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Five Things You Should Know Before Becoming an Architect
Five Things You Should Know Before
Becoming an Architect
Are you searching for a life of glamour, creating beautiful buildings that are a lasting testament to your artistic prowess? Well, if you are, you can cross architect off your list of career to-dos. Sure, they may appear hip and impossibly cool in the movies, but the truth is architects lead a very different life than their silver screen counterparts. Real architects derive their personal and professional fulfillment not from bragging rights at cocktail parties and glossy spreads in Architectural Digest, but from more tangible, meaningful things.
So if you're considering a career as an architect, here are five things to think about first:
1) It's Not All About Design
Sure, as an architect you do get to make those pretty white models of avant-garde buildings, but that's only a small portion of the job. More often than not, you'll find yourself dealing with the time-consuming responsibilities of managing project teams, negotiating with builders and contractors, getting various approvals, presenting at public hearings, and dealing with delays in construction schedules.
2) It's the Client's Vision, Not Yours
Myth buster: architects aren't hired for their original designs; it's the clients that arrive with a vision for the professionals to execute. It makes sense if you think about it—architecture is a business, and as with any business, it's based on client needs. So, expect to earn the right to express yourself through your architecture with several years of less appealing, non-creative tasks like producing technical drawings.
Once you do move up the ranks, you might still find yourself not focused purely on design, but on administration and management duties.
3) It's Not Glamorous
The reality is, the field of architecture is tied to strong economic growth, which means that in lean times, architects are one of the first professions to be downsized. But, really, who can expect job security in our turbulent times?
With that said, you can make yourself indispensable by working hard and specializing. Focus on tasks and projects you enjoy, and think beyond the traditional paths to architectural success.
4) It's a Long Haul
Just like a physician, you hold the public's health and safety in your hands. So it stands to reason that, just like an MD, you will also be put through years of rigorous training.
First, you need a degree in architecture from an accredited school. So that's generally five to seven years and a debt-load of $75,000 to $100,000. Then, there's the required internship to gain essential practical experience. Although architecture students can sometimes do an internship during university, you can expect this process to take anywhere from three to five years to complete. And finally, you will need to successfully take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). This licensing examination has seven different divisions and covers everything from building design to site planning through to construction systems, documents and services.
5) It's Not a Guaranteed Fit
At some point during your grueling journey to become a licensed, practicing architect, you're going to realize that the life of an architect isn't as glamorous, creative, or cool as you first thought. And as you struggle to balance your student debt with the desire to start a family, you might begin to wonder if it's all worth it.
What's the best way to find out if being an architect is the right fit for you before you invest your time, money, and energy? Take it for a test drive. Gain some insight through a few computer aided drafting (CAD) classes prior to entering architectural school. Then use these classes to land an internship in a firm, where you can get a more realistic idea of the day-to-day tasks of an architect.
So, if you're still interested in pursuing the life of an architect, this directory of architectural schools and programs is a good place to begin. And if you still need a little convincing, read this article: Top five things you should know before pursuing a career as an architect.
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