Armand Damari, AIA, NCARB

In high school, I considered a career in architecture. I always marveled at the New York skyline and thought it would be so amazing to construct a building. But alas, after some classes, I realized it was too math heavy and formal for me. What I find interesting today is how I migrated to design where in our field of product design there are many analogies to physically building a structure. Here are a few. 1. Prototyping: Both fields create prototypes to visualize and test ideas before final production. Architects build models and mock-ups, while product designers develop digital prototypes. 2. User-Centric Design: Both disciplines emphasize understanding the needs and behaviors of users. Architects consider how people will interact with and use a space, while product designers focus on user experience and journeys. 3. Iterative Development: Both fields employ an iterative design process, continually refining and improving their designs based on feedback and testing. 4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Architects and product designers often work in teams with various experts, such as engineers, quality assurance controllers, and stakeholders, to ensure all aspects of the design are addressed. 5. Accessibility Guidelines: Both disciplines follow specific guidelines to ensure their designs are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Architects adhere to building codes and standards like the ADA, while product designers follow WCA3 guidelines. 6. Design and Building Systems: Both fields use comprehensive systems to ensure consistency and quality in their work. Product designers use design systems that include guidelines, reusable components, and standards. Similarly, architects use building systems, building codes and standards, modular construction techniques, architectural patterns, style guides, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to manage and streamline the design and construction process. Can you think of any other similarities? #uxdesign #architecture #designsystems #Skwair

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New York Passive House is pleased to announce our second annual Regenerative Metropolis Symposium, taking place at Parsons School of Design on Friday, September 27, 2024. Architecture, at its best, embodies our wisest systems knowledge.  It provides for human thriving while integrating within all regenerative systems that support the thriving of all life.  Positive feedback loops within this type of infrastructure can ensure that abundance is ever increasing, rather than degrading. How can our cities deploy our best understanding of regenerative stewardship? Can urban architecture support best practices within sibling systems such as agriculture, land use, energy, and ecosystem stewardship?

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In the second part of Archinect In-Depth: Licensure, we chart the origins of licensure in the United States. We explore how a combination of safety concerns, technological advances, and insecurity among architects over their own relevance led to the protection of the title 'architect,' legislation which remains in force in every jurisdiction of the United States today.

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“Eighty-five percent of the buildings that will exist in the year 2050 have already been built,” said Joe Backer, Boston’s senior project manager for neighborhood housing. “So tackling the question of decarbonization in existing affordable-housing stock is super important.” Nice piece in the Globe today by Ivy S. https://lnkd.in/dBMiSEbf One caveat from our perspective here at ZCMA. One of the architects quoted in the story argues that one must always upgrade the thermal envelope of the building before electrifying heat. This is sometimes good advice, and can result in lower operational cost, but it should not be seen as a hard and fast rule. If you are at end-of-life of a fossil HVAC system, that is the time the electrify with heatpump(s). Don't make the mistake of buying a new 20-30 year fossil HVAC system if you can not simultaneously work on the building envelope. Remember, ~80% of HVAC replacements happen because of the sudden failure of the old system--it is simply not reasonable to expect everyone to have planned ahead and done their envelope weatherization in advance. Heatpumps can work just fine in cold weather climates now. cc: Lisa Cunningham Wendy Stahl Jesse Gray David Mendels

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Shared the story of my Architectural Registration Exam process below, which I completed almost 2 years ago! I am passionate about being transparent about this journey, sharing all the ups and downs, in hopes of inspiring those taking the tests now or in the future. Check out some of my ARE episodes on Open Plan Podcast if you're interested in more. And remember that the only true failure is giving up, you got this! Thanks to Katelyn Rossier, AIA, NCARB, LSSBB for the feature!

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The key to navigating complex projects and regulatory mazes lies in effective collaboration among architects, designers, and project managers. Embracing collaboration transforms challenges into opportunities, ensuring that projects not only meet but exceed expectations. #construction #architecture #nyc #InteriorDesign

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The key to navigating complex projects and regulatory mazes lies in effective collaboration among architects, designers, and project managers. Embracing collaboration transforms challenges into opportunities, ensuring that projects not only meet but exceed expectations. #construction #architecture #nyc #InteriorDesign

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Happy Earth Day YALL! As designers focused on sustainable design solutions we try and bring the spirit of Earth day to our jobs always. However, there are moments in our lives and careers that the Earth teaches us how to be better designers as well. My DLR Group colleague Prem Sundharam's post below shares one of those moments and is a message to us all. Check it out!

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We recently chatted with our friend Alexander Loyer Hughes, AIA, an architect with a unique perspective. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺? Alex shared an interesting story. He's from Chile, a country where energy is scarce. Conserving energy is on everyone's mind! 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 In Chile and places like Germany, energy efficiency is part of life. Buildings are designed to save energy. It’s a necessity. But in the U.S.? Many old buildings leak heat like crazy. Ever cracked open a window because the boiler runs non-stop? It’s mind-boggling to those from energy-conscious countries. 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 With new regulations and a focus on sustainability, the lessons Alex learned in Chile are now critical. Modern technologies and techniques, like Passive House, are game changers. Retrofits to make old buildings energy-efficient? It's a whole new world and a fascinating challenge. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 Alex finds retrofitting old buildings to be incredibly motivating. It’s about fixing the past to build a sustainable future.

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For anyone heading to the AIA Conference in Washington, DC, make sure to check out the presentation on Collaborative Intelligence with AI by Fanning Howey's very own Lindsey Rhoden, AIA and Thad Rhoden, AIA. #AIA #innovation #smarterplaces #artificialintelligence

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Please show your support! Many people, even peers in the AEC community, don’t know that Interior Designers are not recognized as licensed professionals in the state of Massachusetts. Ten years ago, Interior Design wasn't even recognized as a profession in the Commonwealth. Let that sink in for a minute... My hope is that this shocks you into action. Last week Sarah Sopelak - NCIDQ, WELL AP, LEED AP BD-C, Marie Fitzgerald, and I joined roughly 100 other interior designers from across the Commonwealth at the State House to meet with legislators regarding active legislation that would recognize commercial interior designers as licensed professionals. This 2023-2024 legislative session in Massachusetts marks the 6th year the interior design community has had a bill before the Legislature, although the push for recognition began over three decades ago. Bill S.2408 was written by corporate interior designers and members of IIDA New England in conjunction with ASID, CIDQ and other industry professionals. It is a bill that has been used as a model to gain recognition in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Utah since its first introduction in Massachusetts. Currently, 29 states acknowledge Interior Designers as licensed professionals. The Commonwealth has a thriving and talented Interior Design community, full of qualified designers who have the education and experience that should allow them to be recognized as licensed professionals. After passing our NCIDQ examinations, we should be able to stamp the non-structural interior drawings we create every day. We should also be able to hold majority ownership in a company and take on State and Federal work (something we are not afforded under current legislation). Additionally, as officers of a company, we should be able to sign contracts (something else we are currently not allowed to do without a co-signature by an Architect or Engineer). The passing of this legislation has been long overdue. Please help us elevate the design and construction industry as a whole by supporting it. You can do so by writing to your legislators to share your support of S.2408 and to ask them to urge the Senate Ways and Means Committee advance the bill. (This goes for Everyone. You do not have to be a Designer, Architect, or Engineer to reach out). If you're unsure who your Legislators are, check out the link below. If you're not sure what to say, have follow-up questions, or want to discuss this further, please reach out. https://lnkd.in/egRMCYuV

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"We have to think we are integral to somebody's existence on this planet." Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, SHRM-SCP, NOMA, NAAB, WELL AP, gives her inspiring take on the value of an architect. ✨ #ArchitectureWeek is about inspiring the next generation through K-12 engagement AND celebrating the #architecture profession! How would you answer this question? #AIA #NationalArchitectureWeek #Design

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Have you ever wondered about how OMA NY operates within a team setting and what it takes for an Architect to get in? Join our CEO, Pati Garcia and Gonzalo Samaniego in their chat while they discuss his experience at OMA NY and much much more! • Learn about Gonzalo's journey and: ✅ Gain a better understanding of how OMA NY operates from an insider. ✅ Learn about the different work schedules the Architects have depending on circumstance: project or normal day at work. ✅Gain insight into the team dynamics at OMA from the perspective of a J1 Visa holder. • Find out more about how Gonzalo leveraged his academic experience in Holland to make it over to NYC!!✨ • Are you interested in working at OMA and have a few more questions to ask? Let us know in the comments below!!!👇👇👇 • 📌 Watch Gonzalo Samaniego's full chat and find more young architects inspiring interviews on our YouTube Channel at the link below!!!!!! • [ Link in the first comment below! ] • #architect_us #usavisa #j1visa #usajobs #interviewseries

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A few weeks ago Evelyn Lee invited me to discuss my career path and work on Practice of Architecture‘s podcast Practice Distributed. I get a lot of questions about my not-so-traditional career and how others can branch out from the expected path. I hope this helps other architecture folks who may be considering a change understand their value in a broader ecosystem! #masstimber #prefab #crosslaminatedtimber #sustainabledesign

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Did you know modern architecture has its fair share of controversy? 🏙️ One infamous fact is the demolition of historic landmarks like New York's Penn Station to make way for modernist structures. This sparked outrage and debates about preservation vs. innovation. While modern architecture pushes boundaries, it also raises important questions about heritage and identity. #ControversialArchitecture #PreservationDebate #ModernistLegacy #BASA

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Excited to share the 3151 Market Street design journey between Gensler Boston (Erik Karl Lustgarten, AIA, LEED, Todd A. Dundon, AIA) and Gensler Philadelphia (Alexander Chan, AIA, LEED AP, Sean Carlin, LEED GA) and in collaboration with INTECH Construction LERA Consulting Structural Engineers, Buro Happold, Pennoni, SWA, The Lighting Practice, and New Hudson Facades. Challenge: Design a 495,000-SF life science building at a pivotal crossroads in West Philadelphia, a key corner of Brandywine Realty Trust Schuylkill Yards Development along Market Street. Approach: For the interview, we harnessed Gensler’s next-gen design talent to create three visionary concepts. One idea stood out to the clients and was further developed through the design and a community engagement process. Opportunity: Our big idea features rational floor plates and a series of eco-porches on the south façade, facing Drexel University campus, that offer tenants fresh air, daylight, and views of downtown Philadelphia. These stacked modern porches tie back to West Philly’s tradition of front porches. Design Elements: To navigate the diverse urban context and mitigate the tower’s scale, we incorporated a robust retail and amenity podium with an entry portico and a corner plaza. For optimal comfort and energy efficiency, the building features a unitized façade system with SageGlass UI electrochromic glass to minimize glare and improve internal comfort. Impact: 3151 Market Street is set to become a gateway to Philadelphia’s flourishing life science ecosystem and model for the next generation of sciences buildings. The project seeks LEED Silver V.4 and WELL Certification.

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As Gensler notes, successful cities have a key characteristic in common: They’re able to reenergize the connection between live and work through a combination of mixed-use neighborhood design, affordability, accessibility, and convenience. As cities get smarter post pandemic, urban design must become smarter as well. Discover more insights in Gensler’s City Pulse study: https://lnkd.in/gfpWhP_s

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