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Senior professional designer passes architectural registration exams

Move puts Al Tsai on track to become registered architect

After an extensive process, Senior Project Designer Al Tsai with CNH Architects in Apple Valley has completed the national Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The testing has multiple divisions.

The status puts him on track to become a registered architect. “We are all excited about his hard work and accomplishment,” said Quinn Hutson, a principal with the firm.

Tsai said he did a combination of two versions of the exam, beginning in ARE 4.0 and transitioning to ARE 5.0. There were six exams in total, each taking several hours to complete and requiring four to eight weeks of study. Professionals are given five years to complete the process. Tsai finished in three.

The designers’ four years of experience at CNH and 12 years with Myhre Group Architects in Portland, Ore. were helpful in the exam.

“I’m really proud of it and have been working on it for a long time,” said Tsai. “I feel like I can move forward with my career and on to bigger and better things.” State boards determine who can become a registered architect.

Tsai is married and makes his home in Apple Valley with his family.

CNH Architects is a creative, service-oriented firm that provides innovative design solutions for the commercial building and retail areas, public sector clients, such as cities, counties and states, and vehicle facility projects, day care and animal care facilities. CNH has served clients in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest for 50 years.

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Senior professional designer passes architectural registration exams

Move puts Al Tsai on track to become registered architect

After an extensive process, Senior Project Designer Al Tsai with CNH Architects in Apple Valley has completed the national Architect Registration Examination (ARE). The testing has multiple divisions.

The status puts him on track to become a registered architect. “We are all excited about his hard work and accomplishment,” said Quinn Hutson, a principal with the firm.

Tsai said he did a combination of two versions of the exam, beginning in ARE 4.0 and transitioning to ARE 5.0. There were six exams in total, each taking several hours to complete and requiring four to eight weeks of study. Professionals are given five years to complete the process. Tsai finished in three.

The designers’ four years of experience at CNH and 12 years with Myhre Group Architects in Portland, Ore. were helpful in the exam.

“I’m really proud of it and have been working on it for a long time,” said Tsai. “I feel like I can move forward with my career and on to bigger and better things.” State boards determine who can become a registered architect.

Tsai is married and makes his home in Apple Valley with his family.

CNH Architects is a creative, service-oriented firm that provides innovative design solutions for the commercial building and retail areas, public sector clients, such as cities, counties and states, and vehicle facility projects, day care and animal care facilities. CNH has served clients in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest for 50 years.

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BURNSVILLE FIRE STATION NO. 1

CNH’s largest fire station to date, the City of Burnsville’s Fire Station No. 1 is home to a crew of all full-time firefighters and more than 44,000 SF with 10 apparatus bays. Firefighter safety was one of nine top priorities for the station. Multiple contamination zones and a designated de-contamination area will allow firefighters to keep contaminated equipment and clothing in the apparatus bay until decontaminated. Another priority in the design was firefighter mental health. A warning system that slowly ramps up with alert tones and lighting while only alerting responding staff ensures firefighters are not awoken in an abrupt manner. The station includes areas for relaxation with different lighting to promote natural sleep rhythms, as well as a yoga studio and meditation garden. Extensive firefighter training features including Firefighter 1 and advanced training elements are another highlight of the station.