HMC’s Brett Leavitt (Ontario), Katia McClain (San Jose) and Nicholas Casolari (Ontario) are HMC’s newest licensed architects! We asked them to share a little bit of their journey to licensure with us, and also see what they’ll be doing with their new found free time. (Hang gliding, playing with trains and motorcycle rides to name a few!)
Brett Leavitt, Senior Project Designer
How long have you been working toward your license? Can I plead the fifth? Slowly for 12 years…
What was the hardest part of the exams? Carving out time to study and prepare properly.
What advice would you give to others who are either currently working toward their license or thinking about going for it? Be diligent. Treat your study efforts like a second part-time job and don’t let up. Also, talk to the other architects in the firm about the topics as you study. You can learn a lot from others about the topics that you won’t find in the study documents.
Did you take advantage of HMC’s ARE resources? I used HMC’s copies of the study guides when I studied for the ARE exams.
What projects are you currently working on? The Student Union at LA Harbor College, The Clarke Field House Expansion competition at CSU San Marcos and the Moreno Valley College Master Plan
What are you going to do with your free time now that you don’t have to study?! Play trains with my son and read something other than study guides.
Katia McClain, Senior Project Manager
How long have you been working toward your license? I started working on my license in 2001. I passed several of the tests, but after the transition from ARE 3.1 to 4.0 I lost a lot of those tests. I re-started taking tests in 2012.
What was the hardest part of the exams? The hardest part of the exams is finding the time to study and have the discipline to keep doing it.
What advice would you give to others who are either currently working toward their license or thinking about going for it? Don’t wait, there is never a good time to take these tests.
Did you take advantage of HMC’s ARE resources? Yes, I used the study guides from HMC.
What projects are you currently working on? Working on CA for CSUMB, FPP for Skyline CC, permit set for EVC South Campus, re-start of Ohlone Elementary School and CA for Milpitas HS pool
What are you going to do with your free time now that you don’t have to study?! I have been thinking about this for two whole weeks—cook more, read more, swim more, spend more time with family and friends. Also hang gliding and archery lessons are on the works.
Nicholas Casolari, Project Leader
How long have you been working toward your license? I graduated in 2008, but I had started the Intern Development Program (IDP) while in school. I began taking the ARE’s in 2011 and finished them a little over a year later. I completed my lingering IDP hours in late August of this year and began studying for the CSE in late September.
What was the hardest part of the exams? At first it was realizing that my nights and weekends would be devoted to studying, but after each test there was a sense of determination in knowing that I was one step closer than I had been previously.
What advice would you give to others who are either currently working toward their license or thinking about going for it? “Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do.” (this quote is taped up at my desk). If this is what you want then dedicate yourself to the effort. You can’t rely solely on the study material or solely on your work experience—they are both very effective means of learning and you should analyze everything you do for its educational value. To say, “I am an architect” is something that I wanted for years—it will take awhile (if ever) for that luster fade.
Did you take advantage of HMC’s ARE resources? HMC did an excellent job of supplying the materials. There was a group of us (Jacob Blatt, Katie Lam and myself) that started compiling materials for the AREs a couple years ago and from what I’ve heard that database continues to grow. The resources and reimbursement for passed exams is something that is unique and generous—I’ve talked to colleagues whose firms do not offer these same perks.
What projects are you currently working on? Various San Bernardino Valley College projects, various Loma Linda University projects and ramping into the Cal Poly Pomona Student Housing Project
What are you going to do with your free time now that you don’t have to study?! Work in my garage, go on motorcycle rides, golf, surf—anything outside and without an ARE/CSE book in my hand. And most of all, finally get some free time with my wife (2010-13 were busy years).
