# Introduction This is my Digital Garden focused on sharing what I know about the profession of architecture. If you are not aware of the concept of a Digital Garden, I will expand on that as this space grows. In a nutshell, I look forward to sharing my experiences, thoughts, and interests in and around the profession of architecture. I feel awakened by the potential of what a Digital Garden can do to help me spread knowledge and use what is called Public Learning to sow the seeds that others will germinate and ultimately create fruit for future architects that then can sow new seeds and continue the process. If you want me to expand on any of the subjects in this Digital Garden feel free to connect with me on [Twitter @kurtneiswender ](https://twitter.com/kurtneiswender)or visit my business website to see more of my project work at [urbancolab.design](https://urbancolab.design). # About Me Kurt Neiswender, AIA | Twitter\@kurtneiswender ## Who am I? Hello, my name is Kurt Neiswender. I am an architect living and working in Flint, Michigan. However, I am not an original [Michigander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigander), yes that is what we call ourselves in this state! ## Where am I From? I was born in Stamford, Connecticut and was raised there until I went off to college when I was eighteen. ## Schooling I attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. This experience was where my interest in architecture grew into a passion and this passion was fueled by the work of [deconstructivist ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstructivism)avant-garde architects like [Morphosis](https://www.morphosis.com/), [Eric Owen Moss](http://ericowenmoss.com/), and others. I am sure I will share more names and inspirational projects throughout this garden. After receiving my degree from USC I worked in various firms around Los Angeles, cutting my teeth on offices of all sizes. ## More Info For those who are curious I will paste a current version of my [Curriculum Vitae](/about-me/curriculum-vitae) so you can see the diversity of my experience and how I got here. # The Business Plan Sharing my Business Plan ## Urban Colab Architecture ### Business Plan March-2023 Flint, Michigan 810-288-4991 [urbancolab.design](https://www.urbancolab.design/) ## Executive Summary ### Who we are People first, profit second. We provide design services and products that are directly focused on low-to-no energy consumption. We also extend this focus to developing the site and landscape design that equally serves to reduce environmental impact. With the 20 years of experience of our founder, Kurt, we have a proven track record of creating residential and commercial projects that go beyond net-zero energy consumption with some actually producing excess energy. Urban Colab Architecture is intentionally registered as an L3C. L3C is short for, Low-Profit Limited Liability Company. This means we are a socially focused business. We provide creative solutions by actively listening to our clients' needs. Our end goal is for clients to feel that they were equal participants in bringing their project to reality. We will guide the process the entire time to act as your “guardrails” giving you an equal stake in the success of your project. ### Purpose Urban Colab Architecture's fundamental purpose is to empower our clients to achieve independent and sustainable lives by designing productive buildings and landscapes. We believe in the thought that “we cannot control the world but we can control how we act in the world”. Our focus is to pursue projects that are truly regenerative and productive. A regenerative solution repairs the impacts made by man. Our projects are intended to engage the landscape with respect to site and place and are designed to operate with minimal utility reliance. Our landscapes are carefully selected to match each site’s unique microclimate for maximum production without wasting resources like water and soil. Urban Colab architecture is in the wealth-building and resiliency business. Through the service of architecture, we provide our community with the ability to be self-sufficient from a shelter, food, and business capacity all in balance. Enough is more than enough. But to get there we are focused on making sure all of our community members have access to the basic necessities to sustain human life. ### Ideal Client #### Homeowner Clients Our ideal clients are individuals and families that understand the basic principles of self-sufficient living as a whole picture of economic, social, environmental, and energy conservation. We want our purpose to align with our client's goals of living more resilient and with the comfort and capacity of weathering any man-made or natural disaster. Seth Godin speaks about “finding your tribe”, a collection of 1,000 followers that would buy anything you sell, Urban Colab Architecture will be successful if we find a “tribe” of even 100 clients/projects. This target is based on a no-compromise attitude. Our sole purpose is to see our clients living their healthiest and happiest life enjoying productive landscapes with renewable resources. #### Developer Clients We are actively working with local nonprofit organizations, Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, and The Genesee County Land Bank Authority. We have completed the rehabilitation of two homes in Carriage Town that represent the regeneration of Flint’s oldest historic neighborhood. These two homes were built by a local small business contractor, Jon Mason, of Above and Beyond Concepts. Jon’s company's painstaking attention to detail has resulted in two beautiful new homes that are ready for occupancy in Spring 2022. We also are working with Communities First, Inc. on two new mixed-use developments in Flint that will provide 74 new units of housing and commercial and tenant amenity services. Both buildings will provide much-needed affordable housing. Urban Colab Architecture and Communities First, Inc. has aligned mission statements to serve our local Flint community. #### Community Clients Urban Colab also is supporting other small businesses in Flint. We are currently providing design services for Rootless Coffee, a local coffee roasting company that has become a shining example of the gritty determination of local small businesses. We are also working with Emily Doerr who is pursuing opening up a boutique retail wine and cheese shop in the storefront of the Historic Berridge Apartment building. While these two projects are smaller in scale, the process to renovate existing buildings is challenging and takes a lot of problem-solving skills to navigate the building code and building department. We are very proud to partner with local small businesses and be a part of the positive impact. ## Business Description / Vision ### Mission / Vision Our goal is to launch a remote-work design services business that provides solutions for local/regional projects. We choose to grow the business as a remote-work model to take full advantage of available and affordable technology as well as provide our team with true work/life balance and freedom. #### Objectives * Choose which projects to take on based on rigorous goal matching * Be recognized as a resources for net zero design solutions * Be recognized as a resource for regenerative / permaculture landscape design * Grow our team sustainably without debt * Prepare company financial resources to be resilient from recession or disaster * Collaborate with allied professionals in the arts, urban design, planning, horticulture, and other creatives * Pursue design competitions annually that align with business goals * Provide 10% of time, or 10% of fee discount, annually to pro bono services for clients that are in need * Say no to projects that don’t fit with our mission to be able to always say yes to projects that do fit our mission * Create strategic partnerships with fellow remote work office structures * Develop each project holistically with 3D drawings, building and landscape design solutions, and budget feasibility and estimates * Pursue Architect led property development for incremental wealth building * Focus on off-grid and regenerative design solutions that have long lasting return on investment for the client and for the planet #### Keys to Success * Manage project budget and schedule to achieve true work/life balance and freedom * Complete projects that satisfy design goals and budget goals * Develop client relationships that result in high referral rate >80% * Complete all projects within the estimated hourly schedule for consistent profitability ## Organization and Management ### Company Ownership Urban Colab Architecture will be created with an initial operating assistance investment of Kurt and Danielle Neiswender. Urban Colab Architecture will be established as a limited liability company (LLC) or a low-profit limited liability company (L3C). L3C’s combine aspects of a nonprofit and for-profit organization. It is a relatively new innovation in the United States. Its purpose is to attract capital to commercial ventures that promote some sort of social good. The L3C's primary purpose is a charitable mission while generating profits is a secondary goal. It represents a socially responsible entrepreneurial model. ### Company Leadership #### Kurt Neiswender - Founding Principal, Architect Kurt Neiswender is a firm believer in sustainability and stewardship of the environment, where he can leverage his professional experience to support the goals of his clients. His career background has uniquely prepared him to become a subject matter expert in sustainable design. He brings a holistic vision of sustainability that goes beyond the building envelope and includes society health and human wellness that strengthens communities. #### Danielle Neiswender - Financial Bio ### Operational Narrative Urban Colab Architecture intends for all projects to be considerate of the ecological impact of their designed solution. Urban Colab Architecture provides solutions that are architectural in nature (i.e. buildings, infrastructure, fabrications, installations), and ecological in nature (i.e. landscapes, gardens, water storage, regenerative property maintenance). The resulting successful project will provide the client with a resilient property that produces more than it consumes. Both the architectural and ecological designs aim to achieve the highest levels of sustainability in their materials and the environmental impact. ### Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Urban Colab Architecture intends to seek certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). Kurt Neiswender’s mother, born in Guatemala to Guatemalan parents enables him to qualify for MBE status. Urban Colab Architecture seeks to leverage this national certification for its additional governmental advantages and business prioritization. ## Description of Products and Services ### Company Location and Facilities Urban Colab Architecture will maintain no permanent physical office. Core management staff will operate a home office and collaborate with staff and consultants in remote work methodology. Urban Colab Architecture will obtain a membership to local coworking maker space, Factory Two in Flint, Michigan. This coworking space will be used for face-to-face meetings as needed. The Coworking membership will also be used for explorations in design by leveraging the variety of tools provided by the maker space shop. ### Service Description Urban Colab Architecture will provide architecture, interiors, and landscape design services to their client base. We will include consultants on an as needed basis to meet project specific requirements. **The three core services that Urban Colab Architecture provides include:** 1. Sustainable Architecture Design 2. Regenerative Landscape Design 3. Placemaking Urban Design **In-house services include:** * Architectural planning and design * Interior design * Building alterations and feasibility studies * Programming * Site planning * Space planning * Specifications development * Furniture, artwork and installations * Cost estimating * Sustainable and passive design principles * Construction administration **Outside consultant services anticipated:** * Civil Engineering * Structural Engineering * MEP and Fire Suppression Engineering * IT | Telecommunications design * AV and Security design ### **Urban Colab Architecture will focus on buildings with the following ‘Use and Occupancies’:** * ‘Missing Middle’ Multi-family Residential * Adaptive Reuse * Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) * Professional Office Spaces * Interior Office Tenant Alterations * Main Street Retail * Permaculture Landscape **Notes: Template plan sets for incremental residential / commercial projects suitable for common lot dimensions.** ## Definition of Market ### Michigan Regional Market The state of the architecture profession in the Michigan region has struggled since the recession in 2008. There is a large gap between large corporate firms and small to medium-sized firms. According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) membership data half of all Michigan statewide AIA membership works in Detroit. Not all architects practicing are members of AIA. Approximately 58% of all licensed architects are AIA members. As you move northward away from Detroit the availability of licensed architects drops off dramatically. Other hotspots of architects are Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Lansing. This leaves a lot of geographic territories that has a very low quantity of licensed architects. Additionally, as a result of the 2008 recession, there was a great loss of mid-career architects in the workforce. Mid-career architects demographic represent individuals with 10-15 years of experience. These individuals that were laid-off either moved out of state for work and have not returned, or otherwise did not return to the profession for alternative career paths. At the lowest statistical point, for every eight architects retiring in Michigan, they were being replaced by one entering the workforce. While the marketplace is improving, the workforce gaps still exist and firms are struggling to staff mid-career architects. Large firms are also still practicing very traditional methods in regards to maintaining large expensive office spaces and not providing the flexibility for remote work and freedom of work/life balance. ### The opportunity Urban Colab Architecture is based in Flint, Michigan. The Flint area was equally impacted by the 2008 recession and even prior to that with the abandonment of the automotive industry. Flint’s new normal is a population of half of its peak resulting in real estate values that have been reduced to the absolute lowest per acre value in the state, and quite possibly the country. \ Geographically, Flint is strategically located between Detroit (\~1 Hr by car), Saginaw, Midland (\~1 Hr by car), and Grand Rapids (\~2 Hrs by car). Being based in Flint gives Urban Colab Architecture the advantage to have easy connectivity to larger metro areas within minutes of I-475, I-69, M-23, and I-75 highways. Urban Colab Architecture can take advantage of the lower cost of living during its first 1-3 years of operation, and as a remote-work business model we can travel to projects and clients within 100 miles of Flint with great agility. ### Ideal Target Market In our first year, Urban Colab Architecture, with confidence, has the capacity to provide complete services for up to six projects ranging in size from $250,000-$500,000 in construction costs. This represents potential annual revenue of $90,000.00-$180,000.00. Using the ideal project Uses and Occupancies identified above Urban Colab Architecture can target potential clients within 100 mile radius of Flint. ### Potential Clients The potential clients that identify with the construction cost stated above would ideally be individuals seeking renovations or new construction projects that range in size from 2,500-to 5,000 square feet. These projects can be either residential or small commercial projects that would be found in Main Streets, like downtown Flint, Owosso, or Port Huron. Urban Colab Architecture will target clients with a particular focus on adaptive reuse of vacant structures and projects that replace buildings lost to demolition and that have left behind an underutilized vacant lot. Our ideal client would be focused on the repurposing of existing and previously developed land before seeking to develop greenfield native landscapes. Sustainability and regenerative designs are critical to making our cities and towns more resilient to economic, climate, or pandemic disasters. Our ideal client demographics could range between young professionals in the Millennial Generation that value social and environmental equity seeking to be more self-reliant to individuals at the end of their career choices to lower their economic and environmental footprint for low-impact freedom in retirement. ### Anticipated Market Share Urban Colab Architecture anticipates a high availability of potential clients that fit the profile stated above. Looking at demographic and economic development data from the [Economic Development Authority-Region 6](https://www.umflint.edu/edacenter) (EDA) which is hosted by the University of Michigan-Flint, there are [hotspots](https://www.umflint.edu/sites/default/files/groups/EDA_University_Center_for_Community_and_Economic_Development/eda-research-spotlight2018.pdf) of commercial activity along the I-69 corridor between Shiawassee and St. Clair Counties. Throughout the EDA’s seven counties these hotspots represent potential project locations that fit our ideal client/project profile. Two factors provide Urban Colab Architecture with a competitive advantage in this share of the market. First and foremost is the remote-work model that reduces all of our unnecessary overhead to allocate all resources to maximize project fees. Second, projects of this size are not worth the time of the large firms in Detroit, and even small 6-10 person firms carry too much overhead to provide the full client services that are needed for repeated successful project delivery. This section should: * Describe your business industry and outlook * Define the critical needs of your perceived or existing market * Identify your target market * Provide a general profile of your targeted clients * Describe what share of the market you currently have and/or anticipate ## Marketing and Sales Strategy ### Positioning statement We will offer innovative and economical professional design services while maintaining “state of the art” design technology as part of our service. We will meet client expectations on projects of all sizes as well as projects with special integrated design requirements. Professional services will be tracked on an hourly basis and assigned to a project number. A target of 80% billable is desired to maximize efficiency and profitability. Projects will be contracted on either a fixed fee or time and material hourly basis. We will look to maintain an hourly rate for services that is competitive with the standard as determined by the profession. This rate will be assigned to each employee based on experience and expertise. ### Competitive Advantage Urban Colab Architecture is founded on the 18+ years of experience of Principal, Kurt Neiswender. We will continue to be focused on repeat business and look to maintain a “relationship-based” client firm. The experience gained over the course of the past 18 years at architecture offices of varying sizes and expertise will be the launching point for Urban Colab Architecture. In most cases, the experience points to what best practices are most relevant, and in some cases, points to lessons learned and what practices not to extend into the operations of Urban Colab Architecture. ### Marketing Channels Urban Colab Architecture will utilize the following strategies to market to potential clients: * Weekly articles on our website for SEO ranking * Guest blogging and podcasting to promote our brand * Create a lead magnet guidebook for download on our website. Refresh this monthly or quarterly with new content * Obtain video and written testimonials from successful client projects * Create a curated collection of plan sets for sale that include one for free that showcase how we package and present our work product * Use each social media platform discretely for their primary purpose and audience ### Sales Strategy 4 P’s pricing promotion products and place Plan sets passive income. ### Exhibit A: SWOT Analysis for Urban Colab Architecture | **STRENGTHS** | **WEAKNESSES** | **OPPORTUNITIES** | **THREATS** | | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | 20+ years experience | Perceived as too small for some clients | Innovate and reimagine the profession | Other small firms potentially undercutting fees | | Network of like minded colleagues | Limited portfolio of ideal projects | Passive income model | Recessions | | Financially debt free | Not Passive House Certified yet | Remote Collaboration | Cost of certifications, PHIUS, ILFI, NCARB | | Ability to be selective | | EntreArchitect Community (Peer Group) | | | Subject Matter Expert in sustainability | | | | | | | | | ## Financial Management ### Urban Colab Architecture Financial Startup Analysis New Business * Estimate of start-up costs * Projected balance sheet (1 year forward) * Projected income statement (1 year forward) * Projected cash flow statement (12 months forward) ## Financial Summary Current Contracts Awarded | **Client** | **Type** | **Estimated Income** | | ------------------------ | ------------------- | -------------------- | | J Kretschmer Architect | Consulting Contract | $30,000.00 | | Orchard Grove Apartments | Design Contract | $105,000.00 | | Orchard Manor Apartments | Design Contract | $80,000.00 | | Subtotal | | $215,000.00 | ## Appendices This section should include as attachments: * Company brochures * Resumes of key employees * List of business equipment * Copies of press articles and advertisements (if available) * Pictures of your business products (optional) * Information supporting the growth of your industry and/or products (optional) # Curriculum Vitae circa 2023 ## Kurt Neiswender, AIA #### Flint, Michigan 48503 EMAIL: WEB: [www.urbancolab.design](http://www.urbancolab.design) ## WORK EXPERIENCE **Urban Colab Architecture, L.3.C. – Flint, MI** *Founder, Owner – April 2020 - Present* * Launched Sole Proprietor design firm to focus on community-based design solutions. * Primary focus on Sustainability, Resilient Design, Regenerative Design, and Adaptive Reuse. * Project types include affordable housing, missing middle housing, incremental development. **Sedgewick + Ferweda Architects – Flint, MI** *Project Architect – July 2012 - December 2020* * Initiated and trained staff on 2D/3D Building Information Modeling software, Autodesk Revit, to improve design accuracy, efficiency and quality of client deliverables. * Lead the design of all Net Zero Energy design projects that have successfully completed two single family residences and currently developing Flint's first Net Zero Energy commercial building. * Strategizing business development and client service experience through systems development. **MainStreet Design Build – Birmingham, MI** *Director of Architecture – September 2010 – July 2012* * Managed design staff of three to field measure, document, and design all residential and commercial projects. * Directly responsible for coordinating construction administration services for all project work. Prepared all permit application and planning approval presentations. * Communicated progress of all project work in weekly meetings. **OJMR Architects – Los Angeles, CA** *Project Architect – March 2007 – September 2010* **Gruen Associates – Los Angeles, CA** *Project Designer – June 2006 – March 2007* **Deborah Waldrip Architect – Malibu, CA** *Project Designer – June 2005 – June 2006* **Togawa Smith Martin Residential** *Junior Designer– June 2004 – June 2005* **James Schettino Architect – New Canaan, CT** *Designer – December 2003 – June 2004* ## EDUCATION **Lawrence Technological University – Southfield, MI** *Masters of Urban Design – 2015* * Graduated with Distinction * Sustainable Urbanism Concentration **Columbia University – New York, NY** *NY/Paris Program - 2003* * Attended Fall Semester in New York **University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA** *Bachelors of Architecture – 2003* * Five-year professional degree * Member – Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity ## PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS ### **American Institute of Architects** #### **National Appointments** 2019-2022 AIA National Small Firm Exchange Board of Directors 2017 AIA National Practice Innovation Lab Participant 2017 AIA / NCARB Experience Advisory Committee Co-Chair 2013-2016 Young Architect Regional Director - Michigan Region 2013-2016 AIA National Resolutions Committee (2016 Chair) #### **Regional Appointments** 2021-2022 AIA Michigan Board of Directors 2019 AIA New Jersey Design Service Awards Jury Member 2019 AIA Michigan Strategic Planning Committee for 2020-2025 Strategic Plan 2016 AIA Michigan Recognitions Committee 2013-2016 Young Architect Regional Director - Michigan Region #### **Local Appointments** 2020-2021 AIA Flint Component Past President 2018-2019 AIA Flint Component President 2016-2017 AIA Flint Vice President, President Elect 2012-2015 Emerging Professionals Committee Chair ### **National Council of Architectural Review Board NCARB** #### **National Appointments** 2016-2017 Architecture Review Exam ARE 5.0 Content Development Committee 2016 Experience Advisory Committee Co-Chair **Michigan Association of Planning** Member 2013—Present ## TECHNOLOGY MS Office Suite, G Suite, Adobe Suite, GIS, Autodesk Design Suite Premium, SketchUp, Space Syntax, Google Earth, Rhinoceros + Grasshopper, Energy Auditing and Analysis-BEopt, Sefaira, Energy Plus, Passive House PHIUS+. ## TEACHING EXPERIENCE ### **Lawrence Technological University – Instructor F/T** #### **College of Architecture and Design** Instructor - Full Time Faculty - 2021-Present Adjunct Faculty - 2020-2021 Subject Area: Building Systems – Teaching in Undergraduate and Graduate Studies ARC 3423, ARC 5413 – HVAC and Water Systems ARC 4443, ARC 5443 - Acoustics, Lighting, and Illumination Systems ARC 2116 - Integrated Design 1 ARC 2126 - Integrated Design 2 ARC 3126 - Integrated Design 4 ARC 4116 - Integrated Design 5 ARC 4126 - Comprehensive Design - Lab Component ### **University of Michigan-Flint – Adjunct Faculty** #### **Geography, Planning, and Environment Department** Lecturer I—2013-2019 Subject Area: Sustainability and Urban Design ESS 360, ESS 140, GEO 299, GEO 297, URP 498, URP 310, URP 212, URP 111 #### **Art and Art History Department** Lecturer I—2014-2015 Subject Area: 2D Design, Community Engaged Design ART 379, ART 141 ## COMMUNITY SERVICE ### **Lawrence Technological University** #### **Architecture Alumni Cabinet** 2018-2020 Cabinet Member 2019 Vice Chair 2018 Secretary #### **City of Flint / Community Activity** **2019-Present** Historic District Commissioner **2019-2020** Durant Turri Mott Workgroup Member **2017-2020** Flint and Genesee Chamber Sales Lead Round Table **2015-Present** University Avenue Corridor Coalition #### **Genesee County Historical Society** **2019-2020** City of Flint Historic District Commission Liaison #### **City of Grand Blanc** **2018-2019** Pop Up Retail Advisory Committee ### **Previous Service Experience** #### **Davison Township Planning Commission** **2013-2016** Commissioner #### **Imagine Flint Master Plan** **2014-2015** Open Space, Parks & Environmental Features Implementation Task Group ## AWARDS **2018 Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce** **Art of Achievement Awards** 2018 Small Business Award - Winner (Sedgewick + Ferweda Architects) 2018 Young Professional of the Year - Nominee **2018 AIA Flint Design Awardee** Sustainable Design Award for Satori Passive House **2018 Building Design + Construction Magazine** 2018 40 Under 40 Winner **AIA National Recognition Award** 2017 Young Architect Award **2016 Green Light Flint Finalist** Business Model Competition **AIA Michigan Recognition Award** 2015 Young Architect Award **AIA Flint** 2013 AIA Flint Design Award Winner for 2012 Park(ing) Day Installation **Michigan Architecture Foundation** 2013 D. James Walker Jr. Memorial Scholarship $3,000.00 **Leadership Detroit** 2012 University Partners Leadership Training—Class II **Lawrence Technological University** 2011 Graduate Research Assistantship Studio \[CI] ## GRANT FUNDED RESEARCH / PROJECTS **2020 UM Flint EDA Research Grant** $8,500 Grant extending research in Pop-Up retail **2020 Share Arts Flint Grant Year 2 – Greater Flint Arts Council** $2,000 Award for development of AIA Flint - Guide to Architecture **2019 Share Arts Flint Grant Year 1 – Greater Flint Arts Council** $3,200 Award for development of AIA Flint - Guide to Architecture **2018 UM Flint HFRCC Research Grant** $1,000 Consulting Architect **2018 UM Flint EDA Research Grant Phases III+IV** $20,000 Grant extending research in Pop-Up retail **2017 UM Flint EDA Research Grant Phases I+II** $20,000 Grant exploring Pop-Up retail **2016 Michigan Architectural Foundation Public Awareness Grant** $1,200 Award for Revisions to AIA Flint - Guide to Architecture **2013 AIA Flint Flat Lot Competition** $50,000 Total Grant Funded Collaborative Art/Architecture Installation ## SPEAKING / WRITING **August 28, 2020—Net Zero Build Summit-Novi, MI** Panelist: Design Challenges for Residential and Multi-Family Premises Embracing Net-Zero Building Principles **July 15, 2020—Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven** Podcast guest episode 20 **June 30, 2020—Inside the Firm Podcast – Monday Morning Coffee** Podcast guest appearance with Jamie Crawley, AIA **October 24, 2019—AIA Texas Society of Architects Annual Convention** Pecha Kucha: The Art of Execution **October 17, 2019-Powers Catholic High School** Career Day **October 10, 2019—AIA Michigan Leadership Retreat** Pecha Kucha: AIA Flint Component Presentation **October 4, 2019—UM Flint EDA Center** Pop Up Retail Research Phases III+IV **September 9, 2019—Factory Two Tech Meet-Up** Presentation: Computational Design in Architecture **August 9, 2019—EntreArchitect Podcast with Mark R. LePage** EA283: The Power of Sketching with Kurt Neiswender and Jamie Crawley of Coffee Sketch Podcast **May 1, 2019—AIA Flint Guide to Architecture** “A Flint Guide To Architecture” Publish Date **2019—Present The Coffee Sketch Podcast** Co-Founder with Jamie Crawley, AIA **December 11, 2018—USA Today Online** 25 Must See Buildings in Michigan—Flint Contribution **November 13, 2018—Incremental Development Alliance** Design Charrette Simulation for Incremental Housing Development **November 8, 2018—UM Flint Guest Lecture** Principles of Passive House Design **November 1, 2018—AIA Flint Guide to Architecture** Committee Chair for Updated Map Guide to Architecture **October 30, 2018—UM Flint EDA Grant Presentation** Pop Up Retail Research Phases III+IV **October 16, 2018—UM Flint Science on Tap** Principles of Net Zero Energy Buildings **September 30, 2018—UM Flint EDA Center** “The Cookbook” a publication sponsored by the C.S. Mott Foundation **September 8, 2018—Detroit Design Festival** 18th Street Community Design Charrette **October 24, 2017—Aspire: The Power of People and Place** EDA Center Report on Faculty Grant Research “Pop Up Retail” **May 10, 2016—Flint Countywide SOUP** “The Case for Incremental Housing in Flint” **April 27, 2016 Davison High School** Career Day Representing the Profession of Architecture **Feb. 25, 2016—Archinect Sessions Podcast** Special Guest—”Dispatch from Flint” Episode #54 **Feb. 22, 2016—YAF Connection** Advocacy Article “A Great Lakes Water Problem” Volume 14, Issue 1 **Feb. 12, 2015—Michigan Association of Planning Student Conference** Wayne State University “New Vision—Mott Park Recreation Area” **Jan. 22, 2016 Davison Middle School** Presentation—“What it Takes to Be an Architect” **Dec. 2015—YAF Connection** Article Interview with Donna Sink, AIA Volume 13, Issue 6 **Nov. 3, 2015—UM Flint ERS Department** Guest Lecture—GEO 380 **University of Michigan—Flint** **July 31, 2015—Arts / Tech / Biz—Mash-up** Urban coLAB Architecture, L.3.C. Recent Work - Flint Public Interest Design **June 2, 2015—SmithGroup—Detroit** Presentation—“What is an EP? **April 2015—Structures for Inclusion Conference** Carr Center Detroit Brennan Park Site Plan Design **February 2015—Michigan Association of Planning Student Conference** University of Michigan—Ann Arbor “Strengthening Community Through Urban Design” **November 2014—AIA YAF Connection** “Passive House—The Obstacles in Exceeding Expectation” **January 2014—AIA Michigan Leadership Retreat** Panelist—Emerging Professionals and AIA Michigan **January 2014—AIA YAF Connection** “Passive House—The Craft of Next Generation Residential Technology” **June 2013—AIA Michigan** **Architectural Review Examination Prep** Presenter on Building Systems Test Prep **May 2013—Flint Optimist Club** Guest Speaker—”Flint Flat Lot Competition” **April 2013—LTU Panel Discussion** Panelist with Mickey Jacob—AIA National President “The Future of the Profession” **April 2011—ARCC Conference** The Carr Center, Detroit With Studio \[CI]- Ford C3 Grant Presentation “Net Zero Community Design” ## SELECTED PROJECTS **2019—Present “The Coffee Sketch Podcast” 100+ Episodes** **[www.coffeesketchpodcast.com](http://www.coffeesketchpodcast.com)** Co-founded a weekly podcast with friend and architect Jamie Crawley, AIA, inspired by Jamie and Kurt’s shared passion for sketching, coffee and conversation. Coffee Sketch Podcast is our take on the intersection of old tech and new tech the space between the traditional practice of the hand-drawn sketch that has been performed by architects and designers for centuries and the modern day use of the #hashtag as a representation of sentiment or a movement! Each week we plan to deliver a new pod about our ideas, sketches, and what’s going in our daily lives as we pursue our love of architecture, design, and sharing this knowledge with the next generation. **2017-2018—University of Michigan EDA Center Provost Grant** **$40,000.00 Grant Exploring Pop Up Retail** The intent of this project is to explore emergent trends in “pop-up” style retail and concepts in innovative business incubation. This proposal outlines the exploration through community survey and participatory design charrettes. I plan to engage with two to three community partners representing downtown, suburban, and rural environments sampled from the seven EDA counties. The fundamental goals of this project is to identify appropriate sites that have socioeconomic and environmental conditions that can sustain pop-up retail kiosks, and create opportunities for citizens to access incremental business storefronts that are not feasible with traditional “bricks and mortar” lease space. **2016—Dewey Park and Foss Avenue Neighborhood Pavilions** **Design/Build with Habitat for Humanity** I provided pro-bono services partnered with the Genesee County Habitat for Humanity in a Citywide Request for Proposal for two pavilions on public land in Flint. Through the collaboration with Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, my design was chosen as the winning proposal and awarded the contract for both pavilions. The construction budget for both pavilions is $50,000.00 including design services, permits, materials and labor. Both pavilions are scheduled to be complete by June of 2016. **2014-Present—Passive House Projects** **Using Advanced Framing and Energy Modeling to Improve the Built Environment** Kurt managed the design and construction of Michigan’s first two United States Passive House Institute (PHIUS) Passive Homes. Passive House is the most energy efficient construction rating for residential buildings by reducing energy consumption up to 80%-90% better than standard construction. The result is minimal dependence on fossil fuels and increased health benefits from lower emissions. Currently working on three new net zero energy projects in Michigan. # Big Tent vs. Little Tent Coming Soon... # Afraid of Heights I am afraid of heights. I am not sure if I always was afraid of heights, but I am now, and so you will not likely see me volunteer to sit in the front row on a rollercoaster. In fact, you will not see me join you on any seat... ever! But that is ok. It is totally fine to be afraid of things, I have learned that there is a particular part of the brain responsible for this reaction called the amygdala. Many may know it is the "fight or flight" response. I am not gonna fight you for that seat on the rollercoaster, I am gonna run like hell from it! Why I bring up the topic is not to talk about rollercoasters, but to talk about things that I am not afraid of and how they have shaped me as a person, and an architect. {% embed url="" %} Not sure who created this but thank you! {% endembed %} Architecture is a very old profession, as long as there have been buildings to occupy then there has been someone to guide the design and construction of them. Architecture is then a slow-moving profession that adapts to changes and technology very slowly. I experienced this firsthand when I started architecture school in the late 90's we were required to do all drawings by hand, and it was only until the third year that we were allowed to introduce the computer (CAD) into our toolset. Ever since I began using the computer to make drawings, I was intrigued by how to make the process more automated and still an aesthetic product. This has proven to be a lifelong pursuit! Many elder architects are hesitant to appreciate [computer-aided drawings ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-aided_design)(CAD) because they lack the art of drawing, but I believe that CAD can be just as beautiful, and furthermore, I believe that the end result is the building not a set of drawings, but that is definitely a conversation for another day. Back to the topic of fear, I know that CAD drawings could be scary when hand drawing is "the way we always have done things", but sometimes you have to put your fears aside and take the leap toward the future that you want. I have always believed that we can do more, better, work with the computer as a tool, and I also believe that if we can embrace the positive traits we can take more control of the process of the design and construction of buildings. Throughout my career, I have stayed a "techie" when it comes to the practice of architecture and maintained a no-fear attitude toward trying out new software, or tools, that could make what we do more accurate and faster. So while I am still afraid of heights, I am not afraid of trying new things. tags: PKM, software, CAD, fear, learning # Trash Panda How one man's trash becomes another man's frisbee ### Taking a Stance on Plastic Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have been following the progress of Jesse from Trash Panda Disc Golf. I am a casual disc golfer, I enjoy that it gets me out of the house and into nature. There are quite a few courses around me in Michigan that I can choose from so it is a fun way to exercise. Jesse started a company in the Denver area that is focused on developing a fully recycled and fully recyclable disc golf disc. He has created a YouTube channel linked here that documents his progress starting from absolute scratch in his garage. {% embed url="" %} Jesse's latest video {% endembed %} I am extremely impressed with Jesse and his perseverance to keep trying and learning from every step of his process. He embodies the definition of [Grit](https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-book/). Professor Angela Duckworth, PhD. has conducted research on the subject of Grit and wrote a book on the subject. I highly recommend it. Grit is not just about being tough, it is about staying tough and not giving up. And if you watch Jesse’s latest video linked here, you can see firsthand how much he has endured over the past few years to launch just one fully recyclable disc made from recycled plastic. ### The Connection to Architecture In architecture, sustainability has been a hot topic for the past twenty years, and rightly so, the buildings we live and work in consume around [40% of the U.S. total produced energy](https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=86\&t=1) on an annual basis. As a country, we have made strides toward reducing our energy consumption, but we have not been able to reduce our demand for energy resources. In the past few years, we have started to talk about Carbon Footprint and Embodied Carbon in buildings. This is a very complicated subject, but one that highlights the intensity of energy that goes into not just building operating costs, but every part of the material extraction and fabrication process. That’s a big subject that we can continue to dig into in the future. {% embed url="" %} So needless to say sustainability is a big topic that requires action, and in my opinion, no action is too small! Every effort toward reducing our human impact on the earth the better. This is why I am a super fan of Jesse and Trash Panda Disc Golf. I will continue to watch his progress through his YouTube channel. I forgot to mention that he is launching the first run of his new [PDGA-approved disc golf disc](https://youtu.be/AnVDUzBKRdU). I am writing this post after watching Jesse’s latest video because I was extremely moved by his sincerity and I could see how much he cares about this subject. I know it is an uphill battle to steer away from single-use plastic, but I appreciate his effort and am excited to see the impact on the Disc Golf Community and the world. # Passive House Design Basics Five Tenets of Passive House ## Introduction to Passive House Design Like Steve Jobs--the mastermind behind the infectious gadgets, architects are inventors. At its core, the everyday practice of architecture is about devising solutions and enhancing existing techniques to improve human habitats. The trick is, how to create spaces that also reach into our beings and affect the intangible portions of our human experience. Buildings should function with the ease of an iPad, looks cool, and simply works well. What we are talking about isn’t rocket science but a subtle craft that outperforms current industry codes and standards. It’s about achieving Passive House standards—super-insulated and ventilated right, with each and every design. How this is done, requires little more than applying fundamentals of basic shelter, adding some simple objectives and software. It’s about using the software as a tool in our arsenal to develop buildings that improve the quality of life by quantifying comfort and personal health. The primary software is called the Passive House Planning Package – PHPP for short, and it does a miraculous job of quantifying the once thought unquantifiable. Take for example a comparison between PHPP, and the likes of, say RESCheck – the current standard for code compliance + 2013 IECC requirement interface (Michigan Residential Code 2015). In the specific category for envelope inputs, RESCheck requires only the R-value and gross area of the surface being defined. Let’s stop at R values for a second - PHPP breaks down R-value into 3 categories: 1. Surface Film Resistance values 2. Individual R-value per inch properties separated by material (many assemblies have over 5 materials) 3. Percentage of framing or structural material that effectively discounts the R-value for each individual material. What you end up with is a conservatively planned building design with defined values for exactly what is in a wall and roof assembly when modeling for a Passive House. To finish the comparison, for the area requirement with PHPP wall envelope assemblies require gross dimensions in addition to net dimensions taking into account the interior volume of air for mechanical performance. A complete description of PHPP would take hours. What can be learned from this short comparison is that this level of detail and quantifying severely cuts down on error in the energy model approach to design and construction – allowing for a truly quantifiable, 90% better-than-code performance that Passive House is known for – both proven theoretically in the modeled simulation and actual after construction performance. This software is used to analyze the thermal comfort and physical performance of the building envelope. This is nothing new, but its employment in the design and construction of buildings is where we cross over from the tangible to the ethereal, where personal comfort and health are the essential components of our everyday. This is supported by the mixing of the shelf components in a calculated combination to achieve truly great buildings. If we are to meet the ambitious requirements of [AIA’s 2030 Commitment](https://www.aia.org/resources/202041-the-2030-commitment), we need to start pushing past the bar of our current energy codes, let’s face it, they are not anywhere near on track to meet Net Zero Energy by 2030 – Passive House is going to be the closest, at 80% of the way when referencing the goals for 2030 Challenge. Therefore we need to take it upon ourselves to be the leaders of the built environment, once again, and with the types of technology explained in this article, we have the ability to do so. AIA’s 2030 Commitment does vary slightly from the Global [2030 Challenge](https://architecture2030.org/2030_challenges/2030-challenge/). It does not require firms to meet net zero by 2030, it is more of an open-source database of how our designs are performing, a tool to encourage architects and clients to continue to improve our built environment. In the ever-advancing society that lives in, we as architects, cannot do everything. Nor do we need to. With new delivery models like integrated project delivery, architects can build diversely talented teams that work together to develop excellent high-performing buildings at every scale, much like a conductor guides an orchestra to create beautiful symphonies. For the design shown in this article, our office has worked very closely with a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), to develop the design without sacrificing performance. Without this collaborative process, the project at a minimum would suffer from a drawn-out timeline and risk not meeting the stringent standards of US Passive House. Our design team has brought a design from concept to building permit within a few months. After six years the project has completed construction and has achieved rigorous certification and can use the label of, Michigan’s first Passive House certified under Passive House Institute United States (PHIUS). While this is a fact that we can be very proud of, the more important notion to us is that, by using PHPP to inform our design, we can confidently assure the client that their project is not only one of the highest-performing homes in the country, but it also meets all of their space and comfort needs. This is our utmost goal, to provide the client with an excellent building that will last many generations. ## Four Principles of Passive House Design ### 1-Solar Orientation Each design starts with a site plan that accurately orients the main elevation of the building directly south for maximum solar gain potential. By harnessing the sun’s energy in the winter and managing it in the summer, Passive Houses can take advantage of the free and natural resources. Each Passive House is designed for its specific climate region.

Richard Pedranti Architect

### 2-Super-Insulated Envelope By increasing the amount of insulation all around a Passive House, we can control temperature differentials through all four seasons maintaining a comfortable indoor environment 365 days a year. By using blown cellulose insulation a Passive House dramatically reduces the embodied energy compared to batt insulation or spray foam.

Richard Pedranti Architect

### 3-High-Performance Windows In addition to a well-insulated exterior envelope (walls, roof, and floor) a good passive house also maximizes thermal comfort with carefully chosen windows and doors that are thermally insulated from the exterior. These windows are also triple-pane windows that have a higher R-value to reduce excess heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Window size and placement are also very important. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is ideal to have the largest windows facing directly south and smaller and fewer windows facing north for optimized building performance.

Richard Pedranti Architect

### 4-Air-Tight Construction In concert with the insulation, the envelope of a Passive House is carefully constructed to minimize cracks and thermal bridges where air can infiltrate through the house. By dramatically reducing air leakage, a Passive House saves on energy costs that standard construction spends on reheating draft homes. The air-tight layer of a Passive House acts like a balloon filled with water, eliminating leaks.

Richard Pedranti Architect

### 5-Fresh Air Ventilation With all four of the above methods accomplished, the final step is to ventilate the Passive House efficiently. The best way to do this is with Heat Recovery Ventilation. This system takes 100% fresh air from the outside and preheats it with the exhaust stale air from the inside of the house. This quiet system replaces traditional fossil fuel-burning forced air furnaces.

Richard Pedranti Architect

### Additional Resources {% embed url="" %} {% embed url="" %} [Phoenix Haus](https://architectsinmichigan.com/portfolio/phoenix-haus/) - Michigan’s First PHIUS Certified Passive House (Project Architect - Designed at Sedgewick + Ferweda Architects) [Satori Haus](https://architectsinmichigan.com/portfolio/satori-passive-house/) - Project Architect - Designed using Passive House Principles at Sedgewick + Ferweda Architects # The Basics Core Skills to Get You Up and Running at any Firm This resource will help you to become indispensable and build your own confidence to take an active role in your own career growth. My hope is that you won't have to go through any awkward transitions from school to work, and that you can avoid some of the embarrassing moments I had. I look forward to engaging with you and sharing what I know to help grow the next generation of architects! # I Graduated. Now what? ## Introduction My idea for this digital garden was framed around the early professional years, let's say, 1-3 years after graduating where you feel like you learned architecture by drinking from a fire hose, and also feel like you still have to learn more to be an active participant in your first job. This is common and I hope to dispel some rumors and instill confidence with these pages to share how I grew into being an architect. If you thought that architecture school taught you how to be the lead designer in any company where you were hired on the first day on the job, welcome to the club. When I graduated I got my first job and wanted to change everything from the website to the business cards. I quickly realized that my role was nowhere near being in charge of design, but as a smaller gear in the machine that produced building designs. At first, I felt deflated, to say the least, but after some time I realized that school was just one part of a larger process to becoming a licensed architect. It also helps to have a great boss or manager that can soften the blow of not being the head of design. I was fortunate to have a couple of great employers that coached me through those early years so I could still feel important while I learned how to work in architecture. This is why I decided to write all this down, I want to share my experiences with the next generation so that you can feel more at ease that you are in the right place, and just need a few tips and tricks to get the most out of these first few years in practice. I know I may say this more than once throughout this garden, but architecture is 100% a marathon and not a sprint. There is so much to learn that it is impossible to cram it all into the four to six years of the architecture curriculum. The first thing to remember is that everyone in the office is on the same team, and if you don't feel welcome or included, then you should think about finding a company that is willing to give you the space you need to become great. I used the word team instead of another commonly used term, family, I do not think that people at work, no matter how much you love being there, is your family. I am a firm believer that no one would write on their headstone "here lies (your name) they worked a lot". I love architecture and feel like I found my passion in this career, I also have grown as a person that is working hard to not just identify myself as an architect. This list of [onboarding ](/architect-onboarding/the-basics)documents is just the basics of what I believe are key things to know when getting started fresh out of school. Not all may apply to you and your first job, but if you stick with it long enough they will make you indispensable to your team. I realize that this garden is not the only resource available to you, but I do hope it adds to the broader conversation of improving the profession by making it more transparent and accessible. # Design Thinking Applications of design thinking on real world projects. {% embed url="" %} ### Introduction Design thinking is an approach to problem-solving that has become widely popular in many fields. It is also gaining traction in the world of architecture, where it is being used to create multifunctional, innovative, and aesthetically pleasing architecture. This blog post will discuss how design thinking is being used in architecture, the benefits it provides, and the challenges it can bring. ### Utilizing Design Thinking in Architecture Design thinking is a process of imagining, creating, and testing different solutions to a problem. It involves a series of steps that focus on understanding the user, exploring the problem space, generating ideas, testing solutions, and refining the final product. This approach has been used in many fields, including engineering, product design, and business. It is now being used in the field of architecture, where it is being used to create innovative and creative architectural designs. Architects are using design thinking to create buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. This approach allows them to explore different design solutions and find the best one for their project. Design thinking also encourages collaboration between architects, engineers, and other stakeholders, which helps to create a better solution for the project. The use of design thinking in architecture has many benefits, including increased creativity, improved collaboration, and faster design cycles. Design thinking also helps architects to create more sustainable buildings, as they are able to explore different solutions and find the most efficient one. Design thinking can also bring some challenges. It requires a lot of collaboration between different stakeholders, which can be difficult and time consuming. Additionally, design thinking can be difficult to implement and requires a skilled team to make it successful. ### Benefits of Design Thinking in Architecture Design thinking has many benefits in the field of architecture. It can be used to create innovative and creative designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Design thinking encourages collaboration between architects, engineers, and other stakeholders, which helps to create a better solution for the project. Additionally, design thinking can lead to faster design cycles and more sustainable buildings. ### Challenges of Design Thinking in Architecture Design thinking can bring some challenges in the field of architecture. It requires a lot of collaboration between different stakeholders, which can be difficult and time consuming. Additionally, design thinking can be difficult to implement and requires a skilled team to make it successful. ### Conclusion Design thinking is an approach to problem-solving that is gaining traction in the field of architecture. It is being used to create multifunctional, innovative, and aesthetically pleasing architecture. Design thinking has many benefits, including increased creativity, improved collaboration, and faster design cycles. However, it can also bring some challenges, such as difficulty in collaboration and implementation. Overall, design thinking is an approach that can be used to create innovative and creative designs in architecture. # Learning by Repetition The real iterative process of refining building detail. Going beyond schematic design. Coming Soon... # Zoning Research Understanding how to start a project by researching the municipal websites for zoning information and property information. Coming Soon... # Email/Communication/Workstation Learning how to communicate internally with your team, and externally with clients and consultants. How to maintain your computer's desktop and file management Coming Soon... # Office Standards Getting familiar with drawing standards and conventions. How to work within a set of systems. Coming Soon... # Codes and Ordinances Teaching you how to seek knowledge on your own and find the right resources. Coming Soon... # What You Should Have Learned in ProPractice Basics of contract obligations and project delivery. Managing Client expectations. Coming Soon... # Working in Teams How to collaborate with your team and outside consultants to coordinate the design process. Coming Soon... # Small Firm Basics The ins and outs of how small firms tick. Getting to know what firm size you prefer. Coming Soon... # Large Firm Basics The ins and outs of how large firms tick. Coming Soon... # Learning How to Build Fundamentals in developing construction details from the footing up. Wall Sections that work! Coming Soon... # Site Visits What to do when visiting a construction site and a field measurement visit. Coming Soon... # Managing Product Reps and Vendors How to grow and maintain professional relationships Coming Soon... # Time Management Getting used to a time-sheet and managing your personal work calendar to stay focused and GTD. Coming Soon... # Professional Development and Growth membership groups like AIA, NOMA, CSI, and how to grow your network. Coming Soon... # Resources for Architects I have made a lot of friends and allies in this profession and I will share links to all of them here because I believe in what they are doing to further the profession through sharing their expertise and knowledge. If you are interested in always learning and growing as a person, not just an architect, these resources are for you. # Practice of Architecture https\://practiceofarchitecture.com/ Found of Practice of Architecture, Evelyn Lee, FAIA has created a fantastic resource for architects and designers who are interested in expanding the profession beyond traditional definition. Something I like to call [The Big Tent](/seeds/big-tent-vs.-little-tent). Practice of Architecture is a website, a learning platform, a podcast, and a community. Follow the link to find out more. {% embed url="" %} # Archimaration @archimarathon My favorite resource for architects and future architects is [Archimarathon](https://www.archimarathon.com/). The website is just a starting point the real power of what Kevin is doing with his brand is the YouTube channel and his online community on Discord. I stumbled across the YouTube channel during the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic and I have been consuming his beautifully shot and eloquently narrated videos on topics in architecture, but also his travel to great architecture across the globe. In fact, Archimarathon was founded on chartered tours to great architectural cities around the world. Now that the pandemic is under better control Kevin has rebooted the traveling tours again. I hope to make it to one in the near future. The power of the YouTube channel is in the strong educational focus that goes deeper than just what meets the eye. Kevin often shares the screen with Austin Maynard, of [Austin Maynard Architects](https://maynardarchitects.com/#/dezeen/), who offers color commentary and a jovial wit to the learning in each episode, proving that learning can be fun! When I discovered this resource I was isolated, working from home, and was eager to spend this time seeking new ways to reignite my passion for architecture again. While watching the videos I noticed the Discord link, and I was not a regular discord user. Once I joined the community on [Discord](https://discord.gg/archimarathon-803550806405414912), I was surprised to be chatting with Kevin Hui himself. He honestly takes care to grow and curate the community himself, and I can't even begin to imagine how much work that must take, but I am so glad he does because it makes the whole remote experience that much richer and more genuine. I am going to post one of my favorite videos below and the link to join Discord. I do hope that you find as much enjoyment while learning as I do. {% embed url="" %} A beautiful building and architectural tour. {% endembed %} {% embed url="" %} A lively and postiive architecture community {% endembed %} # Wikihouse https\://wikihouse.cc ### What is Wikihouse? There is a group of architects out of the UK that I have been following for the past 10 years. They have formed a nonprofit organization that is focused on eliminating the global housing crisis through affordable modular, self-built, construction. Additionally, they are also focused on reducing the overall carbon footprints of our built environment by choosing to develop a wood-based system. And one more thing, they have open-sourced every aspect of their design from raw cutting files to design models for others to create and build their own structures. {% embed url="" %} A timelapse of the Skylark Wikihouse System {% endembed %} ### How it Works? Over the past decade, they have built and deployed various prototypes of their modular system and given them different bird names. The most recent, and most promising system out now is called Skylark and it is in its 0.2 release. This system includes all the components modeled for multiple design software packages (rhino, SketchUp, blender, and ifc). ### Why Does it Matter? Housing affordability means different things around the world, whether you are in San Francisco, in London, Flint, like me, but the common denominator is that shelter is a basic human need. Over the past 100 years of industrialization our sense of shelter has drastically changed, needs have given way to wants, and has led to land grabs to create large oversized homes that are containers for stuff rather than housing for people. This space race has left us with a shortage of buildable lots near major utilities, jobs, and infrastructure. This topic is definitely something I will expand upon in the future. I encourage you to check out Wikihouse and spread the word that housing can become affordable once again, while also being carbon neutral and sustainable. # A Podcast About... Two friends from two parts of the country with similar interests Some of you know that I host a podcast called [Coffee Sketch Podcast](https://www.coffeesketchpodcast.com/) with my good friend, Jamie Crawley, AIA. He and I have been doing this since 2018. We started with the idea to have an excuse really to stay in touch with each other after our AIA committee work ended. This brainfart turned into a mutual passion to share our thoughts and knowledge around architecture through the medium of the sketch. We often talk about coffee, football (soccer), and current events, and invite other friends who share a passion for drawing. If you care to listen, our first episode is below, and you can subscribe through any of the regular podcast services. > Coffee Sketch Podcast is our take on the intersection of old tech and new tech. The space between the traditional practice of the hand-drawn sketch that has been performed by architects and designers for centuries AND the modern day use of the #hashtag as a representation of sentiment or a movement! Each week will plan to deliver a new pod about our ideas, sketches, and what’s going in our daily lives as we pursue our love of architecture, design, and sharing this knowledge with the next generation. {% embed url="" %} Coffee Sketch Podcast - Kurt Neiswender/Jamie Crawley {% endembed %} Thank you for listening. We both hope that you enjoyed this episode of Coffee Sketch Podcast. Our Theme music is provided by my brother who goes by @c\_0ldfashioned on Instagram and Twitter. Our podcast is hosted at [coffeesketchpodcast.com](http://coffeesketchpodcast.com) find more show notes and information from this episode. And finally, if you liked this episode please rate us on iTunes and share us with your friends! Thank you! #### Buy us a Coffee! Support the Show! #### Music on the Show CNEIS - c\_0ldfashioned - Compilation - #### Our Links Follow Jamie on Instagram - Follow Kurt on Instagram - Kurt’s Practice - Coffee Sketch on Twitter - Jamie on Twitter - Kurt on Twitter - #### On the Web Website - [www.coffeesketchpodcast.com](http://www.coffeesketchpodcast.com) Kurt’s Practice - [www.urbancolab.design](http://www.urbancolab.design) Contact Me - NFT Artwork - #### Coffee Sketch Podcast is on YouTube for extended cuts and more visual content of Jamie’s beautiful sketches. Please consider subscribing! #### Kurt’s Practice Urban Colab Architecture, shares about the practice of architecture and is also on YouTube. Please Subscribe to: #### Tags In situ, art, architecture, sketching, coffee, coffee sketch, podcast, coffee sketch podcast, what an architect does, design, design thinking, drawing, buildings, building sketches, sketches, pen, paper, sketchbook, coffee stains, watercolor, pencil sketches, markers, black and white, architects, architecting, ink sketch, ink drawing, cafe sketch, cafe sketching, urban sketching