What's Next...The Four Horses of the Appocalypse??

Archive of Older Topics Archive - Specifications Discussions #5
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I know there has been discussions about architects and specifications on many of the forums I frequent. I also remember a particular comment from a regular spec writing contributor where a comment was made about bring up the topic of specs at an AIA event and the nerve he must have had doing so. I got quite a chuckle from that comment!

I was just perusing my Twitter when I saw a tweet from the OAA (Ontario Association of Architects) stating “If you missed it, our List of Con-Ed workshops with descriptions & times can be found here,” with a link. I was curious to see if this was in reference to their upcoming conference, or just ConEd in general so I followed the link. It turned out to be for their conference, so once again I decided to scan the list to see what was being offered when I came across the title of this session and the description below.

Not only am I AMAZED that architects are talking about specs at their convention (this comment is not in ANY way a slight to the Registered Architects that are dedicated and proficient specification writers that I have gotten to “know” here or on any other forums)…BUT…the session is SOLD OUT…and…they are actually offering this session TWICE at the same conference!!

Now you can see why I have titled this post the way I have!!

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05CE - Specs 101 - Basics, Pitfalls and Survival
10 MAY 2012 - 8:30AM-12:00PM

3 OAA ConEd learning hours
3 AIA LU
SOLD OUT: This session has been sold out.

This session is being offered again Thursday, May 10 from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Course Outline

This course will cover basic skills used in writing clear, enforceable construction specifications in harmony with the Construction Specifications Canada Manual of Practice and educational courses. It will include imperative language, vocabulary, trade names, spelling, grammar, terminology, coordination, abbreviations, symbols, and numbers. It will outline the content and application of joint CSC/CSI documents such as MasterFormat and SectionFormat/PageFormat to both master specs and project specs. The session will cover using the NMS National Master Specification and other office or in-house master specs; environmental green wash; and the interface between CCDC-2 for private sector work/Treasury Board SACC for federal government work and the rest of Divisions 00 and 01. It will address specifier qualifications including the technical competence, ethics and values required to produce enforceable project documents, constructability, limit liability and maximize profit.

Learning Objectives:

Develop and Refine Specification Writing Skills 
Become aware of Project Manual and Product Data Pitfalls 
Examine MasterFormat, SectionFormat/PageFormat and the NMS 
Find Resources No Specifier Should be Without

Presenter

Cathy Ferren-Palmer began her career in surveying and civil/municipal engineering in 1975 switching to the architectural discipline in 1977. After graduating and working in the both the private sector and municipal government she has dedicated her career since 1981 to full time construction specification writing specializing in architectural while producing or supervising specifications in all disciplines. Cathy is very proficient in working on and critiquing the National Master Specification and other master specifications, providing quality assurance reviews on project documents and enjoys teaching and coaching new and intermediate specification writers.

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OH MY!! I am suffering a little bit of embarrassment here, but I didn’t see it until after I hit the “post” button…the title of this post should have been…

“What’s Next…The Four HORSEMEN of the Appocalypse??”

Boy, do I feel silly!!

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Um…and it’s “apocalypse” - and there’s no Canadian spelling excuse here.

But with the world ending this year - the true apocalypse, according to those interpreting the Aztec calendar, those Architects who finally get it will be getting it just a wee bit late, won’t they?.

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I guess it’s a case of “repent and ye shall be saved.”

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Lynn, I thought it was the Mayans.

Paul, this has to one of the most amazing things in recent memory. Of course, looking at the agenda for the AIA Convention next week in Washington, DC, no such course is being offered.

There are a couple of courses that somewhat address specs, but they are provided by manufacturers as part of the CES program:
“ISO 13007 and ANSI standards: the best of both worlds for specifying tile adhesives and grouts”;
“Designing with natural stone: Sourcing and selecting Materials for successful designs”; and
“Sustainability, water conservation, and LEED Projects”.

Oh well, maybe next year.

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Ken, you’re probably right…I didn’t fact-check.

And you’re both right - this is the most amazing thing! It means there’s hope for us all…We Americans have looked to our northern neighbors for many innovative things, and this is one more. I think this should be posted to the Linkedin AIA discussion just to stir things up - and maybe, just maybe - wake some people up in the process.

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While by extension the apocalypse may mean the end of the world, thus the reference to the Mayan calendar (which by the way indicates the end of a cycle, not necessarily the end of the world), I believe its a text authored by John the Evangelist in the Book of Revelation written in a cave on the island of Patmos which I just visited.

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Just how many years–nay, decades–have specifiers been urging the sleeping sinners to awake? I’m sure it’ll happen by the time of the Apocalypse. Or, maybe it’s we who are sleeping?

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Well, you’re right, Gerard. The horsemen - and their horses - appear in the book of Revelation. They are white, red, black and “pale” and symbolize conquest, war, famine and death; and together, they are to destroy what’s here before the final judgement. But I hope that’s not going to happen because Canadian Architects want to learn how to write specifications!

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Lynn, I don’t care what you say, I’m claiming Canadian spelling for my typo…or pehaps I will blame Colin because the forum doesn’t spell check the title…yeah that’s the ticket!!! And i hate to admit it, but Ken is right (please don’t tell him I agreed with him again!!), it is the Mayan calendar.

Ron, maybe but somehow i doubt it…we’re talking about architects here!! LOL

Ken, I’m thinking maybe Liz O’Sullivan will blog about this and maybe the AIA will pick up on it through that route! I LOVE Liz’s blog! I’m sure she must be on some kind of AIA “terror watchlist” for some of the challenging and blunt blog posts she has written!! Liz, if you read this, keep up the AWESOME blogs!!!

Gerard…a vacation, on an island I have never heard of, but I am assuming is in and around the north coast of Africa/Red Sea/Mediterrainean Sea area by context…are you sure you’re in the architectural profession?? lol

And finally Lynn, I would be so hopd to say that Canadian Architects want to learn how to write specs…but at least some of them in Ontario do…not sure about British Columbia, Alberta or the rest of the provinces and territories!! And in 1.25 hours, even though I know Cathy, I don’t think, no I know, nobody can learn to write specs! Heck, I’m just impressed hey are admitting specs are more than a necessary evil in order to appear fulfill their due diligence to the client (just because you have Project Manual doesn’t mean it contains any pertinent, useful information) and in order to get a building permit!

Oh yeah…I don’t know what all this talk about the Book of Revelation is about…I was referring go the movie Apocalypse Now, which was set in Vietnam…“Surf’s Up!!” …and I know with he median age of spec writers on this forum, ya’ll get that reference!! eh?

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Ohhhhh…and I almost forgot to mention…after I posted my original comment, I went back and finished checking out the ConEd offering…and guess what? Yessir indeed…the second session for spec writing is also SOLD OUT!!!

Now I’m getting downright worried the end is truly NEAR!!! LOL

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Paul, I was too busy alienating Owners with my latest blog post to follow this discussion earlier today.

I’ll add this topic to my list of possible blog post subjects!

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Do not hold your breath for the AIA to talk about technical topics. I was a presenter twice at the AIA national convention and my topic was… Construction Documents! Did 4 hour workshops in 2007 and 2009. Today, they really do not have much in the way technical topics. I have went to the AIA national convention and sat in spec seminars. They were usually packed. While I lament that the convention has turned into a buzz word sessions, lest we forget, it is all about design. The workshops were sold out and when one of my co-presenters gave a regular session seminar, the topic drew in one of the most attended 1-1/2 hour sessions in the history of the convention. Sadly, these sessions are not stressed by the AIA so it gets lost in the fog.

The technical sessions are all now on the floor with the vendors. Whether it is Arcom or BSD, Autodesk or Archicad they are doing their sessions at their booths.

I would also challenge any of you to submit for a session on specifications to the AIA. They are always looking for good presentations. You can also walk the expo floor and spend days getting all the “gimme” stuff to fill your suitcase. Go have fun with the potential clients (if you are an independent). I even got the chance to meet Colin Gilboy at one of the conventions.

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Anyone going to be there next week?
Should be some good parties if nothing else.

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One of my manufacturer rep friends said that at the AIA convention he saw firm principals who refered him to his firm’s spec writer; at CSI, he saw and talked to the spec writer. The firm would not fund the spec writer to the AIA convention, but more manufacturers are opting to participate only in AIA. What’s wrong with this picture?

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With apologies to Grantland Rice:

Outlined against a blue-gray May sky the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are: clear, concise, correct, and complete. They formed the crest of the specifications cyclone before which another fighting AIA convention was swept over the precipice at the DC Convention Center this afternoon as 55,000 architects peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below.

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Funny, Dave!
(I’m not a sports fan, but I did graduate from Notre Dame.)

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55,000 architects in the same room = minimum 75,000 opinions on any given subject being discussed!!

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Almost as bad as specifiers! :wink:

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Sheldon, depends how many hats we are wearing at that point in the day, AND which specifiers are there. But we at least give 2 or 3 viable options, not just different options depending how the wind blows or the “juxtaposition of the sun to the moon and other multitudinous stellar entities, whose very arrangement create an underlying sense of warmth and feeling in the overall space in which the discussion is occurring amongst the participating members of the overall design community as a whole”…sorry, I must not be very good at that kind of “prose”, I couldn’t work dichotomy into that statement :-S