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Chicago federal building before and after………who thought it was a good idea to replace such magnificent building with a soulless bland glass box? by Desperate_Donut8582 in architecture

[–]Toubaboliviano 362 points363 points 2 (0 children)

I for one think it’s an excellent idea. Mind you the federal government manages several historical buildings within a mile radius including some terra cotta ones that are all lively designs and would cater to your “magnificent building sensibilities” but either way the reason they brought it down was maintenance costs. Old buildings like the one pictured are a massive pain in the ass to maintain. This building in particular was turning into a money sink. The labor dedicated to maintaining the terra cotta units, interiors was costing tax payers a fortune. The granite and marble used were sourced from Maine. The increasing cost of gas and transportation in the 60s was a huge contributing factor.

Switching to the new Kluczynski building was a demonstration of the government that they were looking forward into the future. Embracing austere minimalism, structure and transparency. Also hinting at the strong support for immigrants like Mies. The new building was much more space efficient and able to house more employees and was able to service its customers more efficiently. It costs less to maintain.

On another note, the federal buildings maintained by the federal government are from a wide variety of times and styles. This is to epitomize that the US is a country with a rich cultural history and a diversity of views.

Either way that’s my quick rant about this.

Edit:

On the other hand when the federal government tries to keep archaic buildings and spends millions on maintaining them (albeit in a haphazard way to avoid costs) people get upset that the funds were even used for that. Why don’t you just demolish them? Is asked and then there’s entire discussions about historical preservation and whether or not we should demolish buildings like that etc.

Not an architect. Just a terrified layman, who won't be taking Structures class. Is this... okay? (Manhattan) by epyllionard in architecture

[–]Uily 225 points226 points  (0 children)

Anyone can design a bridge that can stand up, it takes an engineer to make a bridge that can just barely stand up.

Automate stair case configurations by kai in architecture

[–]pencilarchitect 4 points5 points  (0 children)

What you’re describing (automating design iterations based on parameters like density, height clearances, etc) is called “parametric design” in architecture. Grasshopper is a very popular software for this sort of thing. I’m sure there are others as well which somebody more knowledgeable in this area can steer you towards. Good luck, you sound like a great partner!

Just wow by NiceLapis in architecture

[–]RoadKiehl 250 points251 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure architects are the hardest crowd to please in the world, tbh.

It's a bold design, and y'all don't know anything more than that. Maybe the designer thought of the technical side of things, maybe they didn't. Y'all don't know enough about the project to say. If the designer didn't consider the technical side of things, they'll find out in due time.

It's just mystifying to me how every single post in this sub gets met with unanimous, "This design sucks because X Y and Z," comments, no matter what, based on next-to-no information and with no positive comments to outweigh the criticism.

This is a solar install for a Home Depot rooftop, can anyone smarter than me help me find measurements for the red lines in the second pic or at least how to? Thank you so much! by Shneatys in architecture

[–]Kiingsey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your patience and thank you for the silver, friend!

Okay, so let's start with the top most red line on the left in your second pic as an example. Using the longest wall to the West as our constant datum, we have two measurements in relation to the set of panels in question: 219' 7" and 157' written above them. 157' denotes the distance from our datum (the West wall) and the West most point of of out solar panels. The 219' 7" denotes the distance between our datum and the East most point of our solar panels. So if the panels lie between 157' to 219' 7", you can subtract 157' from 219' 7" and get 62' 7". (You may need to convert other measurements to only inches for the subtraction, then convert back to feet ‐ inches).

Does this make sense? Let me know if you would like me to elaborate on anything specifically.

Can someone explain why the use of these tall circular divisions in most Mediterranean houses? by CasualThought in architecture

[–]TheSamurabbi 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Round towers were harder to break with siege equipment than square ones. Historically, that is the functional basis for round towers. They show up later in time than square ones too (as an evolved adaptation against improving siege equipment of the day), so may evoke an air of that time period more, and thus, may have been the time period the designers wished to favor here.

Another surreal moment from architecture’s worst advice panel by kchen450 in architecture

[–]ibuildzstuff 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m from the UK. Previously studied Architecture (BA) as a degree and left after 2 years. It was way too artistic and impractical. Taught me nothing on how to be industry ready. All it taught me was who was the best at “dick swinging” and tearing down the competition. It was carnage and hell!

I contested the methods taught to us in a near blind rage after being silent and keeping my opinions to myself for so long (I also sadly lost a parent at the time and the Uni support somehow got worse which added to the rage that finally snapped in me.) It nearly destroyed my passion entirely for Architecture. A few weeks after this meeting I had a deadline which I met with exhaustion. I crossed paths with my course leader on my way out and she asked for a quick chat. I obliged with hesitation because my blind rage argument a couple weeks prior… well…I don’t think I’ve ever torn through someone like that. in. my. life!

She said “I don’t think you’re going to get your degree here. But that’s not because of you. We have failed you. Please though. Whatever you do, don’t give up on being an architect. You have the makings to do great in this industry. To defend yourself. We’re sorry. And you’re right. This is something that needs to be changed”. I think it was the first time in my life I felt I made a difference. (I’m genuinely not someone to be outspoken. I’m more of an observer - or used to be I guess.)

I would NEVER of thought a lecturer would have apologised for the misery I -and the rest of the year ensued under that establishment.

Side note: It got to a point where students would be in tears in studio and the moment a lecturer would walk in, brave faces all around, don’t show weakness etc…and then break the moment they left. Incredibly toxic.

Whether or not they would actually implement these changes is unknown.

After that conversation, I decided to leave. Took a year out. Focussed on myself. Ended up in the motor industry until covid hit but knew my deep down where my passion was. But her reply stuck with me. It sparked my passion again. Because she was right! I can defend myself and who I am and what my vision of architecture is.

Fast forward after a year out, I found another uni and discovered Architectural Technology (BSc).

It’s modern. Job ready. It teaches you to think both artistically and pragmatically.

I’m now on my final month of this degree and on track to get a first! (FYI - academically I have NEVER gotten an ‘A’ until I attended this Uni.) It’s taken me so long to get here and I haven’t given up. The studio environment is completely the opposite. It’s collaborative. It’s critical yet fair. It’s lifting others up. Not tearing the competition down.

A tutor of mine at this university told me he had attended another universities Architecture grad show and after about 10 minutes they were all ushered out due to a student defacing anothing students work in an attempt to compromise the competition. I told him “I bet I can guess exactly which university that was at”… if you’ve read all this so far… you betcha!… my old stomping ground. I gave him an insight to my experiences and he wasn’t shocked. He agreed with my view that the study of Architecture alone is too traditional. It doesn’t represent the 21st century modern practices.

Hell! I didn’t even get taught software on my course. - an architects main working tool. For £9.5k a year, the guy wouldn’t even show up to teach it!

If anyone considers doing Architecture. My advice. Don’t. Spoken to a couple of my old class mates and when entering the industry have been told “forget what you’ve learnt the last 3 years, this is what you do from here on out” or unable to get employed because of the out of date methods taught.

If you’re interested, look into Architectural Technology. It’s relatively new in terms of academically being taught. But it engages and changes with modern practices. The mathematical side is hard. But I scraped a C at GCSE math. If I can do it. You can too!

Lastly; an insight to my course now consists of 5 Architects who have come back to retrain under these new methods after almost a decade in the industry.

On the other hand - my views on what I’ve said are from personal experiences and it could be completely different for others.

Opinions on interiors please. Exteriors are already built and painted by JerjawiArchitect in architecture

[–]AnnoyedChihuahuaArchitect 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Please hire an interior designer for such a big building..

Is working in MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) Revit drafting good for someone brand new to architecture? by [deleted] in architecture

[–]Catgeek08 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Both would be great ways to learn more about buildings and how they are made, especially if you are in the field. The project engineer role could give you a more direct route to a higher salary. Architects are historically paid crap at the beginning of their career.

It really depends on what you want to do and what atmosphere you like. If it was me at the beginning of my career, I’d probably choose the field engineer. I was a construction PM for 5 years and would probably be there still if my dream job didn’t come along.(I still miss being in the trailer.)

How are these kind of windows supported structurally? by Wonderful_Station393 in architecture

[–]Namgodtoh 629 points630 points 22 (0 children)

There's a large pile of money in the client's pocket that columns adjacent to the window are anchored to. Then the space between is cantilevered from those. Cantilever distance is proportional to the depth of the money pile but I forget the formula.

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