to be on site on a single day. The result is that those companies will need at least as much space as they did pre-COVID, even if only one day a week.

Retail store counts are decreasing.

  • Large and small, there are store closures due to bankruptcy/contraction (Men’s Warehouse, Kmart) or a new distribution model (Target). That leaves a lot of store space to be filled.

Repurposing and Repositioning

  • As of April 2020, warehouse and industrial leases are up 141%
  • Retail leases are down 47%
  • Office leases are down 17%
  • Decentralized medical services and consolidation of health care providers is up. Hospital Systems are building clinics that are closer to their customers.
  • Retail is downsizing and the 100,000 sf vacancy won’t be filled in the traditional methods. Options to repurpose include warehouse (last mile and mini storage), experiential opportunities, food halls, and medical uses.

Diversity and Stability

  • During the pandemic many retail and restaurant uses were forced to close or reduce accessibility to the point that being open did not make sense.  Medical providers, warehouses, online distribution, grocery and food (restaurant) delivery boomed.  A mix of uses will result in greater stability of rent collection.

One can look at the Exton Mall at the intersection of Routes 30 and 100 in Exton PA for an example of suburban re-purposing. The decline of the Exton Mall had its crossroads searching for an identity and long term plan. The Urban Land Institute in conjunction with West Whiteland Township created a panel (on which I served) to identify the personality that already existed at this prominent crossroad, creating a plan to leverage and manage the redevelopment of the Exton Mall. As a result, Exton’s “Town Center” is becoming a community that includes apartments and townhomes, shopping, eating, healthcare, an entry point to the Chester Valley bike trail, and access to the Exton train station which services both Septa and Amtrak trains.

As experienced in Exton, the mix of uses is a return to the Central Business District model enhanced with large, flexible footprints, opportunities for outdoor congregation and activity space, and ample convenient parking. Turns out, the future of the suburbs is a return to the past in convenience and diversity upgraded to the fill the need for entertainment and experience.

-John Lister, Principal of JL Architects