Bob Borson, FAIA | Jul 1, 2024

Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 154: Networking

Today we are tackling a topic that we have never covered before, not even a little. Imagine walking into a crowded room and not knowing who to talk to or what to say, a situation I have found myself uncomfortably in more times that my therapist can ignore. The ability to build meaningful relationships and strategic alliances is a critical part of the success of any business. Today, Andrew and I will discuss a topic that at least from my side of things, have zero training in but is nonetheless a part of my job description and responsibilities in the office. Time to have a frank conversation about the indispensable practice of turning professional interactions into valuable assets. Welcome to EP 154: Networking.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Sep 28, 2020

Architectural Visualization with Alex Hogrefe

Do you have architectural visualization skills? Maybe you’re asking yourself, “What does that even mean?” Well, you are in luck because this episode is dedicated to discussing all things related to architectural visualization and graphics.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Sep 14, 2020

Talking Shop with Building Science Fight Club

Understanding the physical behavior of the building as a system and how it impacts the energy efficiency, durability, comfort, and indoor air quality is pivotal in the creation of high-performance buildings. What does this actually mean? It means we are talking Building Science Fight Club.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Aug 31, 2020

Renovating your House

Leaving your mark on the place where you live is built into the DNA of most architects and designers. This can manifest itself in many different ways, but for many of us, working on the place where we live is the most obvious choice.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Aug 17, 2020

Starting a Design Firm

In today’s episode, we are talking about starting your own design firm—something that I think every architect walking the planet has thought about at various times throughout their career. I know I have. Episode sponsor: Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings

Bob Borson, FAIA | Aug 3, 2020

Scale This!

How does scale factor into the practice of architecture? For any architect, scale and proportion are two skills that appear to be the most challenging to master. Scale and proportion are also where a good architect makes their living.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jul 20, 2020

Leadership

What exactly is leadership and what does it mean to be a leader? Leadership is thrust upon those who, through the strength of conviction and moral character, lead through personal example.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jul 6, 2020

Culture of Design

Do you have a design culture in your office? Why is it that some firms have it and others don’t? A culture of design isn’t something that just happens. There has to be a plan, it needs to be cultivated, and even then, without the right sort of people in place, you might be fighting an uphill battle. Episode sponsor: Sherwin-Williams

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jun 22, 2020

Architectural Tools

All this working from home has made me rethink the tools that I need to effectively do my job. While we all have different roles and responsibilities, Andrew Hawkins, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, and I put together a few items that we just couldn't live without. I bet a few of these items would be on your list as well. Episode sponsor: BQE Software

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jun 17, 2020

Style over Substance

We are all familiar with the phrase “style over substance,” but those words might mean something else to architects. If I were to look at a project and describe it with this particular phrase, there is no question that this would reflect a negative opinion. But is it unnecessarily harsh, or does it have a place in any conversation where architecture is discussed? Let’s find out in today’s episode.

Bob Borson, FAIA | May 26, 2020

Talking Shop with Marlon Blackwell

We have a special guest, Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, on the podcast. If you are not intimately familiar with his work, I am excited to be in a position to share it with you. I first met Marlon almost 30 years ago, just as his career started to take off. Episode sponsor: PAC-CLAD by Petersen Aluminum

Bob Borson, FAIA | May 14, 2020

Objects of Design

For every architect and designer, there are objects out there that resonate for them in a profound manner and can even shape their design philosophies. These can be buildings, products – even materials – but no matter what you call them, they are “Objects of Design.”

Bob Borson, FAIA | Apr 27, 2020

Big Design, Small Details

Just about every architect worth their measure develops a design process that works for them - it’s almost like a fingerprint, it’s that unique. In today’s episode, Andrew and I are going to talk about design, and we are going to do it in a manner that’s proper to the sort of design conversation that you might hear if you were sitting next to two architects at a bar. Episode sponsor: Sierra Pacific Windows

Bob Borson, FAIA | Apr 13, 2020

Apps for Architects

Architects are using technology more and more, and with each passing day, more of this technology is available from the comforts of your cellphone or smart tablet. Are there applications out there that you should know about? Of course there are! In episode 47, Apps for Architects, we are talking about mobile applications that allow architects to do their jobs while on the go. Episode sponsor: BQE Software

Bob Borson, FAIA | Mar 30, 2020

Working from home

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, business as usual is anything but. Andrew and I felt like we should interrupt our regularly scheduled podcast to take some time and talk about working from home—something that we all are going to have to deal with for the foreseeable future.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Mar 20, 2020

Documenting Architecture

So you're sitting at your desk, you’ve got your project up on the monitor and you are in the zone and crushing it, but what does that even look like? The process of preparing drawings has evolved from “What do we need to do?” to “What can’t we do?” In today’s episode, we are going to talk about documenting architecture best practices in what is essentially creating the graphic instruction manual of constructing a building.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Mar 2, 2020

Architectural Technology

Architectural technology is changing how architects work, and what’s "in" today might be irrelevant by next week—but ignore these developments at your own peril. Even for your average, run-of-the-mill architect, technology is a way of life. But despite knowing this information, I am frequently amazed by just how amazing technology actually is and the role it plays daily in my work and my office. Episode sponsor: BQE Software

Bob Borson, FAIA | Feb 17, 2020

Inside the Firm

So you’ve graduated from architecture school and received a university degree in architecture—so what happens next? What exactly does an architect do? What if you don’t want to be a designer, maybe you have interests in how buildings are detailed and built, the selection of materials and finishes, firm management... so many directions you could go. Today we are going to talk about a bunch of them and take you Inside the Firm! Episode sponsor: BQE Software

Bob Borson, FAIA | Feb 3, 2020

Mentorship

Finding the right sort of person who can help guide you through the various stages of your career can be incredibly valuable and beneficial. Today, Andrew and I are talking about mentorship and what that means, what can make it great, why it doesn’t necessarily work, what you can do so that you might actually benefit from the experience, and what sort of relationship can make a mentor a great fit for you. Episode sponsor: PAC-CLAD by Petersen

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jan 20, 2020

Talking Shop With Omar Gandhi

Today is a special episode because we are sitting down with my very close and personal friend, even though we have never actually met, Canadian architectural rock star Omar Gandhi.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jan 6, 2020

Changing Jobs

Changing jobs is exciting and terrifying at the same time, particularly if you are making a drastic change either in the type of work or the size of the firm–something I am experiencing at the moment. Today, we are talking about changing jobs, a topic that seems somewhat fitting given that it is the first podcast episode of 2020 and both Andrew and I have changed jobs.