Over the years, as I’ve progressed and matured in the practice of architecture, I’ve come across quotations from a variety of sources that have become my moral compass. I thought I’d share these. Maybe they’ll inspire you, guide you, or reaffirm your values. Enjoy:

Values

“Maintaining strong values is the key to success in any field, chief among them is a solid work ethic.” – Cal Ripken Jr.

“Self-Discipline – Having purity of thought, being true to your values” – Source unknown

“Doing the right thing pays off.” – Source unknown

“The success of an organization is best measured by the quality of the people and organizations which it serves.” – Source Unknown

Passion Read the rest of this entry »

With the start of a new season, I couldn’t resist taking a few moments to reflect on a busy spring. Spring is a time for inspiration – either becoming inspired or inspiring others. That was certainly the case for me this spring!
Read the rest of this entry »

We, as architects, cannot lose sight of each of the roles in the design/construction process as we fulfill our day-to-day responsibilities. This includes the role of the client, architect, and the contractor. It was once said that:

“The architect is one who prepares plans, conceives the design, draws out the specification, in short supplies the mind…The builder is, in fact, the machine; the architect is the power which puts the machine together and sets it in motion…”

The goal of an architect is to Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday was one of those days that really lit me up. It rekindled that passion for the practice of architecture and made me think about my role as a citizen of the world.

During the day I was a speaker (along with Aaron Cosentino and Jennifer Fritz-Williams of the City of Elgin) at the Greentown Conference in Elgin, speaking on the City of Elgin Sustainability Action Plan. Seeing hundreds of people from the region gathered to learn the best practices of greening a community was inspiring. Our panel shared all of the great green and sustainable accomplishments in Elgin, not the least of which was the community involvement in the development of the Plan. We also heard several outstanding presentations that reaffirmed my commitment to good design and a respect for the environment. In addition, I was able to share passive solar design theory incorporated into our work with the session attendees. It was a great conference, and I would encourage others to attend the next one.

As incredible as the conference was, it turned out to be only an “appetizer for the main course”. To wrap up the night, I attended a screening of Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time. It was presented by Curt Meine, a biographer of Leopold, and hosted by the Fox River Country Day School.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Leopold, he is one of the pre-eminent conservationists of the 19th and 20th Century. Much of what we espouse as environmental conscience evolved through Leopold’s eyes.

Every once in a while in my career, I’ve been presented with seminal events which have impacted my philosophy of life, approach to design and planning, and my respect for the environment. One such event was reading The Death and Life of American Cities by Jane Jacobs.

For me, Green Fire was an equally important event. If you have an interest in environmental issues, this movie is certainly worth seeing. If you don’t have access to the movie, read any of his books – or at least look him up on the web. You won’t be disappointed!

“Leopold helped redefine our understanding of the natural world and provided much of the foundation for the modern environmental movement. His legacy can be seen everywhere.” – Janet Ginsburg, Chicago Tribune

One last thing, don’t forget to stop by our booth at Elgin’s Green Expo on May 7th to learn more about sustainability! It’s free and open to the public.

Image courtesy Adi Respati via Flickr

Ideas come from everywhere if you’re open to them.

As an architect, I see my profession as a blending of social conscience, psychological reactions to space, engineering trends, ergonomics, art, sustainability, and technology – all of which are great sources of inspiration.

Ideas often come from keeping my eyes open to human patterns and relationships. How we interact and how we respond to stimuli tells a great deal about the potential success of the spaces that I design. Advances in engineering and technology form the core of the shell which clearly impacts design, but when it comes down to it, the people make the place.

I like to think that some of my best ideas come from being a good listener –  and even an interpreter.

My ideas for design come from listening to my clients. I try to get into their heads and really understand their needs. It’s critical to understand the impact of how a space is used now and what the future trends may be in order to evolve a unique, yet appropriate design. From here, looking through the lens of my experience in architecture and building systems, I find the inspiration to solve the puzzle that is their building. We have quite the portfolio of educational spaces, and I find that talking to school administrators, teachers, and students gives me an understanding of what makes a successful learning environment.

I also find it important to listen to the site. The site is like the base medium for an art installation, a uniquely shaped canvas upon which we place a message. The size and shape of the site, the environmental features, will affect the design. Clues then come from laying out designs, reacting to what is given me. Rather than force an inappropriate idea on a site, I work with the site. The result is often an efficient floor plan as well as an energy-conscious building. Being a LEED Accredited Professional, I would say that my designs tend to come from nature and a building’s relationship to its immediate environment and the community-at-large. Good design ideas respect the environment.

In conclusion, my design ideas tend to come from introspection, a social conscience, and being vigilant of my surroundings. Design is dynamic and ever- changing. So are the ideas that generate design.

Where do you get your ideas?

Be inspired:

Last night, I had the privilege of hearing Former President George W. Bush give the keynote address at the Judson University World Leaders Forum in Elgin.

Regardless of your political persuasion, it was an impressive event – a part of history, so I thought I’d share.

Sadly, actual cameras weren’t permitted, but we couldn’t resist snapping some pics with our phones! The quality on some of these is awful, but you get the idea.

The security was there in full force, with the secret service and the police throughout the building and the campus.

Prior to his speech, Huntley Brown provided the audience with a wonderful piano concert including How Great Thou Art, God Bless America, and several other selections. Eagle Scouts brought in the colors, after a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

President Bush’s speech began as a personality plugging a “book tour”, with many references to his new book. However, once past this, he gave significant insight into his role as President, his interaction with other world leaders, and the importance of faith in his life. He gave a verbal tour of the Oval Office, and an insight as to the genesis of some of the furnishings.

Some of the thoughts he espoused were as follows:

• Effective leaders need to have an unwavering vision and values to manage an organization;
• They must have clear goals and accountability;
• With their authority comes responsibility;
• As a leader, you must understand what you don’t know and be willing to admit it;
• In particular, leaders of political affiliations touch history; In general, leaders stand for something;
• Principles last forever. Freedom is universal;
• He said that he wanted his legacy to be that he left the office better than he found it;
• Too much is given, so is much required;
• He expressed that God is God all of the time;
• He emphasized that not all of his decisions were popular, but in his heart he believed that they were right;
• Presidential or other world leaders successes cannot be judged in the present. Future political historians will be able to put an administration into an historical perspective.

After his presentation, he answered questions from the audience. Many of his thoughts revolved around reading, particularly reading history.

His talk was candid, insightful, and a personal reflection. It was a thought-provoking evening, giving the audience a chance to touch history.

For more info on the event, take a look at these sites:

http://www.judsonu.edu/content.aspx?id=13712

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/4813734-418/bush-talk-earns-applause-and-a-portrait.html

Architectural design is a team effort and everyone here at DLA makes a contribution to the overall success of the project. From the Partner-in-Charge to the Designer to the Project Manager to the AutoCAD Technician to the Admin staff, there are a myriad of roles in a project – all with different perspectives on what architecture itself means.

To that end, I had the entire staff, not just the technical staff and architects, describe what architecture means to each of them. The definitions were submitted anonymously, because I didn’t want the appearance of one being better than the other, based upon who wrote it. The important thing was that these were their definitions, not mine. It was how they interpreted architecture. This is how we interpret architecture… what does it mean to you?

ARCHITECTURE IS:

• “A 3 dimensional enclosure which people touch, use and appreciate. An architectural firm gathers up the individual skills and expertise within each of us, and working together as a team creates a physical environment.”
• “The art of incorporating human requirements and needs into a structure that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Architecture is the equivalent of living art.”
• “A living object – given breath by the dynamics of light, the rhythm of the structure – the relationship to itself and the world around it – the timbre of its material, and the frequencies of its form – ‘music’.”
• “An art form that accounts for its surroundings, human interaction, aesthetics, and function. These components have to be integrated and organized in a coherent way to produce a habitable piece of art.”
• “The process of taking any given program or preconception and translating it into an aesthetically pleasing object, structure or space that fits within and complements the existing built environment.”
• “The solution to a design problem, a product of art and science that usually takes the form of a building.”
• “An architectural firm is comprised of a group of individuals who share the same vision – to make a client’s wish a reality; combining form function and budget constraints. Every individual brings their own abilities to a project. Seeing these abilities come together to help create a 3 dimensional reality is our goal.”
• “Key factors – dedication, creativity, proficiency, stability necessity, effect, collaboration, aesthetics, culmination, appreciation.”
• “Art, Rehabilitation, Construction, History, Interiors, Technology, Ecology, Culture, Tradition, Urbanism, Reconstruction, Entertainment.”
• “Fulfills practical and expressive requirements of civilized people and thus embraces both utilitarian and aesthetic ends. These two ends may be distinguished, but they cannot be separated. In short, architecture is to civilization is what makeup is to women.”
• “Is communicative art. It can awaken our desires, propose imaginary conclusions; It is not about form, image or test, but about the experience. It is length, height and width, but also the depth of aspiration and memory. The living source of architecture is the very substance of the soul and constitutes the structure of culture itself.”
• “The design of different styles of buildings, churches, schools and homes.”
• “Probably the most honest form of art, because there is the art itself. The art of fitting everything in, the art of knowing and fitting everything in the art of knowing finding out what the client wants, and the art of keeping everything on the same page from designers, draftsmen, contractors, and the workers. Through these arts of architecture, we strive to create better buildings, better people, an ultimately a better world. That’s what timeless architecture is, and what it should be.”
• “Helps people transform creative ideas into a unique masterpiece that affects everyday surroundings.”
• “The pursuit of incorporating art into our environment. An architectural firm helps the client articulate his desires and needs into a three dimensional space, structure or building.”
• “The stage on which the events of history are played.”
• “Contributing design and technology to a collaborative team effort that produces a satisfying built environment.”
• “The result of mankind’s futile attempt to domesticate the environment.”
• “The structure created for the use and/or enjoyment of people.”
• “In the process of building design, architecture must be functional, structurally and environmentally sound, having aesthetic meaning. Architects are driven with passion, sensitivity, understanding, and endless communicative skills – which amazes me! They also provide the best professional and personal project relationships and opportunities. The time commitment and pride that everyone puts into each and every project tells the story of long days, sleepless nights, and also rewards and recognition. Most of all I think that architects are great people with passion.”

As the founding partner of an architectural firm and as a parent, I see the term “legacy” on different levels.

As a parent, my legacy is my children. I hope that as they grow they establish their own personalities and careers, but still remain true to the values that I have espoused throughout my life. Honesty has been an overarching value that I’ve stressed with my kids. Also, I’ve always attacked life with a passion. This brings to mind a couple favorite quotes (I love quotes) that reflect my values and, ultimately, the legacy I leave my children:

On a professional level, the idea of legacy has been something I’ve thought about for decades and the legacy I leave can be seen on different levels.

Close to home, my vision of building an architectural firm has grown into a family of 8 partners and dozens of professionals. It can be viewed in the ethics, quality of design, social conscience, and commitment to clients’ needs which, hopefully, I have instilled in my firm.

On a more global level, the impact of the architecture I have designed will exist well beyond me. So the architectural legacy I leave society as a whole will be the 3-dimensional backdrop of life itself – represented by how my designs and interpretation of architectural theory are used and appreciated by current and future generations.

Image Attribution: Versailles: Apollo Basin by fisticuffs, on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fisticuffs/38423423/

You may have heard that the DLA family is now in Itasca. We’re together under one roof - a goal for many years. Truth be told, as we packed up the office it’s made me a bit nostalgic and made me think back to the milestones in my career…

• 1982 starting out as the sole practitioner of Bruce R. Dahlquist, Architect – our offices began in the basement of my wife’s family home;
• 1983 welcoming Dwain Lutzow as partner in Dahlquist and Lutzow Architects and soon expanded to take over the entire home as an office. Before we new it  we were doing well enough to construct our first corporate offices on the site;
• Growing the firm with the acquisition of Larsen-Wulff Architects in LaGrange and as the LaGrange office expanded, relocating that office to Hinsdale; and with the continued growth of our corporate offices, the construction of a second, larger corporate office building in Elgin;
• Serving as President of Dahlquist and Lutzow Architects, Ltd.;
• 2008 celebrating 25 years as a firm and changing our name to DLA Architects, Ltd.

As we packed, sorting through the memorabilia had me reminiscing. It brought to mind  a monologue from a favorite musical, Jersey Boys. One of the characters was recalling his past and what was important to him. Picture Frankie Valli on stage…”They ask ya ‘what was the high point?’ The Hall of Fame, sellin’ all those records, pullin’ Sherry outta the hat? It was all great. But the first time the four of us made that sound, our sound… when everything dropped away and all there was was the music… that was the best.”

I’ve personalized this based upon my career and wanted to share it with you. Maybe you’ll be inspired to take stock of your personal values and successes.

They ask ya “what was the high point?”

Being honored with AIA Illinois’ Distinguished Firm of the Year in the State of Illinois or the Those Who Excel Award for Teaching from the Illinois State Board of Education; our first major project – the design of a medical office building; the design of the McLean Executive Center (whose Green and Sustainable Design features were ahead of their time); working with Cantigny on multiple projects for over 20 years, where clients became friends

It was all great. But four guys under a street lamp when it was still ahead of us

But 2 guys working in the basement of our house (with a picnic table as a conference table and water running from the walls to the floor drain past our desks) when it was still ahead of us

The first time we made that sound, our sound

The first time we hit that perfect note for a client, a building both functional and beautiful, challenging ourselves to hit that note, again and again… “whatever it takes”

When everything dropped away and all there was left was the music

When everything drops away, all that’s left is our values –passion; mutual respect; pride-in-self and each other; egos supporting each other, not over each other or our clients. That’s how we make our music.

That was the best. That’s why I’m still out there singing.

That’s why I’m still out there practicing architecture. It’s the passion for self-improvement and striving for knowledge and perfection in what I do. That’s why I pursued asbestos certifications and LEED. Sharing my vision for what I feel is crucial to the success of our practice and relentlessly pursuing it to my benefit and, ultimately, to the benefit of the Firm.

Like the bunny on TV – I just keep on going and going and going. Chasing the music – trying to get home…

Chasing perfection – and instilling the sense of TEAM in the leaders that follow me.

As I mature, I am continually “trying to get home” remembering the Mia Hamm quote:

“You always want to end on a high note, but I want to end knowing that I gave everything I had, and hopefully that the game was better because I was a part of it.”

How do you make your music? How are you making your game better?