What does an Architect do? Enoch Sears, a good friend of mine, wrote today’s essay. Many people who are interested in architecture but don’t believe they have the creative juices to make it as an architect contact me with worries. Not to worry; Enoch explores a variety of possible possibilities for you today.
What is the process of becoming an architect? What you’re thinking is most likely incorrect.
When Alice arrived at a fork in the road, she saw a Cheshire cat high up in a tree. “Which direction do I go?” she inquired. What are you specifically searching for? In response, he said. I’m not sure, Alice said. “Then it doesn’t count,” the cat said.
Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is included in the Book of Wonders.
Even (aspiring) architects may profit from the cat’s wisdom. Knowing where you’re going is more than half the battle. This is some recommended reading for you or anybody you know who is considering a career in architecture. Just trust me on this… Greetings, my name is Architect.
Every architect has experienced the awkward quiet that follows the realisation that they are architects. “I’m an architect,” I explain.
Despite my greatest attempts, I consistently fail to predict the mental condition of others. Do they truly think I’m that rich?” Is it assumed that I am exceptionally intelligent and creative? However, it’s possible that their assumptions are incorrect… Those strange glasses should have been a dead giveaway.
“Oh, so you like, eh, design buildings?” instead.
Sure, I design buildings, I answer, uncomfortably shifting my weight from left to right. This has proven to be the most successful reply for me, even when my true thought is, “Sheesh, I’ve never planned a building in my whole career!” continue reading…
While I’ve tried other approaches, this one seems to keep the conversation going the longest.
To be more specific, what does an architect do?
If you asked a group of architects what they do on a daily basis, you would get a variety of answers. It makes a difference whether an architect works in a big or small firm, in a city or in the country, or in a number of other situations.
Before you take the plunge, decide what you want from a career in architecture. Listed below are some instances of what architects do.
Working as a design architect for a large corporation – Large corporations often have distinct sections whose only function is to generate early designs for projects. Large corporations often need their staff to live in large urban regions such as New York City, Houston, and Los Angeles. If this is your desired job, living in a small town is not an option. You may be looking forward to commuting and city life. The creative components of the process, such as hand-drawn drawings, early CGI renderings, and client presentations, are the responsibility of design architects. The vast majority of their time is spent on right-brained (creative visualisation) work, suggesting a high degree of artistic talent.
Working on a design team is an excellent alternative if you like creating stunning images from scratch, have strong drawing abilities, and are skilled in programmes such as Adobe Photoshop, SketchUp, and 3d Studio VIZ. There will always be late evenings before client presentations and contest deadlines, but what’s a late night when you’re doing something you enjoy? As a part of the design team, you will miss out on the project’s final phases. You will not be involved in the design or building of the structure.
Typically, design teams will comprise one or two veterans who are skilled in traditional medium such as pen and paper, as well as a large number of younger designers who are professionals in digital media. Because this is the kind of job that most architects want, competition for these positions is severe. To thrive in this area, you’ll need a strong portfolio that showcases your creative ability. However, if you want to be involved in everything, this job may not be for you.
Chief Production Architect for a Fortune 500 Company – The creation of building designs or “blueprints” (as architects call them) “The major concentration of both full-time architects and interns at big corporations is on construction drawings. The plans will be use by the contractor to build the project. Production team members with fewer than ten years of experience as architects sometimes spend their days making small changes to project drawings using CAD or BIM software. This is a job that requires a lot of repeated sitting (drawing screws in a piece of wood for instance).
While some architects may be please, the vast majority are not. Working on a production team teaches architects about the building process and the need of paying attention to the tiniest of details. Remember that the design team I mentioned before is in charge of both building design and the sensory imagery of buildings that is often associated with architects. If you want to have creative influence on the design of a building and take beautiful images, this is probably not the job for you. However, if you are left-brain (technical), you can be a good match here.
Principal or a partner in a large corporation.
You’ve made it to the top if you’re a principal or a partner in a large corporation. Principals receive a high pay (between $100,000 and $200,000) due to their significant knowledge (at least 20 years) and valuable relationships and connections (they bring in new business, for example). They are significantly involve in project planning and design and attract six-figure salaries.
Only a small percentage of practising architects are partners in large companies. If you chose carefully as a professional, you can make it here by the age of 50. You shouldn’t expect it to happen anytime soon. Becoming a lawyer is a sure approach to gain speedy success.
Some architects concentrate only on contract administration or project management. In doing so, they address any issues the builder may have about the designs. They spend 10% of their time speaking with the builder, 10% of their time studying the drawings, 50% of their time on site, and 30% of their time organising adjustments to the designs (since errors can arise).
Contract administration may be a good fit for individuals that thrive in a fast-pace atmosphere, like meeting new people, and are unaffect by criticism. Remember that many architects who work in contract administration spend their whole day at a desk. If you prefer to spend your days outside, work for a contractor. Contract administrators in the architectural sector are often senior architects with 20 years of experience or more.
Spec (specifications) (specifications) (specifications) Many architects spend a significant amount of time compiling “project specifications” into large tomes. In contrast to designs, specifications comprise the real requirements for a project’s construction, such as the degree of quality and the materials that must be use. The guidelines include the grade of steel used to frame a wall, as well as the kind of paint to use when painting steel for outdoor use.
These architects’ days are spend looking through building materials databases and editing long Word documents. If you like both reading and writing technical documentation, a job as a spec writer might be for you. Please keep in mind that the majority of speculative writers are not in their early stages of their profession. These architects don’t draw at all, demonstrating that you don’t have to be imaginative to be a great speculative writer.
Working as an architect for a medium- to small-sized firm means you won’t be designing skyscrapers or other large projects, but you’ll have greater say over every aspect of a project. Architects with more than 20 years of experience sometimes dabble in many fields. They may supervise younger architects, visit clients, and do some design work themselves. As far as I can tell, this is typical Bob behaviour.
Lone practitioners.
Many prospective architects want to operate independently as lone practitioners or as owners of their own businesses. Though many people want the financial and professional freedom that comes with starting their own architectural firm, doing it without the help of a financially solid partner is very difficult. Sole practitioners and other small company owners often work long hours and struggle to make ends meet.
Solo architects with ten or more years of experience may expect to earn between $60,000 and $70,000 per year on average (p.s. I write about the challenges of starting an architecture firm at BusinessofArchitecture.com). However, if you like diversity, don’t mind taking on responsibility, and value flexibility, this might be a profitable path for you.
Candidates with no more than five years of work experience are encourage to apply. The intern is a critical component of the equation, and I cannot afford to disregard them. To qualify for any of the aforementioned vocations, a minimum of three to five years of internship performing (mostly) monotonous work eight hours a day while sitting in front of a computer is necessary. Only interns at huge corporations get to spend their days creating structures (what most people envision when they hear the term “architect”) (see design architect at a large firm above). Although interns at smaller organisations may be able to do some creative work, the most of their time will be spend sketching on a computer.
There are several sorts of architectural roles, and it would be impossible to include them all here. If you’re considering about becoming an architect. Talk to individuals in your region and maybe even spend a day or two shadowing a practising architect. What you learn now will be extremely beneficial to you in the future.
Identifying your skills may assist you in directing your career in the direction of your interests. Some architects, for example, specialise on domestic design. There are a few excellent art schools in the area. There is a significant difference between the two. Some architects work behind a desk all day. Some architects spend the majority of their time travelling between buildings and places. Also, Some architects spend the whole day drawing. However, some architects never put pen to paper. Some architects are capable of doing a broad range of duties. If I met you on the street and you asked. What I did for a job, and I told you, “I’m an architect,” you may understand it.
