TO: Kevin Brooks

FROM: John Nelson

DATE: September 10, 2009

SUBJECT: The Desired Skills of an Architect

As with every profession there is a set of skills needed to succeed and advance. I
would like to cover what I have found after researching the subject and interviewing a
working intern Architect. In our profession the skills needed tend to break themselves
into four categories that are the following: Technology, Communications, Character, and
Design. These four words I think alone give a person a good sense of what skills are
needed as an architect. Though lets take a some time and go into each one with a little
more depth.

1. TECHNOLOGY

• Computer Aided Design- According to Alan Jochs (2003) the profession is mak-
ing a strong push towards the use of technology to enhance our ability to express
ourselves and improve efficiency. Also being familiar with new programs such as
Revit and Maxwell can heighten your usefulness in an architecture firm and
broaden your abilities as a designer

• Telecommunications- The ability to proficiently use new forms of communication

such as email, cell phones, or managing a website is a must to stay connected
with clients and construction teams.

• New/improved materials and systems- Keeping up with the new forms of con-
struction, materials, and systems is a way to improve your work and sustainability
of future projects.

2. COMMUNICATION

• Work Relationships- Through communications an architect needs to be able to

develop strong working relationships with both the client and construction teams.
These relationships help maintain a healthy clientele base and a reliable working rela-
tionship with the construction team.

• Inter-Firm Communications- The ability to both express your ideas and informa-
tion quickly and accurately to members of your team through sketching, emails, or
memoʼs is a must have skill. This memo is an excellent example of both expressing
my thoughts and informing quickly and accurately to a wide group of people.
 • Writing- Being able to accurately use this skill can potentially save time and
money for the firm when describing details of the project. Norman Weinstein (2008)
also points out our need as architects to learn to express our projects and ideas
through creative writing. He shows how this can help express our deign to our clients
and ways for your clients and yourself to further explore the design.

3. CHARACTER

• Leadership- Taking the lead on a project or task is a must of an Architect. You

must be able to organize and manage a project from start to finish. It is also im-
portant to be able to lead and stand up for your work, in the words of tigerman

“To be an architect you need to be brave; because inertia always stands in

your way; because if you try to put something where nothing ever was be-
fore, you find resistance, philosophical, religious, professional, economic,
you know...” Arch Record, (2007)

• Teamwork- As much as it is important to be a leader it is equally important to

know how to work with a group. Nearly every project that comes through the firm
shall be worked on as a group so its important to be able to work well with others
to keep the firm running smoothly and accurately

• Personality- how you express yourself is a major factor for many firms in deciding
your worth according to David Witham, practicing intern Architect. How you treat
people is a key factor as an Architect since the majority of the business depends
on your relationships.

4. DESIGN

• Sustainability- According to David this is a factor that “needs to be taken seri-

ously” and has become “a part of the profession”. An understanding of sustain-
able techniques is a must as a practicing Architect of today.

• Expression- As an Architect it is a must to be able to express your ideas clearly

and quickly to those around you through some medium. It is the job of an Archi-
tect to design and the client cannot approve of what he or she canʼt understand.

• Experience- As an Architect you offer your advice. The ability to design well
comes through your experience and dedication to the field. Proof of this experi-
ence and dedication is always expected.

Having an understanding of these four words: Technology, Communications, Character,

and Leadership are great ways to begin to understand the needs of the profession. I
personally have applied them when trying to summarize the needs of the Samaha As-
sociates P.C. job opening for an intern Architect. In their request for an intern they
pointed out a need for all the areas covered above in some shape or form. Though this
is but a start each firm has their own set of personal wants and needs and to classify
them so simply is a problem. But I feel this list is a great way to start and I hope it can
help with any future job hunting.

Attachments: Samaha Associates. P.C. job posting, accessed 09/06/09:

http://careercenter.aia.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=3170859&keywords=&ref=1

References:

Joch, A., (2003). IT skills: A key to career success. Arch Record

Brite, J., (2009). Value of the architect in sustainable design practice. AIArchitect, vol-
ume 16

Arch Record, (2007). Tigerman Urges Architects to Consider Doing Good and Building
Green. Arch Record

Weinstein, N., (2008). Artful Writing, Chronicle of Higher Education, v54 n26 pB21 Mar
2008

Witham, David. (2009). Interview with intern Architect on 9 September 2009. Telephone
interview. [ paraphrase and direct quotation notes]