Carolina Schultz
Living a Designer Life
A Day of Preparations
Posted on January 15, 2019
Today is a long day of cleaning, washing clothes, grocery shopping, filling the fish tanks, sweeping, mopping, vacuming, washing the bathroom and kitchen, emptying the fridge, returning books, checking emails and supply lists for class, etc. I may even set up studio later tonight.
Even the books are under scrutiny. I have looked over tuition payments, savings, and month to month spending. I am testing a new method of budgeting which I am sure to blog about more once I have given it a try.
Between each chore and the occasional email I stop to take a break to water my sad garden. Several of the plants have already begun to spring back. Hopefully by tomorrow they will be bright and lively.
Frankly the only thing on the list left for tomorrow is the haircut.
By tomorrow I’ll be back on track for the gym, a good breakfast, a beauty break, school, competition, maybe even work (?), dinner and a good nights rest. Here’s to another semester!
Externship: Day 11
Posted on January 15, 2019
Today was the last day in the office. Aside from the goodbyes and well wishes it was business as usual. I looked over the SketchUp model once more to add a little more detail. I completed the carrying case for the model, even reworking a portion inside to keep the loose pieces from moving if carried upside down.
I had written on Thrusday about the construction site visit and my interest in reading a field report which I can reference with experience. I was very happy to find a rough draft completed by lunchtime. I even spoke with the project manager who gave suggested a few different projects field reports I could read to compare the level of management and detail required on a few projects. I can say it was much shorter, neater, and more detailed than the reports I had written in class last year. I thought the template was very clear. First came all the writing detailing site location, weather, project status, then all involved members of every team working on it, then lists of items discussed, followed by lists of things to check on, and lastly photographs with simple captions.
Soon after this mini research I reported back to the team members I was working with asking if there was anything else I could help with as I had plenty of time. I was given the task of reviewing floor plans in each of the revit models checking that floor area boxes were properly aligned, that the area equaled or exceeded a given amount, and to check if there was allowable square footage to increase any of these areas by. Soon after finishing this up I said my goodbyes and headed home to pack.
Thankfully I took a good break for dinner and some gift shopping with my host. I really appreciate the wonderful accomdations and the hospitatlity of the host who stayed during my time in New York City.
I enjoyed my time learning over break and am excited to start school again. January will be crazy busy! With the ULI Hines competition in the first two weeks, my boyfriend coming to visit, the start of the Womein in Architecture Mentorship Program, revising portfolio, resume, updating job sites, and the search for summer internships. For now some sleep and a busy prep day before class starts.
Externship: Day 10
Posted on January 15, 2019
Sunday was a pleasant as could be. I started the day a little late around 10 AM. A bowl of cereal, a quick cup of tea, and a warm wardrobe for a long days walk. I walked several hours bouncing between Goodwills on the shopping trip of the year. Finally I found skirts that fit me and are appropriate for work. I also found a few nice dresses which could double for work or a nice evening out.
Between the shopping I stopped to see Bryant Park and the Public Library. The park held a some stunningly beautiful surprises. The fountain was running but frozen below the bowl. The park was now a skate rink circled by food stands and heated pavilions. Considering not many of the parks I walked by were in use I figured this one wouldn’t either. It was a lovely use of the space for such cold weather.
The library was much nicer on the inside than on the outside. But it wasn’t that way on every floor. Some spaces were grand, well detailed, lively while others were tiled and so small and dark it didn’t feel like a library. Sadly, like many old buildings, any courtyard space has been transformed into an enclosed space which can be used as additional square footage. In this case the space was closed into two spaces: one a light entry hall and one dark theater space.
By comparison one of the older spaces was maintained quite dark to preserve and showcase prints of dried plants. These prints, from the victorian era, were unique. They were printed on blue paper leaving the algae and seaweeds ghosted in some details clear some not.
Overall it was an interesting collection. It was also probably the quietest location in all of the library. Rather than stay and read I decided to continue on my shopping spree. I walked back home on a different street searching for thrift shops of any kind.
After a long day of walking and shopping I was glad for the bowl of ramen and a good nights sleep.
