"How big is a brick?"
"How is a building constructed?"
"How do I prepare documents necessary to construct a building?"

According to Dean Cushman (T'93), architectural students at Ferris learn to answer just such fundamental questions. Cushman, an architectural intern, is a rising star at Ghafari Associates, Inc. in Dearborn, the third largest architectural firm in Michigan. He's now working on projects such as the recently completed 400-seat IMAX theatre, a new addition to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn.

Cushman's theatre design, detailing and refinements had to be presented through documents that could be read and understood by the client, building officials and contractors.

Cushman credits his Ferris instructors for developing his problem-solving abilities. "Ferris doesn't spoon-feed students," he said. "My professors used a Socratic method of answering my questions with further questions, forcing the process of critical thinking. They taught me that when a client comes to you with a problem, you must learn their business so you can solve that problem."

Cushman has had a fair amount of problem-solving experience. He worked his way through college by designing and renovating commercial buildings as a draftsman and job captain for Keller Engineering and Land Surveying in the rural Mid-Michigan community of Stanwood. Projects he designed for owner James Keller include a restaurant in Morley, a farm market in Mecosta and a storage facility in Edmore.

"Dean is very talented," said Keller. "He is innovative, experienced and practical. He has excellent design and artistic abilities."
As in so many fields, technology is changing the way architects do business.

"We're seeing amazing changes in the pace of expectations related to the construction industry just since I left Ferris," said Cushman. "Today's architectural education has a much greater reliance on what I call ‘turbo-technology' because clients, contractors and suppliers all factor in speed of development and precise communications as part and parcel of a project."

3-D Graphics Resolve Complex Problems
"AutoCAD software is quickly giving over to virtual reality," said Cushman. "Viewing a building in three dimensions puts everyone on the same track. It allows the owner, architect, structural engineer, carpenter, plumber and electrician to ‘see' the plan, the progress and the problems to address from each other's perspective. Everyone can evolve his part of the project continuously factoring the impacts of the other components involved. It's like having a multi-feedback resource allowing us to calibrate spatial logic and stress loads, elevations, material requirements, budget for expenditures and even consider options on floor plans, fabrics, furnishings and wall colors from project inception through to the dedication of the building."

Virtual reality aside, Cushman appreciates the need for a true understanding of brick and mortar, glass and steel.

"I certainly wouldn't give up my computer or AutoCAD software, but I'm glad I spent those college years at the drafting table. I enjoyed the time I spent with ink and paper in the days before 3D-modeling. Having hand-drawn structures, I now have a closer feel for what I am trying to produce. It's an art form that demands clarity of focus and legibility of structural detail.

"An art-based, theoretical understanding of a building is a wonder to consider," he continued, "but there's something mighty comforting about knowing with a certainty it's not built of straw on shifting sand."

Like the buildings he designs, Cushman's career has a solid foundation - his education at Ferris State University.