Job Profile: Architect

What does an architect do? Architects combine art and science to create areas ranging from modest homes to soaring skyscrapers to entire campuses. They do more than just sketch the buildings, though – they also ensure reliability and longevity, lead teams to make visions reality, and use the latest technology to make their structures beautiful, useful and safe.

Why should I care? The U.S. is on the grow, but the buzz phrase these days is “smart growth.” Businesses, communities and families don’t want just any building – they want one that’s going to last, serve their needs, have aesthetic value, be “green” and more. They need talented individuals who can see how one structure fits into the whole picture.

Ok, so why would I do it? If you are both a right-brain and left-brain Chic, if you doodle during Math 101 but also use a ruler during Drawing II, if you equally enjoy the beauty of the world’s greatest art and a perfectly straight line, if you can work independently, on a team and as a leader, this gig may be for you.

How much could I make? An entry-level architect can start out at $35-$40,000 per year, depending on market. A few years of experience puts that figure closer to $50k.

How can I prep? ARCHCareers.org outlines the path to architecture as “Education, Experience, Examination.” The “Education” is usually a four-year degree at an NAAB-accredited program. If your program isn’t accredited, you’ll probably have to take some additional courses down the road. The “Experience” is through internships – while your site may range from the small to the huge, you’ll track your hours through a national program called the IDP (Intern Development Program). You need to rack up the hours to get to the final stage – “Examination.” That’s the Architect Registration Examination, and it is recognized by every state in the country. While these three things don’t necessarily have to happen in this order, all three have to be checked off before you start planning your city of the future.

Is there time for a life, too? In the beginning, while you’re whittling away at your internship hours and trying to establish yourself, you may spend a little more time on site than at play. Problems that crop up at 4:45 p.m. can’t always wait until the next day to be resolved. As you get used to the field, though, you’ll learn how to strike a work-life balance – and you’ll get to meet a lot of fascinating people through your job as well!

What’s it like, anyway?

Let’s hear a tale from the front – from Lisa Chronister, a Senior Project Manager at Helpern Architects in New York. Lisa has been in the profession for over ten years, and reflects about her experiences both then and now…

“I’ve always wanted to be an architect, ever since I was in grade school, mainly because I loved to draw houses. In junior high, I loved to read about the kings and queens of Europe; this led me to books on historic castles and cathedrals. I finally figured that any day of my life that I got to draw buildings would be a good day.

“Typically I manage anywhere from three to six different projects that are all in various phases (pre-design, design, or construction). As a Senior Project Manager, I am ultimately responsible for every aspect of my assigned projects: their design, quality, cost, schedule, constructibility. Frequently, I am responsible for these things despite the fact that for a variety of reasons (time, circumstance) I have only a minimal amount of information and experience with which to act. Obviously this increases the stress level! Still, after all these years of being constantly confronted with situations where I didn’t have all the knowledge I needed to solve the problem, I’ve gained an amazing amount of confidence. I’ve also found that an 8-hour work day just is not enough time to get everything done; I typically work about 48 hours per week. I do feel that I am well-compensated and also feel that I maintain a healthy work-life balance.

“During my first work experience, one of the first things I noticed about a ‘typical day’ of an architect was the extreme amount of time they spend on the phone. Much of my job is to communicate various pieces of information: design ideas to clients, code information to the consultants, product selections to the contractor. The phone and e-mail are definitely in constant use at my desk.

“(Architecture) is never, ever the same from day to day and is constantly full of challenges. I learn something new every single day, whether it’s learning something I didn’t know before or learning how to do something better. I must admit, when someone asks, ‘What do you do?’ it’s always thrilling to reply, ‘I’m an architect.’”

Where this job can take a UChic lady: Your first few years will likely be under someone else’s wing, even after accreditation, but once you have established your skills and talents, the enterprising UChic lady can set off on her own, or look for a larger firm in a bigger market. There is particular need on the East Coast (New York, D.C. and Massachusetts) as well as sunny Hawaii.

How can I learn more? Check out the American Institute for Architects at www.aia.org or the National Architecture Accrediting Board at www.naab.org.