Architectural Plans | Build a Dream Career in Architecture

In India, the construction and real estate is seeing a positive boom. The focus has shifted from just basic functionality to aesthetics, comfort, luxury and style. Hence, the demand for good architects is also on the rise. Architecture involves planning and designing of building and structures. A good architect can create marvels that remain as a testimony to his talent for ages. Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, pyramids of Egypt, Hotel Burj Al Arab, and many more like these are masterpieces of ancient and modern architecture. Today, architects need to blend their vision and dreams with materials to come up with structures that are high quality, with good functionality and environmentally friendly too.

Architects are required to design a variety of structures such as houses, apartments and colonies, shopping and commercial complexes, offices and industrial complexes, hospitals, hotels, airport terminals, schools etc. They are also required if a building has to be renovated or repaired. Thus, the demand for architects will never dwindle.

All those who are looking to make a career in this field have a few things to keep in mind. Ideally, students good at physics and mathematics are better suited to study architecture. To become an architect, one should have creativity with an interest towards designing. It is beneficial if one can also sketch and draw with a free hand. One should be socially and environmentally aware apart from being technically and mathematically sound to become a good architect. Of course, good communication skills, physical ability to work on the site, high concentration level, flexibility, patience, team spirit, responsibility and accountability can take one a long way in this field.

There are good training courses in architecture offered by institutes across India. To apply for a course, one should have completed higher secondary education with physics, chemistry, mechanical/ engineering drawing and mathematics, with a minimum of 60 percent marks. Most of the schools conduct entrance tests through national and state level entrance examinations. For entry to undergraduate programmes in government and private institutes, national level entrance examination is conducted by the Council of Architecture. However, there are separate state level tests too, such as one conducted by Tamil Nadu. Indian Institutes of Technology also offer architecture programmes. Entrance to these programmes is through the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) held in May each year. Other than theses, one has to appear for an aptitude test to ensure admission.

The degree course B.Arch is a 5 year course. After the graduate course, one can also study architecture at the post graduate course which varies from 18 months to 2 years.
There are various good institutes that offer courses in architecture. School of Planning & Architecture in New Delhi offers two Undergraduate Programmes leading to Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and Planning. The Bachelor of Architecture is a five-year programme. The school also offers the Master's and Doctoral Programmes in Architecture. SPA offers a 4-year programme in Bachelor of Planning.

Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) is another good institute. The college conducts a five year course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
The admission is made on the basis of the Common Entrance Test (CET) and Architecture Aptitude Test conducted by the Punjab University.

Based in Mumbai, the Sir J J School of Art conducts a 5-year course in Bachelor Of Architecture (B Arch). and a 3-year Master Of Architecture Degree. The institute also offers short term courses in computer education relevant to architecture after college hours.

Apart from these, there are other good schools like School of Architecture CEPT, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad; Lucknow University, Govt. College of Architecture; Goa University, College of Architecture; Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, Mumbai; Pune University, Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Architecture; Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, School of Planning & Architecture, Hyderabad; Kerala University, College of Engineering, Thiruvananthpuram; Anna University, School of Architecture & Planning., Chennai; IPS Academy, School of Architecture, Indore; Bengal Engineering College, West Bengal; Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon; Vastu Kala Academy, School of Architecture & Interior Designing, New Delhi.

Some architects go in for specialization in India and abroad. The fiels of specialization could be urban designing, regional planning, building engineering and management, architectural conservation, industrial design, landscape arhitecture, naval architecture, architecture concerning traffic and transport planning etc.

There are a lot of avenues to choose from for architects. There are opportunities available in government as well as private sectors. The government organisations include Public Works Department, the Archaeological Department, Ministry of Defence, Departments of Railways, Post and Telegraphs, Public Sector Undertakings, National Building Organisation, Town and Country Planning Organisation, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Building Construction Corporation Ltd., City Development Authorities etc. One can also go or private practice and start own firm and become a successful architect. After all, it requires dreams and good vision to make a mark in this industry.

Geetika Jain writes on behalf of Shiksha.com. Shiksha.com is an education portal that connects education seeker with education provider. Shiksha.com has wide information over Architechture colleges, Professional colleges and courses. Its education forums enable its users to seek opinion of students, alumni and faculty of colleges and schools through College Groups and School Groups.

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Architectural Plans | How to Build Your Own Home And What You Want With Your Drawings

Whether you order plans out of a magazine or catalog, hire a draftsman, or an architect, this is what you want to receive with your house plans:

(a) a foundation plan,
(b) a floor plan,
(c) the exterior elevations,
(d) the cabinet elevations,
(e) the cornice and rake details,
(f) a cross section,
(g) an electrical plan,
(h) a framing plan, and
(i) a door and window schedule.

Don't assume you're going to receive all of these items. You must verify what items you expect to receive, first, and include your requirements in your contract if you hire a draftsman/designer or architect.

a. Foundation Plan

The first thing you want is the foundation plan. If your home is going to have a basement, your plan needs to show a basement. If it is going to have a crawl space, your plan needs to show a crawl space. If it is going to be built on a solid concrete floor on top of the ground, called a slab, your plan needs to show a slab.

If you have full-unfinished basement, a lot of plans will show a beam down the center of the basement. On top of the beam would be the floor system for the first floor. This beam is normally made of steel or wood. If money is no problem, you could install a continuous steel beam that would run the entire length of the home. If this beam were large enough, you could support your home and need no support columns or posts under this beam. It would look like a large open roller skating rink in your basement. This beam could be very expensive. As the beam becomes smaller, which is cheaper, you will need columns or posts underneath the beam for support. The smaller the beam, the more posts will be needed. So the size of the beam is a function of the number of support posts you're willing to live with.

The person that can tell you what size beam to use, based on the number of posts you want, is a structural engineer. If you wanted to remove a post or support wall in an existing home, contact a structural engineer rather than an architect. Most architects will sub the job to a structural engineer. A structural engineer can also tell you if you have the correct size beam.

As a builder, instead of a beam with posts, I think about how I would finish the basement. I may have a future game room, a workshop, etc. Then I go ahead and build the walls in the basement according to my vision. These walls will now become load-bearing walls. On top of these load-bearing walls we'll build the floor system for the first floor.

There are two good reasons for doing this. First of all, I can build those load-bearing walls as cheap and many times cheaper than I could install a beam with the posts. Second, a potential customer will see all these walls and rooms and say to his wife, "Goodnight Martha, for another nickel and a couple of trips to the local supply house we can have all this finished space for free!" In reality, it's going to cost more than another nickel, but it helps sell the home.

When you're designing your basement area, what we call the "lower or terrace level." Include a room called the "mechanical" room. In this mechanical room you will place your heating and air system and water heater. If you only have one heating and air system in this area, design the room as close to the center of the home as possible. If you have a large home with multiple heating and air zones, design the room as close to the center of the zone as possible.

Many homes have the problem of the porch and/or steps being constructed on fill dirt. Over time this fill dirt will settle and the porch and/or steps will pull away from the home. In order to prevent this from happening, construct what are called T-walls or brackets under your porch and steps. We'll discuss this more when we build the foundation. However, draw the location of these T-wall or brackets on the foundation plan.

b. Floor plan(s)

The floor plan(s) should definitely include the following:

i. The dimensions of your rooms.
ii. The size and location of all doors and windows.
iii. The size and location of your tubs and the location of toilets and lavatories.
iv. Furnace vent-pipe location

If you have a gas furnace, you may locate the furnace in a crawl space or basement. Most gas furnaces will have a pipe that goes from the furnace up through the floor and out the ceiling and roof to vent fumes. We simply call it a "vent pipe." Be sure to show the location of any vent pipes on the floor plan. By showing this pipe on our drawings, you solve that age-old problem of the heating and air subcontractor walking on the job after the home is framed and saying, "Well, where do you want us to put the vent pipe?" And you say, "What vent pipe?" Then you have to give up part of your kitchen cabinets or a walk-in closet to accommodate this vent pipe. If you plan ahead you can normally locate this vent pipe where it's not going to be in the way or stick out like a sore thumb.

v. Hallway width

A hallway needs to be a minimum width to install doors. The molding around the door or window is called the casing. Many people will request and spend the money for wide door and window casings. Make sure the hallway is wide enough to accommodate the door casing. In many homes you'll see where the 4-inch casing is trimmed down to 2 inches because the hall was not wide enough. Any time you have a door or window near a corner, make sure there is adequate room from the door or window to the corner for the wide casing. These items need to be checked on the floor plan.

vi. Plumbing wall

Most walls in a home are constructed of 2X4 boards that are 3 ½ inches wide. Behind the kitchen sink and bathroom vanities the plumber will need to run a horizontal pipe in the wall. This pipe could be as much as 3 inches thick. If you cut a 3-inch pipe in a 3-½ inch wall, the wall is going to be structurally weak at that location. In those areas only, build a plumbing wall using 2 X 6 boards that are 5 ½ inches thick. Your plumber can show you in advance where these larger pipes will be located. Be sure to show these wider walls on the floor plan.

vii. Attic stairs

Show the size and location of any pull-down attic stairs. These are stairs that you'll pull down to access the attic. They will normally unfold. We have installed these stairs in short hallways only to realize, after the fact, there was not enough room to open them. I was then forced to purchase attic stairs that did not unfold, but rather slid up into the attic. These stairs cost ten times more than the regular pull-down type. Make sure, on the floor plan, there is adequate room for your attic stairs.

viii. Garage doors

In many garages the only way you can get into or out of the garage is to raise the garage door or walk through the home. I like to install a separate door in the garage for exit and entry without going through the home or raising the garage door. This also needs to be shown on the floor plan.

Many builders will install an 8-foot wide garage door for a single door and a 16-foot wide garage door for a double door. I recommend you spend the additional money (it's not that much) and install a 9-foot wide garage door for a single door and an 18-foot wide garage door for a double door. That way you don't have to do precision driving as you drive in and out of the garage. Because 16 and 18-foot doors tend to sag over time, I prefer two single doors rather than one large door. Also consider installing an 8-foot tall door instead of the standard 7-foot tall garage door. Considering that the larger SUV's [sport utility vehicles] are very tall.

ix. Miscellaneous items

Show the size and location of all medicine cabinets, skylights, laundry shoots, and dumbwaiters on the floor plan. As a note, if you're going to spend the money for a dumbwaiter, look into the cost of a residential elevator. For a little more money, the residential elevator is more useful in the long run than a dumbwaiter.

c. Exterior elevations

Your plans should show the front, rear, and right and left side exterior elevations of your home. The elevations will show you how the how the exterior of your home will look and what material will be used.

d. Cabinet elevations

Many builders will build without cabinet elevations. If you want to clear up assumptions, I highly recommend you have cabinet elevations. When I say cabinets, I mean the kitchen cabinets, the bath vanities and any built-in cabinets and/or bookcases.

Note: Plans from a catalog will normally include cabinet elevations. If you hire a draftsman or an architect they can include them for you. If you have money in your budget you could hire a professional kitchen and bath designer or CKD [Certified Kitchen Designer]. To find a CKD in your area and to learn more about kitchen and bath design go to the web site for the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

e. Sections

If you were able to cut your home in half and draw that area, you'd be looking at a "cross-section" or "section" of the home. Most homes only need one section of the home. You want at least one section included in your plans because it will indicate the size of framing material to use in your home.

If you have anything unusual, like a balcony overhanging a living room, you may need a section of that balcony to show the builder and the workers how it is constructed and/or supported. An ultra modern home with a lot of curved walls and overhangs may have 20 pages of sections to show the builder and the workers how the guts of that home are constructed and/or supported.

If you hire a draftsman or an architect and if you have a two-story home, tell them you would like to have a section through the "stairwell". By drawing a section through the stairwell you will solve a common problem of having the home framed without adequate headroom to go up and down the stairs.

If you make a change such as raising the ceiling from 8-feet to 9 or 10 feet, be sure to have the section redrawn to reflect this change because when you add height between the first and second floors it requires more steps, which means you'll need more horizontal distance in the stairwell to accommodate this change.

f. Cornice and rake detail

The cornice and rake are the edges of the roof. You will learn more about these areas later. Be sure to have a section or detail showing how the cornice and rake are designed and constructed. There are literally an unlimited number ways to design and build the cornice and rake, which is normally dictated by the amount of money you are willing to spend. If you do not have a section or detail of this area, it creates a lot of confusion for everyone.

g. Mechanical drawings

It's very common in residential, commercial, and industrial construction to see the location of lights, switches and electrical outlets on the drawings. It's also common to see the location of tubs, toilets, sinks, water heaters, exterior faucets and heating and air conditioning systems on the drawings.

In commercial and industrial construction it's very common to have drawings, called mechanical drawings, that show the size and location of plumbing pipes and the size and location of heating and air ducts. However, in residential construction it is not common to see drawings that show the size and location of plumbing pipes and/or heating and air ducts. On a large luxury home, the designer or architect may hire a mechanical engineer to design these items like they do on a commercial building. If you want to know this information, ask your heating and air subcontractor and plumber to give you a sketch showing the size and locations of these pipes.

h. Roof and Framing plan

If the design of your home or roof is complicated, a framing and roof plan is very beneficial. It not only shows everyone how this area should be constructed, it is especially helpful in calculating the quantities of material that will be needed.

i. Door and window schedule

A door and window schedule places all the information for doors and windows, such as size and type, in one convenient location.

Suggestion: House plans are very simple to understand. When I read a set of drawings, I will imagine going through the front door and walking down the hallway. I'll walk into a bedroom and imagine looking at the location of windows and doors. If you'll spend a little time looking at the drawings, before you know it you'll have no problems understanding what you see.

Tom Harrison is the Founder of The National Institute of Home Building [NIHB] in Atlanta, Georga. He is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Georgia Tech.

For FREE you can now learn his complete course on "How To Build Your Own Home" and much more at http://www.nihb.com.

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Architectural Plans | House Plans for a Natural Living!

It's a year 2007, and you're planning to build a new house for you, and your family.

Let's assume, that the question of where, has already been answered. Yes, the location is where your design ideas should originate from.

Providing you've done your research correctly, the only place you'd come up with would be somewhere in the middle of the rural America. Kansas? Wyoming? Both are good places to move your family to, and put your house plans to reality.

Designing your home will entail two distinctive parts: architectural and that encompassing construction and materials. Both are equally important. Your enjoyment of living in a nice looking house is hard to overestimate. Also, your standard of living will depend on how functional the house is. However, the quality of construction materials and the process itself, will determine the comfort level, and how healthy your dwelling is. Each of those critical parts will be examined below.

Architectural aspects of creating house plans.

Choose design concept that all people who will live there, do like. Compromise may be hard to achieve, but it's worth the effort. After all, you don't want anybody who would say: "I hate this place."

Knowing how difficult it is to combine beauty with functionality, tell your architect the main elements that your new house should incorporate: useable area, how many levels, number of rooms and their purpose, position of entry doors, etc. Any special requirements imposed by the fact that a handicapped, or senior persons will be living there, should be stated at the outset as well.

It's recommended, that you show your building block to the architect, so that he can better blend the design to the surroundings. This will benefit your future gardening and landscaping works, as well as the Nature left virtually intact.

Final word of advice: try to avoid "ground breaking" designs. You wouldn't want to be the guinea pig, testing it for others.

After the draughtsman put your architect's vision on paper, time to contact the builder who will carry on the construction phase.

Before even your first load of building materials arrives at the home site, make sure that your builder clearly understands your preferences. Yes, I'm talking about using, wherever possible, ecologically friendly materials. All timber should be free of preservatives - choose cypress with its natural insect repelling properties. Instead of chemicals-oozing carpets, choose slate or pine floors. Don't use Besser blocks; mud bricks or stone blocks are much healthier. Try to reduce use of cement as much as possible, due to its high energy use during the manufacturing process, and residual harmful substances. Instead of rendering, leave walls to show the natural beauty of stone, clay, or timber. Try to limit use of paints, as much as possible. If necessary, use odorless and chemicals-free kinds. There are many harmless pigments available, that when combined with water and lime will deliver stunning color finishes, free of harmful solvents. In place of glues, use mechanical methods during the construction process.

House plan, no matter how detailed, in the reality is never possible to adhere to a 100%. Be prepared to make "on the run" changes, still keeping the initial vision of your ideal home intact.

House plans are where Sam Ness directed his attention, looking for the Nature-friendly ideas to creating his first home!

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Architectural Plans | Architecture and Design Psychology

Design psychology is the use of psychology as the fundamental principle for design decisions in architecture and interior design. Cultural patterns of architecture reveal many fundamental principles of design psychology. A group of architects led by Christopher Alexander compiled what they learned about architecture around the world into a book called A Pattern Language (1977, Oxford University Press). This book discusses virtually every aspect of buildings including entrances, windows, hallways, fireplaces, kitchens, sleeping areas, home offices and workshops, walls, and storage spaces.

The research done by these architects revealed the need for people of all cultures to feel safe and nurtured in their homes, neighborhoods and towns. Simple patterns for positive environments included things like designing rooms to have light coming in from at least two sides and more than one entrance or exit if possible. Our eyes are built to handle visual processing with multiple light sources rather than a light from a single direction. This makes seeing more difficult in environments where light is coming from only one direction. In addition, we have an instinctual need for an escape route and recoil psychologically when confronted with cave-like rooms where we may feel trapped.

A closely related field to design psychology is proxemics, the study of cultural differences in personal boundaries and space requirements. Proxemics is intimately connected to design psychology and the placement of physical dividers such as doors and walls. In offices and homes alike, a social order is established by proximity. The offices that are the most distant from the waiting room and closest to the boss are for the most important staff members. Likewise, master bedrooms are usually the most distant from shared spaces such as entryways and living rooms. The rooms closest to the kitchen, family room and gathering areas are for those lowest on the totem pole, usually the children.

Proxemics also has much to do with issues of privacy. Those who have important activities and conversations to engage in need to have their space. When material dividers aren't available, visual and auditory clues can serve to define boundaries. Signs, frosted glass, bells and intercoms can serve to separate places where others are welcome and places where they must have permission to enter.

Design psychology and feng shui share many principles. Although the two approaches often come to the same conclusions, they differ in their foundations. Feng shui practice generally relies on a combination of tradition and intuition and design psychology generally relies on a research model. It could be argued that feng shui is a right-brain approach and design psychology is a left-brain approach. Perhaps a combination of these approaches with equal measures of common sense and practicality will yield the best solutions for architectural environments that meet both the basic and higher needs of their inhabitants.

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is an artist, writer and design consultant residing in Bozeman, Montana. Fine art and unique gifts by Kathleen and other selected artists can be found at http://www.livingartsoriginals.com Visit us today to find a wonderful addition to your home decor or a gift for someone special! For an extensive article about flower symbolism see http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm

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Architectural Plans | Selecting House Plans

Building a house matching one's imagination is a long cherished dream kept apart by everyone. There are several things one must take care of in order to make that dream come true. The first and foremost concern is to choose one of the best house plans. There are several elements involved in finding the home plan you like. The style, the architectural plans associated with it and innumerable other essentials and their blend in the right order make the house plan complete. Often you will come across several forms of custom home plans, but if you are among the choosy few then they will never satiate your views for sure. A perfect home is built by joining twigs comprising sweet dream one by one and thus your imagination obtains a body and soul and turns out to be a 'sweet home.'

Here is a brief on the few basics that need to be considered before you undertake the Herculean task of building a home, picture perfect. They mainly deal with the points related to choosing the right house plan and will no doubt be helpful to you.

· How many people will be living in the house and what are their respective ages. You must remember certain points, such as, the older members won't be able to climb the stairs, if the family is large then the house must possess multiple floors and many others.

· What is your budget? This is a big time question as much of the plan regarding building a house revolves around this factor.

· What should be the roof of the house like? In a place having snowfall, the roof should be flat; on the other hand if the area has heavy rainfall, then you will need an elevated house. You might also be in requiring the advantage of extra sunlight or much of shady backdrops.

· What is your lifestyle trend? Are the evenings quiet or you have a fascination towards entertaining lots of guests. The living area of the house should be planned likewise. You can even need privacy for the dwellers of the house belonging to the different generation.

· Above everything, you must always put importance on your taste and preference. The style and the architectural design of the house will depend on this element to a great extent. Whatever, be your choice, be it a Italian, Spanish or Mediterranean style or a ranch or even a contemporary one. You will implement your thought for sure while choosing the home plans. After all, as the house gets the complete look, it is always your turn to shout loud that, "THIS IS MY HOME". So this point depends solely on you.

Raymond Baresh is a architectural home design enthusiasts.He has traveled the world documenting designs from traditional to ultra-modern home designs. You can learn more about Raymond on his Home Plans blog.

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Architectural Plans | An Effective Home Plan

Everybody wants to build a sweet home. But despite having sufficient amount to have a new home, we often fail to reach our goal due to poor planning. Moreover, an apartment may look beautiful from outside, but after living in it sometimes we may face troubles due to faulty shapes. So, a full-proof house plan is the key to open the door of a long lasting house. Having effective architectural plans are the staircase to reach the rooms of a dream home.

In an age when retail business is booming, construction firms have been witnessing rapid growth. With strength of highly qualified civil engineers and architectural professionals these firms come up state-of-the-art house plans. There is a mushrooming of promoters around the world. They offer readymade home plans to millions of helpless persons who have little time to build new homes for themselves. There is no headache in these housing plans. Just pay the money and receive the key of your home.

However, there is one problem in opting for readymade home plans. Suppose you have purchased an apartment, which has 3 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 dining room, 1 washroom and a drawing room. But you have desire to possess an additional balcony. So, in that case you your dream will not be fulfilled completely. On the other hand if you go for custom home plans, the related architectural plan will be able to meet your requirements. You have to decide, which mode suits you best. If you are in a hurry to relocate to a new destination then pre-made plans are best for you.

But before you finalize any house plan, you have to check certain aspects like location and its vicinity like the distance of the main highway from the planned site, markets, community and health centers, police stations, airport and other main hubs. Check the noise level of the neighborhood. Ensure that the land is not in the midst of a legal proceeding and the site plan has not violated green rules. Any house plan needs elaborate preparations. So, you have to gain basic knowledge about the architectural plans of homes like flooring, using of pillars, thickness of the plaster, the advantage or disadvantage of underground basements and other key aspects. It is applicable for pre-made homes as well as custom home plans. In the age of cyber revolution, there is hardly any trouble to gain knowledge on any topic.

In the age of advanced science, modern technology has entered every aspect. Construction firms are no exceptions. Today, you can avail both 2D and 3D blueprints of your future home. You will get a firsthand experience about the real home, which is yet to take shape. Space is becoming dearer day-by-day. So, it is high time to book a space or a home plan right now.

Baresh Raymond is a architectural home design enthusiasts.He has traveled the world documenting designs from traditional to ultra-modern home designs. You can learn more about Raymond on his Home Plans blog.

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Architectural Plans | What is an Architectural Drafter Or Draftsman?

Have you ever stood and watched a high building being erected in a large city? It is interesting to see the elevator carry a person with materials like sheet rock and metal studs to the upper floors and the crane lift huge steel girders high in the air. But have you ever stopped to wonder how each person knows where to place each particular girder, wall, stair, window, etc.? If you asked one of the supervisors, they might show you the plans that show them where and how each and everything should be placed.

Or how about watching a house grow from a ditch in the ground to a fully finished home for a family. Most likely you will see these builders reading from large pieces of paper containing each element of the proposed home. These are called Architectural Plans.

From ancient days to the present, almost all structures of any type, from a outbuilding to a high rise apartment have been built with a plan. In modern building, the architect or designer plans every detail from the roofing material right down to the floor coverings. They have to show in their drawings exactly how the finished building will look both inside and out. They must indicate the kinds of material that are used and the exact spot where each element needs to be placed. Everything in those building plans must be so clear that any builder, by looking at the drawings and reading the written instructions will know exactly what to do.

In order to make the huge amount of plans required it is many times necessary that the architect or designer hire a number of people known as architectural drafters. From the architects or designers sketches they make the drawings or plans, and in many cases do original designing themselves. A master drafter is in charge of all the others in the drafting room and are considered the architects "right-hand man."

To become an architectural drafter a person may enter an architects office as an apprentice. This is rare these days but still happens from time to time. At first they are given only basic office work to do. After a while they are put to the task of making small tracings and other less important work. Once they have the basics, they are probably then trained to do original drawings on the drafting board or trained to use a CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) program on the computer.

Another method of learning to be an architectural drafter is to enter a vocational school. Here is where the beginner will be given practical work like in an office, and will be exposed to the principles of all kinds of architectural drafting. As a result of this they will be better equipped to enter almost any architectural office and would not be restricted in their choice of a field. There are many fine drafting schools over the internet to choose from also.

There is an ever increasing need for drafters. Even if the weather or season is unfit for building, there is always need of drafters in designing and planning buildings. There are thousands of buildings and homes built every year and each of them requires a certain number of drafters.

My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I also teach others how to draw house plans, site plans, mechanical and shop drawings and other types of drafting that I have been trained to do in a virtual classroom on the internet called 101 Info Dot Org at http://101info.org

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Architectural Plans | Chief Architect's Big Three Secrets For Enterprise Architecture Planning

In a previous article "Chief Architect's Big Three Strategic Secrets", the spotlight fell on three biggest risks the Chief Architect needs to manage before moving onto something less tactical. Consider now the area of strategic planning and opportunities in your future state landscape. Three key sources that the chief architect needs to explore are:

1. CEO's Top Strategic Drivers
2. CIO's Primary Concerns
3. Enterprise Portfolio Management

In fact, the CEO owns, knows, eats and breathes their top three strategic drivers. At a time in the economy that we are facing now pure survival may likely be their number one focus. Such drivers might include the area cost savings, as well company stock prices. The chief architect needs to fully understand how these drivers impact or are impacted by the Enterprise Architecture Plan.

Choices made in the areas of infrastructure and solutions will most likely be efficiency based, and risk averse. Creatively considering ways in which the architecture can contribute in the area of competitive tactics is another way in which we can provide value. If the CEO is really focused on their competition's moves, it might be a looming takeover or collapse. How can the strategic plan allow for agility in these types of circumstances? What would it take to expend with a line? A division? Or purchase either?

An additional area of CEO concern is major projects. The CEO realistically needs to keep aware of the biggest corporate expenditures and these may be IT projects. Characteristically these are very high profile projects or large replacement projects. The chief architect should be fully aware of what the CEO's concerns are, and what it is troubling them about the projects. It may be the board's opinion of the project, and where else the money could be better spent.

The second area the chief architect needs to focus on is the concerns of the CIO. It is crucial to have a list of things that keeps this soul up at night as well. Some risky hardware component or some recent security lapse could be top of the list. It might be an employee or staffing issue. Where they are privy, the chief architect needs to explore what can be done in upcoming plans.

Ultimately there is the major issue of job retention as a CIO. Budget cuts and less than stellar IT performance can be used as stimulus to look within the large resource pool available. What can be done to ensure IT performance is not a factor.

A major area of concern to the chief architect should always be enterprise portfolio management. This is the prime source of where strategic future directives will be exposed. The architect needs to comprehend and be fully aware at all times of the biggest opportunities. What was the biggest project or investment identified? What is on that list or that requires the biggest investment AS WELL as the biggest return on investment.

I would suggest that the chief architect to quickly scan that portfolio management list on a monthly basis and retain a list of the quick wins and low hanging fruit. Each of these should be incorporated into whatever future planning is being pursued as the opportunities are available.

You've got to keep the pulse on these critical elements - and keep this in on your laser focus. Continually update your enterprise architecture plan where you can whenever these strategic drivers change.

Happy Architecting!

Sharon C. Evans is an Enterprise Architect Coach, Mentor and Trainer. Her forthcoming book "Zoom Factor for Enterprise Architects: How to Focus and Accelerate Your Career" focuses on excellence and perspective for the Enterprise Architect and is due out in November 2009. She is the founder of Firefli Consulting Inc. and her member portal and more great articles and training schedules can be found at http://www.architectbootcamp.com

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Architectural Plans | Architectural Plans For Commercial Buildings

When you are ready to create a new commercial building for your business, you want it to be an expression of what your business is about - a part of your brand. Besides being just the place where your business happens to be located, your commercial building can say a lot more about you, and communicate the impression that you want your customers to have about you.

Quality commercial building plans need to include unique design features that will make your building stand out from the competition. With the right appeal, it can actually add to the attractiveness of your business and make people take notice as they drive by. Such an appeal can add to your bottom line and increase the number of your customers and your success rate - even before your doors ever open.

The process of getting the right architectural plans for your commercial building starts out with obtaining a set of complete blueprints for your building. Architectural drawings will need to be made for each aspect of the building.

This will include:

•Foundation plans
•Floor plans
•Exterior views
•Framing plans
•Electrical plans
•HVAC plans
•Plumbing plans
•Sectional Plans
•Roof plans
•Site plans
•And a few more as needed.

Besides needing the basic plans and a great exterior, you will also need commercial design plans for the interior of the building. This should also be given much thought because the building layout is important in making your visitors feel at home - and wanting to come back. The appeal needs to be inside and outside.

Adding into your commercial building plans the needed sizes and features for those with disabilities will further ensure that your customers are happy with your new building design. This may benefit both your visitors and possibly some employees, as well. Having these features will also enable your building to resell faster, too, because little upgrading will be required if that need should ever arise.

Once the architectural plans are complete, you can take a set of presentation drawings to potential lenders. They will need to see what you are planning on doing and these drawings from your architect or designer will be able to sell them on the idea. Most likely, you will want to take an isometric drawing and a floor plan.

Depending on where you live, your architectural plans for your new commercial building will need to be examined by the local planning commission. This group, as well as the building inspectors, will look over your plans and make sure that everything fits either into the local plans for the future, and for any potential problems with the design.

Selecting a contractor is the final major step in the procedure. You will want to find one that is familiar with commercial building construction and also has a solid reputation. It is also very important that you have the contractor agree to follow the architectural blueprints as given.

Being a business owner who has decided to build a building for their business can be facing a very daunting task. Why not hire a design professional to help you with your new building? Tim Davis is a fully trained Architectural Designer with over twenty years experience who would be more than happy to help you with your plans. His website is at http://buildingdrawings.8m.com.

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Architectural Plans | Enterprise Architecture Planning

Enterprise architecture serves as a blueprint for a modern-day company's business process, such as the application and data, hardware and software infrastructure, and finally the knowledge and expertise. It is a cost-effective and long-standing solution for 'business ailments' like low productivity and high production costs. Thus, enterprise architecture has become vital for every enterprise in the information age. The biggest part of applying the concept is its planning to suit the requirements of the enterprise.

Enterprise architecture planning is a process that requires greater collaboration between business and technology stakeholders. Enterprise architecture planning is more sophisticated and advanced than the traditional system of planning. Here, a stable business model independent of organizational boundaries, systems and procedures is defined at first. The data is defined before any application, and it's the data that determines the sequence for implementing applications systems.

A set of processes are involved in enterprise architecture planning.

The data architecture, applications architecture, and technology architecture are the key architectures that have to be planned. Enterprise architecture planning is basically about planning these three architectures.

The first step is to analyze the current scenario, which includes the guidelines and the strategy. The next step is the documentation of the entire process, based on which a workable model is presented. The 'noises' of the new mechanism is then corrected. The task to revamp the organizational structure is next, and a new governance model is presented. The best practices in the organization are brought together after collecting relevant data from all points. The next is the most important step, where gaps in system are identified and a recommendation is made to develop the implementation plans. The implementation stage comes last, when the blueprint is complete in all respects. The resulting blueprint will provide a long-term strategy for the enterprise, accommodating both external and internal changes. The implementation stage also requires constant monitoring to assess the performance.

Enterprise Architecture provides detailed information on Enterprise Architecture, Federal Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Architecture Inputs, Enterprise Architecture Planning and more. Enterprise Architecture is affiliated with Contract Management Services.

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Architecture Classes | The Value of Early American Architecture

Newton Drury stated, "There are certain values in our landscape that ought to be sustained against destruction or impairment; though their worth cannot be expressed in money terms.

Traditional architectural design virtually disappeared during the rise of modern architecture. Americans are showing they want more than the sleek disigns of modern architecture. The past decade has brought a rebirth of interest in early American architectural accents.

Home and business owners are looking to the past to determine what works and what is appealing.

Traditional architecture focuses on architecture and design, holding to the belief that by integrating architecture and design all projects benefit. There is an art to proper building and the appropriate use of architectural accents for each building type, beauty being the ultimate goal.

The choice of the best materials and design will provide a long term investment. By working with a finely tuned eye, a design begins with the building's role in the environment. There is an art to appropriate use of architectural accents for each building type.

American architecture began during the 17th century, when our forefathers came to North America. The settlers brought with them varies building techniques from their homeland. Being creative and adapting to the climate, skills and available building materials, they set out building quality construction which varied among the different settlements.

In New Orleans, the French government sent skill architects to produce the quality of buildings as in France. This is the only settlement at the time that had architects to produce the buildings.

The mansions in the South depicted Roman and Greek design. Building adobe structures, the Spanish settlers in the Southwest were influenced by the Native Americans. At the same time, New England went about building gabled buildings with Gothic inspiration.

In the 18th century the government and office buildings in Williamsburg, VA, were built with class and formal English architecture. President's George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were very interested in architecture and were very influential in the planning and building of Washington, DC.

Barns have been a large part of traditional American architecture, as every farm had a barn. Sears and Roebuck Co, as well as others sold tens of thousands of homes and barns all over the country. They were delivered by railroad and were assembled at the building site.

By the second half of the 19th century the trend of modern design was to use steel, cast iron and concrete to construct buildings. It was during this time the sky scrapers began being built. It was during this time the sky scrapers began being built. Glass and steel towers sprung up throughout the USA. The early American designs were replaced by the strong architectural statement of glass and steel.

By the 1960's, houses changed to have attached garages, front porches went out of style. It was during this time that family rooms were the gathering place, replacing the formal living room.

The United States was slow to recognize the value of our older historic buildings till the Mount Vernon restoration stirred awareness of American historic architecture. Federal grants for historic preservation became available and along with that a rebirth of craftsmanship.

People increasingly long to live with traditional design for the lasting value not only for the present but in the future. Quality construction does not become tired or dated, rather the elegant design will age gracefully. Good buildings will increase in value over time instead of decrease.

American character and integrity embodies traditional early American architecture. The elegant lines speak volumes about the values and priorities of our forefathers. The choice of the best materials and design will prove a long term investment, increasing in value throughout the years.

Copyright (c) 2009 Elda Titus

Elda Titus, owner of Prairie Rose Country, an on-line business, bringing back traditional early American architectural accents, selling top quality, unique, louvered, window and custom cupolas. We offer quality cupolas, to capture the spirit of early American architecture. These accents are functional and designed to accept a weathervane. To learn more about these high quality cupolas and weathervanes visit at http://PrairieRoseCountry.com

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Architecture Classes | Thinking of a Career in Interior Architecture Design?

Interior Architecture is a bridge between architecture and interior design. It provides professionals with the proper knowledge regarding the building of structures and the importance and understanding of load bearing walls. The fields of Interior Architecture and Interior Design are quite similar. Some people refer to the two fields as one and call it Interior Architecture Design.

Interior architectural design professionals in the United States cannot call himself or herself an Interior Architect unless they have completed the educational requirements to become a fully licensed architect. The actual definition of Interior Architecture is a program that prepares people to apply the architectural principles in the design of structural interiors for living, recreational and for business purposes so as to function as a professional interior architect. This includes instruction in the architecture of heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, structural systems design and professional responsibilities and standards.

If interested in a career in the interior architecture design field there are plenty of options available to the aspiring designer whether they wish to attend a college or university or take classes online. These courses explore the links and similarities between interior design and architecture. Interior Design programs will challenge you to explore creative ideas for using space and re-inventing how buildings are designed. Some areas of study include the conceptual creativity of design and the philosophy and theory behind design plus the latest technology used for interior design.

Individuals pursuing an education in interior design or interior architecture can expect to develop a wide range of skills including the use of CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) software, video and photography. Other skills will be developed in the studio such as the use of models and how to construct the models.

Interior Design programs prepare the interior architectural design student for technological, cultural and environmental issues. Students who attend a studio classroom are taught in workshops, lectures and seminars.

Here are some basic courses the interior architecture design student will study in their first year:

o Design Visual Thinking

o Materials and Construction

o History and Theory of Design

o Introduction to Interior Architecture and Design

o Design Making Ideas

o Design, Spatial Investigations

o Design, Context and Process

o Structures, Environment and Sustainability

In the second year of studying interior architecture design, the student will study the following modules:

o Communication and Participation

o Design Exploration

o Design Proposition

o Interior Environments

o Modern Architecture

o Interior Environments

o Tectonics and Realization

These are very in depth courses to help prepare the interior architecture design student for real world situations. In the third year of study, students can expect to learn the following:

o Design Research and Proposition

o History Dissertation

o Design Resolution

o Placement

Work placement can be in any Interior Architecture Design field that takes on entry-level designers. Professional work placement is an excellent opportunity that can pave the way to a rewarding career in interior design. As work placement is considered the bridge from study to professional employment.

Thinking of a career in Interior Design? Use our site as a valuable reference point for Interior Design Jobs
by T.D. Houser

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Architecture Classes | How To Keep Inner City High School Students Focused On Architectural Scaling

Most students in the inner city have a need to have abstract concepts make solid for them to comprehend. An example of this is in how to teach scaling for architectural drawings to drafting class students.

A large percentage of inner city High School students have trouble with math in general and scaling in particular. In an architectural drafting class it is vital for students to grasp the basics of scaling before they can start their work.

The way to do this is to you use verbal illustrations in your lectures about scaling. If you make your illustration so that the content is in high contrast you will have very good results in students understanding what you are trying to teach.

For example, when you are giving instruction on the different fractions to plug in for scales on a drawing use examples that have extremely large numbers such as the solar system. The students can visualize the solar system and they will agree that it is large. Ask the students if a scale of ¼" would be appropriate to fit an image of the solar system on a 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper and they will quickly see your point.

Using large numbers with implied images (such as the solar system) makes solid and clear the concept of scale. Scaling is an abstraction that is easy to understand but difficult to implement. In closing it is wise to tell the class that the size of the paper determines the scale.

About the Author:

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago in Hyde Park Township, near the University of Chicago. As I child I was always drawing and painting. My father owned an art supply company, Favor Ruhl & Watson, where I was able to get all that I needed to progress in my work.

I have always enjoyed portraiture and landscape painting. In High School (Naperville Central High School) I took Drafting from Mr. Pierce. I quickly grasped the principles of perspective and drafting and hence made a career with both Fine Art and Architectural Renderings.

In the mid 1970's I joined the US Navy and was stationed on board the USS Midway, CV-41. The Midway was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan (A suburb of Tokyo). While in service I traveled all over Asia including such countries as Korea, China, Philippines, Singapore, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Japan. While in Japan I learned Japanese. I speak German and Spanish as well.

I am an omnivorous reader with a love of History and Philosophy. I admire the works of Immanuel Kant, Albert Schweitzer, and Fredrich Nietzsche. In music I admire the wo

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Architecture Classes | Get Quality Professional Architectural Engineering Services

In architectural engineering field architectural design services like building and structural design, exterior and interior 3D rendering, architectural as built drawing, plans, elevation and sections, architectural drafting, architectural drawing, landscaping, and 3D modeling.

With the development of complex technology of internet and communication network, limitations between the two countries have slashed significantly giving a constructive significant benefit to big organization to decrease their significant overhead operating expense, high effort cost and precious time to increase their competence, growth and to remain economical in the rising competitive marketplace. Outsourcing is a cost-effective and consistent option which gives a great quality results that has been established by big winning organizations.

With the engineering quickly rising in scope and difficulty, design-build contractors, leading architectural firms, and real estate developers fundamentally look for high-end, specialized services to support their core competencies, make sure quick rotate, and improve overall operational competence of the construction procedure. Cutting down on expenses also leftovers a crucial factor for business success as manufacturing players are frequently compelled to invest a lot in advance technologies like 3D animation and BIM, as well as skilled human resources. Outsourcing your custom supplies to a outsourcing solutions leader like e-Engineers not only provides right to use to best industry practices and sufficient technical expertise but also guarantees high-class results delivered round the clock while you advantage from most favorable scalability and significant cost compensation.

Most of an Indian based service provider company provides architectural services to India, US, and UK clients.

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An architectural engineer applies the skills of many engineering regulations to the design, operation, maintenance, construction, and renovation of buildings even as paying concentration to their impacts on the nearby environment.

Architectural Engineering field include wealth of expertise and skill in architecture and civil engineering to give you solutions that unite imagination, functionality and cost. Outsourcing significant architectural design services similar to building and structural design, elevations & sections, exterior and interior 3d rendering, plans, and cost estimation good business intelligence.

They are 100% sure we will be able to give you quality work at very reasonable price. Contact them at once for your immediate architectural services requirement. Architectural Engineering provides the maximum quality professional services in architectural engineering, Structural engineering, civil engineering, drafting, and design to private and public clients.

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Architecture Classes | Architecture Schools

Rapid urbanization and buildings turning into art forms has given a boost to architecture studies. Colleges and universities across the USA offer professional courses in architecture and related fields accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). This is an important requirement for being a licensed architect.

The best route in being a registered or licensed architect is a five-year Bachelor or Master of Architecture degree program. If hesitant or unsure of career choice, opt for a four-year bachelor's degree and then move on to graduate school for a 2- or 3-year Masters Degree program in Architecture. To be a licensed or registered architect one needs an internship in an architectural firm working under the supervision of registered professionals, followed by a comprehensive examination.

Different states have their own jurisdiction procedures. Some boards require a pre-professional degree in architecture or a bachelor's degree in any subject. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) follow their own criteria for admission to licensing examinations. Before applying to a college or school, check on the number of accredited programs being offered, or on related degree programs such as a program in historic preservation or architectural engineering with an accredited professional architecture degree program. The coursework is similar to accredited programs but problems arise at the time of license. Sometimes a single school offers several accredited professional degree programs, such as a five-year undergraduate degree for high school graduates and a three-and-a-half-year graduate degree for those who already have a degree in another field. One should check on the accreditation status of the school before applying as new architecture schools cannot have NAAB accreditation until the first professional class graduates.

If still undecided, the best choice is the Bachelor of Architecture programs, which allow flexibility of the yearly components of (2+3, 1+4, 3+2 or 4+1). This allows logical entry and exit points from various phases of a full five-year program. The student's work is carefully reviewed before moving onto the next phase: another architecture program, institution or academic discipline such as landscape architecture, industrial design, graphic design, etc.

If interested in further specialization get a post-professional architecture degree in design theory, health care facilities, preservation, interior design, solar design, etc. One minor hitch is that these studies are not NAAB accredited. Study of architecture should not be cost deterrent. The majority of schools and colleges offer financial aid. Another way to save money on your architecture education is to take admission at a community or junior college, then move onto a more renowned college. Or you can opt for five-year program offering logical curriculum decision points. Picking up non-architectural disciplines such as behavioral sciences, engineering (structural and mechanical), economics, CAD or computer-aided design, history or communication is an added bonus whether interested in buildings or landscape designs.

Architecture provides detailed information on Architecture, Architecture Designs, Architecture Schools, Landscape Architecture and more. Architecture is affiliated with Residential Architects [http://www.Architects-Web.com].

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Architecture Classes | Cuba Architecture Guide - Colonial Influences

The term Cuban Colonial Architecture covers all the civil and military constructions built in Cuba from the 16th century to the end of the 19th century. The ancient cities in Cuba seduce the visitor with its mystery and the way they have survived time and natural disasters. The architecture from that period of time is marked by the use of columns, arcades, banisters, stained-glass windows, doors, and everything that necessity, good taste, and the weather allowed constructing. The best exponents of this architecture were built in Havana, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Camaguey, and Santiago de Cuba.

Spanish and Cubans thought alike and dedicated a great part of their wealth to demonstrate the sense of domination, conquest, power, and opulence. The visitor can find this in Cuba from reminiscences of Spanish Baroque to the lack of French Neoclassic moderation. The most convincing proof is found in the monumental French tombs of the Colon Cemetery in Havana City and the ones in Cienfuegos, in Reina Cemetery.

However, despite the logical influences taken in Cuba, its architecture had to assume ideas and solutions needed for the heat of the tropic, which later on became a style on its own and have transcended the boundaries of the Cuban Culture. Protection from the sun or the heavy rains were reasons enough for changes, such as the arcade with architrave columns, high doors and windows, the banisters in the balconies, the staircases and above all the great amount of parks, fountains, squares, small squares, benches and avenues.

The dominant presence of Catholicism also determined the course of Cuban constructions during the colonial times. Examples of that are the numerous churches, chapels, cemeteries, and seminaries built with an overwhelmingly colonial sentiment, a sense both environmental and familiar; the final touchstone of the traditions and spirits of the dominant class and the emerging rich Cubans. The monumental and luxurious style of the civil and military buildings marked a Cuban style which progressively became part of mansions and public buildings which restored in a way the Spanish dominance on the island. As time passed, all these peculiarities became engrained in the minds of the average Cubans, who tried to imitate those construction models.

The fortifications built on the island are another living example of the mixture of styles and the appropriations made to adapt to the weather of Cuba and the available construction materials. The greatest part of the buildings was constructed of rocks of masonry from a limy origin and, and the buildings were constructed without decorative intentions or excesses. The architects (the vast majority foreigners) did not do anything more than building high fortresses with wide walls that would resist the artillery of the time. It is worth saying that one important colonial contribution was to avoid massive blueprints and conceive the castles with points instead of corners in order to lessen the impact of the cannons.

The colonial architecture of Cuba survived the Spanish defeat in 1902 and its rules were kept almost intact until the advent of the influences of the Art Noveau, and Art Deco during the first decades of the 20th century. Nevertheless, with the arrival of the American Eclecticism during the 1950s, a great amount of the top-class buildings, above all in Havana City, disappeared in order to construct new buildings full of new airs.

This brief introduction to colonial architecture in Cuba was written by a Cuba travel expert from Cuba For Less, a specialist in fully customizable Cuba vacation packages.

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Architecture Classes | Your Architecture Questions Answered

Have you ever looked at a building and thought it was a miracle that something so intricate could ever be designed by man? Architecture plays a vital role in everything we see, touch or feel. Our homes are designed with protection and comfort in mind. The eye is pleased by the soaring arches and beautiful designs using stone, wood, metal or glass.

It is both an art and a science that has taken mankind through the centuries. From the first crudely constructed structures to the dizzying heights of skyscrapers, humanity has been shaped and nurtured with it. In this article we will discuss the history of architecture and some of the basic questions you may have regarding this great blend of art, form, science and function.

What are the different types of architecture?

There are many types of architects. But to be more specific, the architects specialize in different areas. All usually have the same background of a Bachelor's degree but some chose not to design buildings. A landscape architect specializes in shaping nature.

The "green" architect designs homes and buildings to conserve energy and help protect the Earth's resources. Some architects work only on historic preservation. There are many areas in which an architect can focus his or her talents.

What are some of the most famous examples of great architecture?

Just to keep the list brief but duly notable, we will list only the major examples of architecture through the ages. The Neolithic period gave us the dwellings at Skara Brae. The Ancient period gave us the pyramids in Egypt, the Temple of Hera in Greece and the Indian Hindu temples of Somanathapura.

You also can not forget the Cistine Chapel, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building. If you are a fan of Modern architecture then you probably are familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters in Pennsylvania.

What are some of the top schools for architecture?

Depending on the style of architecture you wish to pursue, there are many great colleges and universities in the United States that can offer fabulous opportunities to learn it. The top five for a Bachelor's degree in it are: Cornell University, Rice University, Syracuse University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Keep in mind that rankings do not mean that your chosen school does not have a fine program. These are just a few of the colleges on the list.

How long will my degree take?

No one can give you an exact time that you will complete your degree within. If you continue through school until you have achieved a Master's degree and finished your internship, you are looking at around six to eight years. It can be more or less depending on your class load and how easy you pass the classes and tests to acquire your license.

What do I need to know in order to design my own home?

All home designs start with a vision about how you want your house to look. After you have decided what look you are trying to obtain, you need to start thinking about having someone who knows structural codes come in and help you. There are many house designing programs that can help you design your own home. You can always talk with a builder and take a look at his or her plans and modify them.

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Architecture Classes | Online Architecture Degree

Many of the online "Education Business Companies", who claim to offer a fully accredited online architecture degree, are deceiving. I even heard of a company that offer what so called a 100% legal online architecture degree in only 7 days! It's true that advances in technology made it possible for universities now to offer online degrees. But, to my knowledge, there will be only one accredited online architecture degree available.So, there no fully accredited online architecture degree yet, but there will be. This program is under development, and it is expected to be available starting from July 2008. Graduates will earn an professional diploma in architecture (equivalent to master of architecture degree in some countries). This program is a cooperation between one of the worlds foremost and fastest growing online and distance education specialists universities in Canada, and a Canadian architectural organization.

A conceptual design for the program has been completed and it is now going through the first program approval steps. The only issue that they are trying to solve is the traditional classroom design studio. Many architecture classes are studio design classes where students have to build models. But at the same time, they want to move the design studio entirely online, so they could offer this degree worldwide.This degree will be offered mostly through the internet. You will also be required to work under a direct supervision of a registered architect in your local area.

What are the advantages of obtaining a degree online?

I know that most people who look to study online are those who have jobs or married with kids. Taking a class online is perfect for anyone with a job in daytime hours because of the increased flexibility it offers. Moreover, studying online can offer students the flexibility needed for such a demanding field like architecture. Students in this field of education have the ability to work their studies around their lives.

For a complete report about this matter, with links to the university Online Architecture Degree

Author Samawy completed a degree in architecture at the University of of British Columbia in 2000. He has been practicing in the field of architecture since then. You may use any part of the content for your link, including article headlines, but you must link to this link: Online Architecture Degree Always mention the author's name.

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Architecture Classes | Drafting and Architecture Online

Looking for Online Drafting and Architecture classes? Persons interested in enrolling in an accredited online drafting and architecture school can conveniently attain basic online courses in this field of study with just a little time and dedication!

Currently, there are no complete online degree programs available in architecture and drafting, but there are partial or continuing education courses designed to enhance the careers of architecture professionals and to help students enter full-time training programs geared toward a degree.

Drafting and architecture online curriculums include but are not limited to introductory lessons in design; field evaluation and permit considerations; plotting basics; basic blueprint reading and relevant mathematics; drawing commands, setup, and lines; sketching, modifications and text commands; dimensioning; isometric & three-dimensional designs; beginners building codes; building pathologies comprised of columns and walls, foundations, materials, parapets and decks, roofs, utilities, etc.

Additionally, accredited online drafting and architecture classes are more specifically created to prepare individuals for the NCARB's Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Common online coursework includes building design, construction documents and services, electrical systems, general structures, lateral forces, materials and methods, mechanical systems, and pre-design. Some accredited online drafting and architecture institutes will cater to organizations and businesses by delivering online classes to architects and drafters in order to provide professionals with the most innovative and up-to-date applications and methods.

As with any educational pursuit it is always wise to review potential courses for accreditation and whether or not courses will be accepted toward a degree. For more specific information regarding online architecture and drafting coursework, students may visit the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

If you are interested in an education in drafting and architecture online or other programs of study, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved
C. Bailey-Lloyd, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

C. Bailey-Lloyd is the Public Relations Director and Writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Drafting and Architecture Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools

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Architecture Courses | Service-Oriented Architecture

Service-oriented architecture, or SOA, is a hot topic in business today. You may have read about service-oriented architectures and be wondering how they can affect your business as well as how they can be of use to you. By looking at it from both a real-world perspective as well as a technical perspective, you will forge a solid understanding of service-oriented architecture from which you can jump off to implementing this technology within your business.

Defining Service-Oriented Architectures

Essentially, a service is the implementation of some step in one or more business processes, and a service-oriented architecture takes advantage of those services. More importantly, service-oriented architectures have many benefits for businesses, including enabling better alignment of business requirements and technology. Service-oriented architectures also allow services to be easily swapped out or reused for different purposes. And a service-oriented architecture gives your business the ability to leverage existing services easily while also leaving the option to write new services to fulfill specific purposes.

Service-oriented architectures rely heavily on programming in XML, a text-based mark up language that enables developers to define their own specific structure of data. However, one major benefit of setting up a service-oriented architecture is that it doesn't matter which language or protocol is used. Instead, the process can be written to be able to be used across many platforms.

One simple example of service-oriented architecture would be a program that installed on a computer that can organize a user's digital music library. The program may work best if it has access to the Internet and can utilize a service - looking up the name of a CD or song title in a large music database, for example, or giving access to an online store that uses the same database in a different manner. Service-oriented architectures are essentially about giving existing services new functionality.

How Service-Oriented Architectures Can Benefit a Business

When used by businesses, service-oriented architectures can make it possible for the establishment of, for example, a complete online registration process. This process could include a way to send the registrant an email with specific directions to the facility without requiring the person to go to a third-party website for that information. Instead, a program could be written to pull the information directly from the registration application, reference the third-party website, and seamlessly integrate the response into the confirmation email.

The same could hold true for weather information - the program could give the user information about the weather based on both the user's zip code and the zip code for the location of the training. This would enable the business to offer a value-added service in its emails - the weather information would be provided directly, rather than from a third-party site that the end user would have to access independently, and would be personalized. Other items involved in the service-oriented architecture could include scheduling, registration, and credit card processing.

Services could also allow different ways to access a single database. Using a real-world example of service-oriented architecture, a company could make its database of books and music available to outside users as a service, and the users could choose to create processes that pull particular information out of that database. For example, someone could create a process that allows visitors to a website to search an artist name within that larger database, and the results returned would only encompass information relating to compact discs, rather than to book titles that also mentioned the name.

Taking an example of service-oriented architecture from the business world, a database of courses could be utilized as a service to give different individuals access to different aspects of the database in different manners. Trainers, for example, could be given access to a thick client application that enables them to search a complete database, including courses that are not made available to the public. The public, on the other hand, could be given access to a web-based application through which it could search for courses falling on particular dates or covering particular topics. And sales people could be given even a different way to access that database to find out not only when courses are available but in which locations, leading to weather information and driving directions. All of this could be accomplished seamlessly using service-oriented architectures, without needing to create multiple databases for multiple users.

Making Adjustments More Easily with Service-Oriented Architectures

One difference between a service-oriented architecture and a more traditional development mode is that service-oriented architectures allow a company to hand over a more focused set of requirements to its IT team. In addition, while the full establishment of a service-oriented architecture can take an extended period of time, an individual service can be built in a few weeks. This means that there is room for easier adjustments to be made on a service and time for mistakes to be caught earlier in the process, which can further benefit a business.

Conclusion

Essentially, a service-oriented architecture can be a huge benefit for any company that uses Web-based applications. It can provide new functionality for programs written on outdated platforms and it can save developers time in not needing to write new processes when useful ones already are in existence. While service-oriented architectures may be the hot topic of the moment, it seems clear that they will continue to be an important part of business for many years to come.

About the Author

Charlie Fink is the vice president of product development and delivery for WestLake Training and Development. He has been designing and developing leading software solutions for over 15 years and has also developed client training focused on use and support of custom software systems. Prior to joining WestLake, Charlie was the vice president and chief product architect for the Arlington Group, as well as a principal of AEC software. To learn more about information technology training, please visit http://www.westlaketraining.com.

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Architecture Courses | Typical Golf Course Architecture

The vast majority of golf courses today have 18 holes as a staple of their golf course architecture. There are however, a few courses still around that have only nine holes... this usually comes about as a result of the budget available to build the course or the land available at the time the golf course architecture is laid out.

In the beginning seaside golf course architecture was referred to as links type golf courses. This is because these golf courses were the link between the sea and the farmland.

Most typical golf courses are between 5,000 and 7,000 yards long. Of course, there are still a few monster courses out there that are longer, but I would suggest if you're just starting out that you leave those types of courses to the better players... or those monster mash type of fun golf outings.

The architecture of golf courses are set up so that every hole you play will either be par three, par four or a par 5. If you're thinking of a par two, you're thinking of miniature golf... and if you're thinking of a par six, well... there may be a few out there used as gimmicks as part of the golf course architecture; but by and large they are rare.

Par refers to the amount of strokes a reasonably competent player should use in order to get the golf ball from the green to the inside of the cup.

The thing to keep in mind with par is that essentially par is based on two of those strokes being putting strokes... three putts isn't good, and one putting is the goal.

If you stop and think about it for a moment and do the math, in a standard round of golf about half of the strokes allocated, are allocated putts. So, if you have visited my website it's no wonder why I put so much emphasis on practicing your putting.

Here's a quick tip then... if you want to immediately start shaving strokes off of your golf game, then practice your putting. Golf course architecture is laid out to put a premium on putting... part three's equal one full swing and two putts... par fours equal two full swings and two putts... par fives equal three full swings and two putts.

In the United States, most golf course architecture consists of total par being 72 strokes. This consists of 10 par fours, four par threes, and four par fives. Having said this you of course can find golf course architecture with total par being anywhere from 60 to 74... almost anything can go.

So get out there and start improving your golf game and you'll soon not only be enjoying the game more but you'll also be gaining a greater understanding and appreciation for the golf course architecture.

Discover the secrets of getting your golf game to the next level. Whether you're just beginning, need some fine tuning, or just tired of playing bad golf... I can help. Stop by http://www.golf-ology.com and stop wasting time trying to get better on your own... that's not a good plan. I doesn't matter what part of your game needs help, whether you need golf tips your long game, your mid game, or your short game, you'll find the golf tips and golf instruction that will get you off the tee an on the green.

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