What are /r/Architects' favorite Products & Services?

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You could try ProjectLibre from here. Works, but is not nearly as capable as MS Project.

On the other hand, using date math and conditional formatting, it is possible to emulate the calendar aspects of gantt charts using MS Excel. I have a few templates that I used for years that work for small charts up to about 60 tasks or so.

Save lots of money, and your back, and get the Student Edition which is shorter and roughly $10 used on Amazon.

People are suggesting using heat-bent acetate or plexi…but at that scale you may be able to get away with some clear vinyl aquarium tubing cut into quarters? Would save a bit on fabrication time likely.

Like this: https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Clear-Tubing-16-inch-Meters/dp/B07SYM2Q6Q

First, I apologize if you have a terrible prof. Structures is a difficult concept to grasp, especially with how face-paced the classes can be.

That said, if you have a useful TA, use them. Seek out answers and explanations for anything you don't understand.

Use your classmates. I bet someone in your class knows what they're doing, ask them for help. When I was a student, I led a mini study group and we all did the homework together. I always learn better by teaching the material to someone else. It just seems to be how I understand things. I need to talk them out and prove the reasoning to myself and others. If you can set up a study session, do it.

I'm not sure what elements of structures you are working with, but most of it is based on calculus. Shear and moment diagrams are just derivatives. Grasping that flow helped me understand the logic behind the math, but that would also mean some level of understanding of calculus.

Last, I might suggest seeking help from a book or other online resource (other than Reddit). This is the book my prof wrote and it was insanely useful:

https://www.amazon.com/Structural-Design-Practical-Guide-Architects/dp/0471789046

Good luck!

We use unreal for more customized sales projects where animation and user interaction are important. Unreal has the ability to program different actions within a model by their node programming they call Blueprints, which gives us freedom to animate almost anything we need. For example, when we need to visualize construction sequencing animations or create project specific menu interfaces for the client to interact with the model. We also use unreal for VR demos as well, which we use for mockups and design option reviews.

https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/industry/architecture

By stealing clients I mean actively approaching clients currently who have appointed your current employer. They can come to you of their own decision but you are not allowed to try and get them to leave a current contract. For more info read "the architect in practice" https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1118907736/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_0KA84Q4C7T18J4QJN6MK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The RIBA has some very good books too but I forget what they are called and I'm away from my bookcase. Let me know if you want the recommendation.

A notebook, lol

https://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Watercolour-Notebook-Black-Cover/dp/B07J33Q4TR?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

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not the computer notebook xD

I've always been a Mac guy, but when the time came to replace my ancient MacBook Pro I realized that instead of buying a new top-end MBP to emulate a PC environment I could build a PC and just get a Mac Mini for the same cost (as I'm no longer in school and rarely need the mobility anymore).

So after I taught myself how to spec out a PC build for Revit, before I ordered all of the components I took a quick peek and realized that for the same cost I could just buy an already-assembled gaming PC.

This is what I ended up buying two years ago, it's always served me well:

https://www.newegg.com/dell-xps8920-7581slv-pus/p/N82E16883164005?Item=N82E16883164005

And then to use one keyboard and a mouse, I run Synergy on both my Mac environment (which I'm typing in right now, do just about everything on it still) and my PC (which I only use for Revit).

Definitely a luxury to continue using both (plus I have three monitors with the center one on an HDMI switch depending on which computer needs two screens), but I'm too fond of my Mac habits and workflows so I'm happy, regardless of how ridiculous a set up this might be.

Our team of five uses Quire, a free work management software with agile features.

Quire has kanban board, offline syncing, easy collaboration, priorities, reminders...etc

February? That's eons of time in architecture school. Wait till you have two weeks to design a project that will be ripped apart if it doesn't nail structural, programatic, aesthetic, and environmental considerations.

Seriously though, this really is a good bit of time and you should be able to improve your drawing skills and prepare five well thought out drawings.

I'd buy up some books on architectural sketching. Ching has a great one, and this is one by one of my former teachers, but there's a bunch out there, do your research and buy a couple books that fit well with your experience and style.

Spend the next couple months studying those books and using the exercises in them/field sketching to try to copy those techniques. As you're doing that keep the five drawings you have to do in the back of your head. Start thinking about possible subjects/styles for each of the drawings. You're going to want a portfolio that shows off a diversity of drawing skills and approaches.

Set a deadline of January 1st for deciding on the subjects of the drawings and then spend the last month in execution. This should give you enough time for multiple iterations in case you need to redo one or change the style/subject/perspective.

You have lots of time and are doing great by thinking on this a few months ahead. There will be other applicants that will start this process a week or two before it's due, and you've got a huge leg up on them. You've got this.

https://www.amazon.com/Architect-Pritzker-Prize-Laureates-Their/dp/1579128475

This book gives insight into the thought processes of a few very good architects.

Kaweco Sketch. And then send it off for laser etching for whatever message you want to have on it.

Hands down I would say Experiencing Architecture by Steen Eiler Rasmussen (amazon ). Didn’t read it before I started studying and finally picked it up recently, very much made me wish I had. It gives a beautifully sensitive run through of different architectural elements: light, mass, texture. Read the book and then go look for the things it talks about.

Maybe these pens?

11 Edition of Architectural Graphic Standards

https://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Standards-American-Institute-Architects/dp/0471700916

Architectural Books/Monographs to me are classic architectural gifts

This book: Notes on Architecture https://www.amazon.com/dp/1560520574/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uURMxbCKEN8KX will give you a pretty good sense of what architects actually do and the process of designing a building.

Absolutely DO NOT go into architecture if you think you'll make a lot of money. Architects can make a decent living but only after at least 5 years in the profession, and most architecture school grads have moved on to something other than architecture by then. The business of architecture is pretty brutal.

saw this at a friends house. not an architect but this seemed fairly comprehensive

http://www.amazon.com/Structures-Things-Dont-Fall-Down/dp/0306812835/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1448862931&sr=8-2&keywords=structures