CAREERS IN

COMMERCIAL AND
INSTITUTIONAL
ARCHITECTURE
Institute Research Number 388
ISBN 1-58511-388-3
DOT Code 001.061.010
O*NET-SOC Code 17.1011.00
CAREERS IN
COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
ARCHITECTURE
YOU CAN CREATE THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE
FROM SKYSCRAPERS TO SHOPPING MALLS
IF JACK WERE DREAMING UP HIS BEANSTALK TODAY HE WOULD FIRST HAVE TO SURVEY
the land, test the soil, do an environmental impact study, and arrange for
financing. Then he would need an architect to design the beanstalk but
only after finding out if the area is zoned for a beanstalk, how tall it can
grow and will it cast a shadow on other smaller plants. Jack would have to
hire an engineer to ensure that the beanstalk is sturdy and can withstand
high winds, storms and other natural disasters.
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The next step would be to get a building permit and then hire the
construction company to build the beanstalk to the architects and
engineers specifications. Jack must determine in advance who will use his
beanstalk and what he will charge for access. Only after all this and much
more is done can Jack start to enjoy his beanstalk and realize his dreams!
Does this sound like a lot to do? Not if you are into building
skyscrapers for commercial and industrial use; or hospitals for treating the
sick; or churches, synagogues and mosques for religious services; or
theaters, sports arenas, park facilities and restaurants for entertainment; or
malls for shopping, or any other type of building you can think of.
Whether they are urban, suburban or rural sites, constructing any kind of a
building today requires a great deal of serious thought and meticulous
planning. Some structures can be years in the planning stages before the
first shovel of dirt is turned and the foundation laid. Others remain a
concept and never get built.
Architects and developers, sometimes one and the same, are the
catalysts for these ideas and structures. They have transformed our cities
and suburban areas with high- and low-rise developments that cater to
our work and play times. From a Sears Tower in Chicago soaring over one
hundred stories into the air, to a multiplex of movie theaters on the
highway out of a small town, to a Mall of America in Minneapolis
containing every retail store imaginable, to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in
Los Angeles that has been over years in the making commercial
architects and developers have been filling out practical needs and
pleasing our visual senses for more than a century.
Wherever you walk in your city or town, you will see buildings
designed by architects and built by developers and construction
companies. The style of their designs can range from the Renaissance to
the ridiculous. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and materials.
They elicit extremes from high praise to raucous criticism. They do more
than fill a space, they make an artistic statement. They are the creations of
men and women whose profession ideally blends the best of art, science
and commerce the commercial architect.
In this report you will explore the commercial and institutional
structures that surround and impact our lives when we are away from
home. Many of the examples of architectural trends and traditions come
from Chicago, which boasts some of the finest architecture to be found
anywhere in the country.
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ARCHITECTURE:
THE PROFESSION
WHAT MAKES A BUILDING DESIGN SPECIAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO LOOKS AT IT
from a purely aesthetic viewpoint? Can you think of a building in your area
that is appealing to your sense of form and function and gives you
pleasure every time you see it. Can you describe it now from memory.
One popular building in downtown Chicago is at 333 West Wacker
Drive right at the junction where the north and south branches of the
Chicago River divide. It is a 36-story, curving green glass wedge that
reflects surrounding buildings as well as clouds and shadows. Designed by
Kohn Pedersen Fox with Perkins & Will about 20 years ago, this
internationally acclaimed building is a visual wonder of grace and form.
Pedestrian eyes are automatically drawn to its ever-changing reflections.
This is what the architect hopes to elicit from the design; a structure
that will be important to the area it is serving, graceful and functional to
those who must use it, and always pleasing to those who must pass it
every day. And while beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, the architect
strives to create a structure that will cause more smiles than frowns.
Architecture combines the art and science of constructing buildings.
Architects are the professionals who are in the business of dreaming up
new structures, but they must know and understand the science behind
the artistic design.
Many consider architecture a high-status profession where
achievements have a respected place in society. In truth, only a small
number of architects ever reach the elevated pinnacle of national and
international success. For every Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der
Rohe, I. M. Pei, or Philip Johnson, to name a few of the internationally
famous architects, there are thousands of successful architects who will
never design monumental structures for important clients, but who will
make their mark at a local level with functional building designs for
numerous practical purposes in cities and towns throughout America.
Fame is fleeting. Even famous architects are only as famous as their
last building design. Most architects are known for their steady and
ongoing work over a long period of time and eventually may achieve some
recognition for their innovative and excellent designs. Whether its a new
bank or a new school, most architects just want their designs to be
appreciated by those who will use their buildings. If in this process they
can come up with a new direction in form and style, technology or
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methods of design, then they will have achieved a professional enrichment
while contributing to the architectural culture of the community.
Computer technology helped change architecture and the work of the
architect in the 20th century. And virtual-reality architecture is the latest
technological innovation in the 21st. Donning high-tech goggles and
using three-dimensional projections, virtual-reality architects and their
clients and co-workers can explore and envision an unbuilt structure right
down to the lighting and shadows it casts on the neighborhood.
New Trends in Architecture Many in the profession would like to
see architects take a more responsible role in designing structures that
address the social and environmental needs of today. They believe that
schools of architecture are not providing an adequate or appropriate
education for their students. In recent years this viewpoint has spawned
alternative educational resources.
Two professionals, a well-known architect and a designer, teamed up
several years ago to found Archeworks, an alternative design school, in
Chicago. This accredited program accepts applications from 30 qualifying
interns each year, who, after the successful completion of the full
academic year, will earn the equivalent of a one-year professional degree
which can be transferred to an affiliated institution. It also has a
Continuing Education accredited program for working professionals. This
program is supported financially by corporations, foundations and the
design industry.
This schools philosophy is radically constructed around the
networking of design disciplines, one reinforcing another. This academic
structure is purposefully presented with the conviction that no one
discipline can adequately address all the issues that are involved in finding
a solution for the multiplicity of challenges in urban society today. To
learn more about this architectural viewpoint, visit the Archeworks Web
site www.archeworks.org.
Down through the ages, civilization and architecture have been
inseparable. We associate a period in history with its architecture. The
Greek and Roman temples, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Pavilions of Asia,
Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance churches. Architecture expresses the
culture and social conditions of a time and place. The architect contributes
to cultures inventory of ideas and artifacts, no matter how large or small,
and this is an important motivation for cultural enrichment.
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ARCHITECTURE: THE FIELD
THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE IN THIS COUNTRY AS A DISTINCT FORMALIZED CAREER IS A
little more than a century old. The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
was founded in 1857, and the first degree program in architecture was
started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1868, followed by
Cornell University in 1871. In other parts of the world, builders and
architects were usually the same person, with some having more artistic
and technical schooling than others. The first architects on our shores were
immigrants who brought their knowledge, ideas and tools with them to
the New World.
As America spread across the continent and grew in population,
architecture became important to our way of life as buildings were
designed and constructed to be used as offices, banks, shops, schools,
houses of worship, hospitals, restaurants and inns, entertainment and
recreation centers. The skyscraper was born as was the multi-use or
mixed-use structure. America pioneered many concepts in architecture,
including the first use of a steel skeleton frame to support an exterior wall.
The Manhattan Building in Chicagos South Loop was designed in the
1880s by William Le Baron Jenney, whose many innovations became the
early commercial high-rise model for todays urban skyscrapers. Jenneys
office was the center for young architects who came to Chicago to help
rebuild the city after the Great Fire of 1871. They included Louis Sullivan,
William Holabird, Daniel Burnham and Martin Roche. Their impact on the
city can be seen even today as Chicago strives to protect its beautiful
lakefront and park system designed by Daniel Burnham. Holabird and
Roche designed the Stevens Hotel, which is now the Chicago Hilton and
Towers. When this massive, 25-story hotel was completed in the 1920s, it
was the largest in the world, with 3,000 guest rooms, an 18-hole rooftop
golf course, and its own hospital. A renovation in 1986 restored it to
prominence again.
There are thousands of such examples in cities and towns across the
country. From an art gallery below with lofts above in New York Citys
Soho, to a renovated 19th-century commercial block in Denver; from an
urban complex complete with shopping mall, hotel and office building in
Center City Philadelphia, to an upscale department store in St. Louis; and
from an award-winning bank design in Dallas to a corporate headquarters
in San Francisco architects continue to design structures of all shapes
and sizes to compliment our landscape, and define and refine our culture.
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THE BUILDING PROCESS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS GET BUILT BECAUSE OF SPECIFIC NEEDS, WHETHER
currently existing or potentially for the future. Once the need to build is
recognized, then the process begins in earnest. The needs, like problems,
will be solved if something is built in this space. There are established
objectives and requirements for a new structure. The architect must be
involved with most, if not all stages, of any building project.
Site Once the need has been established, the first order of business is to
locate a place that meets that need. The site comes into play. A piece of
property that is either owned by the developer or leased from someone
else must be secured. Most building projects rarely get considered without
the all-important site that will eventually hold the structure.
Resources After the need and site have been identified, the developer
has to gather the resources and expertise necessary to turn ideas into
reality. The most essential resource is money to pay for all the costs in
developing the project. These include costs for the acquisition of the site,
all architectural and engineering fees, legal and accounting fees,
administration and market analysis costs, financing fees and interest on
debt, the costs of advertising and public relations, selling and leasing
costs, insurance premiums, permits for zoning and building, and all the
construction costs for labor, equipment and material.
Financing Probably the most important part of a building
development is the financing. Without adequate financing, nothing can be
built. There are several major types of financing:
Equity funding are at-risk monies, including the developers own money
or money from other investors such as partners, stockholders and/or
contributors. Should this income-producing building project fail, the equity
invested in it may never be recovered.
Debt funding which are borrowed monies where the developer enters
into a legal obligation to repay these monies, with interest, and in a
specified time period.
Public monies where bonds are issued as IOUs to finance public
building projects such as schools, hospitals, transportation facilities, etc.
In addition, many nonprofits such as museums, performing arts
centers, religious structures, and schools are built from capital campaigns
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that raise funds through donations, grants, the sale of any marketable
assets, and/or budgetary appropriations.
Design As the developer solidifies financing, the architect is working on
basic design strategies with the engineer. There are literally hundreds of
potentially conflicting factors in developing the basic design, including
budgetary constraints and site conditions. Zoning ordinances, building
codes, environmental regulations, density regulations, building
configurations, construction permits and more must have their own review
and/or hearings before a go-ahead is given.
In addition there are citizens groups, government agencies, and local
and state laws that must approve development proposals before
construction begins. Each interested party could have its own design
criteria which makes for many potential conflicts. All this requires the
architect to have a great deal of time, patience, ongoing dialogue,
persuasion, and sensitivity to eventually get approval and keep the design
and projected budget as close to the original concept as possible.
Engineering Structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers all
play an important and critical role in the building of a large commercial
structure. They take the architects approved design and, working closely
with the architect, determine whether the structure as planned will work.
Structural engineers are concerned with the load-bearing portions of
the structure such as the sizes and dimensions of the frame, floors, roof,
walls, as well as types of materials to be used. In addition, they lay out the
details for connecting the heating, air-conditioning, ventilating, plumbing
and electrical systems that will precede the work of the mechanical and
electrical engineers.
Civil engineers take the architects preliminary site plan showing the
position and shape of the proposed structure and then design site
grading, roads, storm water systems, water supply and sanitary sewer
systems, bridges and other needed utilities.
Specialization Many building projects such as theaters, religious
sanctuaries, schools, hotels, museums, hospitals and others can have
unique problems from lighting to acoustics to security to food service
operations, that are handled by specialized engineers or consultants. A
good example would be a lighting consultant whose concern is
illuminating the interior and exterior of the structure, using both daylight
and electric lighting. Another would be the acoustical engineers whose job
is to get the right amount of sound through transmission, reflection and
absorption.
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There are also theater consultants, kitchen consultants, healthcare
design consultants, security consultants, and exhibition and graphics
consultants. It is the responsibility of the architect to select all these various
professionals and coordinate each effort so that the completed structure is
as perfect as possible.
Construction Properly executing an architects design is the
responsibility of the construction contractor. This is the most costly part of
financing the building process. Architects are very concerned about
construction because it is the realization of their design, and the
developers satisfaction depends on how well the construction contractor
builds the structure. The general contractor usually depends on a variety of
subcontractors to complete specific parts or phases of the construction, as
well as separate suppliers to furnish the myriad of materials and
equipment needed. The architect spends a lot of time at the construction
site to ensure that the quality of the construction does justice to the
design.
Exterior Another important element in the building process is the
landscape. Architects select and work with landscape architects and
designers to specify, lay out, install and maintain trees, shrubs, ground
cover and other plant materials. This could apply to anything from the
lawns in front of an office building to a park system, from a suburban
subdivision to an urban master plan.
Interior Even though some architects consider themselves also to be
interior designers, it is usually the decision of the developer to hire
professional designers and decorators to complete the interior of a
structure. The line is sometimes fuzzy between where the building
architects design stops and where the decorators begins, because the
interior design must be an integral coordinated part of the architecture of
the structure.
There are also lawyers, insurers, administration types and more to
have their say in the building process. The building process of a major
structure is long-term and complex and requires the architects complete
attention for a considerable period.
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THE FIRST FOUNDATIONS
ARCHITECTURE IS AS OLD AS HUMAN CIVILIZATION. THE FIRST STRUCTURES WERE THE
caves where earths inhabitants found shelter and safety. The first recorded
human-built structures were those of Babylonians and Assyrians more than
six thousand years ago. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians created
massive structures, whole cities, and pyramids, many still standing today.
The word architect comes from the Greek meaning builder, craftsman.
When the first European settlers arrived in the New World, there were
about two hundred nations of Native Americans who had their own brand
of architectural traditions from single dwellings to multi-purpose
structures. Europeans brought their traditional ideas and tools to our
shores. Everyone became a builder of sorts. Western pioneers built log
cabins on property they had claimed in the wilderness. The construction of
a major structure such as a church, school or meeting place became a
project for everyone in the community and involved considerable time and
effort on the part of many citizens.
By the time of the American Revolution, journeymen carpenters were
designing and building most structures following English tradition and
using English architectural books and builders guides for counsel. It was
Thomas Jefferson who hoped to set the tone for the new nation through
his major architectural works of Monticello, the Virginia State Capitol, and
the University of Virginia, all completed between 1772 and 1826. Jefferson
held to the belief that the right environment could uplift minds and
promote civic virtue.
The new nations first professional architect was English migr
Benjamin Latrobe who shared Jeffersons thinking and designed the Bank
of Pennsylvania and the Baltimore Cathedral between 1798 and 1821. But
his engineering feats were even more appreciated when he designed the
Philadelphia water system between 1798 and 1801.
Urbanization came to America in the 1800s with the building of
banks, exchanges, commercial structures and public markets. There was
also great need for asylums such as prisons, orphanages, almshouses and
mental hospitals, that were kept on the outskirts of cities. The first instance
of American architecture influencing European design came in 1823 when
the English architect, John Haviland, designed Eastern State Penitentiary in
Philadelphia, with its radical arrangement of cell blocks around a central
control station.
The same belief in civic improvement through the environment fueled
the first park system in the 1830s and culminated in landscape architect
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Frederick Law Olmsteds majestic Central Park in New York City, created
between 1857 and 1880.
American architecture began emerging as distinctive and original with
native building materials, ornaments, patterns and more, that resulted in
factories, museums, libraries and magnificent homes in the manner of
European castles, but with American style.
Business districts would soon be transformed by another architectural
innovation called the skyscraper. By the 1880s, architects and engineers in
Chicago and New York were experimenting with new framing systems to
achieve greater height in buildings. The prototypes were 10 stories, then
20, and as they say the rest is history. By the turn of the 20th century,
private business interests encouraged municipalities to build majestic civic
centers. Washington, DC underwent such a change in 1902 and was soon
joined by cities across the country.
A City Beautiful movement in urban areas like San Francisco,
Chicago, Denver and dozens of other cities commissioned Beaux-Arts
museums and libraries alongside city halls. In Detroit, architect Albert
Kahn, transformed the American factory into a sprawling industrial plant
for automobile assembly lines. Architects John Nolen and Ernest Flagg
experimented with planned industrial towns. Architects Rapp & Rapp,
Thomas Lamb and Joseph Urban transformed movie houses and theaters
into flights of fantasy. Art Deco detailing enriched department stores and
other buildings.
There was architectural competition for every major building that was
proposed. The 1922 competition for the Tribune Tower in Chicago
attracted more than 250 entries, with the winning design a Gothic fantasy
by Howells & Hood. New York Citys zoning regulations of 1916 stated the
need to control the height and use of buildings in order to protect the
public interest and assure investors of future stability. The result was a new
skyscraper style that combined set-backs, maximized light and air. This
process culminated between 1927 and 1935 with the building of
Rockefeller Center by the architectural firm of Reinhard & Hofmeister, with
Harvey Wiley Corbett and Raymond Hood.
By the end of World War II, the glass box look of modernist
aesthetic architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe characterized the American
skyscraper design. The internationally-known architectural firm of
Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill produced this type of design with their
Lever House in New York City (1952), the Crown Zellerbach Building in San
Francisco (1959), and the John Hancock Center (1970) and 104-story Sears
Tower (1974) both in Chicago. The expressionistic architects included
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Frank Lloyd Wright who, in addition to his homes in the Midwest, also was
famous for his structures such as the Guggenheim Museum in New York
City (1956-1959).
The 21st century is waiting for its new brand of architects to make
structures more relevant to the times and to take building in new
directions. Could that architect be you?
ARCHITECTURAL CAREER TRACKS
COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTS ARE GENERALLY INVOLVED IN ALL PHASES OF DESIGN AND
construction. The phases break down as conceptual (the general idea or
understanding), schematic (systemic plan or design), design development
(details of the arrangement of the parts), and construction documentation
(the concept becomes reality).
All architects must be proficient in the use of computers. More and
more the hand drawing and blueprint are being replaced by computer
renderings. New advances in technology and software programs are
making the architects work easier and more complex at the same time.
Easier because a design can be manipulated in many ways, but more
complex because of what can be anticipated and projected.
Design Architects create the overall aesthetic presentation of a
structure. Normally, with years of experience, the design architect works on
both the conceptual and schematic phases of a building process.
Project Architects work with the engineers to make sure that the
design is workable and the building can indeed be built. They design
development documents which are far more detailed than the original
plans.
Project Managers ensure that the building process stays on target, on
time and on budget. Many of these professionals are architects. Project
managers see that the team meets regularly and is able to meet the already
established deadlines.
Construction Administrators oversee the actual construction of the
building. They must know every last detail of a design plan and work with
the architects and engineers to ensure that plans and documents are in
order and followed.
Draftspersons can help create design documents, but their major
responsibility is the creation of construction documents, which is the laying
out of every detail of a building from every support beam to the placement
of every sink. Many architects just starting out or completing an internship
will get work as a draftsperson to gain more experience.
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WHERE WORK CAN BE FOUND
WHILE THE LEVEL OF NEW CONSTRUCTION TENDS TO RISE AND FALL SOMEWHAT,
people will always need new places in which to live, work, play, learn,
worship, govern, meet, shop and eat. Professional architects must be
trained in the art and science of design to help protect public health,
safety and welfare. They transform these needs into concepts and then
develop the concepts into building images that can be constructed.
Architects, design architects, project architects, project managers,
construction administrators and draftspersons work for large and small
architectural firms; city, state and federal government agencies;
corporations; nonprofits; associations; and developers. Many are in private
practice. Architects are also journalists for newspapers and periodicals, as
well as teachers and professors in colleges and universities.
Opportunities for work can be found in every city and town across the
country and even around the world. It may be a one-story bank building in
a small town, or a multi-purpose shopping mall in a suburban area, or a
70-story office skyscraper in a citys financial district, or an art and
education center in a neighborhood, or a church in a new subdivision
structures are always being designed and built for people.
Here are some other options to consider:
Communications This is a growing area of architecture, as writers,
editors and critics bring a special insight into the workings of the
profession. Work can include writing, editing, or photography for a
professional journal, newspaper, book publisher or magazine, and editorial
assignments for public agencies, corporations, foundations, and
professional and trade associations.
Corporate Architects can work in the real estate, design,
construction, and facilities management divisions of commercial and
industrial enterprises, schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and other
institutions. Here an architect can provide a full range of professional
services or select other architects and consultants while coordinating and
approving their services, as the clients representative.
Government Many architects are attracted to government service at
all levels as the best way to contribute to public planning, design and
construction policy. Jobs include staff designers and construction contract
administrators, managers of design and construction programs, program
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planners, application processors, site evaluators, facilities specialists,
researchers and standards developers.
Teaching The American Institute of Architects estimates that there are
about three thousand architects teaching in a professional degree program
in a college or university, or in a technical or vocational school. Many
educators maintain individual practices, or are active in research covering a
wide range of areas such as architectural history, energy conservation,
preservation, building technology and computer applications.
COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTS TALK ABOUT
THEIR CAREERS
Im an Architect Specializing in
Malls & Shopping Centers I became an architect
to design soaring structures that make statements and contribute
to the culture of the area and city. My first job out of college was
with an architectural firm that designed and developed office
buildings, 40-stories or less. I soon discovered that my lofty goals
were unrealistic. There are many designs for soaring structures,
but only a handful that ever get built.
So I settled down to learn about the architecture of my city
and to soak up all the knowledge I could from my colleagues.
During the almost 10 years I spent with this firm, I learned how to
be a responsible architect by helping design office structures that
enhance the work day for those who use the building and
contribute to the value of the area. I worked on numerous designs
and saw three become reality. It was a very good feeling to know
that I had a small part in the design of a particular edifice. Even
today, when I walk past those buildings, I still feel an exhilaration
of accomplishment.
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I liked what I was doing, but I wanted to broaden my vistas
and create different types of structures. Fourteen years ago, I
moved my young family into a suburban area that was expanding.
A new shopping mall was being constructed, and I used to drive
by and watch the progress. One day I stopped to talk to the
construction boss, but the architect was also there. We talked and
my life changed. Six months later I became part of the firm that
specializes in designing and developing malls and shopping
centers.
I could not be happier. My work is creatively challenging.
Those who think that designing these structures isnt serious
architecture have no idea of what it takes to put together a mall. I
am not talking about a few stores along the highway. I am talking
about the structures that are mini-cities with shops, restaurants,
offices, movie theaters and more. They are either all enclosed or
partially enclosed, with walkways, grouped seating areas,
landscaping with flowers, trees and shrubs, and so much more.
You have a client who owns a piece of land and wants to
build a shopping center on that land. My work is to see that the
developers goal gets realized. After many conversations about
zoning codes, traffic patterns, size and shape of the structure,
possible tenants, parking, and other concerns, I am ready, along
with my colleagues, to make some design suggestions. This is a
long and laborious process as it is important to satisfy the client
while keeping the design workable and aesthetically attractive.
During my years here, I have been the lead architect on two
major shopping centers as well as a contributor for two more. I
am a partner in a thriving firm. We have a good reputation for
design and development. I really love what I do and feel that I am
contributing to the enrichment of the areas we build in. I hope to
be able to be a practicing architect for as long as my legs can take
me places.
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I Am a Construction Administrator I am the point
person in the construction of a building. I work with architects,
clients and contractors to make sure that the construction goes
according to the plans. I help resolve conflicts and see that
contractors are correct in assembling every last detail of the
structure as specified in the plans and documents.
My father was a building contractor for a home builder, and I
learned to read his blueprints when I was young. I thought I
wanted to be an architect, but after a years study in college, I
changed my program to computers. I somehow felt architecture
would be too confining for me. I wanted more that being in an
office. During my summer breaks from college I worked in
construction. Tough physical work, but the pay is great. I watched
construction administrators on a number of jobs I worked and
thought I could do that.
In my last year of college I started writing to architectural
firms in my area and elsewhere who were also big developers and
asked about training to become a construction administrator. I
had absorbed enough architecture study and was proficient in
computers, to be considered by two firms. One was a large
international firm with hundreds of people. The other, a smaller
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one is where I went, and where I am eight years later. I made the
right decision. I would have been lost in the larger firm and never
have had the kinds of opportunities I got and enjoy now.
When you drive by a construction site and see those trailers
parked on the side, one of them is my on-site office. I am on-site
all day long, and generally at least once a day, so are the architect
and the client. It is important to keep all communication lines
open and resolve minor differences before they become major
problems.
My biggest challenges on the site are with the contractors
and subcontractors workers who do not show up for the day,
bad weather that delays certain work, conflicts between who does
what, and so on. I am responsible for ensuring that whatever else
happens, the project moves forward with as little delay as
possible.
I am very happy in my work. When I see one of my structures
completed, I may not have designed it, but I sure had a hand in
building it. That is a good feeling.
Im An Architect With the City I became an
architect because I love to draw and am good at it. My father
owned a print shop before he retired and sold the business, and
my sister is a graphic art designer for an advertising agency.
Drawing, designing, and planning are in my blood. My interest in
architecture began in my junior year in high school. Due to
overcrowding, a new high school was being proposed and, as a
member of the student council, I attended several of the meetings
to listen to the plans. I was fascinated by the two architects who
were charged with presenting a viable rendition for a new school
building.
After the third meeting I talked to one of the architects about
the profession and was steered to several books and periodicals in
the public library. I began researching the field and the more I
learned the more I liked architecture. By the time I was ready to
apply to college, I was only considering those schools that had an
accredited degree program in architecture.
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I graduated with a bachelors degree in architecture in 1997
as cities across the nation were gearing up for the new
millennium.
I decided to start my career in government and, after an
intensive three-month search, I was hired in the planning
department of the city where I was born, raised and still reside.
They had a number of projects on the drawing boards in various
stages of planning, design and development, and were expanding
the department to meet the needs of a new century. It was very
exciting to hear about, and the realization is living up to my
expectations.
There are a number of major projects the city has undertaken
to begin the new century and they are moving ahead. I am mainly
involved in the expansion and renovation of the parks system. I
really like working on this project because it involves buildings,
landscapes, beach and recreational areas, energy, and
conservation. These are the places that help make a city livable.
Our parks system is vast and in need of attention, and these
current and projected expansions and renovations will keep the
system viable and growing for the foreseeable future.
Because I am still in the early learning stages, I do whatever is
asked of me. Actually, this is my internship time. Next year I will be
eligible to take the architects registration exam and hopefully
pass and become a fully professional architect. Now, I attend
in-house meetings as well as neighborhood meetings for
community input. I take notes at the meetings and send the
highlights to my colleagues. I answer correspondence regarding
the work on the parks system. I help write news releases and other
communications, and I listen and learn.
This is a great way for me to start my career in architecture. I
am involved in some small way in every phase of this project,
which will take some years to fully complete. But as each segment
is finished and we take a moment to celebrate, there is a
wonderful sense of accomplishment and the reward of seeing
more families using the parks facilities.
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WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME AN ARCHITECT
IF YOU ARE ARTISTICALLY-INCLINED, LIKE TO DRAW ESPECIALLY ON COMPUTERS ARE
good at mathematics, enjoy walking in any area and looking at buildings,
then architecture may be for you.
Chicago architect, Stanley Tigerman, believes that young people
should think long and hard about their career choices because it could
mean your whole life. For those who think they want to go into a career
like architecture and really want to sustain themselves, there has to be
some resonance in that field of discipline that would cause them to stay.
Most architects know, whether they practice it or not, that architecture is
an ethical pursuit. Architecture is not about aesthetics alone, and it is not
about remunerative rewards. It is about something that you are absolutely
passionate about. I havent worked a day in my life, even though I put in
long hours every day. Because I love what I do, it just isnt work for me.
The prospective architect must have a talent for expression through
ideas and designs. Drawing, mathematics, science, language, computers,
social studies, history and more come together in the ideas and designs.
No matter how large or small the design, the opportunity to make a
contribution to the culture of an area, a city, a state or the world, is what
the professional strives for.
Personal characteristics such as self-confidence, ambition, dedication,
persistence, empathy, patience, leadership, courage and passion are
important to achieving architectural goals. This is a discipline where
criticism and negative judgments run rampant, and the professional who
lacks confidence, persistence and resilience will find the going tough and
even devastating.
The love of drawing, of form, is all-important. All kinds of structures,
spaces in these structures, urban spaces, and landscapes must be as
natural to an architect as writing is for a journalist. The drawing
techniques that architects develop and master are unique to this
profession. This is creativity and intellectual fulfillment at its best. Drawing
is personal, and thats what makes the architects work so unique.
In addition, architects need technical aptitude, graphic and visual
skills, communication skills, organizational skills, and a good memory to
store and recall information, images and ideas. All of these qualities reflect
the multi-disciplinary nature of this profession. In essence, architects are
artists, craftspersons, technologists, social scientists, historians, managers,
theoreticians, philosophers and gamblers all rolled into one.
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THE PLUSES OF THE CAREER
THIS IS A CAREER THAT AFFORDS RESPECT AND EVEN SOME SOCIAL STATUS.
Designing and developing buildings can be fulfilling and a great boost for
the ego.
For some, architecture can bring fame and recognition along with
wealth. For most, it is a good, solid career that brings with it a
comfortable income. Whether the design is very small or very large,
architectural structures add to the cultural enrichment of an area.
Structures like Rockefeller Center and the Sears Tower become world
renowned and bring fame to their designers and developers.
Architecture is creativity at its best. It is very rewarding to think and
imagine, and then create a structure that will be used by others. In many
instances, the architect is not merely designing a piece of public art but
also rendering a public service. Architects like to think of themselves as
humanists and humanitarians.
There is excitement in the design and then seeing that design become
a structure. This means that the architect has overcome the many
obstacles associated with bringing a concept to reality. There can be
intellectual and emotional fulfillment in architecture when the art and the
science come together in reality.
Skills, talents and the desire to succeed commercially all shape the
career of the architect.
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THE NEGATIVES
BECOMING AN ARCHITECT IS LESS THAN WONDERFUL FOR MANY. FIRST, THE ODDS ARE
that many who try will never become a licensed architect because statistics
reveal that almost half of those starting out never make it to the finish line.
Study is long and hard, and so is the licensing process.
The lack of work sends many architects into related fields. Work for
firms and employment for individuals are tied to the economy. When it is
good, many buildings are built. When it is in recession then the field
suffers. Plus, the handful of large, international, well-connected firms get
the plum assignments while the rest of the field must be happy with the
pits.
The competition is fierce as sometimes dozens of firms are competing
for the same job. To win, architects must be aggressive, and even ruthless,
in their pursuit of a client. Competition today involves marketing and
public relations campaigns that cost more money than many architects
make in a year.
The big money you make is largely a myth. Everyone reads about the
prominence and wealth of some architects. But, for every one of those,
there are thousands who are earning moderate incomes. And incomes
fluctuate greatly depending upon the economy, which means that for
every year of feast, there may be at least one year of famine.
Most architects lack power and control over their work and rarely
experience public recognition. There is frequent criticism, rejection and
judgment of the work. Architecture means taking risks along with the
investment of time, effort, and emotional and physical energy.
The roadblocks, financial insecurities and other uncertainties make
architecture a very difficult field to enter and to succeed in.
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EDUCATION AND TRAINING
LIKE MANY PROFESSIONAL CAREERS, ARCHITECTURE REQUIRES A SOLID EDUCATION
and ongoing training to keep up with the latest developments. In the
United States, you cannot practice architecture unless you have a license,
and you cant get a license unless you have a degree in architecture from
an accredited school of architecture.
Admission to most schools of architecture is very competitive and
acceptance is strongly influenced by high school grades, class rank,
aptitude and achievement scores. The candidate should plan a college
preparatory program that emphasizes English, history, social studies,
mathematics, physics, foreign languages and computers.
There are over 100 accredited schools of architecture throughout the
US, and the best way to identify them is through directories at your school
and/or public library. Some of these school offer summer programs for
high school students.
There are a number of options you can follow in obtaining a degree in
architecture:
An undergraduate, four-year program leading to a BS
(Bachelor of Science) or a BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree. This is
not an accredited professional degree program, and you will have
two-to-three years more in a graduate degree program to earn an
accredited professional degree.
An undergraduate, five-year program leading to the B.Arch.
(Bachelor of Architecture) degree.
This is an accredited professional degree. This is a preferred route because
a five-year program is less costly than a six -or seven-year program. Plus
there is a continuity from first year through fifth as the program immerses
the student in architectural techniques.
A graduate, professional degree program leading to the
M.Arch (Master of Architecture) designation. This is the degree
for those who graduate with a BA or BS degree and continue to graduate
school. These programs require two- to three-years. Students can take
both their undergraduate and graduate programs at the same university.
For students having an undergraduate degree in a major other than
architecture, there is a graduate degree program that leads to the first
accredited degree in architecture, and that is usually the M.Arch degree.
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These are usually sought by older students or those returning to school
after working for a few years.
Degrees in the arts and humanities, engineering, science, business, or
the social sciences would be good matches for architecture.
While almost all post professional degree programs are at the masters
level, there are some PhD degree programs with specific topics or areas of
study specified.
Licensed To Be an Architect Every state licenses architects and
requires applicants to pass a rigorous, four-day architect registration
examination. It is necessary to be licensed in the state in which you will
work. Most states will require you to have a first-professional degree from
a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) school of architecture.
In addition, you must have completed at least a three-year internship
period in an architectural firm to be eligible to take the examination.
Once licensed, architects need to continue their education and
training. Many schools offer continuing education classes because the
need to keep up with new building technology, human behavior research,
and environmental and code requirements is a must for architects.
Architects also attend conferences, serve on panels, write and deliver
papers, pen articles for newspapers and association journals and more.
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WHAT ARCHITECTS CAN EARN
ANYONE CONTEMPLATING A CAREER CHOICE WANTS TO KNOW IF THEY CAN MAKE
money. Earning a comfortable income is necessary, but the money should
never be the sole reason you enter a career. Every field of endeavor has its
stars the handful of men and women who become rich and famous
while the rest make a good living. In the final analysis, what you
accomplish and how satisfied you are is priceless.
Having said that, it is important for you to know that the majority of
architects in the country are in the middle income range. A few are at the
top and a few are barely making it.
Here are some recent earnings estimates:
Draftsperson or Intern Architect
$30,000 - $50,000
Design Architect
$50,000 - $70,000
Project Architect
$60,000 - $80,000
Project Manager
$75,000 - $150,000
Principal/Partner of a firm
$200,000-$500,000 and more
Construction administrators earnings depend upon the size of the job
and the responsibility. Incomes can start at $50,000 and go up from there.
These are all median income figures and can go up or down
depending upon the expertise and experience of the individual, the part of
the country they work in, the scope of the project and more.
How much you eventually earn can depend upon your talent,
experience, dedication, drive, opportunities and the economy.
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MAKE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE.
It is important that you start your thought process and research early so
that you have all the information available to make a choice compatible
with your talents and interests.
If commercial architecture is in your future then there are some things
you should be doing. Blair Kamin, Architecture Critic for the Chicago
Tribune, suggests that anyone interested in going into architecture needs
to have a love of buildings in cities because architecture is all about
making spaces for people that serve their everyday uses. Something that
just isnt functional, but also uplifting and beautiful.
So, if you are not already thinking about your career now is definitely
the time to start. Here are a few suggestions to help you start:
Read at least one introductory book on the career or careers that
interest you.
Talk to school guidance counselors, family and friends for their
input.
Visit appropriate companies and firms in your area and talk with
professionals.
Try to get a summer job in one of these companies or firms.
Contact the colleges, universities and technical schools you want to
attend.
Contact your state employment agency office for career planning
literature.
Read employment news in the daily newspapers, magazines and
other publications.
Use the library and the Internet for resources.
The 21st century will hold a myriad of opportunities for those who
make things happen. If you sit on the sidelines you will not be able to
participate. A new century means new challenges and new innovations.
One hundred years ago America was building one-story buildings. Today,
one hundred-plus-story buildings are not uncommon. What type of
structure will adorn the cities at the turn of the next century?
You can be part of this march into the future. You can make your own
opportunities by taking nothing for granted and keeping on top of
situations. Be aware of the world around you. Architecture is an expression
of the times and you can be a part of it.
Your future success depends upon you make the most of it.
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ASSOCIATIONS
n
American Association of Engineering Societies
www.aaes.org
n
American Institute of Architects
www.aia.org
n
American Society of Interior Designers
www.asid.org
n
American Society of Landscape Architects
www.asla.org
n
Associated General Contractors of America
www.agc.org
n
National Architectural Accrediting Board
www.naab.org
n
National Society of Professional Engineers
www.nspe.org
n
Society of Architectural Historians
www.sah.org
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PERIODICALS
n
AIA Journal/Architecture
www.aia.org
n
Architectural Digest
www.archdigest.com
n
Architectural Record
www.archrecord.com
n
Contract Design
www.contractmagazine.com
n
Journal of Architectural Education
www.mitpress.mit.edu
n
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians
www.sah.org
n
Real Estate sections of your local newspapers
COPYRIGHT 2005 Institute For Career Research CHICAGO
CAREERS INTERNET DATABASE www.careers-internet.org
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