General Chat / The Future Architects' Thread

Wow, now i dont know too much but they look nice!

I was wondering if my US counterparts could help me out (or Nate, if he wants...). After graduating from University here in Wales, i'm looking to do my masters in the US, as to boost my chances of getting a Disney Internship. I'm wondering what school/college/uni whatever you want to call it, would be the best for me to go to (Reputation etc). I'll be studying Architecture as a general subject over here, but i think there is various options over there?

Anyway, any help would would be really appreciated! I know Disney say you should never set out to be an imagineer, but that is the ultimate aim. What courses would be benificial, and how important is entering competitions like the 'Imaginations' comp?

Thanks in advance peeps.

Lloyd, if your looking for a Disney internship, may I suggest Walt Disney Imagineering's Imagi-Nations University Design Competition. Architecture, last I looked, is not an eligible major (no idea as to why). However, students from other countries and members of school minority associations are eligible. The winner (and possibly some finalists) are offered internships. Basically you design and submit anything WDI would actually "do" themselves.

The website is http://disney.go.com...s/imaginations/, but it is currently under construction.

^ Yeah, and it's been that way for months. I was going to enter something in Imagi-Nations this year, but around August they took the website down and put that up. I hope I get a chance to enter it before I graduate. I was considering doing something for it the year before, but I didn't find out about it until a few months before the deadline, and I wanted to give myself more time to make something good.

And if you're interested in Imagineering, I'd recommend one of our lovely California universities. I've seen my own UCI recommended for those interested in Disney, due to our very close proximity to them, but NE's own USC would also be an excellent choice. And Disney has a college program you can enter, where you work at Disneyland and take classes they offer. I went to the meeting about it, but realized that the college program conflicted with college. Go figure. They expect that you'll be taking the minimum number of courses for your college, and that their classes in management/teamwork/etc will make up for it. But for an engineer, with a very tight schedule, (and considering an extra quarter in order to fit it all in) that doesn't really work. But if you could fit it in, it'd be a big boost (though I think working for Disney disqualifies you from Imagi-Nations )

BTW, if I'm ever secretive about any Disney ideas I have, Imagi-Nations is probably why. Anything I release here is automatically disqualified. So in a way, I do have to take Rct seriously.

EDIT: Two important things I forgot to mention. First, I think you have to be a Junior or Senior in college in order to enter Imagi-Nations. Thus why I'm a little antsy about them canceling it. And secondly, if your major doesn't apply to their requirements, which I think was pretty much restricted to people studying art, you can join one of those minority/women groups and enter with that, since the groups usually allow anyone to join. I think I was planning on joining something like the "Native American Engineering Society." I'm actually a member of several other engineering societies (and I'm even going to be president or something of our chapter of Pi Tau Sigma), but they don't apply.

http://www.grandavenuela.com/

Anyone else think Frank Gehry is just fucking with us now?

And Disney has a college program you can enter, where you work at Disneyland and take classes they offer. I went to the meeting about it, but realized that the college program conflicted with college. Go figure. They expect that you'll be taking the minimum number of courses for your college, and that their classes in management/teamwork/etc will make up for it. But for an engineer, with a very tight schedule, (and considering an extra quarter in order to fit it all in) that doesn't really work. But if you could fit it in, it'd be a big boost (though I think working for Disney disqualifies you from Imagi-Nations)

There are two version of the College Program, the Disneyland College Program and the Walt Disney World College Program. The Disneyland program requires you to attend a near-by college or university and have your own living arrangements. The Walt Disney World program is open to several colleges and universities across the United States, provides living arrangements, shared on-property apartments, and transportation. Walt Disney World also has an International (Student) Program. As much as I love Disneyland, Walt Disney World really would be the place to look to if you're looking to be a Cast Member. Pay is relatively higher (cost of living in Florida is less than California and Florida has no state income tax) at Walt Disney World too.

I like Frank Gehry actually.

We just destroyed our Frank Gehry building. I think it might've just been designed by one of his students though. It wasn't great. And it was rotting or something.

http://www.grandavenuela.com/

Anyone else think Frank Gehry is just fucking with us now?

Eww.

Gehry needs to realize boxes exist for a reason.

-ACE

i dont' think you get it.
but i'm pretty sure i don't get it either..

I have a question about architecture.

Is it all design, or do you have to apply force vectors and what not to be able to exactly create the structure?

Structural work is done by structural engineers. That isn't to say however that architects can dismiss that part of buildings. Although no calcuations are required, an architect should have understanding of what forces are at work and how the whole system is going to work. It is largely accepted that the best architects have a strong grasp on structure.

Architects do get involved with structural design when doing wood framed buildings. The design of walls, floor joists, beams, lintels and even the roof can be done through span tables and building codes. Some manufactuers of I-Joists (Trus Joist) or prefabricated roof trusses will do the design of the respective parts of the building. As a future architect, I'm not so sure I have the confidence to do such things. I would look into getting an engineer to look over my work.

UT now has a six year program where you earn a degree in B.Arch and an B.S.A.E.(Architectural Engineering). I don't think I will be doing it though. I hear it is killer and a good percent that enter drop out of it and just go for either the B.Arch or B.S.A.E.

I'm doing Architectural Engineering, so I will have the capability to design a building a complete building, however there's more emphasis on the structure side rather than the design portion (or at least the aesthetic design). I plan on going to grad school or getting an architecture degree after I recieve my undergrad in ArchE.

Do architects take a surveying course? We have to here, but that's because it's a branch of civil engineering.

I don't know how it works in America, but in Canada, this is my understanding: If a building is over 600m2, you need a structural engineer. And a structural engineer needs a P.Eng designation. Do you get this from an Arch.E program (or some equivilent)? I'm not in a B.Arch program; it's called "Architectural and Building Engineering Technology Diploma." I have to reapply for their degree program which will get me a B.Tech.Arch.Sc. I'll be taking a surveying course next term. Not sure about B.Arch programs.

www.grandavenuela.com

That's one half of the plan that's going to revitalize Downtown Los Angeles, folks!!

Actually, I don't care whether it's unconventional or not (and Gehry's done weirder than that). As long as it gets people into Downtown, I'm all for it. They've been trying to revitalize LA for over fifty years now... ever since they destroyed it by killing the Red Car public transportation system (LA used to have the best public transportation system in the world; in fact, it was TOO good, but that's another story) and cutting it off from the rest of the city via the I-10, I-5, and 101 freeways.



Lloyd, I will tell you now that getting into Disney Imagineering is not a trick or path. In fact, going to graduate school might actual deter your from it, especially in the U.S., because you will most likely not work on themed architecture or Disney-type stuff. Frankly, that sort of architecture is unspokenly frowned upon in university. It's "below" architects.

I'm also not really sure you need a Masters to work at Disney. And I can tell you that no university in the U.S. has an inside track toward getting you into Disney Imagineering.

The aforementioned Disney College programs are helpful, but that's it. They're helpful. The only inside track they give you is familiarity, which can be all you need. But you don't really do that as graduate school, as far as I know.

I know several people who work at WDI, and they simply came out of regular university, went there, had great interviews, and got the jobs. I've had an interview with WDI before, and it's really nothing special (although the campus is nifty). It's like any other job.

Basically, if you're looking for an inside track grad school thing to Disney, there really isn't any. The process is like getting into any other architecture firm.

Oh yeah, and if you can enter the competitions, do it. They're definitely helpful, although again, they don't guarantee anything.

We just destroyed our Frank Gehry building. I think it might've just been designed by one of his students though. It wasn't great. And it was rotting or something.

LOL, I think I've heard of that one. My professor talked about it before. Yeah... that one sucked. And it wasn't even a "Gehry" Gehry building. It was before his Bilbao style, right?

Is it all design, or do you have to apply force vectors and what not to be able to exactly create the structure?

Nate pretty much answered your question, so I'll second him. One of the most popular responses I get when I tell people I'm studying architecture is "Oh.... you must be good in math, aren't you?"

I laugh and say, "Yes, I am, but that's not because I'm in architecture."

As Nate alluded to, structural engineers are the ones who calculate the forces and check the actual math as to whether or not a building will stand and how it will respond to external conditions. However, as he mentioned, architects also need (at the very least) a basic understanding of forces so that they know what is doable and what is not doable. You should know that a wooden beam can span, at the most, about twenty feet (if you're using a 2x12). You should know that trusses are one-tenth as deep as they are long. You should know that if you should probably space columns out 20-30 feet apart in a building using a gridded column-beam system. Stuff like that helps you come up with designs quickly and determine how to build the building, and it lets you know whether or not your idea is even remotely doable or whether you're going to have to invest some serious money to make it happen. If you want a 50 foot long window without any mullions holding it up, you better be ready to pay a lot extra to get it engineered, manufactured, and custom installed, because windows do not come in that long of a size unsupported.

I believe that pretty much most buildings in the U.S. require a structural engineer. The only types I'm not completely sure of are small scale residential and commercial strip mall or warehouse type buildings, which are so common that you don't really need an architect to actually design them.



Another note on schooling. In my experience, there seem to be two main types of architecture schools: those focused on design, and those focused more on technology.

My school, USC, is definitely a design-oriented school. You start design immediately in the first semester of first year, and you have design studio all five years of your major. You do take your typical architecture courses related to structures, sound, lighting, environmental concerns, materials, and methods of construction, but they are not a primary focus. Instead, the focus is on the design of your building, and how successfully you've translated your ideas into space, form, and tectonics. It allows a lot of creativity.

Natelox's education seems a lot more technology-oriented. What I mean is that students coming out of his school will definitely know how to put any building together very well. Design is certainly important, but moreso is the knowledge of building systems and construction. I call it a more practical way of studying, because things like codes and costs are constantly reminded, whereas at USC, a student may be able to get away with some codes and teachers always tell students that cost is not a factor (provided you're reasonable). There are some schools (I want to say penguinBOB's program is an example, but I'm not 100% it was he who described it) where you don't get into design studio until the third year. Instead, the first two years are GE courses and introductory architecture courses. Clearly, students receive less immediate immersion into actual design, where they can express their ideas and thoughts onto the drawings.

When looking into an architecture school, it's important to find out which of these two general types it falls under. Obviously, there are hybrids, and nothing is concrete. Nonetheless, I can confidently say that practically all schools fall under one of the above two categories. If you're looking to jump right into Design and create buildings you can really call yours, immediately, then a school like USC would really suit you. On the other hand, a more technical school would be a lot less enjoyable.

That can be the difference between encouraging your love of architecture or squashing it.

Nate, the degree that I'll recieve is a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. More or less it is a degree to be a structural engineer for buildings. And Corky, this is what the department site says about it:
" In your first two years, you will complete mathematics, physics, English, architectural design and other prerequisite courses. In your third and fourth years, most of your course work will be in engineering sciences. Also in your fourth year you will complete engineering design courses in general and specific areas.
...
Emphasis areas include structural engineering, construction engineering and project management, environmental systems for buildings, and construction materials."

I'd say our schools our on the opposite ends of the spectrum, Corky. I have to take courses like Fluid and Soil Mechanics, Circuits, Thermodynamics, Statics, and courses about concrete where you would be in the design lab drawing away. We only take 2 actual design courses and they're only 3 hrs each.

Heck, your program isn't really even architecture. It's more similar to civil or structural engineering than architecture. Distinctly different program.

Some sketches we had to do for an assignment. Not necessarily architectural, but it was for an architecture class. I had to take photographs of the sketches for a portfolio I have to put together by March 19th.







Oh, and for what it's worth, I originally said you don't have to be an architect in BC to design buildings less than 600m2. Actually, the cut off is 600m2 in building area (largest horizontal floor plate) and no more than three stories in building height. So, in theory, up to 1800m2 is possible.

Those pics are amazing Nate, nice job on the hummer!

Hmm the architecture course looks like something I might want to do in University (still got over a year to go, but its best to know now lol). So um yeah... which course is the one where you ultimatly get to be a part of large building projects? Which universities in England are good for the course? What sort of qualifications (UCAS points) would I need to take the course? How long is the course? etc...

If anyone could help me that would be terrific lool.

-X-

I envy your drawing skills, Nate. Those are fantastic!!