NEW LOGO

changed the name a bit hope you like it ...thought it would make it easier to pitch with the eco part.

week 4 case study 2

Case Study Discussion 2 Discussion

As the architect you cannot be held responsible for the situation because when you designed the building it was in accordance with the then current Australian Standards for glazing. It is then not your responsibility to update aspects of the building as the standards change over the years; that is the responsibility of the building owner. The school can be held liable for operating a building that is not up to Australian health and safety standards; they are responsible for making sure the environment is safe for the children and staff. To prevent this situation the school could endevour to put in place regular checks of the building by qualified specialists of this field to ensure that standards that the building may have met when built have not changed.  

3.01 professional development

case study discussions written up so far :
it says on the sheet 'inhouse discussions- specifically case studies" so i have just gone through and done the case studies so far - if anyone wants to change anyyything or add to or add other discussions you can remember please add. i dont think this part is that important though, just ticking boxes  - so just pumping it out..... ill do a proof read at the end.

The Office Manual:

3.02 Professional Development

Week 1:

Case Study 1 Discussion

Despite the compromising situation that Boyte&sons is currently in; we make an executive decision to turn down the seven million dollar proposal to be involved in a Coal seam Gas master plan on reclaimed land in the heart of the Looker Valley. This project strongly opposes the company’s reparable environmental stance on sustainable design and our manager’s personal involvement in environmental movement and demonstrations against polluting companies. The Coal Seam gas Job proposal challenges the social, cultural and ethical beliefs, invested in the company’s foundations. By disregarding years of sustainable design initiative Boyte&sons puts at stake its current and future clients respect and loyalty. The individual situations of the company staff and managers will have to be sacrificed for a strong belief in social and environmental injustice. Ultimately, accepting the project would destroy the future of the firm’s reputation and job opportunities through negative media publicity and loss of respect from fellow designers and clients.

Case Study 2 Discussion

The company and individuals disagree with the retail companies practice involvements with the international ‘sweat shops’ and are reluctant to do work for this company based on these moral disagreements. However, the Boyte&sons feels that the relationship between ourselves and the retail company is removed from the issues surrounding their unethical practice and that the design opportunity is still worth investing in. By designing the shops for this retail company; Boyte&sons is not condoning the unethical behaviour they are simply providing a professional service which showcases and enforces their reparable standards of retail design. We are confident that although there is some media surrounding the sweat shop dispute; that Boyte&sons will not be held responsible for any involvement in the act as it unrelated to the services and values of the company.

  

Week 2:  

Case Study 1 Discussion

You do not tell your loyal client that you are about to leave the company you currently work for. If you do this it may appear to your manager, who has been supportive in your decision to leave and been open to working together in the future; that you are attempting to poach clients of his business. This would prove disloyal to the company you have worked with for seven years and possibly change your managers mind towards his enthusiasm to participate in joint ventures in the future. It is important that you end on good terms with your manager because he is who people will go to who are wanting to find out about you personally. The client who you have done large amount of work for and got to know well during your time at the company will make a decision to follow you if that is what he wishes to do. Then it remains the clients decision and does not appear to your boss that you have persuaded him to no longer require the current businesses services. If you have left on good terms with your boss and the client then decides to follow you on his own accord it is likely that your boss will be gracious and even supportive in accepting the clients decision.  

Case Study 2 Discussion

Week 3:

Case Study 1 Discussion

It is likely that you are oblivious to the fact that these Friday meetings are making the staff member and any other staff members feel this way and are concerned at the notice that it is effecting the workplace culture. You genuinely proposed the invitation to every staff member equally but it is natural for some people to get along more easily than others if they have more in common therefore the workplace friendship with these two staff members has developed and is now causing issues in the office. You highly value the importance of a positive and comfortable workplace culture and believe hat it is imperative for enhanced productivity. You casually address the issue that has been brought to your attention during the next staff meeting enforcing that you are intent on doing something to resurrect the feeling of workplace equity among all staff members. You propose that a range of activities will take place outside the office instead of the same Friday drinks event every week and the office will undergo some team building exercises over the next few weeks and then once every month to ensure the workplace dynamic is comfortable and effective for all involved.

Week 4:

Case Study 1 Discussion

You are a registered architect and have BSA approval to undertake pre-purchase inspections; therefore to an extent, by accepting the responsibility to undertake the pre-purchase inspection you are significantly liable for the dodgy inspection certification. It is understood that very few PI insurers consider pre- purchase inspections part of an architect’s normal activities, so you are unlikely to be covered unless your broker or insurer confirms that you are. Secondly you completed a pre-purchase certification without sufficient information which is absolutely not recommended. Ultimately this act would be considered a “tort- civil wrong” and you could be accused by your friend for liability for negligence. You exercised actionable carelessness in undertaking the task and should have referred the friend to a readily accessible specialist in this field.

Project file Index

http://www.tarrantcounty.com/efacilities/lib/efacilities/DesignConstructionIndex.pdf

Here is an example of a project file index. I think we could make a better more relevant one ourself though, but its a good base

Company Profile Statement

Boyte and Sons was established in 2011 and is widely recognised as being at the leading edge of contemporary Australian architecture and design. The studio was founded on the philosophy of delivering meaningful and delightful design, embracing principles of sustainability, functionality and purpose to realise this. Directed by multi-award winning Interior Designer Charlotte Boyte, who, collaborating with a dedicated team of architects, technical staff and consultants, leads an excelling collaborative team to realise and deliver a range of exciting and challenging projects. Through the direction of Charlotte and company associates, B&S Architects have encompassed a broad spectrum of works, including projects in the retail, commercial, institutional and government sectors. Our studio is located at number 2 George St, Brisbane, QLD 4000

Fee Calculation

Not sure how well this will read, but this is how we are to calculate our fees.

Workers Compensation Insurance

Just realised that I had already go the information for most of the required insurance types so far, accept Workers Compensation Insurance. This is once again information that I have obtained directly off the Acumen website;

• In all states and territories uit is compulsory at law for an employer to effect workers' compensation insurance. Policies are related to the ast, which applies in each state or territory, and in addition, protect the emplyer against common law claims brought about by the employees and / or their dependants.


• The range of benifits differ fronm state to statem, but, broadly, the policy can provide a lump sum payment for death, perminent disability, loss of use of limbs, etc. Weekly compensation and payment of medical expenses. Cover is priovided whilst the employee is at their place of work, or anywhere in Australia whilst engaged in occupational duties.


• However, should an employee who is resident, say in South Australia, meet with an accident whilst working in NSW, he of she could elect to claim under the NSW's act, and probably would if the benifits were greater. It is recommended that practices with employees who travel intersate refer to their workers compensation insurer, to arrange cover for those employees interstate.


• Where a practice has employees working interstate, it is advisable to effect a minimum premium policy for each appolicable state.