Architecture
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other spaces
to be occupied or used by people-science, because architects have to
understand the physical characteristics of the building materials they
include in their designs, as well as the physics of the structural designs
themselves; and art, because architects typically try to utilize aesthetic
principles at the same time as they're trying to meet human needs via
their designs. Indeed, some of the most prominent cultural landmarks in the
world-the Duomo in Florence, the Taj Mahal in India, the Empire State
Building in New York-first found their form in the minds of architects.
What You'll Do
Some of the glamour is warranted. Architects are, after all, in the
business of dreaming up new structures. But design is only part of
architecture. And, in the vast majority of cases, due to cost and time
constraints, aesthetically pleasing design is only a minor consideration
for the projects architects work on.
Once a design has been selected, architects draft the final construction
documents and oversee the actual construction. In these detail-oriented
stages, architecture seems more like engineering than a creative venture.
As one architect puts it, "One of the biggest things we do is
coordinate."
Architects must understand the science behind the design, down to the
strengths of various materials and the benefits and limitations of
competing designs. They also absorb stacks of building codes and zoning
requirements. Before construction can start, a licensed architect must sign
off on all documents.
To deliver projects on time and under budget, architects must grasp the big
picture and sweat the details. Communication skills and managerial skills
are paramount-architects work closely with clients, contractors, and other
architects.
Few architects are given the freedom or money to design the next Guggenheim
Museum, but that doesn't deny them the basic satisfaction of seeing
their ideas transformed into lasting structures.
Who Does Well
Architects need to be detail-oriented. They also need to be excellent
account and project managers, as they deal with a wide range of people in
the course of any project.
Finally, they need to be talented designers: They'll be creating
spaces, both public and private, in which people will live, work, and
interact. In no small way, architects give shape to the environments in
which people live, so they need to understand the effects their designs and
buildings will have on people.
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What separates a regular office building from a work of art may be
intangible, but what keeps buildings standing safely isn't. All
professional architects must be licensed in the states where they practice.
You can't sign off on a project, set up your own practice, or even
legally be called an architect until you've passed a state exam.
Most architects complete three distinct steps: getting a degree in
architecture from an accredited university, interning under a licensed
architect, and passing the registration exam administered by the National
Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
Architecture School
The first step in the process, choosing a university, takes some
forethought. The National Architectural Accrediting Board currently
approves only around 100 universities in the United States. In most states,
attending one of these schools is a prerequisite to taking the Architect
Registration Examination, which you must pass to become a licensed
architect.
Some schools on the list offer five-year programs. Others combine a
four-year undergraduate program with a two-year master's degree
program. One less year of school may seem like a good idea, but five-year
programs usually make it harder to switch to another major. If you're
sitting on the fence, it's wiser to try a four-year degree program or a
three-year master's program.
Internships
With school out of the way, the next step in almost every state or other
U.S. jurisdiction is to complete an internship, during which you'll be
required to meet the training standards outlined by the Intern Development
Program to be licensed. (The exceptions are Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
the Northern Mariana Islands, and Arizona.) Those standards call for a
three-year work period under the supervision of a licensed architect, and
completion of work in various areas of architecture.
Certification
After completing an internship, you must pass the grueling four-day
Architect Registration Examination. About a quarter of examinees fail every
year.
As if that weren't enough, some states make architects fulfill
continuing education requirements (typically 12 hours per year) in order to
stay licensed. While most requirements are becoming standardized
nationally, each state has its own variation on the rules. Some states
don't require a degree from an accredited school, for example. For
information on what your state calls for, visit the NCARB's state
registration requirements site.
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of
architecture positions will grow at the same rate as the average for all
occupations between 2004 and 2014. But remember that the industry is
heavily cyclical. When the economy is good, there's more money for
construction, and firms scramble to find enough architects. The slightest
economic downturn, however, can freeze construction budgets.
Even in good times, architecture is a highly competitive field. Landing an
entry-level job can be difficult, especially at the more prestigious firms.
To get an edge on other candidates, it's wise to seek summer
internships while you're still in school.
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Architects are involved in every stage of design and construction.
Generally, the stages break down into conceptual, schematic, design
development, and construction documentation. Some firms use a ladder
structure, in which different architects specialize in different stages of
development and construction.
Many smaller firms use a team approach, assigning one group of architects
to one project from start to finish. Responsibilities and titles will vary
depending on how an office is organized. The job functions described in
this section provide a general outline of the different responsibilities
and roles architects take on.
Design Architects
Design architects normally have years of experience. They create the
overall aesthetic presentation of a building. They get the praise when a
building wins an Aga Khan Award, and take the heat when a structure is
criticized.
Design architects work on the schematic design stage—the initial scheme for
a building's design. The schematic design sets the parameters and
provides a brush-stroke version of the overall design. Sometimes they also
work on the design development stage, though often that responsibility
falls to the project architect.
The schematic stage of design isn't for solitary dreamers. In a process
known as programming, design architects work with clients to decide what
functions the building will accommodate. As Frank Lloyd Wright's dictum
goes, "Form must follow function."
To some degree, design architects stay involved until a building is
completed, but they don't generally work on the details of a building.
They envision the big picture, hook clients, and set the stage for the next
round of architects, who create more detailed plans and oversee actual
construction.
Project Architects
Project architects generally take over a project after the schematic design
stage, though often the design architect remains involved. Project
architects make sure a drawing is put together well and that a building can
actually be built. Directly after the schematic design has been approved,
project architects draft design development documents (often called a
"DD set"), which are much more detailed than the original design
schematics.
In the design development stage, project architects more carefully analyze
the client's functional requirements. They consider such details as
what kinds of materials to use. They work closely with consultants, such as
the engineers, to determine structural, mechanical, and electrical
requirements. Most important, they make sure a proposed structure meets
federal, state, and municipal building codes and zoning laws.
Once a client has approved the design development documents, project
architects create the construction documents (or CDs) that the contractors
will use in construction. After contractors have agreed to build a
structure, project architects monitor the development of the building. (At
larger firms, this task may fall to construction administrators.)
Project Managers
In many firms, and on bigger projects, project managers take responsibility
for completing a project on time and under budget. They make sure a team
meets its deadlines, and often work closely with clients. (WetFeet's Project Management career
profile provides more details about the role of a project manager.)
At architecture firms, project managers are often experienced project
architects who are more responsible for managing and coordinating a project
than designing the various parts of it. Bigger firms typically have project
managers who are not project architects.
Construction Administrators
After all the documents have been created and the contractors have been
selected, construction administrators oversee a building's actual
construction. Construction administrators (CAs) make sure contractors
correctly assemble every detail of a building as specified in the building
plans and documents.
Construction administrators are the point people throughout the rest of a
project, working closely with both clients and the original design and
project architects. CAs resolve problems involving document conflicts and
make sure contractors get paid promptly. CAs don't participate in
design, but it's a great job for those who like to leave the office and
get their hands dirty.
Draftspersons
At larger firms, design and project architects leave the work of entering
the design into a computer to draftspersons. In a process called
"redlining," experienced architects mark changes or additions to
documents on paper; draftspersons translate those changes to electronic
documents.
While draftspersons help create preliminary design documents, the bulk of
their work is the creation of construction documents—laying out every last
detail of a building, from support beams to toilet placement. They also
take care to meet federal, state, and municipal building codes.
Many architects who are just starting out or completing an internship
obtain work as draftspersons. Firms also hire CAD technicians who have
two-year technical degrees.
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Following are median salary ranges for architecture professionals:
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Architect: $45,000 to $65,000
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Senior architect: $60,000 to $80,000
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Draftsperson: $30,000 to $60,000
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Landscape architect: $30,000 to $100,000
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Interior designer: $30,000 to $60,000
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Senior interior designer: $40,000 to $70,000
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Industrial designer: $35,000 to $80,000