This is something that I’ve worried over and been waiting to hear back for several months. Earlier this week I was approved to start taking the Architectural Registration Exams! This is going to be a long process and probably take several years to complete. There are 6 exams in total and they will cover everything from business practices and contracts to codes and construction administration.

I began working for Dann in 2000 and again in 2015. I’ve worked directly under his tutelage for over 13 years. As it turns out, that’s the exact number of years that New Hampshire requires for anyone who wishes to take the registration exam who does not have a 4 year degree or Masters of Architecture. I also had the good fortune to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for many years and was able to learn about building homes from the other end of the plans. Between the two, I was able to complete the broad range of competencies that are also required of all licensure candidates, no matter where they live. I needed to go back the full 5 years allowed for competency credits, totaling over 7000 hours.

So now I start on the next steps on the path to becoming a licensed architect. It’s a little overwhelming, but I just need to remember what I would teach the volunteers at Habitat. When you look at how to build a house, all together it’s very overwhelming when you’re just learning. But if you take it one piece at a time, framing the wall, laying the subfloor, or sheet rocking a room, it’s manageable and not so scary.

Since Dann’s death, I’ve had several inquiries as to what I can legally do for clients. As it turns out, I can do a lot. First and foremost, I can design one and two-family homes. I can also do renovations, additions and garages. This will satisfy most of the clients we typically work with. Our permit sets will still contain all the drawings and specifications customers are accustomed to receiving from us. The only difference will be the need for the contractor to add the framing drawings from the lumber yard for engineered lumber (used for beams and other structural members) to the permit set.

Most commercial and multi-family construction does require the use of a registered architect as there are a lot more regulations and safety requirements to adhere to. We typically don’t do a lot of commercial or multi-family design, however, I am hopeful that we will be able to add those services in the near future.

If you’re curious and would like to read the exact statute, you can find it at https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXX/310-A/310-A-52.htm

Well it’s been a bit since our last post. We’ve officially created Dann Norris Batting Associates. In the months and weeks leading up to Dann’s death, we had been talking about transferring the business to me. We had a date to speak with an attorney to discuss how the transition should go and what to do to prepare for it. Unfortunately, the appointment happened only a few days before he passed. Since Dann Norris Batting Architect was a sole-proprietor we had to create a new business name and remove the word “Architect” since I am not a licensed architect.

We had been discussing what to call the business and I said I wanted to be able to honor Dann and all the wonderful things he’s taught me about good design, architecture and aesthetics. We discussed calling the business “DNB Designs” and “Dann Norris Batting Associates”. Dann wasn’t really able to speak while we were talking about this shortly before he passed, but I did notice he smiled just a little when I mentioned “Dann Norris Batting Associates” and thought he approves of this name.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was truly creating his legacy. I had decided that we should share some of Dann’s beautiful renderings during his service. After looking through various jobs and choosing which images to use, I realized that not all of his logos were quite the same. It turns out that while he was still in Massachusetts his business was called “Dann Norris Batting Associates”.