Carreers in Commercial and Institutional Architecture

8/12/2019 Carreers in Commercial and Institutional Architecture

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CAREERS IN

COMMERCIAL AND

INSTITUTIONAL

ARCHITECTURE


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Institute Research Number 388ISBN 1-58511-388-3DOT Code 001.061.010O*NET-SOC Code 17.1011.00

CAREERS IN

COMMERCIALAND INSTITUTIONAL

ARCHITECTURE

YOU CAN CREATE THE CITIES OF THE FUTUREFROM 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 forfinancing. Then he would need an architect to design the beanstalk butonly after finding out if the area is zoned for a beanstalk, how tall it cangrow 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 withstandhigh winds, storms and other natural disasters.

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The next step would be to get a building permit and then hire theconstruction company to build the beanstalk to the architects andengineers specifications. Jack must determine in advance who will use hisbeanstalk and what he will charge for access. Only after all this and muchmore 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 buildingskyscrapers for commercial and industrial use; or hospitals for treating thesick; or churches, synagogues and mosques for religious services; ortheaters, sports arenas, park facilities and restaurants for entertainment; ormalls for shopping, or any other type of building you can think of.Whether they are urban, suburban or rural sites, constructing any kind of abuilding today requires a great deal of serious thought and meticulousplanning. Some structures can be years in the planning stages before the

first shovel of dirt is turned and the foundation laid. Others remain aconcept and never get built.

Architects and developers, sometimes one and the same, are thecatalysts for these ideas and structures. They have transformed our citiesand suburban areas with high- and low-rise developments that cater toour work and play times. From a Sears Tower in Chicago soaring over onehundred stories into the air, to a multiplex of movie theaters on thehighway out of a small town, to a Mall of America in Minneapoliscontaining every retail store imaginable, to the Walt Disney Concert Hall inLos Angeles that has been over years in the making commercialarchitects and developers have been filling out practical needs andpleasing our visual senses for more than a century.

Wherever you walk in your city or town, you will see buildingsdesigned by architects and built by developers and constructioncompanies. 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 morethan fill a space, they make an artistic statement. They are the creations ofmen and women whose profession ideally blends the best of art, scienceand commerce the commercial architect.

In this report you will explore the commercial and institutionalstructures that surround and impact our lives when we are away fromhome. Many of the examples of architectural trends and traditions come

from Chicago, which boasts some of the finest architecture to be foundanywhere 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 youpleasure every time you see it. Can you describe it now from memory.

One popular building in downtown Chicago is at 333 West WackerDrive right at the junction where the north and south branches of theChicago River divide. It is a 36-story, curving green glass wedge thatreflects surrounding buildings as well as clouds and shadows. Designed byKohn Pedersen Fox with Perkins & Will about 20 years ago, thisinternationally 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 structurethat will be important to the area it is serving, graceful and functional tothose who must use it, and always pleasing to those who must pass itevery day. And while beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, the architectstrives 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 upnew structures, but they must know and understand the science behindthe artistic design.

Many consider architecture a high-status profession whereachievements have a respected place in society. In truth, only a smallnumber of architects ever reach the elevated pinnacle of national andinternational success. For every Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van derRohe, I. M. Pei, or Philip Johnson, to name a few of the internationally

famous architects, there are thousands of successful architects who willnever design monumental structures for important clients, but who willmake their mark at a local level with functional building designs fornumerous practical purposes in cities and towns throughout America.

Fame is fleeting. Even famous architects are only as famous as theirlast building design. Most architects are known for their steady andongoing work over a long period of time and eventually may achieve somerecognition for their innovative and excellent designs. Whether its a newbank or a new school, most architects just want their designs to beappreciated by those who will use their buildings. If in this process theycan 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 enrichmentwhile contributing to the architectural culture of the community.

Computer technology helped change architecture and the work of thearchitect in the 20th century. And virtual-reality architecture is the latest

technological innovation in the 21st. Donning high-tech goggles andusing three-dimensional projections, virtual-reality architects and theirclients and co-workers can explore and envision an unbuilt structure rightdown to the lighting and shadows it casts on the neighborhood.

New Trends in Architecture Many in the profession would like tosee architects take a more responsible role in designing structures thataddress the social and environmental needs of today. They believe thatschools of architecture are not providing an adequate or appropriate

education for their students. In recent years this viewpoint has spawnedalternative educational resources.

Two professionals, a well-known architect and a designer, teamed upseveral years ago to found Archeworks, an alternative design school, inChicago. This accredited program accepts applications from 30 qualifyinginterns each year, who, after the successful completion of the fullacademic year, will earn the equivalent of a one-year professional degreewhich can be transferred to an affiliated institution. It also has a

Continuing Education accredited program for working professionals. Thisprogram is supported financially by corporations, foundations and thedesign industry.

This schools philosophy is radically constructed around thenetworking of design disciplines, one reinforcing another. This academicstructure is purposefully presented with the conviction that no onediscipline can adequately address all the issues that are involved in findinga solution for the multiplicity of challenges in urban society today. To

learn more about this architectural viewpoint, visit the Archeworks Website www.archeworks.org.

Down through the ages, civilization and architecture have beeninseparable. We associate a period in history with its architecture. TheGreek and Roman temples, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Pavilions of Asia,Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance churches. Architecture expresses theculture and social conditions of a time and place. The architect contributesto 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 byCornell University in 1871. In other parts of the world, builders andarchitects were usually the same person, with some having more artisticand technical schooling than others. The first architects on our shores wereimmigrants who brought their knowledge, ideas and tools with them tothe New World.

As America spread across the continent and grew in population,architecture became important to our way of life as buildings weredesigned and constructed to be used as offices, banks, shops, schools,houses of worship, hospitals, restaurants and inns, entertainment andrecreation centers. The skyscraper was born as was the multi-use ormixed-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 the1880s by William Le Baron Jenney, whose many innovations became theearly commercial high-rise model for todays urban skyscrapers. Jenneys

office was the center for young architects who came to Chicago to helprebuild the city after the Great Fire of 1871. They included Louis Sullivan,William Holabird, Daniel Burnham and Martin Roche. Their impact on thecity can be seen even today as Chicago strives to protect its beautifullakefront and park system designed by Daniel Burnham. Holabird andRoche designed the Stevens Hotel, which is now the Chicago Hilton andTowers. When this massive, 25-story hotel was completed in the 1920s, itwas 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 toprominence again.

There are thousands of such examples in cities and towns across thecountry. From an art gallery below with lofts above in New York CitysSoho, to a renovated 19th-century commercial block in Denver; from anurban complex complete with shopping mall, hotel and office building inCenter City Philadelphia, to an upscale department store in St. Louis; andfrom an award-winning bank design in Dallas to a corporate headquarters

in San Francisco architects continue to design structures of all shapesand 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 isrecognized, then the process begins in earnest. The needs, like problems,

will be solved if something is built in this space. There are establishedobjectives and requirements for a new structure. The architect must beinvolved with most, if not all stages, of any building project.

Site Once the need has been established, the first order of business is tolocate a place that meets that need. The site comes into play. A piece ofproperty that is either owned by the developer or leased from someoneelse must be secured. Most building projects rarely get considered withoutthe all-important site that will eventually hold the structure.

Resources After the need and site have been identified, the developerhas to gather the resources and expertise necessary to turn ideas intoreality. The most essential resource is money to pay for all the costs indeveloping 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 ondebt, the costs of advertising and public relations, selling and leasingcosts, insurance premiums, permits for zoning and building, and all theconstruction costs for labor, equipment and material.

Financing Probably the most important part of a buildingdevelopment is the financing. Without adequate financing, nothing can bebuilt. There are several major types of financing:

Equityfundingare at-risk monies, including the developers own money

or money from other investors such as partners, stockholders and/orcontributors. Should this income-producing building project fail, the equityinvested in it may never be recovered.

Debt fundingwhich are borrowed monies where the developer entersinto a legal obligation to repay these monies, with interest, and in aspecified time period.

Publicmonieswhere 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 marketableassets, and/or budgetary appropriations.

Design As the developer solidifies financing, the architect is working onbasic design strategies with the engineer. There are literally hundreds of

potentially conflicting factors in developing the basic design, includingbudgetary constraints and site conditions. Zoning ordinances, buildingcodes, environmental regulations, density regulations, buildingconfigurations, construction permits and more must have their own reviewand/or hearings before a go-ahead is given.

In addition there are citizens groups, government agencies, and localand state laws that must approve development proposals beforeconstruction begins. Each interested party could have its own design

criteria which makes for many potential conflicts. All this requires thearchitect to have a great deal of time, patience, ongoing dialogue,persuasion, and sensitivity to eventually get approval and keep the designand projected budget as close to the original concept as possible.

Engineering Structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers allplay an important and critical role in the building of a large commercialstructure. They take the architects approved design and, working closelywith the architect, determine whether the structure as planned will work.

Structural engineers are concerned with the load-bearing portions ofthe 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 thedetails for connecting the heating, air-conditioning, ventilating, plumbingand electrical systems that will precede the work of the mechanical andelectrical engineers.

Civil engineers take the architects preliminary site plan showing the

position and shape of the proposed structure and then design sitegrading, roads, storm water systems, water supply and sanitary sewersystems, bridges and other needed utilities.

Specialization Many building projects such as theaters, religioussanctuaries, schools, hotels, museums, hospitals and others can haveunique problems from lighting to acoustics to security to food serviceoperations, that are handled by specialized engineers or consultants. Agood example would be a lighting consultant whose concern is

illuminating the interior and exterior of the structure, using both daylightand electric lighting. Another would be the acoustical engineers whose jobis to get the right amount of sound through transmission, reflection andabsorption.

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There are also theater consultants, kitchen consultants, healthcaredesign consultants, security consultants, and exhibition and graphicsconsultants. It is the responsibility of the architect to select all these variousprofessionals and coordinate each effort so that the completed structure isas perfect as possible.

Construction Properly executing an architects design is theresponsibility of the construction contractor. This is the most costly part offinancing the building process. Architects are very concerned aboutconstruction because it is the realization of their design, and thedevelopers satisfaction depends on how well the construction contractorbuilds the structure. The general contractor usually depends on a variety ofsubcontractors to complete specific parts or phases of the construction, aswell as separate suppliers to furnish the myriad of materials andequipment needed. The architect spends a lot of time at the constructionsite to ensure that the quality of the construction does justice to thedesign.

Exterior Another important element in the building process is thelandscape. Architects select and work with landscape architects anddesigners to specify, lay out, install and maintain trees, shrubs, groundcover and other plant materials. This could apply to anything from thelawns in front of an office building to a park system, from a suburbansubdivision to an urban master plan.

Interior Even though some architects consider themselves also to beinterior designers, it is usually the decision of the developer to hireprofessional designers and decorators to complete the interior of astructure. The line is sometimes fuzzy between where the buildingarchitects design stops and where the decorators begins, because the

interior design must be an integral coordinated part of the architecture ofthe structure.

There are also lawyers, insurers, administration types and more tohave their say in the building process. The building process of a majorstructure is long-term and complex and requires the architects completeattention 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 recordedhuman-built structures were those of Babylonians and Assyrians more than

six thousand years ago. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians createdmassive structures, whole cities, and pyramids, many still standing today.The wordarchitectcomes from the Greek meaning builder, craftsman.

When the first European settlers arrived in the New World, there wereabout two hundred nations of Native Americans who had their own brandof architectural traditions from single dwellings to multi-purposestructures. Europeans brought their traditional ideas and tools to ourshores. Everyone became a builder of sorts. Western pioneers built logcabins on property they had claimed in the wilderness. The construction ofa major structure such as a church, school or meeting place became aproject for everyone in the community and involved considerable time andeffort on the part of many citizens.

By the time of the American Revolution, journeymen carpenters weredesigning and building most structures following English tradition andusing English architectural books and builders guides for counsel. It was

Thomas Jefferson who hoped to set the tone for the new nation throughhis major architectural works of Monticello, the Virginia State Capitol, andthe University of Virginia, all completed between 1772 and 1826. Jeffersonheld to the belief that the right environment could uplift minds andpromote civic virtue.

The new nations first professional architect was English migrBenjamin Latrobe who shared Jeffersons thinking and designed the Bankof Pennsylvania and the Baltimore Cathedral between 1798 and 1821. But

his engineering feats were even more appreciated when he designed thePhiladelphia water system between 1798 and 1801.

Urbanization came to America in the 1800s with the building ofbanks, exchanges, commercial structures and public markets. There wasalso great need for asylums such as prisons, orphanages, almshouses andmental hospitals, that were kept on the outskirts of cities. The first instanceof American architecture influencing European design came in 1823 whenthe English architect, John Haviland, designed Eastern State Penitentiary in

Philadelphia, with its radical arrangement of cell blocks around a centralcontrol station.

The same belief in civic improvement through the environment fueledthe 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, createdbetween 1857 and 1880.

American architecture began emerging as distinctive and original withnative building materials, ornaments, patterns and more, that resulted in

factories, museums, libraries and magnificent homes in the manner ofEuropean castles, but with American style.

Business districts would soon be transformed by another architecturalinnovation called the skyscraper. By the 1880s, architects and engineers inChicago and New York were experimenting with new framing systems toachieve greater height in buildings. The prototypes were 10 stories, then20, 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 soonjoined by cities across the country.

A City Beautiful movement in urban areas like San Francisco,Chicago, Denver and dozens of other cities commissioned Beaux-Artsmuseums and libraries alongside city halls. In Detroit, architect AlbertKahn, transformed the American factory into a sprawling industrial plantfor automobile assembly lines. Architects John Nolen and Ernest Flaggexperimented with planned industrial towns. Architects Rapp & Rapp,

Thomas Lamb and Joseph Urban transformed movie houses and theatersinto flights of fantasy. Art Deco detailing enriched department stores andother buildings.

There was architectural competition for every major building that wasproposed. The 1922 competition for the Tribune Tower in Chicagoattracted more than 250 entries, with the winning design a Gothic fantasyby Howells & Hood. New York Citys zoning regulations of 1916 stated theneed 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 newskyscraper style that combined set-backs, maximized light and air. Thisprocess culminated between 1927 and 1935 with the building ofRockefeller Center by the architectural firm of Reinhard & Hofmeister, withHarvey Wiley Corbett and Raymond Hood.

By the end of World War II, the glass box look of modernistaesthetic architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe characterized the Americanskyscraper design. The internationally-known architectural firm ofSkidmore, Owings, and Merrill produced this type of design with theirLever House in New York City (1952), the Crown Zellerbach Building in SanFrancisco (1959), and the John Hancock Center (1970) and 104-story SearsTower (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 wasfamous for his structures such as the Guggenheim Museum in New YorkCity (1956-1959).

The 21st century is waiting for its new brand of architects to makestructures more relevant to the times and to take building in newdirections. 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 orunderstanding),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 computerrenderings. New advances in technology and software programs aremaking the architects work easier and more complex at the same time.Easier because a design can be manipulated in many ways, but morecomplex because of what can be anticipated and projected.

DesignArchitectscreate the overall aesthetic presentation of astructure. Normally, with years of experience, the design architect works onboth the conceptual and schematic phases of a building process.

ProjectArchitectswork with the engineers to make sure that thedesign is workable and the building can indeed be built. They designdevelopment documents which are far more detailed than the originalplans.

ProjectManagersensure that the building process stays on target, ontime and on budget. Many of these professionals are architects. Projectmanagers see that the team meets regularly and is able to meet the alreadyestablished deadlines.

ConstructionAdministratorsoversee the actual construction of thebuilding. They must know every last detail of a design plan and work withthe architects and engineers to ensure that plans and documents are inorder and followed.

Draftspersonscan help create design documents, but their majorresponsibility is the creation of construction documents, which is the layingout of every detail of a building from every support beam to the placementof every sink. Many architects just starting out or completing an internshipwill 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 thendevelop the concepts into building images that can be constructed.

Architects, design architects, project architects, project managers,construction administrators and draftspersons work for large and smallarchitectural firms; city, state and federal government agencies;corporations; nonprofits; associations; and developers. Many are in privatepractice. Architects are also journalists for newspapers and periodicals, aswell as teachers and professors in colleges and universities.

Opportunities for work can be found in every city and town across thecountry and even around the world. It may be a one-story bank building ina small town, or a multi-purpose shopping mall in a suburban area, or a70-story office skyscraper in a citys financial district, or an art andeducation 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 theprofession. Work can include writing, editing, or photography for aprofessional journal, newspaper, book publisher or magazine, and editorialassignments for public agencies, corporations, foundations, andprofessional and trade associations.

Corporate Architects can work in the real estate, design,construction, and facilities management divisions of commercial andindustrial enterprises, schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and otherinstitutions. Here an architect can provide a full range of professionalservices or select other architects and consultants while coordinating andapproving their services, as the clients representative.

Government Many architects are attracted to government service atall levels as the best way to contribute to public planning, design andconstruction policy. Jobs include staff designers and construction contractadministrators, 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 areabout three thousand architects teaching in a professional degree program

in a college or university, or in a technical or vocational school. Manyeducators maintain individual practices, or are active in research covering awide range of areas such as architectural history, energy conservation,preservation, building technology and computer applications.

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTS TALK ABOUTTHEIR CAREERS

Im an Architect Specializing inMalls & Shopping Centers I became an architectto design soaring structures that make statements and contributeto the culture of the area and city. My first job out of college waswith an architectural firm that designed and developed officebuildings, 40-stories or less. I soon discovered that my lofty goalswere 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 cityand to soak up all the knowledge I could from my colleagues.During the almost 10 years I spent with this firm, I learned how tobe a responsible architect by helping design office structures thatenhance the work day for those who use the building andcontribute to the value of the area. I worked on numerous designsand 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. Eventoday, when I walk past those buildings, I still feel an exhilarationof accomplishment.

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I liked what I was doing, but I wanted to broaden my vistasand create different types of structures. Fourteen years ago, Imoved my young family into a suburban area that was expanding.A new shopping mall was being constructed, and I used to driveby and watch the progress. One day I stopped to talk to theconstruction boss, but the architect was also there. We talked andmy life changed. Six months later I became part of the firm thatspecializes in designing and developing malls and shoppingcenters.

I could not be happier. My work is creatively challenging.Those who think that designing these structures isnt seriousarchitecture 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 talkingabout the structures that are mini-cities with shops, restaurants,offices, movie theaters and more. They are either all enclosed orpartially 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 tobuild a shopping center on that land. My work is to see that the

developers goal gets realized. After many conversations aboutzoning codes, traffic patterns, size and shape of the structure,possible tenants, parking, and other concerns, I am ready, alongwith my colleagues, to make some design suggestions. This is along and laborious process as it is important to satisfy the clientwhile 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. Iam a partner in a thriving firm. We have a good reputation fordesign and development. I really love what I do and feel that I amcontributing to the enrichment of the areas we build in. I hope tobe able to be a practicing architect for as long as my legs can takeme places.

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I Am a Construction Administrator I am the pointperson 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 thatcontractors are correct in assembling every last detail of thestructure as specified in the plans and documents.

My father was a building contractor for a home builder, and Ilearned to read his blueprints when I was young. I thought Iwanted to be an architect, but after a years study in college, Ichanged my program to computers. I somehow felt architecture

would be too confining for me. I wanted more that being in anoffice. During my summer breaks from college I worked inconstruction. Tough physical work, but the pay is great. I watchedconstruction administrators on a number of jobs I worked andthought I could do that.

In my last year of college I started writing to architecturalfirms in my area and elsewhere who were also big developers andasked about training to become a construction administrator. Ihad absorbed enough architecture study and was proficient incomputers, to be considered by two firms. One was a largeinternational 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 theright decision. I would have been lost in the larger firm and neverhave 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-siteall day long, and generally at least once a day, so are the architectand the client. It is important to keep all communication linesopen and resolve minor differences before they become majorproblems.

My biggest challenges on the site are with the contractorsand subcontractors workers who do not show up for the day,

bad weather that delays certain work, conflicts between who doeswhat, and so on. I am responsible for ensuring that whatever elsehappens, the project moves forward with as little delay aspossible.

I am very happy in my work. When I see one of my structurescompleted, I may not have designed it, but I sure had a hand inbuilding it. That is a good feeling.

Im An Architect With the City I became anarchitect because I love to draw and am good at it. My fatherowned a print shop before he retired and sold the business, andmy sister is a graphic art designer for an advertising agency.Drawing, designing, and planning are in my blood. My interest inarchitecture began in my junior year in high school. Due toovercrowding, a new high school was being proposed and, as a

member of the student council, I attended several of the meetingsto listen to the plans. I was fascinated by the two architects whowere charged with presenting a viable rendition for a new schoolbuilding.

After the third meeting I talked to one of the architects aboutthe profession and was steered to several books and periodicals inthe public library. I began researching the field and the more I

learned the more I liked architecture. By the time I was ready toapply to college, I was only considering those schools that had anaccredited degree program in architecture.

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I graduated with a bachelors degree in architecture in 1997as cities across the nation were gearing up for the newmillennium.

I decided to start my career in government and, after an

intensive three-month search, I was hired in the planningdepartment of the city where I was born, raised and still reside.They had a number of projects on the drawing boards in variousstages of planning, design and development, and were expandingthe department to meet the needs of a new century. It was veryexciting to hear about, and the realization is living up to myexpectations.

There are a number of major projects the city has undertakento begin the new century and they are moving ahead. I am mainlyinvolved in the expansion and renovation of the parks system. Ireally like working on this project because it involves buildings,landscapes, beach and recreational areas, energy, andconservation. These are the places that help make a city livable.Our parks system is vast and in need of attention, and thesecurrent 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 beeligible to take the architects registration exam and hopefullypass and become a fully professional architect. Now, I attendin-house meetings as well as neighborhood meetings forcommunity input. I take notes at the meetings and send the

highlights to my colleagues. I answer correspondence regardingthe work on the parks system. I help write news releases and othercommunications, and I listen and learn.

This is a great way for me to start my career in architecture. Iam involved in some small way in every phase of this project,which will take some years to fully complete. But as each segmentis finished and we take a moment to celebrate, there is awonderful 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 peopleshould think long and hard about their career choices because it couldmean your whole life. For those who think they want to go into a careerlike architecture and really want to sustain themselves, there has to besome resonance in that field of discipline that would cause them to stay.Most architects know, whether they practice it or not, that architecture isan ethical pursuit. Architecture is not about aesthetics alone, and it is notabout remunerative rewards. It is about something that you are absolutelypassionate about. I havent worked a day in my life, even though I put inlong hours every day. Because I love what I do, it just isnt work for me.

The prospective architect must have a talent for expression throughideas 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 acontribution 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 areimportant to achieving architectural goals. This is a discipline wherecriticism and negative judgments run rampant, and the professional wholacks confidence, persistence and resilience will find the going tough andeven devastating.

The love of drawing, of form, is all-important. All kinds of structures,

spaces in these structures, urban spaces, and landscapes must be asnatural to an architect as writing is for a journalist. The drawingtechniques that architects develop and master are unique to thisprofession. This is creativity and intellectual fulfillment at its best. Drawingis personal, and thats what makes the architects work so unique.

In addition, architects need technical aptitude, graphic and visualskills, communication skills, organizational skills, and a good memory tostore and recall information, images and ideas. All of these qualities reflectthe multi-disciplinary nature of this profession. In essence, architects areartists, 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 forthe ego.

For some, architecture can bring fame and recognition along withwealth. For most, it is a good, solid career that brings with it acomfortable 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 worldrenowned 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 manyinstances, the architect is not merely designing a piece of public art butalso rendering a public service. Architects like to think of themselves ashumanists and humanitarians.

There is excitement in the design and then seeing that design becomea structure. This means that the architect has overcome the manyobstacles associated with bringing a concept to reality. There can beintellectual 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 thecareer 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 statisticsreveal 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 forfirms and employment for individuals are tied to the economy. When it isgood, many buildings are built. When it is in recession then the fieldsuffers. Plus, the handful of large, international, well-connected firms getthe plum assignments while the rest of the field must be happy with thepits.

The competition is fierce as sometimes dozens of firms are competingfor the same job. To win, architects must be aggressive, and even ruthless,in their pursuit of a client. Competition today involves marketing andpublic relations campaigns that cost more money than many architectsmake in a year.

The big money you make is largely a myth. Everyone reads about theprominence 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 forevery year of feast, there may be at least one year of famine.

Most architects lack power and control over their work and rarelyexperience public recognition. There is frequent criticism, rejection and

judgment of the work. Architecture means taking risks along with theinvestment 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 theUnited States, you cannot practice architecture unless you have a license,

and you cant get a license unless you have a degree in architecture froman accredited school of architecture.

Admission to most schools of architecture is very competitive andacceptance is strongly influenced by high school grades, class rank,aptitude and achievement scores. The candidate should plan a collegepreparatory program that emphasizes English, history, social studies,mathematics, physics, foreign languages and computers.

There are over 100 accredited schools of architecture throughout theUS, and the best way to identify them is through directories at your schooland/or public library. Some of these school offer summer programs forhigh school students.

There are a number of options you can follow in obtaining a degree inarchitecture:

Anundergraduate, four-year program leading to a BS

(Bachelor of Science) or a BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree. This isnotan accredited professional degree program, and you will havetwo-to-three years more in a graduate degree program to earn anaccredited professional degree.

Anundergraduate, five-year program leading to the B.Arch.(Bachelor of Architecture) degree.

Thisis an accredited professional degree. This is a preferred route becausea five-year program is less costly than a six -or seven-year program. Plusthere is a continuity from first year through fifth as the program immersesthe student in architectural techniques.

Agraduate, professional degree program leading to theM.Arch (Master of Architecture) designation.This is the degreefor those who graduate with a BA or BS degree and continue to graduateschool. These programs require two- to three-years. Students can takeboth their undergraduate and graduate programs at the same university.

For students having an undergraduate degree in a major other thanarchitecture, there is a graduate degree program that leads to the firstaccredited 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 schoolafter working for a few years.

Degrees in the arts and humanities, engineering, science, business, orthe social sciences would be good matches for architecture.

While almost all post professional degree programs are at the masterslevel, there are some PhD degree programs with specific topics or areas ofstudy specified.

Licensed To Be an Architect Every state licenses architects andrequires applicants to pass a rigorous, four-day architect registrationexamination. It is necessary to be licensed in the state in which you willwork. Most states will require you to have a first-professional degree froma National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) school of architecture.In addition, you must have completed at least a three-year internshipperiod in an architectural firm to be eligible to take the examination.

Once licensed, architects need to continue their education andtraining. Many schools offer continuing education classes because theneed 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 shouldnever 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 youaccomplish and how satisfied you are is priceless.

Having said that, it is important for you to know that the majority ofarchitects in the country are in the middle income range. A few are at thetop 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 joband the responsibility. Incomes can start at $50,000 and go up from there.

These are all median income figures and can go up or downdepending upon the expertise and experience of the individual, the part ofthe 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 sothat you have all the information available to make a choice compatiblewith your talents and interests.

If commercial architecture is in your future then there are some thingsyou should be doing. Blair Kamin, Architecture Critic for the ChicagoTribune, suggests that anyone interested in going into architecture needsto have a love of buildings in cities because architecture is all aboutmaking 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 thatinterest you.

Talk to school guidance counselors, family and friends for theirinput.

Visit appropriate companies and firms in your area and talk withprofessionals.

Try to get a summer job in one of these companies or firms.

Contact the colleges, universities and technical schools you want toattend.

Contact your state employment agency office for career planningliterature.

Read employment news in the daily newspapers, magazines andother publications.

Use the library and the Internet for resources.

The 21st century will hold a myriad of opportunities for those whomake things happen. If you sit on the sidelines you will not be able toparticipate. 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 ofstructure 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 ownopportunities by taking nothing for granted and keeping on top ofsituations. Be aware of the world around you. Architecture is an expressionof 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

American Association of Engineering Societies

www.aaes.org

American Institute of Architects

www.aia.org

American Society of Interior Designers

www.asid.org

American Society of Landscape Architects

www.asla.org

Associated General Contractors of America

www.agc.org

National Architectural Accrediting Board

www.naab.org

National Society of Professional Engineerswww.nspe.org

Society of Architectural Historians

www.sah.org

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PERIODICALS

AIA Journal/Architecture

www.aia.org

Architectural Digest

www.archdigest.com

Architectural Record

www.archrecord.com

Contract Design

www.contractmagazine.com

Journal of Architectural Education

www.mitpress.mit.edu

Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians

www.sah.org

Real Estate sections of your local newspapers

COPYRIGHT 2005 Institute For Career Research CHICAGOCAREERS INTERNET DATABASE i t t

Carreers in Commercial and Institutional Architecture

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