‘Citizen Starchitect’ is not an Oxymoron
QUALITY CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS & SPECIFICATIONS
Do you know how to put together a good set of construction documents? As a new practitioner, an emerging architect, intern architect, or recent graduate, you may have felt that someone was withholding information from you– that you’ve not been given the straight scoop on overall project goals.
Reading the Blueprints
Transitioning from architectural school to working at an architecture firm can be more of a learning curve than some of us might have anticipated. And sometimes, there aren’t always clear cut business systems to follow, let alone a personal guide to sit down and specifically lay out “the big picture.”
Enter: CSI (The Construction Specifications Institute)
If you’d like to better understand the process of how to put together a quality, professional set of working drawings– even if you’ve been a part of the process for years– then I highly recommend you consider reading the book: The CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide. As it says on the cover, this book is:
- A starting point for understanding the core values of CSI
- An excellent introduction to the construction process for the new practitioner
- A ready reference for the experienced construction professional
PROJECT DELIVERY: A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING
As the aforementioned book states:
“Every individual that is a stakeholder or participant in the design and construction of anything in the built environment should have a foundational understanding of how projects are delivered.”
And if you decide to join CSI and embark on preparing for CSI’s first exam- the CDT (Construction Documents Technology) certificate– that is precisely what you’ll learn.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF EARNING A CDT CERTIFICATE?
Going through the CDT exam process and earning your certificate will further strengthen and enhance your:
Be the Expert...
- Credibility– establish yourself as someone who has taken the time to understand the a/e/c industry
- Professionalism– be assured that you’re putting forth your best efforts on whatever project you’re assigned
- Knowledge– be the “go-to” person in your office on best practices in project delivery, production drawings and specs
THE ACRONYM ALPHABET SOUP
It’s unfortunate that many industries today seem to be drowning in a sea of meaningless acronyms that baffle the practitioners of these professions as well as the clients they seek to serve. I fully acknowledge that, in architecture, there are no shortage of accreditations to earn. However, if I had to prioritize which credential would bring the most value, I would list earning a CDT certificate first as it encompasses the entire project delivery system and is so foundational to the core of what most architects do on a daily basis: produce construction documents. We owe it to ourselves to obtain the best on-the-job training– this program is just that.
MANY ARCHITECTURE FIRMS SUPPORT CDT TRAINING
Gensler, a world renowned architecture firm, believes in CSI as evidenced by the CDT training program they are hosting in their firm here in Houston. Every week, they meet for a two-hour class, with three professionals teaching and reinforcing the concepts of The CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide. What’s more, they offer anecdotal information that only seasoned practitioners possess. Attending such a study group is invaluable.
HERE’S HOW TO SIGN UP TO TAKE THE EXAM IN YOUR CITY:
The great news is: it’s not too late to sign up for the spring CDT exam which will be offered from April 2nd to April 28th, 2012! (And, it will be offered again in the fall- please see the website below for further details):
General CSI Certification Information: www.csinet.org/certification
Registration link: https://webportal.csinet.org/Conference/RegistrationProcessOverview.aspx?id=80
- Exams will be offered April 2 – April 28, 2012, in the U.S. & Canada.
Early registration deadline: February 2, 2012(the early registration has expired)- Final registration deadline: March 2, 2012
CDT Information
General information about the CDT exam: www.csinet.org/cdt
- Cost Before Feb. 2: $235 (member) $370 (non-member)
- Cost after Feb. 2: $295 (member) $430 (non-member)
- Cost for qualified students: $105
The CDT exam is now based on the CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide: www.csinet.org/pdpg
Advanced Exam Information
Cost of an advanced exam:
– Before Feb. 2: $275 (member) $410 (non-member)
– After Feb. 2: $340 (member) $475 (non-member)
CCS information: www.csinet.org/ccs
– Now based on the Construction Specifications Practice Guide (www.csinet.org/cspg)
CCCA information: www.csinet.org/ccca
– Now based on the Construction Contract Administration Practice Guide (www.csinet.org/ccapg)
CCPR information: www.csinet.org/ccpr
– This is the last year this exam will be based on the PRM (www.csinet.org/prm)
***You don’t have to be a CSI member to register for an exam – but if you join first, you get the member discount! www.csinet.org/joincsi
Excellent post! Keep up the informative work!
Dear Mission Homes,
Thank you for your enthusiasm about this topic! I also enjoyed the link to real estate in southeast Texas.
Great post!
Thank you, Liz! I appreciate your support.
I have considered this in the past. I’ve always felt I put together a solid set of documents, but I would love to learn more. I can see advantages to the CDT title, but how does this categorize us as architects? Does it make us seem too techy? Or does the opposite happen? How could it lead to other work? Ok, too many questions, it’s not my blog. Good post.
Hi Lee,
It’s great to hear from you! I appreciate your questions and can only share my opinions as there are no right or wrong answers on this subject.
My reason for wanting to obtain CDT is not for the acronym, but for the knowledge– in reviewing the book that is the basis for the test, it is a very thorough, detailed overview of running a project from A to Z. It is a baseline from which to start, a plumbline, if you will. I think it can be helpful when mentoring emerging architects to have a solid framework to point towards, rather than say, in this office, we do it this way, in that office we did it that way…and so forth.
When I’ve told other seasoned architects, especially principals that I’m thinking of taking this test, they always say, “Why?” and look at me funny– as if I’m well past the need for such study.
But I find it’s quite the opposite. As the great basketball player, Michael Jordan, and others in sports often say, they’re always going back to the basics. To me, that’s what this test is about– the basics.
As far as making us seem “too techy,” I think that’s silly. As it is, architects sometimes come across as nebulous, all to often deferring to consultants on a variety of information that we can and ought to know. So, yes, I think the opposite happens– learning or refreshing ourselves about this basic, important information only serves to add to our credibility as it gives us confidence knowing the why, what, and how of what we’re doing and understanding the ins and outs of how this industry operates, generally speaking.
Regarding how obtaining CDT can lead to other work:
– It lends further credibility among your peers; your bosses know that you know the best practices and industry standards
– It boosts your confidence knowing you’ve attained more technical information that was not covered, necessarily during architectural school
– Gaining more clients or more work would be a natural outcome of getting together with your peers at CSI events which are for the entire a/e/c industry– not just architects; however, as Dana Cuff (author of “Architecture: A History of Practice” has noted: most architects are employed by other architects).
Lastly, in an age where it seems we’re losing touch with the basics and are solely focused on sustainability and BIM, I find studying the entire project delivery process refreshing and grounding. CSI seems to be a great compass for architects to find our way in the occasional fog of otherwise chaotic times.
Thanks for stopping by, Lee! I look forward to your reply…or further thoughts.
Tara