Post 2 - Interview
One of the first things I realized after conducting my interview was that architects, and specifically the firm that I am currently employed at, do more writing than I originally thought..a LOT more. In fact, technical writing is an essential part of their job. I interviewed my current boss at the firm I'm working at. Here are some highlights:
Q. What kinds of writing do you do in a typical day?
A. Most of the writing we do takes place in specification books and notes pages. For example, the project we are currently working on requires the typical drawings such as plans and elevations, but in order to get an idea of the materials we use and how to install them, we need to clearly state what goes on in these situations.
Q. What are some audiences you write to?
A. Most of the writing we do is to the clients of the job. However since they are not familiar with most of the technical terms present in the writing, we need to provide them with some pictoral accompaniments; hence the drawings. Other people that read our writing are consultants of the project, town officials, contractors and sub-contractors.
Q. What is the purpose of the writing you do?
A. It tells someone how to put something together because architects need to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, so if something is not clearly specified in the writing, there is a potential for a lawsuit if someone gets hurt.
Q. What is an example of the technical writing?
A. To install trusses (structural members that hold up the roof, generally) we need to specify the following:
1. Install and brace trusses according to structural drawings. Space trusses as indicated. Install plumb, square, and true to line, and securely fasten to supporting construction.
2. Do not alter, cut , or remove truss members.
3. return wood that are damaged or do not meet requirements to fabricator and replace with trusses that do meet requirements.
Now, we do not come up with that ourselves. There are countless manuals on any number of materials and installation techniques that we take our information from. All of the information is standardized and generally comes from the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials)
Q. What kinds of writing do you do in a typical day?
A. Most of the writing we do takes place in specification books and notes pages. For example, the project we are currently working on requires the typical drawings such as plans and elevations, but in order to get an idea of the materials we use and how to install them, we need to clearly state what goes on in these situations.
Q. What are some audiences you write to?
A. Most of the writing we do is to the clients of the job. However since they are not familiar with most of the technical terms present in the writing, we need to provide them with some pictoral accompaniments; hence the drawings. Other people that read our writing are consultants of the project, town officials, contractors and sub-contractors.
Q. What is the purpose of the writing you do?
A. It tells someone how to put something together because architects need to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the general public, so if something is not clearly specified in the writing, there is a potential for a lawsuit if someone gets hurt.
Q. What is an example of the technical writing?
A. To install trusses (structural members that hold up the roof, generally) we need to specify the following:
1. Install and brace trusses according to structural drawings. Space trusses as indicated. Install plumb, square, and true to line, and securely fasten to supporting construction.
2. Do not alter, cut , or remove truss members.
3. return wood that are damaged or do not meet requirements to fabricator and replace with trusses that do meet requirements.
Now, we do not come up with that ourselves. There are countless manuals on any number of materials and installation techniques that we take our information from. All of the information is standardized and generally comes from the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials)
posted by Anonymous at 7/14/2006 07:30:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home