Bob Borson, FAIA | Mar 20, 2023

Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 121: Material Selection

When you think of a building – whatever scale or project type – the items that go into creating that building are most frequently associated with the materials that are selected that define the appearance of the building. Brick, glass, wood, and metal are all great choices. But the decision on what to clad your project in goes a long way toward deciding things beyond the appearance.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Feb 22, 2021

Better Faster Cheaper

We have all heard the phrase “Better, Faster, Cheaper, you can have any 2.” Is it actually true? Yes, of course, it’s true, but we are going to talk about it anyways because this is really a conversation about quantity and quality, which is ultimately a conversation about value.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Feb 10, 2021

Where is the Finish Line?

Becoming an architect is hard, but we all know that. You go to school for a long time and work and study, but upon graduation you are not an architect. So when does that moment happen? Welcome to Episode 68: “Where is the Finish Line?”

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jan 25, 2021

Life of an Architect: Ask the Show

Should architects date one another? How do you get your first client? What is the greatest challenge you’ve ever faced? All this and more burning questions for Bob Borson, FAIA, and Andrew Hawkins, AIA, on Episode 67 of Life of an Architect!

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jan 11, 2021

Architects and Sketching

There is a nostalgia associated with sketching in the architecture profession. But is sketching still an integral part of the design process? Sharpen your pencils and pull out your favorite pen, because we are talking about "Architects and Sketching" in Episode 66 of the Life of an Architect podcast.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Dec 20, 2020

The Hypothetical Show

Since this is the final episode of the year AND the 2020 Life of an Architect podcast season, there is no better way to end the year than to dedicate an entire episode to hypothetical questions … so welcome to the Hypothetical Show!

Bob Borson, FAIA | Dec 7, 2020

A Day in the Life of an Architect

Answering the question "What exactly does a typical day in the life of an architect look like?" is nearly impossible. There are certain things that seem to be fairly standard to one of my “typical” days, but if I were to compare a day last week with a day from five years ago, those days would look completely different. How different? That’s exactly what we are discussing on today’s show.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Nov 23, 2020

Holiday Gift Guide for Architects

It’s that gift-giving time of the year, and if you have an architect in your life, you know that getting them the perfect gift is rough, since they are so particular. That’s why we’re here!

Bob Borson, FAIA | Nov 9, 2020

The Evolving Virtual Office

The phrase “virtual office” has a much different ring and connotation to it now than it did just a few months ago. As more and more people work from home what changes will take place within the architectural profession moving forward? Thanks to our episode sponsor: BQE Software

Bob Borson, FAIA | Oct 26, 2020

Architectural Stereotypes

When I say the word “architect” what do you imagine? It seems that most people imagine individuals in black clothing (most likely a turtleneck) and heavy rimmed glasses. We are here to set the record straight. Thanks to our episode sponsor: Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings

Bob Borson, FAIA | Oct 12, 2020

The Perfect Portfolio

At one point or another, every architecture student or graduate has a portfolio of their work that they have agonized over creating. Why are so many of them ineffective? Today we are talking about the “Perfect Portfolio” and what that actually means. Thanks to our episode sponsor: PAC-CLAD by Petersen.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Sep 28, 2020

Architectural Visualization with Alex Hogrefe

Do you have architectural visualization skills? Maybe you’re asking yourself, “What does that even mean?” Well, you are in luck because this episode is dedicated to discussing all things related to architectural visualization and graphics.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Sep 14, 2020

Talking Shop with Building Science Fight Club

Understanding the physical behavior of the building as a system and how it impacts the energy efficiency, durability, comfort, and indoor air quality is pivotal in the creation of high-performance buildings. What does this actually mean? It means we are talking Building Science Fight Club.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Aug 31, 2020

Renovating your House

Leaving your mark on the place where you live is built into the DNA of most architects and designers. This can manifest itself in many different ways, but for many of us, working on the place where we live is the most obvious choice.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Aug 17, 2020

Starting a Design Firm

In today’s episode, we are talking about starting your own design firm—something that I think every architect walking the planet has thought about at various times throughout their career. I know I have. Episode sponsor: Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings

Bob Borson, FAIA | Aug 3, 2020

Scale This!

How does scale factor into the practice of architecture? For any architect, scale and proportion are two skills that appear to be the most challenging to master. Scale and proportion are also where a good architect makes their living.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jul 20, 2020

Leadership

What exactly is leadership and what does it mean to be a leader? Leadership is thrust upon those who, through the strength of conviction and moral character, lead through personal example.

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jul 6, 2020

Culture of Design

Do you have a design culture in your office? Why is it that some firms have it and others don’t? A culture of design isn’t something that just happens. There has to be a plan, it needs to be cultivated, and even then, without the right sort of people in place, you might be fighting an uphill battle. Episode sponsor: Sherwin-Williams

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jun 22, 2020

Architectural Tools

All this working from home has made me rethink the tools that I need to effectively do my job. While we all have different roles and responsibilities, Andrew Hawkins, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, and I put together a few items that we just couldn't live without. I bet a few of these items would be on your list as well. Episode sponsor: BQE Software

Bob Borson, FAIA | Jun 17, 2020

Style over Substance

We are all familiar with the phrase “style over substance,” but those words might mean something else to architects. If I were to look at a project and describe it with this particular phrase, there is no question that this would reflect a negative opinion. But is it unnecessarily harsh, or does it have a place in any conversation where architecture is discussed? Let’s find out in today’s episode.

Bob Borson, FAIA | May 26, 2020

Talking Shop with Marlon Blackwell

We have a special guest, Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, on the podcast. If you are not intimately familiar with his work, I am excited to be in a position to share it with you. I first met Marlon almost 30 years ago, just as his career started to take off. Episode sponsor: PAC-CLAD by Petersen Aluminum