Architizer

MAY 7, 2024

Crafting a well-defined business strategy is crucial for the success of any business, architecture firms included, but according to the most recent AIA Business Survey Report in 2022, only 26% of small firms, 40% of medium-sized firms, and 71% of large firms have one written down. So, where do you start?

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Visualization Architect Firms Diagram 78

EntreArchitect

JANUARY 30, 2018

My firm does it differently than the rest. Before we design, before we sketch our first line, we perform a process of information gathering that involves a questionnaire, photo collecting and a collaborative programming meeting. We are expected to know the codes and technical details required to construct safe and healthy buildings.

Architect 52

Architect Small Firm Sketching Clients 52

EntreArchitect

NOVEMBER 24, 2014

I look at my kids today and remember myself at that age spending hours and hours sketching scenes of what my life would one day become. Many of those pencil sketched dreamscapes remain pinned to those “gallery” walls today, yellow and stained with age. When Annmarie and I launched our small firm in 1999, I had big dreams then as well.

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Small Firm Sketching Mining Firms 40

EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 22, 2014

In autumn, as the leaves begin to fall, Annmarie starts to sketch ideas and images, releasing the scenes and characters that have been living in her head since last Christmas… Watch the video above for the rest of the story. We send it to our family, and friends, neighbors, contractors and clients.

Small Firm 40

Small Firm Sketching Contractor Clients 40

EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 15, 2014

This past Friday, December 12th was the second anniversary of relaunching Entrepreneur Architect as a resource to inspire small firm architects to build better businesses. Throughout the past 24 months, I have shared most everything I know about running a small firm architecture studio. I have held nothing back.

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Small Firm Architect Firms Sketching 52

Life of an Architect

NOVEMBER 30, 2014

6:45am I had to sketch out a quick graphic image for my annual “ What to Get an Architect for Christmas ” post. A Christmas ornament seemed Christmas-y enough so I sketched it up, took a picture of it with my phone, brought it into Photoshop where I added some color, and then *BOOM* … the graphic was created.

Architect 94

Architect Sketching Small Firm Client 94

EntreArchitect

MARCH 24, 2007

That something is “how we do it” My firm does it differently than the rest. Before we design, before we sketch our first line, we perform a process of information gathering that involves a questionnaire, photo collecting and a collaborative programming meeting. Clients see us as all the same. But it’s not.

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IT Small Firm Sketching Clients 40

EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014

Have you ever experienced the joy that our clients express when we pull out a roll of trace and sketch our ideas, right there on the table in front of them? Ever since sketching out those original plans for my private loft hide-away, I’ve been using my skills in hand drawing to persuade and convince. I loved that room.

Architecture Firm 40

Architecture Firm Firms Sketching Architecture 40

EntreArchitect

MARCH 7, 2021

In the coming age of universal transparency, architects either communicate with non-architects or they sketch in isolation on their devices to amuse themselves (and show other architects) while they earn a living doing other things. Only humans build buildings, and humans created AI. We need to walk the talk.

Architecture 52

Architecture Technology Technology Small Firm 52

EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 15, 2015

We can’t complete any projects without a firm and its tough to start a firm without any projects. How do we start a new firm without a project portfolio full of pretty pictures? Use photos of you, of your designs, your sketches, your studio and the world around you. Who are you serving? Where did you learn your skills?

Architecture Firm 52

Architecture Firm Firms Architecture Clients 52

EntreArchitect

MAY 9, 2021

Every potential client who architects serve under 40 has created a software derived sketch. The post Architectural Education Will Change Because The Way Architects Work Will Change appeared first on EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects. Its silly to say “Change.” Here are my thoughts.

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Education Architect Architecture Architecture School 52

EntreArchitect

APRIL 6, 2014

The first step, before you ever put your pen to sketch paper, is to know what your client is looking for. If preparing initial schematic sketches will take two weeks to complete, promise a meeting at four weeks and deliver them in two. Hang a shingle, wait for the phone to ring and you’re in business. Step 1: Listen Carefully.

Clients 52

Clients Client Sketching Small Firm 52

EntreArchitect

FEBRUARY 1, 2015

Running a small firm requires you to play many different roles. Even if she drew what I sketched, my colleague would have no understanding of it. ” In this case, I started with inadequate scaffolding: “something like this,” referring to a loose sketch. Develop Your Staff… Everyday.

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Sketching Firms Small Firm Education 40

EntreArchitect

MARCH 20, 2018

If we were employed by a larger firm, we would never have the flexibility or the freedom that we so cherish. Yes, architecture is a tough, tough profession… and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve chosen this life. We’re entrepreneur architects. Did we make the right decision? That is what I would write.

Small Firm 52

Small Firm Firms Mining Inspiration 52

EntreArchitect

JULY 25, 2021

The truth is that advancement through the profession, even in later stages, is slower than in many other fields. This post, written from the perspective of an early-stage architect, tries to explain why this issue exists and how it can be overcome. To support this claim, the average age of the Pritzker prize winner (as of 2021) is 64 years old.

Technology 52

Technology Technology Information Structure 52

EntreArchitect

JUNE 6, 2017

The work involved in setting up your design firm can be overwhelming and 99% of it was never taught to you in school. This book is one of my favorites as it touches upon all reaches of a design practice and how to make your unique firm the best it can be. There is a reason I am starting here and not with design. It is no surprise why.

Architect 52

Architect Sketching Firms Client 52

EntreArchitect

JUNE 26, 2018

You are listening to EntreArchitect podcast, so that makes you a member of our dedicated community of small firm architects. Freshbooks, the cloud based accounting software that makes running your small firm easy, fast and secure. Gusto is making payroll benefits and HR easy for small businesses. Start Transcript.

Firms 52

Firms Small Firm Mining Housing 52

EntreArchitect

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Listen to the podcast , subscribe to the newsletter and return back here to the blog each week for more information on how to generate more sales for your small firm by creating long-term value from your clients, markets, and relationships. All this month at EntreArchitect, we’ll be focusing on Business Development. Make a Plan.

Development 52

Development Developer Architect Firms 52

EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 22, 2012

Every October, my lovely wife and architect business partner, Annmarie McCarthy, starts sketching out the Fivecat Christmas greeting card. Financially, 2012 has been the absolute worst year in the history of Fivecat Studio … but because of the crisis, we shifted gears, restructured the firm and became more efficient at what we do.

Small Firm 40

Small Firm Sketching Inspiration Firms 40

EntreArchitect

APRIL 25, 2017

Sharing Architecture With Kids. If you’re anything like me, my guess is that you loved your time in architecture school. What’s not to love? You get to use your talents and develop it with loose abandon, explore your interests and learn all about design and architecture – one of the coolest fields in the world. What’s not to love? Am I right?

Architecture 52

Architecture Architecture School Client Clients 52

EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 26, 2017

The innovative ideas and concepts we create can often only be born after hours (sometimes days) of intense thought and several dozen layers of sketch paper. Every business, including architecture firms (yes, its true!), Most sole practitioners and small firms I know struggle to meet the minimum requirements of operation.

Architect 52

Architect Clients Client Insurance 52

EntreArchitect

APRIL 13, 2015

If you have questions about “the cloud”, backups, apps or software for architects in general, I invite you to contact him directly at peter@archisnapper.com. Get Your Head in the Cloud. You have heard much about “the cloud” already, but you don’t really know what that cloud is or how it can help your architecture business.

Small Firm 52

Small Firm Management Client Clients 52

EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015

Please leave a comment at the end of the article and share your thoughts with the author and other readers. nosce te ipsum: know thyself. Within the last year, podcasts have integrated their way into my schedule almost as effortlessly as a child learns to walk. That was not incorrect but it is a lot more than what it seemed in the beginning.

Deconstruction 52

Deconstruction Architecture Student Small Firm Sketching 52

EntreArchitect

JANUARY 2, 2018

I’ve shared articles at this blog in the past on how much it may cost to start your own firm and how Annmarie and I launched Fivecat Studio with no clients and very little money. Starting a firm from scratch is not easy. Once you have committed to taking action toward launching your own firm, write a plan and use it as your guide.

Architecture Firm 52

Architecture Firm Firms Architecture Clients 52

EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 29, 2013

Now I know it is not the “best” app for sketching. Without a doubt this one gets the most mileage out of me. It is a very simple app that replaces your notebook, sketchbook and scratch paper all in one simple package. But I find it a highly useful all around replacement for pen and paper. I find its best to use with a stylus.

Architect 40

Architect Small Firm Sketching Firms 40

EntreArchitect

FEBRUARY 19, 2013

Steve is the creator of ArchiOffice ® the leading office, project management and time tracking software used in more than 1,000 small and mid-sized architectural firms. Financial Management for the Small Architectural Firm: Putting it into Practice. The day-to-day things that really need to happen in your small firm.

Architect 52

Architect Contract Management Firms 52

Life of an Architect

APRIL 10, 2016

The practice of architecture is more than sketching on trace paper, parti diagrams, deciding what pens to draw with, groupies, and last-minute trips to Vegas. That’s sounds like I think my office is the best place in the world to work. The Not so Sexy Side of Architecture Practicing architecture for 99.9% Why Should You Read This?

Architect 76

Architect Architecture School Firms Architecture Student 76

EntreArchitect

MAY 11, 2015

For a long time I was an architect who held the idea of opening a design practice as a sacred notion, one that I kept like a trophy on a shelf, picking it up occasionally and dusting it off. Discussing the idea with friends or family was much easier than executing or delivering on the promise. Probably next year.”. Sound familiar?

Clients 52

Clients Client Small Firm Sketching 52

EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 16, 2012

The innovative ideas and concepts we create can often only be born after hours (sometimes days) of intense thought and several dozen layers of sketch paper. Every business, including architecture firms (yes, its true!), Most sole proprietors and small firms I know, struggle to meet the minimum requirements of operation.

Architect 52

Architect Clients Client Insurance 52

EntreArchitect

OCTOBER 6, 2013

I’ve shared articles on how much it may cost to start your own firm and how Annmarie and I launched Fivecat Studio with no clients and very little money. Starting a firm from scratch is not easy. Once you have committed to taking action toward launching your own firm, write a plan and use it as your guide. Make a Plan.

Client 52

Client Clients Architecture Firms 52

EntreArchitect

MARCH 24, 2013

For the past twelve weeks, we’ve explored every element required for a successful architecture firm. I’ve been continuously improving my firm’s project management system since we launched in 1999. Every firm, with any experience, has many of these processes already in place.

Management 52

Management Project Schematic Design Architect 52

EntreArchitect

APRIL 10, 2018

Almost 40 tips for Starting an Architecture Firm. After obtaining my license as an Architect in New York, I brainstormed several long term goals and decided to start a personal blog, develop design projects, and learn everything that I could about starting an architecture firm. Develop a strategic plan for your business.

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Architecture Firm Firms Contract Architecture 52