A gifted storyteller communicating the role and value of architecture to a new audience, host Bob Borson uses the experiences acquired over a 25-year career to inform his podcast. A small firm owner, architect, and college design instructor, co-host Andrew Hawkins brings his insight from his 20 years in various roles within the profession. It responds to the public curiosity and common misunderstanding about what architects do and how it is relevant to people’s lives, engaging a wide demogra ...
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It is time for the second and last installment of the Life of an Architect “Ask the Show” episode for 2024. Once again, as is our practice we solicited questions to be submitted through our Instagram channels and selected as many as we thought we could reasonably get through in the time allocated for the show. If there were duplications, that simpl…
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For architects, todays post is a analysis of why you want to use an iPad and what applications are worth your consideration and money.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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You sit down at your desk, you turn your computer on, maybe you sharpen your pencils, you lay out your rolls of trace and your sharpie pens – whatever your creative process - and you are about to start work solving the problems at hand … But where do you start? Sitting before you are all the normal tools and a big fat blank piece of paper. This is …
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We are discussing residential projects that focus on incorporating high value building science techniques with guest Steven Baczek.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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The vast majority of practicing architects view the time spent practicing their craft as a calling, but what happens when you don’t want to get out of bed? Today we discuss the role of "optimism" in architecture.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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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 t…
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Inspiration can come from many different sources - but can you actively seek it out when you are feeling like you are in a dry spell?By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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When you are starting a new job, even you very first job, here are some tips that might make the transition a bit easier and potentially, more fruitful.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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We are finally conceding to a request that’s been made a thousand times – do an episode on starting an architectural business – a topic that I have resisted for essentially 6 years, and I think I’ve finally broken. This is not as easy of a topic to discuss as you might think because there are a million different ways you could answer a question thi…
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So here we are ... Episode 150, and I am a little surprised that I made it this far into this Life of an Architect experiment, but due to the support and interest we have received over the last 6 years, we find ourselves as what I believe to be a fairly significant milestone. When it came time to pick today’s subject matter, there was really on one…
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This will be the 5th time in 5,209 days that I have put my opinions about taking on extra work outside of your normal job and typically during ridiculous hours of the day and night. This practice has come to be known as “moonlighting” and depending on your age and where you are at in your career, it is either the light at the end of the tunnel or a…
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Ep 148: Meetings are a Waste of Time
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You check the time and realize that you have 4 minutes before your next meeting. Maybe it’s an internal meeting, maybe clients are coming in. Is it in person or online? Depending on how you answer those questions, time to start scrambling so that you are where you need to be and have the information required to make this meeting a good use of your …
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How good do you need to be at drawing if you want to become an architect? Or … How can I be an architect – I can’t draw? Is there an easy answer to these questions? Of course there is, but that doesn’t mean the getting is easy.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Tracking productivity, Bucket list vacation, Leadership styles, and Learning how to Draw Details ... We answer these questions and more today on Ep 146: Ask the Show Spring 2024By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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If you have ever wondered what Delegated Design and Design Assist mean and how the distinction between the two could impact you and your liability and responsibility then this is a good resource of information as we break it down and discuss it in fairly simple terms.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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From a design standpoint, some things are just cooler than other things – and these things don’t need to be justified to anyone because people either understand it or they don’t … but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an interesting and amazing story behind these objects that might contribute to their coolness in a meaningful way. Today Andrew and I ea…
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EP 143: Architectural Drawings: Excessive or Essential
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The episode "Architectural Drawings: Excessive or Essential" will focus on drawings and the question that first comes to mind is to talk about what we draw, why we draw it, and who we draw it for and why that impacts all other considerationsBy Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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In Episode 142: When I Grow Up, Andrew and I discuss how things take place that divert you from your expected path as you move through your career. It's a natural evolution to move into new roles and responsibilities that break the idea you have for yourself when you decided to chart your future.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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As the end of the 2023 season comes to an end, Life of an Architect looks at Fan Favorite Episodes, the Blog posts, and the graphics created to support the topics.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Ep 140: Communicating Through Drawings
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Drawings have always played a role in the process of study and discussion of what we do and why we do it. Today we are going to look at the different forms of drawing and talk about when they are used and how we align these different drawing types and the messages they convey as we discuss "Communicating Through Drawings"…
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Ep 139: Holiday Gift Guide for Architects
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It’s almost that gift-giving time of the year and if you have an architect in your life, you know that getting them a gift is potentially the most agonizing experience possible - but that’s why we’re here. Now in its 14th consecutive year, Welcome to Episode 139 Holiday Gift Guide for Architects 2023!…
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Ep 138: Is Architecture School Broken pt. 2
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Are students graduating from architecture school prepared for the profession? Is the educational system aligned with the workplace? What is the best software to teach students? Can we all just get along? We started this exploration of the idea that Architecture School may need some modifications in Episode 137. The system needs to change to provide…
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Ep 137: Is Architecture School Broken pt. 1
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The architectural education system hasn't been around for that long, yet it has it's issues and concerns. So that leads us to ask the question... Is Architecture School Broken? Join us for Part One of the conversation in Episode 137. We discuss the short history of arch edu, some common concerns with the system, and the shortcomings of the studio-b…
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What is the difference between Leadership and Management – there is definitely some overlap, but the key distinction lies in … wait, you thought I was going to tell you in the opening? It’s going to take some time to talk through those distinctions before we get there …Welcome to EP 136: Leadership vs. Management[Note: If you are reading this via e…
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It was podcast Episode 130: Employee Evaluations, and Andrew and I were discussing the process and criteria used to assess and measure an individual employee’s performance when we made the point that there would be value in creating a process where upward evaluations could be implemented, one that allowed the employee to share their thoughts and op…
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Today we are talking about firm management – but at a fairly introductory level so that we can focus on a broad range of considerations that are applicable to a broader range of individuals who are transitioning into management roles.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Management transition, Where to start a design, the Role of Artificial Intelligence in architecture, and What Cocktail Should Architects drink ... We answer your questions today on Ep 133: Ask the Show. Fall 2023By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Ep 132: Starting Architecture School Part 2
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You have made the decision where to study architecture. You've chosen the architecture school and your degree path. So now what? How much work is this going to be? How much will this cost? We covered some issues in Part 1, and now we will finish the monumental task of summarizing what it's like to start architecture school.…
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Ep 131: Starting Architecture School Part 1
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So you are thinking about starting architecture school or looking to study architecture. Well, no matter your situation; we’ve got you covered today with all the introductory info in Episode 131: Starting Architecture School Part 1.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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In this episode we discuss the role that structured and organized employee evaluations have a valuable role to play in the process of evaluating the role that employees fill in any office environmentBy Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Historically, modern trends in the AEC industry do not provide for buildings with a longer life span. In 'Built to Last' we will discuss ways to improve the lifespan of buildings through mitigating various aspects of impact on the built environment.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Focus is a subject matter that warrants revisited attention from each of us as it is something that is in a constant state of change and in need of improvement.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Do architects have a responsibility to acknowledge the time, place and style of architecture they design? How does form based zoning figure into this? Context and Design are the topics we are exploring in today's episode.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Almost 4 years to the day and 100 episodes later, Andrew and I are going to go through an architectural bucket list of people places, and things. I don’t know what Andrew has in mind but I’m feeling that my list will inspire you and change your life…By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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How do you define a great employee? The answer is most likely dependent on who is attempting to respond, the employee or the employer. I will concede that I have told previous employers that I would be the best employee they have ever had. And I actually meant it when I said it. Did it happen? I like to think so; at least once or twice, but it’s no…
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In Ep 124: Show Me the Money, we discuss the current architectural marketplace, where we can find value, what’s the going salary rate based on skill set and experience, and how badly we need this spot or that spot filled. Understanding your value involves a lot of variables and this will help you set your own priorities when making a decision on yo…
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EP 123: Interviews Just Aren’t that Hard
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You’re about to graduate from architecture school, or maybe you already have a job, and you’re just simply looking for a change. Going through interviews is part of the sequence of getting a new job, and there are some things that are worth knowing before you step into the room.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Ep 122: Architecture and Artificial Intelligence
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Even though artificial intelligence can conceptually trace its roots back to the 1950s, the reality is AI and Machine learning went mainstream not too long ago, but what does this mean to the profession of architecture?By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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When you think of a building – whatever scale or project type, the items that go to create that building are most frequently associated with the materials that are selected that define the appearance of the building. Brick, glass, wood, and metal are all great choices – but the decision on what to clad your project in goes a long way towards decidi…
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Deficiencies of the Architectural Profession? Best non-architecture source for creative inspiration? When are you going to retire? We answer questions and more on Ep 120: Ask the Show - Spring 2023By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes on the Life of an Architect podcast. In today's episode, we cover some changes that we think you will find amazing and some other changes that might merely be incredible. We are pulling the curtains back and discussing 2023 in a way that we've never done before.…
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Getting a job as an architectural intern is important, it is critical to gain an understanding of what type of firm and what sort of projects you will want to work on as a practicing architect. Welcome to Episode 118: Architectural Interns.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Architects still communicate their designs through the use of graphics – and there are a lot of techniques that are up for consideration ... these are Graphic Matters.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Does the architectural profession expect more time out of its employees compared to any other highly educated service provider? Architects do seem to romanticize the amount of time and effort that goes into our craft, but are we actually a workaholic?By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Architecture is not a trade, it’s a craft … and since this suggests that time and evolution are a consideration to development, it also suggests that architects don’t always get it right. Today we are discussing Architects and "The Art of Getting it Wrong"By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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114: Holiday Gift Guide for Architects (2022)
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For the 13th consecutive year, Life of an Architect presents THE definitive holiday gift guide for architects.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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The design of an Architect's office presents a unique opportunity to address design culture while providing an opportunity to show off your creative side.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Ep 112: Final Presentations in Architecture School
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We are talking about "Final Presentations in Architecture School" today as we review what that process looks like, how to prepare, and discuss what really matters.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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Ep 111: Talking Shop with Kevin Rice
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In this episode of our Talking Shop series. we are joined by Kevin Rice of Diller Scofidio + Renfro and we discuss careers, office culture, and architecture.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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We are starting a design exercise called the "Modern Home Challenge" with the intent to go through a design process that would help us understand how to design a modern house that people could afford and would actually want to live in.By Bob Borson and Andrew Hawkins
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