Merhi 1

Faysal W. Merhi
Ms. Jizi
UWRT 1104-015
24th October ,2016
Annotated Bibliography
Source #1
Citation:
Jonathan, Massey. "Changing Course." Library.uncc.edu. National Architectural Accrediting
Board, Sept. 2016. Web. 25 Oct.2016.

This article is based on the design major Architecture and how the major demands a lot of
time and effort to transform a student into a fully licensed Architect. Massey points out how
design students stay up late several times a week working on projects for studios, and most of the
design students end up staying in school from five to eight years just to earn their degree in the
major. Plus, another three years for the students to take all the state exams to make them official
in that state to practice design. The author pushes on the point that the major is scaring talented
students away with all these requirements and heavy course load. Making it seem impossible for
them to graduate and start working. Not only is this a long process but its also very costly. The
article explains how some Universities, like San Franciscos Academy of Art are starting to
decrease cost of their design programs by offering more online classes and giving younger
students a chance to see their potential in architecture, by offering college level courses on the
subject in high schools. These changes are a starting point but will eventually help students
realize their passion for architecture and less the course load later on.

Merhi 2

For my Inquiry proposal I explained how Architecture was my main major but after being
denied from my first choice of a design school and having a close friend in the occupation
suggest another major, I quickly changed my preference to a business major. The purpose of my
inquiry is to see whether or not I should still chase my original dream of becoming an Architect.
This article related to my purpose, because it explained the negatives of becoming an Architect.
It takes an average of 11 years to become a fully licensed Architect, and the overall cost to stay
in college for that long is going to take several years to pay off. The course work is also
extremely heavy and the occupation values experience as well as education, so not only will it
take 11 years to finish your education but also another couple years for you to be well
experienced and/or successful in the profession. The author also touches bases on the fact that
many talented students are pushed away from the major because of these over the top
requirements by universities and state officials to become a licensed worker. I couldnt help but
to think of myself in that scenario. Not only does the article describe the negatives about chasing
Architecture, but it also described ways that institutions are trying to change this lengthy process
for students.

This source is a credible, because of its recent publication date of Sep, 2016. The publication
date proves that this information is recent and is relevant to the present stance in the topics
argument. Also the articles author, Massey Jonathan, is the dean of Architecture at California
College of Arts in San Francisco, a highly respected design school, and not only that, she is also
the author of Crystal and Arabesque: Claude Bragdon, Ornament and Modern Architecture
published in 2009, based off of her titles alone, its safe to say that Massey knows a thing or two

Merhi 3
about what shes expressing. Masseys experience in a college atmosphere gives her the
background of her article, shes not only writing about what she observed but also what shes
experienced. Making her context a trustworthy and reliable source This article also provided me
with the right information to help me gain knowledge about my inquiry question and my over all
purpose.

Source #2
Citation:
Borson, Bob. "Architecture in the Real World Sorta." Life of an Architect. Word Press /
DisQus, 24 Feb. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2016

This second source is an article written by Bob Borson and he expresses his true
experience with architecture, hinting the title Life of an Architect. His article was upbeat and
and pointed out that he attacked tasks with a positive attitude, and it paid off by making his
career much easier, and enjoyable. Out of the whole architectural experience he expresses that
the Architectural Registration Exam, made him realize that he loved what he did. It wasnt a test
to him it was fun, he enjoyed revising the information. Thats one of his key points, needed to
have a passion for architecture, it cant force yourself to do it, it have to want it. Architectural
school helps you learn all the basics, but it doesnt actually prepare you for the real world
experience. The job has a long process and a lot of collaboration in it, to get a design going.
Architecture is the best job in the world to Bob, and he has a passion for it. He explains that the
work is all worth it when you see your design turning into reality.

Merhi 4
After looking at several other articles about why Architecture was a dying major, the
information kept repeating itself, but this articles author expressed how Architecture is a
passion. Its not just a job, you have to love it. Forcing yourself to do it is only going to give you
a miserable life. This article forced me to look at Architecture in a different way, instead of
looking at how I got denied from NC State, and how other people didnt like the major, I should
be considering if this major is right for me, not of other people. I also shouldnt put other
peoples opinions in front of mine. This article related to my original inquiry proposal because it
described how an architect truly needs to be passionate about designing to really love his or her
work. This text gave me a different view of my inquiry question.

The author Bob Borson is a licensed architect in Texas he has also received the Dallas
American Institute of Architects Young Architect of the Year award. He is also an active
member of the American Institute of Architects, where he has done countless things like held the
positions of Voice Communications Chair, New Media Chair for the Texas Society of Architects,
and many more leadership positions in the committee.

Source #3
Citation:
Swenson, Kylee. "The Real Life of an Architect: MSA's Curtis Miller." Redshift. AutoDesk, 28
Sept. 2016. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.

This source is an interview done by Kylee Swenson to Curtis Miller. She interviews a
firm manager in San Francisco, named Curtis Miller. Curtis Miller explains the true life of an

Merhi 5
Architect. He states that throughout his experience hes noticed that Architecture has several
misconceptions to it. Just because a project he is working on costs a lot of money doesnt mean
hes making a lot. Several people assume that architects make a lot of money because of the
advanced structures theyre developing. They dont. Curtis also explains that to be successful in
this career its going to take a lot more than just being good at designing, you have to be able to
collaborate with others, mainly engineers. He stated that his toughest times are when a group
member and he buttheads on a design or an idea. Collaboration is key, and it can be much more
difficult than expected. Post college training is also important, getting a lot of training through
internships or shadowing can greatly pay off in the long run. Another big aspect of Architecture
is that the Architects original design goes through several stages of building and planning codes,
and requirements of the Americans with Disability Act that have to be met, other regulations also
change the original design.

This interview relates heavily with my inquiry topic because of the fact that Kylee
Swenson interviews a heavily experienced architect about the misconceptions of architecture.
Curtis Miller the interviewee explained how the lavish life style that everyone thinks Architects
have is incorrect. Other than the long years of work and years of experience, there are several
other principles being put into the major, architectural schools arent going to teach you
everything. This reflects along with my proposal by, explaining the misconceptions of
architecture, and how the actual work of an architect is much more difficult than it was in college
or graduate school. This interview opened my eyes to the reality of Architecture. Curtis Millers
experience with his career isnt what I want for my career to reflect of off. The purpose of the
assignment was to see if I still wanted to chance Architecture, opposed to my failures. This

Merhi 6
interview has shown me another example of someone complaining about the career. I cant help
but to think that the architect in this source isnt passionate about his work and doesnt enjoy his
job as a designer. A major like architecture needs a passionate person to represent it, for it to be
truly enjoyable.

This is a creditable source because the interviewee is an Architect Project Manager that
had been in the career of designing and managing groups of engineers to construct buildings for
over 27 years. So its safe to say he has some serious experience. Cutis Miller is also licensed in
San Francisco and has worked in more than nine different firms. The purpose of this interview
was to see the real life aspects of an architect, contrasted to what everyone thinks it is. Based off
of the experiences of the interviewee I would rate this source is a credible. Curtis Miller has
several years of experience in the career and has gone beyond the career to a higher level of
management, to get a different perspective of architecture. This interview was also posted on
September 30th, 2015, making very recent and making the source trustworthy and reliable.

Source #4
Citation:
Duval, Nicolas. "Architecture Is in Crisis and Sustainable Design | Nicolas Duval |
TEDxUniversityofNicosia." YouTube. TedxTalks, 22 Dec. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2016.

Merhi 7
This source is a video of Duval Nicolas on TedxTalks, he lectures about how modern day
architecture is not what architecture was meant to be. Technology has been changing architecture
for the worst. Advances in technology have created the start of smart homes, where the home
makes decisions for you just like smart phones. This isnt necessarily a good thing. Architecture
lost its relevance. He explains how Architecture was a respected major of master builders who
worked together to build social and environmental buildings, but now technology has taken
control. Most designers nowadays are worried about incorporating signature styles in their work
and the newest tech, instead of its true purpose of designing a structure that benefits the people
in it, and the purpose of maximizing productivity. Architects are constrained on new commercial
obligations and standardization. The economic growth of our cities is more important than the
environmental effects these days. Which is the fast track to self-destruction.

This video source related strongly with my proposal because it showed how architecture
is changing in todays economy and how new technical advancements are effecting our architects
ability to design, and instead they have several regulations and restriction to deal with, which
drastically changings their original designs. The purpose of my inquiry assignment was to
answer the question What about Architecture. I wanted to use this assignment to be better
informed about the major and make a decision on whether or not to chase it, as it was my
original plan. Nicolas Duval has helped me do this by showing me the reality of his experience.
His experience and education makes his information believable and trustworthy. But technology
can be looked at a positive way as well. I believe this author was more concerned with the
environmental factor of urbanization, apart from the true meaning of architecture and the passion
needed to take an idea and turn it into reality. I cant see my self ignoring my passion for design

Merhi 8
just because of other peoples opinion on their careers. Even after all these negative sources, I
still see my self chasing design.

The speaker of this TedxTalk informational video is Nicolas Duval, he has two degrees
one in Architecture form ENSA of Toulouse, France. After graduation he gained experience and
open up his own firm named Duval Fournier Architects in 2007. He later gained accreditation as
an Energy Auditor. Nicolas is a very successful Architect, that is involved in more than one
corporation and has had several years of not only education but experience.

Source #5
Citation:
Rampell, Catherine. "Want a Job? Go to College, and Don't Major in Architecture." The New
York Times. The New York Times, 5 Jan. 2012. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.

This source written by New York Times editor Catherine Rampell, talks about how
several jobs unemployment rates and their average salary on different categories of graduates
with a bachelor, graduates with a masters, and graduates with just work experience. This specific
article stood out to me because the author touched bases strongly on the fact that architecture has
the highest unemployment rate for recent graduates of Architecture. It even showed that getting
masters in the major didnt decrease your chances that much of being unemployed. With that
high rate of unemployment, it usually means that the pay is relatively well. In which it is. The
major is in high demand which makes pay go up but sadly unemployment increases as well, this
article showed the facts of students difficulties of nailing a job after finishing their education.

Merhi 9

This New York Times article showed the true demographics on how getting a job in
architecture out of college is going to be more difficult than students think. This is extremely
disappointing to hear when relating the fact that, architecture is a long and difficult process of
creating designs and passing several exams. This article is related to my inquiry topic because it
showed me that the rate of unemployment for careers like architecture, that have to do with
construction, highly depended on the strength of the economy, and sharing its knowledge of the
majors stability. Thats a scary thought if you happen to graduate when the economy is not at its
best, youre basically out of luck. This is why I choose this topic for this assignment, to learn
facts like that, and create my own opinion on it. This source fails include a lot of other factors for
the results of unemployment. I trust that Im truly talented in design and would make a great
architect, and the economy effects every occupation not just architecture. If design is what I love
to do than I dont mind risking the chance of a bad economy. Theres no security in any major
anyway so might as well do what you love. After all these sources I still believe I have a future
as an architect, no matter how many obstacles I encounter.

The author of this article is a writer from the New York Times, her name is Catherine
Rampell, she is credible for this information because of her degree in Economics, and her career
in data-driven journalism. She had also won the Weidenbaum Center Award for Evidence-Based
Journalism and is a Gerald Loeb Award finalist, plus several other awards for her honest work.