CAL POLY REACHING OUT

Here's a recent interview Cal Poly Magazine published with Jana and a couple other alumni touching on some of the lessons she's learned on leadership on her journey.  

 A big thank you to our Alma Mater Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and  Robyn Kontra for reaching out.  

Check it out below.

CAL POLY MAGAZINE - Winter 2017

FIRM MANAGEMENT

Just after she returns from hanging out with Kevin Spacey, Kevin Bacon and Rem Koolhaas at the AIA Convention in Philadelphia in a few weeks, Jana will be joining in on a panel discussion on Firm Management here with AIA Orange County.  Moderated by the one and only Mark Paone, AIA (my first employer after graduation and continued mentor).  

I know I am interested in what the big firms have to say and hopefully the reciprocal will be true as well.  It's events like these that have the potential to strengthen our nimbleness with new techniques and potential processes.

Check it out and we'll see you there...

ARCHITECT AS ENTREPRENUER

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS! (and other curious types...)

There are so many business items that go into starting your own firm that are not necessarily the most exciting part of the architectural journey.  Maybe we were not (and still aren't) a part of the right networks or maybe we just don't google well, but we hit so many dead ends when trying to figure out how to streamline business processes and procedures as we started out.  So, through a lot of trial and error, question after question and finally just a gut feeling... here you go.  The rundown I wish existed 4 years ago.   The Architect, industry specific, AEP minded insights to starting your own firm.

Squarespace
Simple and integrated.  

Our website looks great, is easy to update with what we want to communicate and the price is affordable.  I believe there are a couple of competitors in the last year or so that have stepped up their game to that of Squarespace, but we're good for now.  I'd rather just keep our focus on creating meaningful content to tell our story.

Zenpayroll
Yes, pay yourself and your team.  Then, let Zenpayroll do everything else.  Government forms, state and federal taxes, direct deposits... 

I was told from the start to not mess around with payroll.  A simple miscalculation can cause you endless distractions with future tax filings and more.  So, when we started, we paid our bookkeeper to handle our payroll. This was one of the first big steps of trust we took. Because, how could we know it was really being done correctly?  Well, basically if no one comes knocking?  Sometimes I wish the government could just send you a "congrats, you did it!" or a gold star like my son brings home from school.  

Xero
In the cloud accounting / bookkeeping.  Worth it.  

We started with Account Edge and it worked, but unless we were willing to totally let go of our books to a bookkeeper or invest a lot of time... as an architect wanting to be an architect, this just was not going to work for the long run.  There are a couple features I miss, but Xero has totally given us a big bear hug.  Kind of like Zenpayroll does (and they talk to each other by the way).  Xero is very much like Quicken Online so I hear, but sometimes it's just more fun to go against the mainstream.  Xero works and it is simple.  Integrates with our bank accounts and has a pretty great dashboard upon login.  

There is an add-on to Xero called WorkflowMax, but each time I look into it I get the sense that it is just too much stuff.  Great features, but either we're not ready for it or it is not ready for us.

Simply Insured
Take the leap from private insurance to group.  We looked at individual brokers and even Costco... but Simply Insured made it simple all online (and a few phone calls).  You may be catching on here, but make it simple online and you have a good business platform!

We got the options we were looking for and it was simple to choose.  I would say that the only downside is that the Health industry is still not quite up to speed with current technology.  While Simply Insured is smooth, once you have to go outside of their system to a provider's, you've traveled back 10 years.  Unfortunately, it's obvious that Simply Insured has no control over this so all we can do is hope the industry catches up to them.  If you call, ask for Ben. 

Trello (with the currently free gantt-chart add on)
Simple is probably the common theme here.  It keeps us organized and makes it challenging to go into too much detail.  Which I think is a great positive.  Trello's card system is super easy and flexible to help us keep our projects, tasks and timeline in check.  I had a software developer try to turn me on to Trello a few years ago and I just couldn't figure out how to make it beneficial to us, but flash forward to today and its great.  Simple organization for the team.  

Google Apps
Email, calendars, etc.  All there and integrated with Squarespace.  This is handy because the whole website domain, email domain, registrars, etc. can be like a bowl of spaghetti.  

It all works and is affordable.  We haven't had any downtime and I can keep it all in the cloud.  At the minimum price there is a cap on space, but we're not there yet and don't plan on it any time soon.  I'd say the only downside is the occasional goof up while integrating with Apple's apps.  I cannot stand the Google Calendar interface in a browser, so we use the Apple app.  Sometimes they don't play nicely.  But it is to be expected.

Synology (NAS)
Great start to some kind of shared network amongst a small office.  We back up to the cloud for about $5 a month and we can sync any and all files to our computers pretty seamlessly.  The jury is still out on growing from here, but it is a great start for 1-3 people.

And lastly, we're an Apple based office.  MacBook Pros, iMacs, iPads, iPhones, Airport... Everything is just simpler to manage.  Again, I enjoy being an architect and the Apple platform keeps many things very simple for us.  We also use Parallels so we can run any Autodesk software we need.

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In summary, each time it came down to the simplicity of so many of these solutions that have straightforward, easy to use online platforms.  I have a feeling that in a couple years it will be the norm, but it is truly night and day compared to the alternatives in the current market.  I laughed when we started using some of these services.  I could not believe it could take so much of the unnecessary pain out of these truly necessary business items.

We probably would have wept if we took on the expense of all these things at once, but if you can, I say go for it.  Otherwise, just save the list and make an implementation plan.  

With all the goodness of the companies above... we're still searching for these answers: cloud based bookmarks manager, a small business IT plan, and why there is an ISP monopoly in downtown Santa Ana.  

We hope some of these insights and references help you along the way.  Let us know if there is something you've learned that we could add to the mix.  We love being architect entrepreneurs and sharing what we have learned so far in our journey!

A LITTLE C.A.S.H.

Recently, Jana had the opportunity of not only being a part of the esteemed jury of the 2015 C.A.S.H. (Coalition for Adequate School Housing) Leroy F. Greene Design and Planning Awards... but also the co-presenter along with 2015 C.A.S.H. Chair, Jenny Hannah of the awards in Sacramento.  (Video Here)

One of the great things about this award program is its capacity to honor not only the designers, but the administrators and facility supervisors that are instrumental in achieving successful design projects

Seeing colleagues from years past at Cal Poly makes me grateful for the education we all received and excited to see all that my friends are accomplishing and achieving in their respective worlds, be it as an architect or a patron of design excellence. 

 

Presenting with C.A.S.H. Chair, Jenny Hannah to a room full of honorees.  

Surprise gatherings of long time friends and colleagues from all parts of the state...

Lindsay Hayward, Eric Holm, Brian Leonard and Jana Itzen

LEED-ING LOCALLY AT TK1SC

An evening at tk1sc recently was crafted for us to SEE, touch and sense how LEED certification is playing out in a local office of MEP engineers.  Roger, Ray, Ron, Eileen and Peter (whew!) hosted the AIAOC event to fill us on in on their first hand experience of LEED for Commercial Interiors.  Offering us the unique perspective of acting as both the engineer AND the client.  

Ray leading the tour (in great shoes).  And those straight/rotating spot light are simply, awesome.

Business As Usual points VS. Stretch points
I thought this was a great way to put it.  We've been fortunate to play a part in many LEED certified projects over the last few years at all levels.  Add in the fact that working in the state of California by default ups any project's sustainability quotient and you start to have pretty sustainable Business As Usual criteria.  

Know the Real Costs
One of the classic questions raised when talking whether or not to go for LEED certification on a project is, how much more will it cost the project?  Well, when you are doing Business As Usual you could say not much.  To take it one step further Roger stressed knowing to the best of your ability the Real Costs of those stretch points.  Like any rating system, it can also turn into a game of points.  And sometimes those for those points are going to cost more.  Realistically, but a bit dry in subject is also the need to account for general administration fees and the hours per credit that you incur.  All $ to account for.  

How about some LEED CI takeaways...

• space out the 2x4 light fixtures.  30 footcandles is working pretty well for them with a little supplemental task lighting as desired.  
• commissioning is a given, and even some HVAC commissioning done prior to construction helps.
• the building and its owner play a role
• a 1st generation space is a great advantage for some points where just the fact of doing something new is business as usual.  But there are many points not applicable due to the lack of re-use opportunities.  

HAPPY 2015

We have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to 2014.  ITZEN went to new lengths, depths and dimensions.  Some we saw coming and some we grew into!  Thank you for joining us in the journey...

Projects.  They start AND end with you (our clients, that is).  You are what makes a project.  Thank you to all 26+ of you in 2014.  We have been fortunate to work on a variety of projects that range from a barn to custom furniture and from a pool house to corporate office interiors. As we step into 2015, we are eager to keep up the variety.

People and places.  We had 4 interns over the course of this past year AND hired Carrie on full time!  Our design studio in downtown Santa Ana just keeps getting better as we get to know more of our neighbors (CRAVE, Gunther's, the Good Beer company to name a few) and the heart of why they do business and why they choose DTSA.

We are excited that 2015 is here and look forward to more projects, impacting more people in a positive, insightful way.  Thanks for making us your favorite architects, we enjoy it!

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

I have to admit, sometimes we are so focused on doing... we forget to continue telling the story for those outside our circle of projects.  But nevertheless, here YOU go!

Construction.  And lots of it.  
We have been very fortunate in the last few months to be working with some great contractors.  Ones that value simplicity, high quality and communication.  There is this age old assumption in construction that the Architect is the Contractor's nemesis, and vice versa.  And yes, that unfortunate situation can occur.  But we try our best to diffuse any of those attitudes when they crop up on a project.  And lately, there has not even been the need.  Great people to work with all around.

And the best part about it, our clients' projects are the beneficiary of this teamwork.  

Seeking new project sites.  
We have traveled most of the Southern California freeways lately scouting out properties with our clients.  It's a great opportunity when we can be a resource for our clients as they determine the place, the site and/or the building to facilitate their dream.

We sketch.  I'd go so far as to say it's a benefit we have of working in architecture.  We get to sketch.  
Most of the time we use pens, markers, pencils (or my new LAMY), and then sometimes we go digital.  We use Blubeam on computers, GoodReader on iPads and recently I'm adding the attractor lines we are exploring in Rhino & Grasshopper.  Our good friend Dean over at DLAAF keyed us into the concept and the iterative nature of the script feels like sketching.

Let's talk community redevelopment!  We did some re-envisioning of a building block up in the central part of the State.  Stay tuned, we'll do a write up on this story. 

Furniture, you need it.  So why not make it custom? 
Our list of partners keeps growing.  We design and they fabricate.  Both doing what we do best.  It's been tables, millwork, desks, stools, credenzas...

Measure twice.  There seems to be exponential measurement taking when you sketch, model, iterate and then observe.  But it's worth it, everyone is happier only cutting once.  And I mean everybody!

Hold on.  2015 may be right around the corner, but we're not done with 2014 yet!  

RYAN CALLIS IN OUR STUDIO

We love art.  Really.  There is so much added value.  To a space, mental stimulation, visual intrigue...  It's not coincidence that we landed our headquarters downtown next to the Artists Village here in Santa Ana.  

So when it comes to our office, we debated for awhile what we should do.  But when it came down to it, we decided it would be more fun to have an outsider influence the studio culture than to create something ourselves.   Ryan Callis is a long time friend that continues to inspire me with his work. (Shhhhhhhhhh and dolphin night toast painting...) There's a quirk and a pop about his works that just grab a hold of my senses.  We were fortunate to pick up an original a few years back for the #itzencollection that I get to enjoy at home, but now we needed something where we spend most of our days creating.

The discussions with Ryan before he started were super interesting.  An architect brainstorming with an artist.  We talked permanent vs. take it with us.  Paint vs. collage.  2d, 3d.  ITZEN vs. Callis.  And in the end, well... you decide.  

We asked Ryan not to tell us what the story was that went in to the piece.  We'll save that for another day.  So it's fun when guests come by and ask what it's all about... we just get to smile and say "we don't know!"

Thank your Ryan for sharing your passion, skills and personality with us.  I smile when I walk into the office and see this.  We have a Ryan Callis original that we won't be able to take with us, and perhaps the first painting he has ever done while wearing sunglasses indoors.

For more Ryan Callis... check out LOOK UP GOSPEL CHOIR 

Then, clap your hands and say YEAH!!!

THERE'S THIS BARN...

One of the most frequent questions from people we meet is "What kind of architecture do you do?".  Great question.  And well, when you approach design from a holistic standpoint and build your team with experts (instead of specializing)... it can sometimes lead to a long winded answer.  So when we started working on a barn it turned about to be the perfect example for us to share and stretch people's conception of the type of projects we work on.  Because, when was the last time you met someone who said they are designing a barn?   

And so, here's a part of the design story...

PROJECT SCOPE
Located on a 72 acre ranch in the hills of the Central Coast, CA… there is a hillside building pad that on a clear day hints towards a view of the Pacific Ocean.  The Ranch is about Saturday afternoon picnics with wine and watching their boy run around in the hillside wild flowers.  It’s about all day hunting trips with the boys.  And morning hikes at dawn along the hillside ridges.

Add a shelter (a BARN), and the client has the opportunity to facilitate these activities more often during all seasons of the year.  Perhaps even a weekend excursion on The Ranch.

The coastal morning fog is year round in the hills on The Ranch.  It burns off quickly in the summer months, easily reaching the 90s and dry.  And during the Fall and Winter months it is not a surprise for valleys to stay mystically hidden all day.

The program is simple.  A 3,000 SF shelter.  

CLIENT CHALLENGE
Sharing a bottle of wine…
We transition from a standard barn kit of parts to a standard barn + an architect.  And there is a standard barn kit of parts BUDGET + “a little.”
The site is chosen (pad graded).   The orientation chosen (long south exposure).  Kit of parts chosen (steel structure and siding).
How can we make this BARN different?  Perhaps cool.
How can we enjoy this BARN while off the grid?
What materials are going to withstand the elements and have texture?
And a truck has to drive around in there, it is a BARN.

DESIGN SOLUTION
Let’s make it fun!

The process was a conversation.  A back and forth, sharing.  The first solution was to solidify a long distance dialog.  Texts, screen shares and phone calls later.  Still a success.

From there we started by identifying the efficiency and value in a kit of parts.  The steel structure stands out in efficiency and longevity.  The moment frames allow for large, 360 degrees of openings.  Providing cross ventilation from the valley winds, visual moments of the hillside grasses, on a clear day the ocean and lastly… openings for that truck.  It was hard to argue with the client’s love of corten steel to solve the exterior cladding.  The simple long term lack of maintenance couple with the aging beauty.  On Weathering.  The design priority became bringing the openings and materials in a cohesive, organized and modern solution.

THE FACTS
Off the grid… (Net Zero?)
Gabion seat walls made with on-site rocks (Down a hill and over a ridge)
Up-cycled storage containers (Wine cave)
5kW PV array (Did we mention being off the grid?)
Extensive roof overhangs to shade the exterior surfaces a majority of Spring and Summer days (No roof overhang excess on the elevations that self shade)
Roof and Site water collection into underground cistern for site use (Well water for the potable)
Low E glazing + daylight and views for Everyone

Be sure to check out our PORTFOLIO entry for more details and imagery.  Construction is starting soon as well!

CUEMA x MONTEREY x JANA ITZEN

Jana was recently a speaker at CUEMA's Annual Leadership Conference in Monterey, CA.  So you may be asking, what does an architect speak about to a room full of California's Water District Executive Managers?  How about, Architecture's Role in Transforming Organizational Culture.  There are many factors to change, and architecture is a vital part of the equation.  Supporting and inspiring change.

Deep questions like "Why is CULTURE important?" and "Who does it affect?" were addressed alongside bold ideas of "identifying a new value system or vision."  It was great.  However, I have to believe some in attendance were asking themselves how this all has to do with architecture.  So, Jana then brought in the inspiration of Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh and his efforts to use architecture as a key component of revitalizing the old downtown Las Vegas.  Hsieh is known to say, “If you get the culture right, most of the other stuff will just take care of itself.”  Well said Tony.  Well said.

Perhaps the most engaging portion of her session was the Case Study.  ITZEN worked with General Manager Ken Deck and the Rowland Water District to transform their customer experience in the Lobby/Payment area as well as the functionality of their Boardroom.  Coming soon is a full writeup on the Project along with visuals on our Portfolio page, but here is a quick glimpse at a couple areas of interest with the RWD project.

During the question and answer period Jana even let me in on the action to talk about design as an iterative process.  Involving not just the "design team", but most importantly the client as well.

Martin Querin of the City of San Jose toasting before we enjoy the amazing halibut catered at the Monterey Bay Aquaruim.

Just just because...

On Weathering...

Can you spot the architects in the photo?

And lastly, a big thank you to the entire CUEMA Board Members for inviting us to share and engage with you in Monterey.  We're looking forward to next year!

And Drew, thank you for sharing your photography to make this post all the more interesting!
photos: TRESPASS Photography