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ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg
Post Number: 1044
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2017 - 11:19 am: |    |
Based on the feedback and excellent comments received from our other thread, perhaps we can share our stories and suggestions here.
I fell into Architecture and Specifications when I took a job in college with an Architect who was trying to help St. Elizabeth's Hospital (the Federal Hospital for the Insane where Hinckley used to live), Washington, DC, regain its accreditation. I was a Physical Sciences major but had taken mechanical drawing classes in high school. There were dozens of buildings from the late 1800's and early 1900's with no floor plans or anything else. My job was to field measure and draft up the plans for each building. While I was campus, my boss would have me sit in on his meetings with doctors, nurses, physical plant and others affected by proposed changes and take notes. We would then go back to the office with my drawings and notes and rework each space. Talk about instant uptake of knowledge. Next thing I know I'm drafting plans, details, and, yes, specifications for each package including clinics, residences, therapy spaces, food services, commercial laundry, everything imaginable for a large hospital complex with a permanent residence program for patients. Since I was familiar with the packages, and had at that point memorized NFPA 101, I was delegated with going to the DC Code reviewers to pull permits. Four years later when my boss retired I had given up any idea of going into Physical Sciences and took a job with another A/E firm, working my way up to Director of Specifications at the ripe old age of 25.
Since then I have also worked as a PM, done CA, and due to my ignorance in the topic, took a job as a building envelope consultant and learned more than I ever thought possible. All that time I never stopped writing specs either as an in-house or as an independent Specifier.
Still, not a day goes by when I don't learn something new. It's a great way to spend a day. |
James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: jsandoz
Post Number: 205
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2017 - 09:24 am: | |
I started off in the traditional way - drawing, attending meetings, and doing more and more CA stuff. The latter made me realize the importance of specifications and I knew I wanted to be doing something 'important.' But isn't it all important?
I joined CSI and passed my CDT long before I considered becoming a writer of specifications. In fact, I did that with the idea it would make me a better architect which I believe it did.
CA (yes, I know it should be CCA) can be physically demanding and I am physically lazy. I found I was doing more and more CA and thought it would be nice to stay out of the usually hot and humid Houston weather and work in an air conditioned office. Specification writing seemed to be the effective and 'important' way to do that.
Overall I am happy with my decision. I believe I do have the respect and admiration of my peers even if some of them think I am a grouch.
One very good thing about my job, which echoes Kens' comment, is I seem to learn something every day. Specification writing, and all its associated activities, is NEVER boring though it may occasionally be tedious. But what isn't - occasionally?
FWIW (and it may not be much), I earned a BS in Biology from a small liberal arts college before I took my architecture degree. Why I didn't stick with that discipline is a story for another time but I did get a superior education in the 'liberal arts,' among them writing. That has proven to be useful. |
Ed Storer
Senior Member
Username: ed_storer
Post Number: 13
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Sunday, April 09, 2017 - 11:39 pm: | |
I did 4 years of college and left with a BA, Architecture major (not a professional degree). I was fortunate to get a job with a major architectural firm, but got frustrated at working "on the boards" after about 7 years.
I had a very brief career working as a management consultant at a copper smelter in Arizona. After I was dismissed, I called up the manager of the spec department and told him I was ready (hungry) to follow his suggestion to take up specifying. Fortunately there was a chair available.
I found that I really enjoyed the process of "putting the job together" in a relatively short time frame. |
Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: presbspec
Post Number: 289
Registered: 01-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2017 - 11:05 am: | |
I started in this industry as an "engineering aide" for the Navy Exchange system right out of community college (Associate degree in Architectural Technology). My first project was to produce specifications for a renovation of the Personal Services department based on drawings done by my predecessor. Fortunately I had an understanding boss, who guided me through the process and got me a copy of the Hans Meirs's specifications handbook.
I continued as a draftsman for various A/E firms and because of my familiarity with Navy specs was often called upon to edit the NAVFAC masters for our projects (pre SpecsIntact). I found I liked the writing more than drawing and eventually specialized in the specification writing. I eventually went back to school to get my BET degree in Construction Engineering but never went for a PE, as I already had my CCS, and am doing what I enjoy.
I worked over the years as a draftsman, code/construction inspector, clerk of the works, construction administrator, onsite project manager, teacher of fundamental formats, and of course as a specifier (inhouse and as a consultant). All of these roles have contributed to my knowledge and skill set in working with my clients and in developing project manuals for construction. My involvement in CSI leadership has also contributed to the skills I now bring to the table.
I fully believe that working in the various areas of the design/construction industry make for a better architect, engineer and specifier. |
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski
Post Number: 2115
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2017 - 03:14 pm: | |
My undergraduate degree is in psychology, which, as I quip, with $6.75 will get you a cup of coffee. I took a class in engineering drawing to fill time while my younger son was in pre-school (the class was basically free). I not only loved the class, I aced it and the instructor talked me into working for him over the semester break AND taking the architectural drawing class he offered. And I loved that, too. So I took algebra and physics to eliminate deficiencies, moved half-way across the country, waited a year to establish residency, and started on a path to obtain a MArch.
I worked off and on for about 6 years, and when the ADA became law, I started doing surveys for private companies/entities and municipal entities so they could comply. My boss told me I could draw the solutions and write brief (sheet) specifications, but that he would have to write something called "Division 01" because that was too difficult for me. And that was the challenge.
Shortly after that, he helped me obtain a position as a spec writer and I discovered that my love for the written word and architecture came together - perhaps not in a flash of enlightenment, but darn close.
Everything else followed in reasonable order; I passed the CDT and then the CCS, I joined the Milwaukee chapter CSI and rose "through the ranks" - secretary, president elect, president - and got involved in the Region and ultimately at the Institute level. During this time, I joined the Madison chapter after taking a job in that city, and am currently active in both chapters. |
Louis Medcalf, FCSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: louis_medcalf
Post Number: 75
Registered: 11-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 - 10:56 am: | |
When I started in 1976 with a small practitioner as his first employee, he assigned me the task of preparing the specs for our projects so I bought the Rosen book 'Conspection Specifications Writing' [still in print] because what we had in college on specs was useless.
In 1982 a recession layoff triggered a job change. I interviewed with the premier design firm in town whose previous specifier had died. They challenged me to bring their specs up to the same level of excellency as their designs and drawings, which with a wife and then 3 children dependent on my income I accepted. I joined CSI in October of that year. In 1984 the firm sent me to the 2-week course on specs and contracts at the University of Wisconsin headed by Tom Heinemann and shortly thereafter I took the CDT and CCS exams on the same day. Never looked back. I enjoy providing a unique and essential contribution to the firms I've worked for and to the industry through CSI participation. Knowledge of products led me into forensic investigations and understanding the relationship of drawings and specs led me into QA/QC reviews, both of which have been challenging and satisfying pursuits. |
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