KP a+d is an award-winning San Francisco architecture firm, looking for an intern architect with an interest in the technical aspects of our profession and very good Revit skills. They are a 5-person firm in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, with a disciplined approach to design and a very wide array of projects in architecture and interior architecture. This woman-owned firm is notable for design work as well as our commitment to a healthy work-life balance.

If you have at least 3 years’ experience working full time in an architecture firm, and enjoying problem-solving and production drawing in Revit, KP a+d is eager to speak with you. The firm currently has an exciting mix of commercial, public and private sector work in all stages of development from conceptual design, construction documentation, and contract negotiation to construction administration. Their current slate of work includes a high-profile institutional project which will require them to produce solid drawing sets and custom detailing. Current project values range from $2.5 - $22 Million in probable construction cost.

The firm’s design approach is focused less on stylistic dogma and more on strong planning principles, the integration of natural light and landscape and meticulous detailing. The office engages in a variety of architectural and interiors projects, from single-family homes to public buildings to larger, urban-scaled housing and office buildings. They have completed numerous high-end private residences, several public libraries and custom commercial and institutional interiors throughout Northern California, as well as projects in New York State and Wyoming. Their work has been published in California Home and Design, Marin Magazine, PLAIN Magazine, Library Journal, Architectural Digest, California Homes, Sunset Magazine, and the local newspapers.

The Job: KP a+d is looking for an architectural intern or recently licensed architect with solid technical skills and good problem-solving instinct. In this small office each individual has a variety of responsibilities and opportunities; however, your principle role will be to produce drawings in Revit, working collaboratively with the project manager and principal. You will produce and coordinate design development and construction documents under direction of the Project Manager. If the opportunity arises you may be able to personally manage selected smaller projects.

Candidate should enjoy working in person, in the office, in a small-firm environment. The successful candidate will be a well-educated, self-motivated architect who enjoys producing well-coordinated drawings You are well organized, have excellent work habits and computer skills and have worked for at least 3 years, (ideally 3 - 5) in the United States since receiving your professional degree. At minimum, a B.Arch is required. Skill in Revit is required.

Skill and experience in Vectorworks and AutoCAD are a plus. Talented sketchers are always appreciated. Also required are fluency in English, both spoken and written, as well as legal status to work in the US, (no visa seekers, please).

Salary and benefits are competitive. KP a+d values and strives for optimal work/life balance and structure their schedule taking alternate Fridays off, year-round. The office culture reflects our commitment to nurturing a career while protecting your creative spirit. They insist that people take time off and encourage everyone to work hard but use your personal time. KP a+p cultivates whole lives. People are empowered to step up to opportunities, to interact with clients and to grow.

If you value a small firm structure with limited hierarchy in a firm that already has GREAT momentum, and if you think this might be the right career move for you, please send your resume to admin@kpad.com.

In an interview with Jason Hartman, Esther Sperber of Studio ST Architects shares five things you need to create a highly successful career in architecture and so much more.

To highlight from the article, here are Esther’s Five Things:

1. Love architecture — You need to love buildings and get excited about the beauty of stone or the smell of wet poured concrete.

2. Love people — In my opinion, you cannot create good architecture if you do not enjoy people. Buildings are designed to be inhabited and I love imagining how people would use the spaces we create. It used to be common to photograph buildings without any people in them. In recent years we have started photographing our work, especially public buildings, with people in them. I feel that this gives a better sense of what we are trying to accomplish.

3. Love your staff — Like other service professions, we are only as good as our team. Architecture cannot be created alone, and I am fortunate to have a great team at my office. We share ideas, suggestions and bring our own strength to the team.

4. Love running a business — When I started my firm, I did not know much about running a business, tracking costs and projecting profits. Over the past two decades I have learned from friends, colleagues, YouTube and coaches. I enjoy the task of running my business and making sure we are financially stable alongside the creativity of the design process. My work week is incredibly varied. I spend a few hours sketching a new design on trace paper, putting together a fee proposal and spreadsheet schedule for our team, learning about a new product, putting on my work boots to visit the concrete foundation work on a multifamily building, selecting stone for a countertop and giving a lecture to students about the architecture of synagogues. What could be more exciting?

5. Love a new challenge — When you are an architect there is always more to learn than one person can handle. We need to be able to learn from others, ask the right questions and have good intuition about mechanical systems, structure, sustainability and city codes. But there will always be something new that we have not encountered, and a good architect needs to not be intimidated by this, but rather find these new challenges exciting.

Right on, Esther! These are a great five.

Don’t miss out on the other gems Esther shares in the complete interview published here.

Current Design Advocates Volunteer Opportunities

D/A are excited to be launching their next project term which will run from January-July of 2023. Their network of participating firms and designers organize their efforts in six-month blocks of time, collaborating with non-profit and institutional clients and the communities they serve.

The current term is a mix of pro-bono and low-bono projects and initiatives addressing hunger, reproductive rights, arts and design based learning, family services, and public space advocacy. Please take a look at the opportunities outlined below, and please get in touch if you’d like to support or participate in these efforts!

Learn more here!

Yellow House Architects, PLLC | Intermediate Architect

About Yellow House:

Yellow House Architects is a Manhattan-based fellowship of design creatives with diverse voices, working collaboratively to realize our clients’ architectural vision. We offer highly personalized design service to clients in residential, hospitality, and commercial architecture. Our office is a gathering place where avid learners and thinkers share diverse points of view. For us, Yellow House is a forward-thinking space which fosters creative collaboration, expressed in the language of architecture.

About the Position:

Founded in 2020, YHA is looking for an Intermediate Architect to join our team. The ideal candidate will have solid experience in classical and traditional architecture. We look for people who are passionate about the art of architecture, enjoy working collaboratively on a shared vision, can work with a high level of detail and materiality when collaborating with top craftsmen, and embrace new materials and state of the art technology in their designs.

YHA offers a full benefits package and participates in mentorship programs, professional development, and educational initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Produce drawings with direction from the design team

2. Review redlines and incorporate into design drawings

3. Collaborate with the Project Manager to produce deliverable

4. Prepare for and attend meetings with clients and consultants, record decisions and issue notes

5. Participate in weekly coordination meetings with MEP and structural related disciplines

6. Attend site visits and evaluate site conditions and constraints

7. Adapt plans accordingly to resolve any problems that may arise during construction

8. Research current zoning and building code requirements

9. Survey new project sites and as-built conditions.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Four to five-plus years professional experience

2. Strong proficiency in AutoCAD and Revit

3. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word

4. Strong proficiency In Bluebeam a plus

5. Ability to multi-task and work within a team to meet deadlines

6. Good organizational skills with good oral and written communication skills

 Direct all inquiries to liz@yellowhousearchitects.com.

Loci Architecture is an award-winning firm with over two decades of experience completing academic, residential (single-family and multi-family), restoration, and community projects. The Loci mission is to design a better city.

Loci is seeking an intermediate level architect to join their team and contribute to the design and documentation of upcoming work, particularly in the academic, multi-family housing development, sacred space, and preservation areas. This position requires a well-developed design sense and technical knowledge across a broad range of projects. An ideal candidate is comfortable working at different scales and budgets in a collaborative environment, is well organized, and effectively communicates with clients, contractors, and consultants.

Loci offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package, and supports a healthy work life balance. They invest in developing their team’s professional skills, including helping them obtain certifications, creating a clear path to success within the firm, and supporting a career in architecture. Their mentorship program ensures that each employee, regardless of experience, learns about the different roles and opportunities in the office, and has an office colleague with whom they regularly meet throughout their employment. Many of the Loci team are actively involved with our communities, social issues, the arts, and music.

Following is the preferred profile for candidates:

• Licensed or actively pursuing licensure to practice architecture in New York State

• 5-7 years overall experience in New York City architectural offices since earning a professional degree

• A Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture degree in the United States or equivalent degree earned in a foreign country

• Experience with Revit, CAD, and Adobe Creative Suite

• LEED Accreditation or Passive House certified

• Experience with the New York City Building Code, Zoning Resolution, Energy Code, and DOB filing documents and procedures

• Authorization to work in the United States

To apply: Please send your resume, portfolio, and a cover letter in PDF format (less than 10 MB) to: resumes@lociarchitecture.com. Include a short statement in the cover letter describing your NYC project experience.