Small Firms Ideas Exchange

When Apple Inc. announced its enterprise upgrades to the iPhone and the accompanying software development kit, the company also announced a $100-million venture capital fund for software development. What would this look like in architecture for small firms? Imagine if a consortium of energy firms and construction materials suppliers announced the establishment of a $500-million venture capital development fund to specifically fund sustainable community projects being managed and developed by innovative small architecture firms. The fund requires the firm size be under 15 people and that the project size be under $20 million. What innovative project would you propose that would profitably change the nature of sustainable community development? How would this change the way your firm operates? How would it change your goals and methods? Please do not reveal any actual projects or project locations as they may preclude actually carrying out your vision if such a fund should ever be developed.

—Louis B. Smith Jr., AIA, NOMA

Popular media and news all seem to be about doom and gloom (unemployment rate, inflation rates, the price of gas, etc.) but rarely about smiles and sunshine (champions of green and sustainable, advances in medicine, things just working right). Some of my clients are affected by the negative, some see the world only through rose-colored glasses. It gets tiring but seems like a necessary evil in what we do. To combat the “glass-is-half-empty” syndrome in my office, we go out of our way to find positive ways architects can get involved in neighborhoods and communities to spread a little goodness. It usually brings a smile to at least a few. What do you do to maintain an even keel for your practice? How do you manage to smile in the face of adversity? How can you “capitalize” on current market conditions?  How can you do good in your neck of the woods? 

—Lisa Stacholy, AIA, NCARB

In her article, Embracing Change in the current issue of SPP Journal, Margine Biswas notes that having your own firm is a constant learning experience and it includes being prepared. The more prepared you are, the better your outcome will be. What lessons learned can you share about being prepared . . . or not being prepared?