The panelists Roger Zogolovitch, Meredith Bowles, Amandine Kastler and Jack Self talked about introducing the concept of entrepreneurship as a way of operating architectural practice even while studying.

Jack Self had to work different jobs to put himself through school and found the idea of working in offices for other people rather unappealing, which is what prompted him to take a less conventional route.

Roger Zogolovitch noted that the imbalance between the number of students who become “master builders” and those left to pursue smaller projects and forge their careers on their own. He also stressed the ability to recognize opportunity as a unique skill of an architect, exemplified by his own work as an architect and property developer with a keen eye for “soft sites”.

Talking about opportunities, the panelists agreed on the importance of recognizing and seizing the right opportunities, not relying on lucky breaks. This feeds into the idea of designing your architectural practice as you would a building.

Members of the audience posed provocative questions asking about ways architects can gain more control over projects and stay relevant. Meredith Bowles noticed that the limitation of the role of architects is real- architects need to take change and not be in the service industry-accept changes taking place all around and bring those changes into the profession.

Another interesting question pertained to the lack of published work that covers architects’ careers and the idea of looking at architectural practice from a production standpoint. One member of the audience noted that architects are failing to take responsibility for the building process, participate in every aspect of the project, from graphic design to tenancy leasing strategies, not just sitting in the office designing. This readiness to take risks and be active participants is what separates great practices, regardless of firm size.

Roger Zogolovitch agreed that there is arrogance among architects due to which they don’t engage with the business and production aspects of the industry. Instead, most architects focus only on design and ultimately lose control over projects. This is why Meredith Bowles moved to executive role and worked on the business side to get to build the types of projects he and his partners wanted to do.

A portion of the talk was dedicated to the idea of marketing and self-promotion. Jack Self mentioned Mies Van der Rohe and Le Corbusier as the best examples of architects who understood the power and importance of media and publishing. Both have also reinvented themselves and assumed different names early in their careers.

Here is a link to the video

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One of the main reasons why architects lack business skills is the fact that most architecture schools overlook the business side of architecture. Young graduates compete for jobs that often sharpen their design skills, but do little to prepare them for running their own practices. Once they strike out on their own, architects are often forced to learn through costly mistakes and built their business skills while struggling to make ends meet.

The antiquated educational model, still dominant in our schools, also fails to explore different avenues for practicing architecture, and its myopic view of the profession puts architecture students at a disadvantage compared to schools in other professions which are more attuned to modern developments in today’s market economy.

The School of Architecture and Planning (SA+P), one of five schools at MIT, is breaking this pattern with their newly launched entrepreneurship accelerator, DesignX, which will allow students to “make the critical leap from project to startup.” Through a set of classes, mentorship, seed funding, research, and links to the global network of SA+P alumni entrepreneurs, students will get a chance to become entrepreneurs while at school, and develop projects for real-world impact. Running under the adage “learn, launch, and leap,” DesignX will include a four-month, for-credit accelerator workshop through which participants will get a chance to pitch to outside investors and industry partners.

“Many new ideas emerge from classes and studios but are lost after the students graduate,” says Dennis Frenchman, the Class of 1922 Professor of Urban Design and Planning and faculty director of DesignX. “We established DesignX to create a path for students of architecture, planning, media, real estate, and art to take their innovative ideas and turn them into reality.”

Students will choose elective courses in entrepreneurship and innovation and apply to the DesignX program at the end of the fall semester. They can work with mentors who will assist with exploring design concepts, creating a business plan, acquiring and interpreting user feedback, connecting with strategic partners, analyzing target markets and developing prototypes, beta products and services. They will pitch their ideas to committees made up of professionals, entrepreneurs and faculty members who will select students to receive $15,000 in seed funding.

This initial sum will allow young archipreneurs  to develop their projects, business plans and prototypes during the DesignX workshop. The program will conclude with a series of pitches to outside investors and industry leaders with products that target the AEC industry and redefine how users interact with architecture both the physical and digital realms.

“DESx will integrate the initial stages of building a startup into participants’ education, so that students make rapid progress while they are at MIT and are positioned to succeed as they take their first steps toward entrepreneurship,” said Gilad Rosenzweig, the program’s executive director.

According to a recent study of MIT alumni, over 1,200 companies have already emerged from SA+P. The team behind DesignX examines these firms and applies their experiences, failures and successes to the program, giving it an additional element of practicality and rooting the work of its budding entrepreneurs in real-world facts. Before finishing school, selected students will be able to make smart business decisions and learn how to differentiate their enterprises in a competitive market through mentorship, innovation and networking.

MIT has already chosen the first eight startups that will participate in the DesignX accellerator program this spring. At a pitch contest hosted at the institute’s Media Lab in December, 15 startup teams proposed their innovative real estate ideas to the panel of judges who then selected eight teams to get to participate in the coursework and receive $15,000 each in equity-free seed funding:

• Startup named Nesterly aims to connect people with unused real estate assets and extra space with long-term renters at affordable rates in exchange for help around the house.
• Kumej is a transformable floor-seater that enables whose without a conventional workspace to create it on the go, wherever they are.
• Virtual Collaboration Research (VCR) will allow architects and designers to work collaboratively in VR with their AI supported, speech-driven spatial markup tool named Mediate.
• Urban Diagnostics analyses the health of cities by mining city sewers using DNA sequencing and metabolomics.
• Hosta app turns pictures and videos of living spaces into a 3D-model powered home management platform for simplifying the home renovation process.
• Learning Beautiful creates tactile, Montessori-inspired learning materials to teach computer science to young children.
• Bitsence improves cities by tracking human movement and behavior in physical space.
• The eighth startup is Equity, which is modeling a resident-driven development marketplace that matches occupants, designers, builders, and financiers of real-estate developments. It will link housing design with finance and match occupants with development suppliers.

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If you want to learn more about DesignX: We spoke with the program’s executive director, Gilad Rosenzweig, about his thoughts on the gap between architectural education and practice – and his solution. Read it here on Archipreneur Insights.

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The ethos of being an archipreneur merges that of entrepreneurship and architecture, and often involves scenarios unlikely to play out in the conventional architectural business milieu. A number of relatively new challenges present themselves to those running architecture-related companies based innovative business models.

We’ve looked at the experiences of the growing number of archipreneurs and noticed a common thread that allows them to combine creativity with business savviness. The following 10 guidelines are meant to help archipreneurs approach obstacles and difficulties with the right mindset.

#1 – Design your Business Model

Apply the same amount of rigueur and time to devising your business plan as you do designing a building. Prove wrong the old stereotype that claims architects are bad at business. You understand the process of building; you can crunch numbers and produce great designs. Apply these problem-solving skills to your enterprise.

#2 – Be Clear on What You Want

How will your business grow if you don’t know which way you’re heading? You need to be aware of the direction in which you’d like to steer your enterprise. Pivoting is alright, but make sure not to get lost in resolving the day-to-day issues, thus losing sight of the main goal.

#3 – Know Your Value

Architectural design services account for an extremely small percentage of a project’s total value. This has to change. Don’t sell yourself short and learn how to state your price. It might be difficult to turn down projects when you’re struggling to pay the bills, but the long-term benefits of getting clients to meet your rate will make you a better business owner and will ultimately raise the standard for the entire profession.

#4 – Don’t Wait for Clients, Find Them

Waiting for clients is a typical occurrence in conventional architecture firms. It is one of the most important reasons why many of them fail during the first few years of existence. The main trademark of archipreneurs in that they don’t wait to be approached by clients in order to work. They create opportunities instead of waiting for them. For example, if they want to build their projects, successful archipreneurs choose to become developers, and organize co-housing initiatives. There are plenty of ways to become a self-starter.

#5 – Network

Networking is one of the most important aspects of running a business. The same applies in archipreneurship. Get to know the people working in the industry, particularly in your specific niche. Find out who your audience is and reach out to them by attending events where you’re likely to meet them. Join or organize podcasts, and collaborate with other archipreneurs.

#6 – Differentiate Yourself

The competition is tough in the AEC industry. Find a way to differentiate yourself from the rest of the companies that operate in your niche. Define your value proposition and make sure to communicate it clearly to prospective clients.

Differentiation goes deeper than website design. The most important thing that will separate you is offering something people need and have a clear use for. Transform your services and products into value instead of cost.

#7 – Utilize New Technologies

Architecture may be slow in adopting new technologies, but it is definitely happening. Be at the forefront of this trend and use new tech solutions to become faster, smarter and more attractive to clients. Optimize fabrication and manufacturing with CNC machines and 3D printing, speed up design by creating procedures with powerful software, embrace smart home technologies, or become an expert in sustainable technologies.

#8 – Don’t Complain

Whining will get you nowhere. Furthermore, it can only get people around you down and create a negative atmosphere. All archipreneurs go through rough patches. Keeping an optimistic attitude will encourage and motivate your employees.

#9 – Hire Problem Solvers

Talent and intelligence are always great traits for employees to have, but they have to be coupled with an ability to get things done. Small and mid-sized firms in particular depend on the agility and problem-solving skills of every single person on the team.

#10 – Learn Constantly

In order to innovate and stay competitive, archipreneurs have to keep up with the latest trends relating to their industry. Learn from your mistakes and your competition’s failures, let your employees teach you, have at least a general knowledge of every segment of your business.

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Those who want to advance their careers in conventionally run architecture practices have an abundance of information to choose from. The common route for architects requires information on how to deal with internships, get first jobs, understand and utilize office hierarchies, negotiate with clients, network and work with mentors. But most of these relate to the old ways of practicing architecture.

While they are still relevant and predominant, the proliferation of achipreneurship is showing that there are better, more efficient, and smarter ways to approach each of these issues. Archipreneurs interested in being in-charge of their professional life, willing to take risks and challenge the status-quo need to cultivate a fresh, analytical approach to business and apply it both in their designs and enterprises.

Which other rules should archipreneurs follow? What is the most important thing that shaped you as an archipreneur?

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The fast-paced advancement of technology and globalization has introduced new business models, more efficient coordination and, above all, an environment where the evolution of industries can no longer be a linear process. Crosscutting disciplines are emerging as a new business paradigm in the age of digital economy. This trend for interlinking disciplines is also penetrating the AEC industry – but at what rate?

We are seeing great advancements in the fields of Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence, 3D printing, nanomaterials and communications (Airbnb and Uber are two of many similar ventures that are remapping our cities) but the AEC profession is struggling to keep up. Even today, the majority of architecture studios essentially operate within a 50-year old framework, project funding mechanisms seem outdated, turnaround is slow and most construction work is still performed manually.

Any improvements, however, are noticeable, and they are mostly in the area of new software and automation. While the latter usually occurs under the patronage of institutes and corporate businesses, when it comes to software, the innovators are mostly teams of young professionals who combine their architectural background with their knowledge of coding.

The following details the developments currently underway in the categories of design, presentation and construction, and demonstrates how architects, engineers and construction managers can benefit from these innovations:

Design

A myriad of new architecture apps have started to make a difference in creating efficient and versatile designs. These new tools allow architects to reexamine floor plans, make quick design changes and reposition virtual furniture using nothing more than their smartphones and tablets. Some of these apps allow architects to measure a room’s dimensions and draw plans on-site, like MagicPlan. Native Rhino 3D models can be viewed and shared on a mobile or tablet using iRhino, while the Floored iPad app targets the real estate market and displays 3D floor plans using next-generation 3D cameras.

The Zurich-based founders of Archilogic have developed a way to produce interactive environments through advanced algorithms that turn real estate floor plans into scalable 3D models. The models don’t require any software, apps, or prior knowledge for using Archilogic. The team plans to introduce an option to enable external users to upload their own content onto the platform and so build an extensive 3D database online.

The cloud-based green app Plangrid is aiming to revamp the construction industry by allowing its users to store blueprints and construction documents on iPads and iPhones, which will save contractors’ time and, crucially, paper. Users of the app can share plans, markups, photos and reports. All project drawings are stored in the cloud and can be used by general contractors, construction workers, architects, engineers and other project team members, so completely removing the need for paper.

Presentation

Taking their cue from interactive and immersive videogame environments, young architects have started to use 3D as more than a set of hyper-realistic design stills. A game-changer in this field is the IrisVR, which has taken 3D into the world of virtual reality and allowed architects to convert and view their 3D SketchUp, Revit, and BIM models in virtual reality using Oculus Rift. Architects can use IrisVR during the design process but its greatest potential lies in showing clients new buildings or other types of projects on the application itself rather than having to resort to costly and time-consuming on-site visits. The app is still in its prototype phase but it promises to revolutionize the way we visualize architecture before construction work takes place.

In architecture, drones are now providing an abundance of information on context and visual representation. Remote-controlled technology allows architects, photographers, videographers and planners to gain a greater insight into built environments. Although the use of unmanned aerial vehicles has officially been sanctioned, numerous examples of valuable drone footage, including the building of Apple’s sprawling corporate headquarters in California, prove the benefits of this new trend.

Construction

In terms of construction, automated and autonomous machines are becoming mainstream and transforming the ways materials are made. Innovative use of robots bridges the gap between old construction techniques and more advanced design tools, as well as the gap between the architecture industry and academia. The now famous industrial robot KUKA is equipped for the (pre-)fabrication of building elements and parts, as well as molds for laminating fiber composites and mock-ups for furniture, car and industrial design. KUKA has made experimental design possible by introducing cutting-edge technology to the world. Students at ICD Stuttgart, for example, used a 6-axis KUKA to design innovative pavilion structures each year by implementing various lightweight carbon fiber composites.

An even more radical approach to fabrication has been taken up by young professionals and studios like Gramazio & Kohler and Raffaello d’Andrea. This studio built a 6-meter tall tower using a small quad-rotor helicopter. Automated building facades are currently being researched by architects Stephen A. Gage and Will Thorn, while students at Sci/Arc are configuring robotic arms in choreographed collaborative movements.

3D printing technology has become a significant trend in building construction. One of the most advanced examples is a project by Behrokh Khoshnevis, whose revolutionary robot can 3D print an entire 2,500-square-foot home in just 24 hours. This 3D printer has two crane-like arms and a crossbeam to carry the printhead. The entire machine runs along a set of tracks and can work simultaneously on all parts of the house. This process, named contour crafting, caught NASA’s eye, which has since given Khoshnevis a grant to experiment with lunar structures and buildings that could potentially be erected on other Earth-like planets.

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Although we are yet to see a substantial movement toward an organic approach to building spaces, the above examples provide glimpses into a more collaborative, versatile and adaptable future for the AEC industry. This prospect is closely tied with archipreneurship, an emerging service that specifically explores the ways for synergizing technological advancements and globalization.

The post Thoughts on Disrupting the AEC Industry appeared first on Archipreneur.

After completing his studies at University of Idaho and gaining experience at two architecture firms, Jonathan decided to start out on his own. He developed his first project when he was just twenty-five years old. He realized that, without client compromises to bog him down, he was capable of much more than he thought. Taking control of every aspect of his projects, from designing to financing to building, he gained a wide breadth of knowledge that he could put to practice.

Jonathan has an exceptional archipreneurial approach to his work, and a gift of combining business acumen with exquisite architecture. Using his architectural skills, as well as his deep understanding of space, light and texture, has allowed him to develop beautiful, well-planned buildings. This recognition of using space creatively is hard for regular developers. By applying his tenacious enthusiasm and sharp eye for location and placement to every project, Jonathan has been able to build and create great projects in urban neighborhoods in San Diego.

As such, he has achieved a great deal in the world of architecture and become a highly regarded developer in his own right. Jonathan has been awarded a multitude of honors for his work, including making the 2010 Residential Architect ‘RA50 Short List’, and winning Project of the Year at the 2012 Residential Architect Design Awards for ‘the Charmer’. He has also received numerous other accolades, including 24 State, national and local AIA awards for urban and residential design.

It sounds like a great way of doing architecture – but we should also be aware of the risks it entails. Acting as the developer also means taking on board all the risks that can arise from a project. Architect developers should have a certain degree of knowledge in real estate development in order to understand the whole scope of a project – from financial matters to the mechanics of the project structure. For instance, they need to know how it is possible to find and acquire land, how to assess which product will function for a specific market, and how to get project funding

How to go it alone in the world of architecture

Jonathan Segal has developed and designed a method for architecture practice that gives control back to the architect. He has also created his own product based on this method, an online course called ‘Architect As Developer’, which is very successful and further proof of his business sense.

These online seminars cover everything from development strategies and principles to construction loans and bank financing to land acquisition and construction contracts. After watching the foundation lessons, subscribers will gain access to ‘Jonny’s World’; a series of video updates about Jonathan’s latest projects and pro tips. The whole course is priced at around $500.

Jonathan says that by eliminating clients and contractors from the design and building process, architects have the ability to become the ‘owner’ of their own projects, directing them, and achieving financial independence. By learning the same skillsets and tools as developers, architects also have the power to take initiative and create whatever they want, exactly how they want it.

He recommends that new architects developers should start small, find a niche in which they are comfortable, and be prepared for something to go wrong. Jonathan also recommends that new architect developers build relationships with realtors who can point them in the right direction and help find available property. Jonathan says that maintaining relationships with your broker and treating your subcontractors well is of utmost importance when going it alone.

The true learning curve will only come when you really immerse yourself in the inception of your first project. If you are still at school or university and/or are interested in studying the whole method, Jonathan also teaches the Master’s program in Real Estate and Development at the Woodbury School of Architecture, alongside other experienced architect developers, such as Ted Smith.

You can hear more about Jonathan and his method and get a taste of how he operates in this thirteen-minute Jonathan Segal Documentary about his architecture practice.

Here are a few further links about him and his seminar:

• Jonathan Segal Architecture + Development
• Architect as Developer course
• MSArch – Real Estate and Development for Architects, Woodbury School of Architecture 

What do you think of Jonathan’s approach? Have you already taken his seminar? We welcome your thoughts in the comment section!

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