3rd Edition
Professional Practice 101 A Compendium of Effective Business Strategies in Architecture
Professional practice courses often suffer from a boring reputation, but there’s nothing dull about this updated, cornerstone edition of Professional Practice 101, which renders accessible the art and science of contemporary architectural practice. With its unique focus on links between design thinking and practice, this third edition brings an inspiring and fresh perspective to the myriad issues involved in successful architectural practice. The process of providing architectural services in today’s constantly evolving practice environment must be just as creative, intellectually rigorous, and compelling as wrestling with design problems.
In this new edition, packed with invaluable advice from leading experts, Andrew Pressman bridges the knowledge and experience gap between school and practice covering topics such as:
- Ethics, social responsibilities, and obligations to the environment
- Design firm types, culture, and leadership
- Financial, project, and time management
- Service and project delivery; leveraging emerging technologies
- Entrepreneurial business models and business development
- Legal issues, including AIA contract document analysis
- Collaboration and negotiating with clients and stakeholders
- Practice-based research
Students and early-career professionals will discover the fundamentals they need to launch their careers as well as more sophisticated strategies that will allow them to thrive as their roles evolve and they assume increasing responsibilities.
This engaging, comprehensive primer debunks the myth that recent architecture graduates have little or no guidance to prepare them for business. Professional Practice 101 is a learning tool that will readily deliver the knowledge and background for success in current architectural practice.
CHAPTER 1 ARCHITECTURE: ONE OF THE GREAT PROFESSIONS
What it means to be a professional, or the courage to be a misfit
Linking design and practice
Education, experience, and examination
Designing your career
Navigating the path to licensure and beyond
Notes
CHAPTER 2 ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Why bother with ethics?
Code, schmode
Ethical dilemmas
Postscript on ethical behavior
Pro bono work and community engagement
Responsibilities to the natural and built environments
Notes
CHAPTER 3 DESIGN FIRMS
Design firm typologies
Firm culture
Emerging technologies for emerging professionals
Entrepreneurial business models
The role of research in practice
Leadership, mentorship, and succession
Notes
CHAPTER 4 MANAGEMENT: FINANCIAL, PROJECT, AND TIME
Essential strategic finance
Project management
Designing your time
Notes
CHAPTER 5 PROJECT DELIVERY STRATEGIES
Primer on delivery methods
Note on integrated project delivery
Leveraging virtual design and construction
Success strategies in design–build partnerships
Notes
CHAPTER 6 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Principles of rainmaking to grow a practice
Ten rules of marketing
Guidelines for outstanding oral presentations
Selling architectural services
Building prose for building pros
Marketing one’s self: portfolio strategies
Notes
CHAPTER 7 LEGAL ISSUES
Business structures for design professionals
Building codes, ordinances, and regulations
Meeting the minimums and missing the point
Contract, tort, and employment law fundamentals
AIA contract documents
Legal liability basics and risk management
Negotiating strategies and consensus building
Notes
Index
Biography
Andrew Pressman, FAIA, an architect, Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland, leads his own award-winning architectural firm in Washington, DC. He has written numerous critically acclaimed books and articles, and he holds a Master’s degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
"This is not your grandparent’s version of a practice textbook, it is so much more… a one stop shop for understanding the mysteries of our profession… As a warning, once you pick up this book, you will not put it down until finished; and then continue to use it as a reference." —Thomas Fowler IV, FAIA, ACSA Distinguished Professor
Critical praise for the Second Edition of Professional Practice 101
"Did I say a joy to read? Yes. Pressman’s book puts soul into the effort of understanding a very diverse, complex, inventive profession." —Michael J. Crosbie, Architectural Record
"Think of this book as a design primer, providing the basics you’ll need to create the practice you want." —Thomas Fisher (from the Foreword to the Second Edition)
