Apparently, going green DOES cost more!

If you haven't heard yeard about the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards' plan to raise its fees an average of 20%, I guess this post makes us the bearers of bad news. The reason for the fee hike? The council is switching from a paper-based system to all-electronic. We're still struggling to understand why that means the fees should be higher, but it seems like poor timing, given the struggles across the AEC industry for the past couple of years.

What do you think? How much deeper will your firm have to dig to remain certified through NCARB?

Trump selling tubs so he won't take a bath

If you've always wanted a piece of Donald Trump in your projects, here's your chance -- well, sort of. It seems The Donald has some extra Catalina bathtubs after the wrong sizes were ordered for his Trump SoHo Hotel project. The asking price is $250 and up. We're guessing the drains will not be clogged with any of that famous Donald Trump hair, although for the price, maybe they should be!

Clearly, someone forgot to use Integrated Project Delivery! Wonder if the person who ordered the tubs was called into the board room for a little one-on-one time with the world-famous real estate mogul?

Retro-fitting: Going green saves green

If you're still running up against owners who question the validity of green building and sustainable design, particularly those with spaces to renovate in the Big Apple, soon there could be no question as to the value of going green. Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation is financing the creation of a database to track the savings by hundreds of retrofitted buildings in New York City. It's a small sample size, to be sure, but it's a start and could provide the evidence many need to be convinced green building is here to stay.

What do you think about this? What effect do you expect it to have on the green building initiative?

What should BP do?

Think you've got a great idea on how to fix the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? The Zweig Letter looked in the May 31 issue at what changes could be afoot in the business of constructing and installing these rigs, The early leader is putting a larger pipe around the broken one to control the spill.

What do you think of these ideas? Do you have a favorite? One that you would (or will) add to the list?

Does creativity help or hurt job seekers?

ZweigWhite's Strategic Advisory Services team recently received an email with the subject line "Superbowl winner loses job," in which a former A/E firm leader expressed his desire for us to help him find a new job, a function the firm does occasionally but not as a regular function anymore. The sender attached his resume and included a cover letter/press release that read:

"Most people would want to know the story behind that headline, the story of a quarterback who won the Superbowl then lost his job, a quarterback who led several last place teams to the playoffs, a quarterback who played a major role to win a franchise for his town, a quarterback who threw a touchdown pass to win the Superbowl and then lost his job because his team folded. My story as a Senior Architectural Manager has many similarities.


"My architectural career has been punctuated by a series of successes where I turned around failing branch office and studio operations and led them to success and profitability. I played a pivotal role to win a major contract for my firm with Lowe’s Home Improvement worth millions in annual billings. I joined a major A/E firm to establish a new office, won over a difficult client to become his go-to consultant for the most sensitive projects, and then lost my job when the firm closed the office. I’m like the Superbowl winner who lost his job and I’m looking for a new team!"

What do you think of this approach to finding a new job after being let go from your old position? Would you want to hire someone who took this slant on gainful employment? Does this help or hurt his chances?

Take a left onto Bank of America Road ...

The Tulsa Transportation Advisory Board has recommended a plan that would allow streets and bridges to be named by the highest bidder, according to a recent Tulsa World reprt. The logic goes: If sports arenas are fair game when it comes to corporate logos, why not the highways and by-ways of the community? The mayor is not impressed with the idea, but the fact the adviosry board has recommended it is interesting.

Is this the best way to solve the infrastructure crisis across America? What do you think of this idea? Do you think it will eventually be enacted? If so, what other parts of the country can you see adopting it?

Take two earplugs and call me in the morning

A recent article in the Boston Sunday Globe looks at how noise in hospitals can actually harm the patients who are there to recover from their ailments and what design changes can be made to help the sick feel better faster. A recent special issue of The Zweig Letter looked at the health care market from several design-related angles but didn't touch on this one.

What do you think of this notion? Is your firm in the health care market? Any ideas to cut down the clatter?