2 comments about Project Management in Construction (McGraw-Hill Professional Engineering).

1. This is a carefully written book focusing on competitively bid commercial construction projects using the "design then bid" method of project delivery. The book assumes that the AIA (American Institute of Architects) set of forms will be used - a reasonable assumption since these forms are apropriate and have long been the standard of this delivery system. If lump sum competative bid is the only project delivery method you will use, this book should be helpful.
   
   However, the very different approaches of construction management, and project management involving contractor input through out the project delivery process, are not addressed. So, the concept of continuous quality improvement can not be used. Simlarly the very common AGC forms more apropriate to these delivery systems are not discussed. Although rehab of old buildings (for change management), and design build are covered in chapters 11 and 12, this is an after-thought not central to the book's approach.
   
   Choosing Project Success - A Guide for Building Professionals



2. I have worked for 3 years in project management company about construction, but I cannot establish transparent concepts about Project Management. At the moment, this book was messiah to me almost drowning in deep mud pool of construction field. Most of all not only beginners to PM but also skillful PM can gain lots of useful informations from this book.

3 comments about ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING.

1. We all know that information revolution has totally transformed the society. Architecture is no exception. Relative to industrial revolution's impact on architecture, "what has this recent revolution done to the field?" is the basic inquiry to the book. This book diligently answers to the question. It is extremely informative and provocative regarding digital technologies available for architecture.
   
   As an outcome of a symposium held at U.Penn. in 2002, the book compiles various scholars and practitioners around the world. They grapple with the current technologies available to design and manufacture innovative shapes/forms/spaces that associate with digital aesthetics.
   
   Spearheaded researchers such as Bill Mitchell(MIT), Chris Luebkeman(Arup), Ali Rahim (U.Penn), and Branko Kolarevic (U.Penn, chief editor of the book); and, cutting-edge practitioners such as Jim Glymph (Gehry), Hugh Whitehead (Foster & Partners), Bernhard Franken (Franken Architekten), etc.; both groups provide theoretical framework and actual applications.
   
   It's interesting to point out that the authors deliberately associated digital architecture with smooth forms. Double curvatures deform structure/ skin/ space of the building. The new modes of design and production enables that complex geometries to be part of building industry.
   
   As a reader, the most challenging claim of the book is that the authors
   assert (some explicitly and some implicitly) on the new role of an architect. They believe that this new mode of production will revolutionize the client-architect-contractor relationship. Because architects will be the (single) dominant source of information on the three dimensionally morphed shape, manufacturers and fabricators would rely heavy on architects. The authors predict architect would regain absolute power of medieval master builders.



2. I'm getting my masters in Architecture and this book is a must-have, must-read for anyone designing in the digital age. It's informational and inspiring not only for architects, but anyone interested in using computer technology as a method for design carried through to manufactuing.



3. This book provides a great overview of the developing technolgies in digital design and fabrication. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive study in the current trends in digital architecture. A series of 20+ articles by designers working in this area of architecture, this book updates the conversation to what is happening today and what is being projected in the future. Great resource!

5 comments about Becoming an Architect: A Guide to Careers in Design.

1. If your son or daughter is thinking, contemplating, dreaming, or planning on a career in architecture please buy this book for them and be sure they read it cover to cover. My son went to Catholic University's 3 week architecture camp this past summer and enjoyed a speech by Dr. Lee Waldrep, associate dean at neighboring University of Maryland's architecture school. After the speech Dr. Waldrep gave each attendee a copy of this book. Dr. Waldrep made quite an impression on my son as he announced after the camp that he also wanted to investigate Maryland, a school not initially on his college list. I saw the book at home and read it in two nights (295 pages). The book is laid out and presented in a way that offers "real world" insight, from noted architects, about the profession and what it takes to become an architect. This profession's "passion" really jumps out of each page as successful architects describe their education, interests, challenges, influences, etc. For me, the parent of a young aspiring architect, I felt very proud that my son has chosen such an interesting and respected profession. Well done Dr. Waldrep...and thank you!



2. If you are exploring design careers for the first time, this book is a must read! Waldrep skillfully coalesces insights from various faculty, students, and practitioners in order to provide a depth and breadth that is normally missing from typical career guides. There is advice on everything from the definition of architecture to establishing a design career, and everything in between; this advice cemented my intent to apply to a graduate program in architecture and urban planning.
   
   I really loved the diversity of viewpoints expressed in the book. Modernists, neo-traditionalists, nontraditional students, traditional students, deans, and admissions professionals all have their own ideas about what attributes are necessary for a good architect, how to choose an academic program, and what employers look for. Finally, the text was so fun to read that I finished it the same day I received it and plan to read it again.



3. One of my daughters is very interested in becoming an architect and this is an ideal book for her. I think any young person of even an undergraduate college student considering this career path will find this book very helpful.
   
   I appreciate that the book asks and answers the most likely questions a young person will ask or should ask about the career. Even more I appreciate that the author has brought in a broad range of practicing architects to answer than and share their views. This range of opinions and suggestions is quite helpful. It also has the benefit of being interesting.
   
   There are five chapters, the first provides some definition of what an architect is by talking about the wide range of things architects do, and helps the prospective architect think through if such a career is for them. The important skills of architects are also discussed.
   
   Chapter two talks about the education of an architect and even gets back into childhood toys, books and activities. For the high school student considering this career they suggest which courses are most beneficial for the student. They also discuss the licensing, paths to various degrees and what they are needed for. Appendix B also gives a list of accredited architecture programs. There is also information about the application programs and academic enrichment.
   
   Chapter three talks about how to gain experience as a student, how to get noticed, what hiring companies look for, and moving towards licensure. Chapter four helps the student design her career and what the options are. Chapter five lets the participants in this book speak about their wide range of views of the future of architecture. Appendix A provides a resource list for architects - professional organizations, institutions, community service, recommended reading, and websites.
   
   All great stuff, very readable, and with lots of interesting illustrations and photographs.
   
   Very good!



4. I don't know. I expect this book to have more information than it is. There's not much content but too many interview. In fact the whole book is all about the interview from different people in different architecture backgrounds.
   
   It may be a good book to those who want to knwo more about architecture, to architecture students who have never had internship before. Since I already worked for more than one year in architecture firms, I feel this book contains much less information than I expect.
   
   Anyway, it's just my personal opinion. Hope it helps.



5. A coffee table book; This is not a "cover-to-cover" read that teaches one how to become an architect. It does, however, provide a range of possibilities for the futures of aspiring architects. It is compiled of interviews with different professionals, preceded and concluded with resourceful information about schooling, exams, licenture, etc. It does present "answers" in a way, through examples of different paths and interests that lead to the varied careers in architecture. I would recommend this to students, in particular, who are considering an education/career in architecture: at moments while reading the book I felt insecure about my contrary approach to architecture; at other points while reading, I felt confident in the ability to relate my approach. It is reassuring to read the first-hand experiences of persons who are already at the point where I may be some day.

5 comments about An Introduction To Enterprise Architecture: Second Edition.

1. "Introduction to Enterprise Architecture" is a very good text for a student or experienced professional to start to understand this very complex topic. The more useful aspect of the book is how it shows you the required elements of any Enterprise Architecture, and how they fit together. That is the most important thing for any Enterprise Architect to learn. That is presented well in the book.
   
   In addition, there is a good summary of many of the most referenced EA Frameworks.
   
   The examples are good, especially, the appendices that walk you through the specific deliverable documents for several of the well known EA Frameworks. That alone, is well worth the price of the book.



2. I took Dr. Bernard's grad level EA class (Syracuse Univ. in Washington, DC) in 2004 and this was one of the courses texts. Nothing better than having the author and the professor to study at the same time. Dr. Bernard's approaches are building on the standards of the EA industry. Dr. Bernard's 3 cubed model takes EA into a new direction. He truly wants to build upon the forefathers of this field. Dr. Bernard's passion of this subject shines through in his dedication to EA in federal government. I enjoyed this book (Edition 1) and look forward to future updated versions of this book and comparsions of other EA models.



3. Professor Bernard provides an excellent textbook for the federal sector in An Introduction to Enterprise Architecture. Scott strove to meet this market niche need and met that goal. As a collaborative editor to Scott on the final text, I know he was very exacting with his desires to have this text presented in the manner he choose-after receiving many suggestions for alternative presentation considerations-Scott stuck to his original agenda. Working with Professor Bernard was enjoyable-he is a conscientious man and considerate soul to work with. I fully endorse his book.



4. IF you are looking to set up a new Enterprise Architecture program for your organization, this book outlines the steps you should follow. Please note that it doesn't teach you how to be an Enterprise Architect.



5. EA is the application of rigorous methods to the management of Enterprise IT. Rigorous methods require, well, rigor. As a new practitioner of EA you will quickly find that you must choose how you will document the enterprise, and how you will then document the documentation formats so they are repeatable. This is dull work, tedious, and error prone. Dr. Scott Bernard has done the work for you. It will save you weeks of thankless dull effort. The advantage of this work is not academic theory and fancy hocus pocus, it is not advancing some odd software approach designed to displace system engineering in EA practice, it is not endless words to make you sound smart to the CEO, but trench warfare level lists of real artifacts with documentation and examples for real practitioners. Thank you, Scott Bernard from a 20 year practitioner of the art of enterprise scale IT architecture and strategic planning.
   
   (On balance I should also mention that the cube, while it is an improvement on the FEAF triangle Dr. bernard helped author, remains imperfect as a clarifying device. It is unclear what the third dimension represents- some muddiness remains in the conceptualization. The EA3 cube is not the icon of EA that the Zachman matrix is... yet. I await his next try for yet another improvement.)

1 comments about Project Management for Design Professionals.

1. Who would have thought that learning about project management could be so entertaining? Ramroth has included numerous examples, illustrations and commentary to propel readers through what would normally be a rather bland subject. I laughed out loud while reading and surprised not only myself, but also my napping children!

5 comments about J.l.C. Field Guide to Residential Construction, Vol. 1: A Manual of Best Practice.

1. Good resource on a large variety of subjects. It will not let you just go build, but gives the basics you need to know. If you are hiring a contractor it will help you know what they are doing. If you are a contractor, it provides a reference. Well worth the time and money.



2. The book was well worth the money and the TIME IT TOOK TO GET IT.It has got to be one of the best referance books for construction out there.



3. It's a good thing they used a heavy grade of paper with some kind of vinyl cloth cover (the thing feels waterproof). I use this book so often that I would have worn it out if it was constructed otherwise.



4. I ordered this in hopes it was Volume I but knowing it was a gamble. Indeed, I was shipped volume II which deals with Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, etc. The ISBN which Amazon lists is correct for this volume, so Volume II is what you should expect in spite of a previous reviewers experience.
   
   The book itself, though sealed in plastic was damaged. The book is spiral bound to open flat with tabbed sections. Each tab was creased and folded back into the book. One tab was unbound and loose in the book.
   
   Content wise, I gave the book three stars. The individual chapters are necessarily short and somewhat superficial. There are numerous, helpful tables with pertinent data. But for detailed best practices I found "Wiring a House" by Rex Cauldwell and "Plumbing a House" by Peter Hemp (both from Tautons For Pros by Pros) or "Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction" by Steven Bliss (who used to be on JLC's staff) to be far superior. They have both theory and practical examples that include those really tough situations we encounter in real houses, not the simple, perfectly square, etc. fantasy situations popular on HGTV and introductory guides. The JLC Guide chapter with design information for kitchen and bath has some useful ideas, but again, I'd go with a more detailed guide. "Kitchen Idea Book" by Joanne Bouknight was especially useful in the kitchen remodel I just completed.
   
   All in all, it's an okay guide that made me wanting more detail and back searching Amazon.



5. I took into consideration what all the reviews said about this being volume two instead of volume one. Well, I needed volume two so I ordered it and got VOLUME ONE instead! I guess I can't win for losing. I gave three stars because even though there is some confusion on the volumes, Amazon still processed the order very quickly and I receied it in about three days.

1 comments about Professional Practice: A Guide to Turning Designs into Buildings.

1. It tells you step by step what to do and who to talk to and the different engineers you'll need along with percentages on prices. Hands down a great guide to getting real project built.

2 comments about The Cohousing Handbook: Building a Place for Community.

1. If you're involved with cohousing, you need this book. It gives you all the knowledge and tools you need to be successful in building a cohousing community. The Cohousing Handbook provides guidance on everything from forming a group to land acquisition and construction to marketing and legal issues. It also provides clear steps to follow for each segment of the process along with forms, resources and sample documents. Why re-invent the wheel when it's all here for you to adapt for your own community?
   
   The authors have been involved with dozens of cohousing communities across the country and have a deep understanding of what's involved at every step of the cohousing journey. Whether you currently live in or plan to live in cohousing, are an architect or developer or other professional working with a cohousing project, I wouldn't go to another cohousing meeting without The Cohousing Handbook in hand.



2. Chris Hanson has laid out for the reader a step by step guide to starting your own cohousing community. A must have for any cohouser, but definately not the first book you want to read to learn about the cohousing way of life. Durant and McCammant's excellent book fills that roll, just as this book fills it's intended role. If you are contemplating starting or joining an existing group, buy this book. It will guide you through the process step by step. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel, so we may as well learn from those who have paved that road for us!

No comments about Project Management Professional (PMP) Examination Specification.

1 comments about The Parking Garage: Design and Evolution of a Modern Urban Form.

1. This book is an amazing overview of the parking garage typology and it is the architectural compliment to the several excellent more engineering and planning books oriented books on the topic. Vividly illustrated with over 350 images, 312 pages, most in color, the amazing evolution of the typolgy is explored and throughily discussed within architectural concepts showing visions never seen before. Ten chapters cover all the key issues related to architectural typolgies and the final chapter presents amazing ideas and visions of the future. Highlighting sustainable ideas for new movement machines - car and transit, from the past and into the future and how they will be parked begins to present transformations to our urban environment for the future. Ideas are postitioned within solid reasearch and architectural intellectual discussions of man and machine. Many other books are referenced and the endnotes and further readings provide an extensive source for all students, architects, engineers, and planners.