For those of you who started your own firm: What made you decide to step out on your own? Any advice for those thinking about doing the same? Just to be clear - I am NOT thinking about doing this. I'm just curious to hear the stories and experience of others.   ..read more

Wondering what the community's thoughts were about doing pro-bono work but NOT stamping. I know this topic's been discussed before and the consensus was mixed: sketches was the line for some while drawings w/o stamp for the line for others. Technically, every document we produce is our instrument of service and the liability is solely on the professional so what would liability mean w/ or w/o stamp in this case? I know none of us are lawyers but maybe there are some helpful anecdotes here ..read more

I have a project need find a drafter for the shop drawings of a floating stair. My structural engineer can review and sign the drawing, but he is can't draft. Where can I find a drafter? I also want to know, in general, where can we find drafter even for architectural drawings. I am a licensed architect, sometimes I do need find someone draw for me to speed things up. Thanks ..read more

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I'm an architect looking to join a firm which would like to use my license to stamp drawings. I'm looking for some kind of legally binding document which will hold me not liable for any claims brought against projects which use my license. The owner of the firm has liability insurance and the agent has stated in an email that I won’t be held liable ever. What should I do ..read more

Curious to know people's opinion on using Upcodes rather than the free ICC version of the applicable codes for your jurisdiction.  I can understand the benefits of using Upcodes, but am not comfortable with trusting anything but the source for code information. Thoughts ..read more

My daughter has narrowed down her choices, but is having a hard time deciding between University of Michigan and University of Tennessee to pursue her Master of Architecture degree in the fall. She is graduating in a couple of weeks from Central Michigan University, after 4 years of being a track & field athlete, with her Bachelor of Interior Design and Real Estate Development & Finance. Does anyone have any recommendations on which school would be better for her to get her Architecture Masters degree from? She fell in love the the campus at University of Tennessee, but keeps going bac ..read more

What was architectural school before the advent of computers? What has changed since then? And what is its future ..read more

This is technically an *interior* architect question, but I've been having trouble finding many forums just for that field. Hoping someone may be able to help me here. I graduated in 2019 in the US with a BFA in interior architecture, but have forgotten a lot of the technical skills/software/building code info I learned in college. I've spent the last 5 years working at a boutique residential design firm and feel really stuck. There's no upward trajectory here and it never feels like I'm doing meaningful work. It's the only job I've ever had since graduating, so my experience is really li ..read more

Hi everyone! I got my interior design (specializing in urban environments) from an Australian university about a decade ago. Since then, I have been working in my home country (east asia) as an interior designer in multiple firms where I worked closely with architects and designers alike. I would like to pivot my career to the architectural realm. I really feel confident that I have the skills to do so. Thing is, I now have a green card (through lottery :)) and want to immigrate to the US too. I have close to 0 idea how the architecture industry works in US; but from the little i gathered, we ..read more