so, i found this architect on the web.

[mopinko]

http://www.howardalanarchitects.com/

renewable energy is a big part of what i want. plus i love this guy's style. i found him through a website about this guy- bruce goff he is dead, so i can't hire him. but i would if he weren't. exactly my kind of guy.

i don't really have any idea how to check him out, tho. anybody?

[rosesaylavee]

1. There are few things I would do if I were in your situation..

Find out if he belongs to the Chicago AIA. This will indicate he follows standard procedures. Most architects belong - good and bad but the procedures thing is important imo. Also dues are high and AIA forms can be expensive - if he belongs, it may be a good indication he's running a successful business.

See if he is LEED certified. Does he belong to the Green Building Institute? He's VP of the ISEA which is a good group so chances are he's no slump.

If he still looks like someone you are interested in, you can always ask for references from his most recent or most applicable projects.

Good luck!

[mopinko]

2. no on both counts.

i do get the impression that he mostly does small residential stuff, which i am sure does not bring in a lot of dough. i will have a hard time, i fear, because someone that i will really click with is likely to be the type that you are supposed to avoid. sigh.
going to take a drive by his building there, right now.

[rosesaylavee]

3. Check out the ISEA

It is a very interesting group of people and highly educated on solar and green building. I knew the President of the board through my past job. I would give him a call based just on that.

http://www.illinoissolar.org/

[mopinko]

4. i went by his office.

it is a crazy cool building. i think i will give my alderman a call, and see if he can tell me anything. if any of his buildings have run into trouble they should be able to tell me, i think.
the roof reconfiguration that he has listed as a current project is on the same lot as his office. it looks like it might be moving a lliiiittttttllle slow. but i don't know if he is involved in the build, or just the design. hoping the alderman can check that for me. if he is poking around with a building he stares at every day, that is bad.

[rosesaylavee]

5. May be his builder has spread his

projects too thin. It happens. Good luck with it - sounds like a cool project.