Kalan Mckell Beck

New Job...and Boise

2009-11-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

I have finally decided to start posting since I usually spend way to much time on the internet. This week I got woken up Monday morning to a nice surprise, a job offer. I really couldn't believe it happened, since I hadn't even talked with this firm about getting a job. So they actually wanted me to start on Wednesday and thats why initially I though it was odd. SO that comes another little mishap of finding a place to live. Luckily we have AWESOME cousins who live in Boise and have allowed me to infiltrate their life and live in their spare bedroom. Shayden is still confused on who this person is staying next to his room, but he did let me pick him up the other night, but I believe roxy and has found a new friend in me, since I pet her all the time.

The work has been pretty simple, but I'm still confused on why i'm actually there and I talked with my friend whos proffessor is one of the main designers in the firm and he said that he was glad that they could add me since I need to be DESIGNING in the real world and for a beginning person in the industry that is HUGE that somebody thinks you've got enough to potential to not just do the boring stuff but the stuff that makes architecture so appealing to so many young people. We'll have to see where this goes and I can only hope it either helps me in a big way or turns into a permanent position, even though my heart really lies in places like chicago, seattle, new york, and Europe.

The bearded man.

2009-04-24T19:21:00.000-07:00

ITs over. I finished. I'm COMPLETELY exhausting and its taking FOREVER to print. The printer is running out of ink, and that mean i have to run over town to find some more, plus i have to get ready for probably the most important thing of my life that i'm not ready for. Even mimi is coming?? oh boy i better step my "a" game up...or is it "b", i'm pretty sure its "b". so ya i'm excited for you ALL to come EXCEPT korbi to see what i've been waisting away at for. There is areas where it might need some work, but I think i like it!!

Master's Thesis Exhibition and Presentations...

2009-04-22T22:58:00.001-07:00

Here is the poster for this year's presentation, notice I'm the last!!! grand finale i guess...we'll see how that goes, anyways, back to work!!

I'm tired and i hate this

2009-04-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

its beginning, the last week of my school career. and i'm exhausted, unhappy, and getting sick and my building is not even half done. great.

Bitter Sweet Symphony..

2009-03-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

My life seems to be in a constant rollercoaster status. If its not money things, its school, and if its not school, its work. and i don't even have a wife or child yet. I can't wait to see how that goes. We just learned that we are not going to know about the winner of the competition until the 9th of april. You all know i'm a very competitive person, and I just can't get it out of my head, so yet I can't move on. I keep trying to just tell myself i lost so i can get on with my life buts its working. ANd now my thesis project is due in 5 weeks and starting to stress about all the things that I have to accomplish for that. If anyone would like to come I would love for you to be there so you can actually see what I've been through, its the 20th and 21st of april. I'll be sending out yet another graduation announcement and invitation to the boise graduation and my thesis presentation. Spring Break is next week and It looks as if i'll try to take a couple of days off so i can catch up on HGTV with britni and check out the new house and do some shananigans around burley. Oh yeah and school is almost over and I can't get a job. perfect.

TownHouse Competition

2009-02-23T12:01:00.001-08:00

I'm sorry that its been forever but it seems as though when I came back to school we just started to sprint. I took a little trip to Vancouver, CANADA for my thesis, as I decided that's where the building site will be. I flew to Seattle to stay with some friends, then took a train ride to Vancouver. If you ever go there I will tell you that you should go on that train. It follows the coast all the way to Canada and its just beautiful! Then on the way back I actually bought a car in Seattle and drove home to Boise that Sunday and it made it so you know its better than the grand prix. Its a 2003 VW jetta with 82,000 miles and drives like a dream. I got it for way cheap and even insured it and registered it myself!! I'm such a big boy! Then when i came back, school began.....hard. I'm in a Competition to design a sustainable townhouse in Boise, Idaho and I took it way to seriously. To many awaken nights! The following photos are some images of the project

School

2008-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

An update for everybody-

School is really starting to ramp up again and I'm also starting to begin to think of where I want to work for the rest of my life. So this week I began my "perk" package, involving my cover letter, resume, portfolio, and business card, all in one convenient folder, designed exclusively for this. Oh and also there is a website involved, so I have a lot of work on my hands! This week we also had some massing models due for class in downtown boise, and I'm trying to design a recreation building in Lake Chelan WA. It seems that my life is never going to slow down at this point. Also I really have to get some picture of myself, because its november and its the northwest, and I had never heard of this but that means its no shave November, So from Nov. 1 I haven't been shaving my beard, and let me tell ya, It would seem that Bruce IS my real dad, and I wasn't adopted all those years that sisters lied to me. Its really quite impressive for only 11 days. At least i'm proud, I don't know how it will do with the ladies, we will just have to see! can't wait for thanksgiving! Oh and if you haven't heard from mom or britni, I ended up winning that last building I just designed. Pretty sweet. There was 4 architects from Boise that were the jurors.

Video Link

2008-10-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry that video link is...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKC8F-rq4rM

ENJOY!!

Its been a long while

2008-10-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well ever since i got into Boise it seems that school has taken over my life. Its been real busy here and just ridiculous as far as projects have gone, well we just finished and had our critique on friday. Here are some images from that and I posted the animation that I did here:
Thats pretty much all that has been going on. I guess a good story is that last week I stayed up for a total of five days, slept in my car, under my desk, in a lounge chair, then this weekend i slept for a total of 52 hours. i don't think this is healthy! I think its the small ones that keep me alive seeing all your guy's posts! keep them up because I know i can't.

My bed!

2008-09-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

ok, so i get back from seattle and decide that i'm going to build me a big boy bed, well as most of you know, it took way longer than i expected, but it turned out pretty good, I would even say up to the status of HGTV, not quite but close..

Weekend

2008-07-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well I brought my camera to the events and yet did not get any pictures. Friday was our company outing the mariners game, we had a company bbq before and then they bought pretty much a whole section in the bleachers to watch the game. All day my supervisor was throwing around that his team was going to squash us and that we are in last place. 4th inning....3 on base....HOMERUN!!! thats right grand slam. amazing. the Mariners went on to win 8 to 2 i think.
The next day we decided to go check out west seattle and the beach. And it just so happened that there was a car show going on there. so we checked that out and then hung out on the beach for like two or three hours, and I came to the decision that I want to have a sailboat...just the idea that you could travel practically ANYWHERE you want without a drop of gas. and also i want to go on a cruise, because they are leaving what seems like everyday from here! So chalk two up on the bucketlist before i kick the bucket. We actually went all day every day this weekend, so come sunday i was cranky and sleepy and it ran into today at work as i tried to stay focused as yet again its sssslllloooowwwwiiinnnggg down. only a month to go!!! I'm thinking about leaving about August 13th so I can try to catch the fair...if its even at that time. LOVE everyone!

Mariners Game and rooftop BBq

2008-07-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

update

2008-07-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well christmas didn't come true, and i got pretty bummed and depressed that i didn't even get an honorable mention...again. So its been real hard to get excited about anything related to architecture. My fourth of July though was pretty eventful and I had a good time, some people from the University were in town so we had a busy weekend, fireworks by the water, baseball games and rooftop BBq at this girls 27th floor apartment. Absolutely amazing! I believe I ate way to many hot dogs...but I think I did hate being away from the fam as they were playing it up at the Treehouses, I bet grandma is going crazy as no one has posted...sorry grams! your the bestest.

Crossing My fingers..

2008-07-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

This has officially been the longest week I have ever had. First of all I have been sifting through parking and retail structure plans doing red lines as fast as possible to get them sent out to the developer by today. One building, three different options for two different store options with two different grids, that the files for these projects are in a million different locations and of course are not labeled correctly. anyways, i get a mean headache every day. But the reason it has really sucked is remember the last project I did, to give you a hint there is a rendering the upperleft corner of this page, this is the last project that I did and that you all saw in the graduation gallery when you came to moscow..Anyways, I sent it off to London right before I left for here, and now the time for judging has come upon me this week and officially tomorrow will be the day where I will know If i'm worth a little bit of something or not. They announce the winners tomorrow, i believe by email or maybe the net, anyways if I do by some miracle make it into the top, I get to go to london for at least two weeks at the end of July, and the way that this city has gone I'm really crossing my fingers good for a jult of excitement in my life! I know its a long shot, and me against the entire world is something out of a dream, but I can always hope, I believe that will power and determination to achieve greatness has gotten me to where I am today, so in a way i'm phsyching myself up for a bad day, or maybe i really have something here. anyways, its been like that one christmas when you dreaming and hoping for a new car or a bike or a shiny toy and you got candy, or in collin's case, an actual lump of coal. If I do actually achieve something through it will mean that I designed an entire project in one week thats worthy enough for global recognition. have a nice day!

Britni!!! please. pretty please!

2008-06-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking, this is where architecture and home design is going, and with britni and collin starting they first home, and with me struggling of where I want to go and who I want to be, this is a good time, to really dive in to a family project and have a design to be proud and will feel awesome, save you money. I'll redesign it as fast you want, just be open to this. why this is better:

1. Works with the sun, the sun heats your home, less energy.

2. shading, less A/C. less money.

3. ventiliation, again less A/C.

4. Resell for the future...which is now.

5. help your brother set up a career!

6. shed roofs, flat roofs, less material, especially trusses, less structure, less MONEY!

just take it into consideration is all i'm asking. I'm blowin up full of ideas!

Treehouses

2008-06-27T13:55:00.001-07:00

I just wanted everyon in the family to know that I will NOT be at the treehouses, the scheduling just doesn't work, and there are to many people out of the office on that monday and tuesday, so guess who gets stuck with what has to get done....thats right you guessed it. Have a nice day!

The Solstice Parade

2008-06-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well just to catch everybody up besides britni, I did call that girl, she didn't answer, so luckily I got her voicemail and got her name which is good, then she called like a half an hour later, asked her to go out, she said she couldn't because supposively her brother was getting married this weekend and she had to pack. whatever. Anyways so Saturday I went to work out and there was a lot of people talkin about the Fremont Parade and Fair and how they were going right there after the gym...well this got me thinkin and I"ve been sick and tired of sitting all bymyslef so I got my camera and backup, equipped with rain jacket, because you never know. And went walkin to fremont down the hill, and there it was the largest amount of people I have ever seen. Now what They forgot to tell was that this was a total hippie and liberal parade, so officially it was the weirdest and funniest parade and unstructured parade I have ever been to, and just for grandma's and mommies eyes don't read this next part:

There were naked hippies painted every which color, something i totally did not know. wow.. men too by the way.

Anyways, some of the people in the parade were really funny, and they had some indie groups doing music and also african and carribean so it turned alright. Then afterwards of course they had hippie liberal parties on every corner and people trying to get you to sign petitions for this and for that. Well I really couldn't handle this by myself so I got to walkin back home, I had been around enough hippies for one day. It was a blast and there such happy and loving people, but a little bit to open minded for me! anyways me trek back up my mountain of a hill was anouther experience because I got passes by an older lady and I had to rest. Later on i find that it is the second steepest hill in Seattle, and I totally believe, because my legs are still sore! Anyways I hope this wasn't trumatic for a certain few, but thats the city!

Seattle Works and one long Sunday afternoon

2008-06-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here I am again with some pictures and a few stories. On Saturday a couple of us from work did this thing called Seattle Works, where you get to do volunteer work around the city for like three hours then they through a "party" at the end. It was pretty fun, our group was cutting ivy off of trees off of Lake Washington BLVD which pretty much just follows the bank of Lake Washington. After that we went to the party that was held at the Seattle Center, which they had tacos on plate that were 100% compostable and forks that were too! also our cups were...all made out of corn starch. AFter that I took the number 3 bus home and did.....absolutely nothing. Its hard to find people to hang with that don't already have their friends or I'm too young, so that in turn makes it hard to find where to go and to especially go anywhere, since I'm really not anything like Korbi who can go anywhere, not that really outgoing. This sunday I went to the Institute singles ward at like 11am. and let me tell ya I wasn't that impressed, I was expecting a lot more...of um...attractive people i guess? maybe they are all gone because of school but I don't know. AFter that I had nothing planned so I took an adventure down to the piers, around downtown, then went to REI to sign up for a climbing class that will start in about a week, I need to find some hobbies because i'm going bloody bored here!

Britni This one is for Collin

2008-06-04T19:56:00.001-07:00

This is a 2003 custom VTX 1800. wow!

2008-06-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

First days of work and the city...where I live and such

2008-06-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Well i'm here. I'm alive...and in somewhat in a routine.. and dad will be excited to know that I have to wake up everyday by 6:30 to get to work, so I'm not slackin, but i do get off at five which is weird because there is like a whole day after work...its crazy! Work has been good, i'm just doin random things right now as they have not found a project for me to really be on the team for. And the city is spectacular! I went for a run on monday and I found some cool coffee shops, grocery stores and places to eat just right around my house, plus the houses in my neighbor are ridiculous, it makes you want to start a family and buy one just to live in it. (not just yet) I'll post some pictures of my favorites real soon. Most of these posts are going to be a picture show, cuz I'm lazy and don't want to jabber on and on about stuff. One cool thing that happened today was now in architecture they are doing holograms of projects, thats right holograms, like think of oceans 12 when they did that one for the egg...yea saw one in real life today but of a building. its absolutely nuts. Oh and also I walked into our "local" macy's, which this is for grandma, it has five floors, an entire one dedicated to different departments (mens, womens, etc.) Yea. wow. I was quite impressed. I had to call britni just to get me out of there. every brand your would ever want as a grown boy. man.

Rain. Construction. Bathroom. Repeat.

2008-05-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

This last Monday I decided that I would make the trip west to Seattle as to try to ease my nerves about my big new job. So I started on Monday night because Collin INSISTED that I stay for memorial day and go to a movie...so i did. THen I took off to Boise, and about right after Glenns Fairy the rains came, the road was absolutely covered with water and I was basically hydro-planing all the way to boise (not to be taken literally....grandma, I was safe). Then I finally got to Jakobi and stayed the night there, with an interesting encounter with jax who couldn't stop staring at me! Then the next morning at about ten I decided to make the journey to Moses Lake, and boy what a journey that was. If you see my title thats about what my DAY consisted off. Their was a rain storm every 20 minutes and you could see the distinct line of where it was sunny and then where the rain was. And then 5 seconds after the rain would come the constuction would start and I would have to swerve to the right and get caught behind some truck or something and ruin my whole plan of proving to everyone that I can get 35 mpg in the grand prix, cuz it is true, but I have to be going a constant 65 mph MOST of the time. ANyways, after the construction would hit, well that would be the time that my bladder would tell me that its time to go the bathroom, I don't know what it is lately but when i'm driving i can't drink anything because an hour later I'm yearning for the restroom. So this happens again and again all the way through the state of oregon and I swear that most of the world's construction buckets are in that state because it was a non stop view of those dang things my whole way up and as soon as I cross into Washington after the maze of freeway in tri-cities there are no more buckets. Isn't it big enough that you can only go 65, and now they have to be doing the littlest construction throughout the whole state? anyways I made it to moses lake safely where I was attacked by beck as soon as I walked in the door with some sort of wrestling thing that he has had to have learned from some movie. ANd i'm here safely awaiting one more journey west to the big city!

I can't wait for it all to be over

2008-04-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

This semester has really been my hardest one so far, between competitions, portfolio, quizzes ever week, a broken hand i'm almost ready to snap. I just realized that i have a ten page paper due on tuesay and this is not one you can just take lightly and bullshite through, my teacher is world renown structural engineer and knows his stuff. A little update on jobs, I have job offers almost every where in the northwest and I'm still waiting to here from New York, I interviewed with a firm called NAC architecture and they told me to go to their office so they can figure out where to put me, they are thinking seattle. that would be great but i don't have time to find a place and get all that straightened out. Also they have an office in L.A. and that would be awesome too! oh yeah and if you wanted to know the name of my paper: The seismic effects on dams and liquid filled infastrcture with relation to Hydronamics and hydrostatic weight. whew! IT doesn't even make sense to me. I basically have to learn what that is, write about it, revise it, and write it again before tuesday. Not to mention other school projects. ARRRGG!

Its time to grow up

2008-03-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

----(portfolio title page)

I guess its time to grow up, I graduate from COLLEGE in may and I can't believe its already here, I don't want to leave, I want to be a kid forever! I just interviewed with a firm from Salt Lake City today, and they gave me a job offer to work for them, how scary, I'm beginning to doubt everything I do, they got really excited when they saw that i could render on the computer and also sketch. I think that is going to be the winner for me. Thanks to Korbi and Kortni, with a little editing, I got another resume, letter of intent, and portfolio out to a firm in New York City. I hope I get this one or another one coming up because it would be such an awesome opportunity, I know that Bruce will be mad though again that I'm not going back to the farm. Sorry dad i think i found my niche.

School School and School

2008-03-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody its been awhile, but i've been busy with school as always, i just back from havin easter with the moses lake clan, and it was pretty good, even though it wasn't appreciated by stephen, he always wants me to stay longer. And for kortni and korbi i'll post pictures as soon as i can and thank you for treating me for the holiday it was a nice little break even though it was really short. I thought i would do this post and put up some pics of the project i'm doing, its a competition in Ireland, It's suppose to be a transportable environmental pavilion for 8-12 year olds. So mine is a bunch of pieces that the kids should be able to push around and transform into a house, your seeing one "pod". The first image is when its closed and first gets to where the kids are at, the second image is what it can be opened up to. The kids will be able to push
each pod around till it locks into position at the right spot. Also by using a series of pulley's and track systems they can expand the building and open it up, like in the summer and close it up in the winter depending on the users comfort level.

I have a blog!!

2008-03-15T20:32:00.001-07:00

I recently just went down to the south, and stopped by jakobi's for awhile to sleep, and she got into my brain and told that i should create a blog so all of you know how am doing. I'll try to post as often as i can, but as you know through phone calls, that doesn't happen very often!