Office of architects today???

[GDStudio]

Thought someone would mention Hurdzan's office.  It has been about 4-5 years since I was there, but wow was it a nice desinger's set-up.  They were in the middle of building the St. Andrew's streetscape and Pub and museum area.  You definetely walked right into a world of golf there.  The studio was a great layout with offices around the outer edge and a large throw off table in the middle.  I am sure a few other guys can speak more about this office set up...Patrick?

Mine is a bit more humble.  200sqft with desk, 2 computers, a printer hidden under the desk, and files and drawings spread all over the place (pinned to the wall, laying on the floor, draped over a book case, rolled up in a wicker basket).  My closet has been turned into a filing cabinet and anymore I can't even get the door shut. Luckily I share a small spot in a LA firm about 30 minutes from home so when I can't move in my own office I just leave and go mess that place up a bit.

[Scott Witter]

Started out nine years ago out of the house, that was okay for four years, but as Kelly so subtly indicated I was easily distracted...For the past five years I have rented studio space in an art gallery, about 700 sq. ft, just two miles from home.  The old brick building was totally renovated 6 years ago and with the gallery created so were many artist studios were built, but quite nice actually.  The atmosphere is real quiet, there is no one around because they are all starving artists with real jobs, (and I may be one soon if I don't get more work!) and the cost of rent, which include heat, bathrooms, all utilities and air-conditioning is a ridiculous $175/mth, so I won't be going anywhere any time soon!

I trimmed it out with carpeting, window treatment and all and made it comfortable.  I have most of the toys.. two CAD stations, large plotter, hand-crafted (white oak & mahogany) drafting/design table, 4'x5' (I am a custom woodworker too), 4'x5' digitizing tablet, scanner and all the other typical office stuff.  I have no conference table or fancy chairs, we simply "GIT ERR DONE!" and focus on design and production as needed.  The view directly in front of me through 4 large windows is across a small park and the Erie canal.

[Mike Dasher]

I'm still in the same 9' X 9' space as described in John Strawn's Driving the Green.  Also, we have a restored 1972 Airstream Travel Trailer that affords a level of privacy as well as mobile capability.  

[Forrest Richardson]

Congratulations — The first poster ever to include the term "Airstream Travel Trailer" in a first post.

[paul cowley]

Forrest and Mike....I concur as to its relevance as a first post, but if I had known that mobile offices were being considered then I would have included my RoadTrek 1800...which for many years now has served as rental car, site office, and at times, my sleepmate.

[Mike_DeVries]

I was originally out of the house, in what is the den now.  5 years ago, I built an addition to my 100 year old, 12X18 garage and went up a level, where I have my studio.  It is about 400 sq. ft., and I built in my light table and lots of desk/work tops/storage to match the height of the drafting table, so it has a lot of flexibility if I need it for certain projects.  There are also an old oak table and 4 chairs that are big enough for what I need (I think I have only had one owner in the studio and that is because he lives in TC -- I am always at the site or going to meet an owner).  It is just me, although I had one employee for a while and there is enough room for two to work and plenty of space to have a discussion group, watch a ballgame, or play poker with 6 or 7.

I concur with many others on the ease of being close to the family for the reasons stated, as well as the kids like to come out and draw (my son on the light table, with the light on, of course!).  As to the pajamas . . . well, I don't do that, but 99% of the time I wear Birkenstocks to the door and slip them off, preferring to walk around in socks.

Cheers!

[Mike Nuzzo]

Mike D. brought up an important point I forgot - I've got room for a poker game of 8 - my biggest game so far anyway.

And my daugher, 3 1/2, is a little more techno savvy, she uses Illustrator and a wacom tablet... on her own.
But there is also a box of crayons.

Cheers

[Mike_DeVries]

Mike N.,

Yeah, the kids like to paint on the computer, too, but they have that in the house and I have my laptop for work only (this qualifies as work, doesn't it?!!?).  

Mike

[Emmy]

How about the office of a GCAer who is "not" an architect, yet still works in the golf industry?

I am based from a small home office, approx. 450 sq. ft. (with another 500 sq. ft. of back up office and storage space). There are 4 phone lines coming in and just enough computerized equipment necessary for a small business owner. Bookcases are packed tight and the overflow of golf books are stacked up on the coffee table near the couch. There's a flagstone fireplace with a huge copper hood (in dire need of polishing), and the top of my odd-shaped desk resembles the configuration of the 15th green at our home club.

Two office walls are predominantly glass, one accompanied by a 15-foot window seat. Not much time these days to sit and appreciate the view, so the window seat often serves as a holding area for active files. Since i despise filing, wire baskets in arms-reach replace the traditional filing cabinet.

Due to bookcases and windows, there's limited room for hanging art. One small wall holds memorabilia and the opposite wall, a modest collection of Waterford crystal.

Since my work often requires traveling from course to course, an SUV serves well as a mobile office.

Now, back to work.

[Brad Klein]

Ice has been broken, allowing us non-architects in, thank you,
M.

20 X 20 home office, stuffed with books, golf images, plus various unsorted piles from previous finished projects everywhere, shared with 3 cats (one very inquisitive) and a dog. I tend to overdress on the road and overdo the informality at home, which is the main reason for a home office, besides tax advantages. If you don't sleep, it's also very easy to get writing done at wacko hours.

Have four phone lines (one cell, one fax, one office, one home) into the room, plus high speed cable. Desk is one-watt short of blowing up, thanks to variously plugged in cell phone charger, fax, printer-scanner-copier, tape recorder, AM/FM, electric pencil sharpener (!), amber lamp plus overhead flood light, and two computers, one a MAC the other a desktop, my theory being that by switching off on keyboards I reduce likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

And I have to scratch my head in wonder why I haven't made the trip to Bloomfield to do electrical work....

Get rid of the octopus of cables and electrical connections before it gets rid of you!

[Brad Klein]

Tommy, I can't afford your rates, though I would be willing to trade out for free golf at Wintonbury if it could be arranged.

Besides, no need to worry; when we moved in here three years ago we upgraded all of the circuitry, even got a second squirrel on the generator pedals.

[Forrest Richardson]

Say Brad, aren't you in the dark most of the time anyway?

[Richard Chamberlain]

at the house....keep 1 employee....2 drafting tables, light table,  1 dual 21" screen microstation Cad system...  plotter and 42" wide scanner.

Mike,
I stated using Microstation back in 1988 and am finally moving up the ladder of design.
I'm in Australia and in dire need of a new cad person, preferably a mictostation operator. Having a bugger of a time finding one.
Are they easy to come by over there ?

[Mike_Young]

at the house....keep 1 employee....2 drafting tables, light table,  1 dual 21" screen microstation Cad system...  plotter and 42" wide scanner.

Mike,
I stated using Microstation back in 1988 and am finally moving up the ladder of design.
I'm in Australia and in dire need of a new cad person, preferably a mictostation operator. Having a bugger of a time finding one.
Are they easy to come by over there ?

Email Southern Poly Tech or google them...they teach all of teir engineering students microstation and tyou should be able to find one that would have no problem moving you way...
Mike