I complained to a friend who is a builder/client of mine seven years ago that people did not want to pay for "design service" they just wanted "permits & materials". He said that perhaps I was offering something people did not value or think they wanted. I was angry at first, but I knew he was right.

For the past three weeks I've been moving out of my office which I've had for the past 8-1/2 years. It's sad, but kind of liberating thinking that I could be moving on to a new adventure somewhere, something overseas seems appealing right now.

I've worked on about 80 retail spaces over the past 24 years, the last one with the help of an interior designer was green friendly.

As diverse as I am I don't have any work either. Right now I'm helping out the 64 year old architect which I worked for eight years starting back in 1985. He has work down sizing tenants in strip malls, plus a few other projects. Any work is better than none, so I'm driving 100 miles a day for what feels like charity work.

My thread;
Saga of an Architect in Michigan (with portfolio):
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/439744-saga-architect-michigan.html?highlight=portfolio

You hit the nail on the head right, my friend. The need for Architectural services, though not dying, has been morphing into a role of irrelevance...almost to the point of just being 'the stamp' on a set of drawings. And this trend will only continue.
Couple that with the hoops ($$$) required to gain licensure and an archaic, bass- ackwards governing body that is our AIA, it's no surprise why the 'interns' of my generation are either leaving the profession or applying their skills elsewhere in the sector for a much more rewarding experience. Think Jonahtan Segal.

Good luck, POP. I got the cut last October, and I've never been happier. Completely in charge of my work. design...and destiny.

Don't worry, there's got to be a pony in the pile of *hit around here somewhere.

PF

Seriously, put some time into thinking about:

1. Ression proof stuff / New Government things

The problem with this is the "new government stuff" will take a while, like 6-12 months minimum, to come on line. They are trying to find "shovel ready" projects, i.e. ones where you can start then tomorrow with funding. California, with the e-quake codes, etc, is tough to get things started quickly. Other states will be able to get things online faster.

2. Things that will do well in a down economy.

My wife and I own a business where we find companies that need spare parts and used equipment. In a down economy, they will be fixing stuff more than replacing it.

You might think about what you can do to turn a strip mall that isn't selling retail space, into something else which will sell. You then go sell this to the owner. Or apply this kind of idea to some other part of architecture. Go make your own future.

3. Get yourself ready in case things turn out not so bad after all.

I have a feeling that as soon as the credit markets un-freeze, things will start to improve.

Sorry to hear of your woes bro.

Jeff, maybe this could be the catalyst to move out of CA, or maybe the architecture field in general? I can tell you for certain, things aren't nearly as dire when you get away from the coasts.

One of the most talented aircraft interior guys I worked with was trained as an architect. Wanna move to Wichita?:D

Since you're free next week:p, you should come meet me in Northridge.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/445303-northridge-ca-next-week.html?highlight=northridge

Time for a road trip or two....Get the mind off things for a while.:(

Sounds like a good plan.

We do have family friends in Wichita... Let's just say all options are on the table right now.

The primary reason I stay in CA is for my wife. She LOVES her job at Disney and she has very serious upward potential there. Case in point, she just got her annual performance review and it was excellent. They really do want her to get into full-blown management there (think about it - salaried management position with a Fortune 500 company... Not too shabby). There's just no positions open right now. Everything is frozen and on hold. But if she stays, she WILL make it in. No doubt. And she's happy there - more than can be said about any other job I've ever seen her work in her life. So that matters.

I've told her point blank if she ever decides she doesn't want to be there anymore I'll be waiting in the alley with the car packed and the engine running. I gave up on CA a long time ago. It's not the same place I fell in love with years ago. I stay for her sake and to keep her happy and I make the best of it and try to focus on the bright spots. I've no doubt that CA is dying overall but there are isolated bright spots (like a career with Disney for my wife) that make it worth hanging onto - at least for now.

I do have several out-of-state prospects, so I'm going to pursue them. Obviously that would put her in quite a spot though having to give up her likeable and very promising career to go work yet another job she'll probably hate somewhere else, like she did for so many years before she got to where she is now...

There's a lot more to this story but I'll tell you in person if we end up meeting up. Way too much to get into here.

I have a brother-in-law who's with Steinberg Architects in downtown. He's heard that there's a job opening at EHDD in San Fran, FWIW. My sister just left Mark Cavagniero in San Fran, as well. But they're a small firm, so she doubts they're hiring. And the two other firms she's worked for in LA (Killefer Flemeng and Johnson Fain) don't seem to be good bets. Killefer Flemeng was heavy into converting those warehouses into downtown LA lofts. That can't be lucrative, right now. And Johnson Fain just let go about 80 of their 140 staff, she heard.

As a Lscp Arch, we work for many different Architect firms in LA. Most, if not all seem to be downsizing drastically ("Downsizing is a biotch!"-Michael Scott). I don't think the caliber of office makes a difference. Slash and burn time baby...