Hilbig 1

Tyler Hilbig

Ms. Amanda Tibbitts

Language Arts 12

8 March 2019

Architect

Architecture is a very unique field. Part of that is due to the fact that the job contains a

large amount of variety. For example, architects are responsible for doing more than just

designing buildings, they’re also responsible for creating other structures such as ships and

roads. To become an architect is no easy task. It takes years of schooling, study, and hard work

to get into the profession. And once in the workforce, architects find themselves in a competitive

and stressful environment. According to Anubhuti Thakur, being ready for their first step into

professional practice was a large concern among fourth-year architecture students.

As it turns out, many students studying architecture feel unprepared. Some students who

had experience with internships even felt that the internship increased their anxiety about

whether or not they would be prepared at the end of their program. A study was conducted which

consisted of two schools with six students from school A and five students from school B. Lisa at

School A expressed her anxiety by saying, “I feel like it is an imposition on employers to have to

pay us to teach us things. And I feel like… I feel incompetent going to an architect and saying,

'Oh well I am looking for an internship and you have to pay me to teach me something that I

should have learned in school because I have a degree.’” Another student in the study Samuel,
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from School B, stated that students do not get sufficient exposure to the practical concerns in

professional practice. "We are just in this La La land school here doing little fun projects that

look nice and whatever sound nice. But it is not the real world." Some of the other students from

each school agreed with what Samuel said and commented about not feeling sufficiently

prepared to enter the field. These students stated that they believed that if they entered the

program already possessing creative talents and an eye for aesthetics, they were not getting

enough training from the program. Architects need to know more than just how to design

buildings. The career involves a lot of other skills. Managing budgets for buildings is a

consistent concern among new architects and students. "… they taught us the aesthetics and they

taught us how to make it look good and left out the key ingredient which is money", said Allen

(School B). A lot of students who did receive education on budgets believed that they should

have received that knowledge earlier so that they would be in better habits with balancing money

and be able to easier follow that routine when in the design and construction phase.

Another necessary skill in architecture is the ability to communicate ideas and

perceptions effectively. This is because architects are often required to work with clients to help

create something they want. This brings up another issue, many architects struggle to avoid

“taking over” the clients project by injecting too many of their own ideas and inspirations into

the project rather than closely following the requests of the client.

There are many different jobs that fall under the category of architecture. These can

include architects who design buildings while considering other factors such as functionality,

stability, heating, safety and more. Landscape architects are responsible for designing the

grounds of outdoor areas. They might also be asked to oversee projects like restoring forests or
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draining wetlands in order to create a better location for building on. Urban planners are the ones

who come up with the land use plans for short and long terms. Their work is highly critical when

it comes to roads and infrastructure construction. Finally, we have the architectural and civil

drafters who focus on drawing roads and buildings. A lot of this is completed through computer

programs such as CAD design. According to LearningPath.org, many of these jobs draw upon

the same skill sets such as those in drawing, math, aesthetic design, and project estimation.

Many people also don’t realize that architects are not just responsible for designing

buildings. Naval architects are responsible for designing ships. This can include the hull, deck,

and exterior of a ship. Historical architects work with buildings, but instead of creating new and

modern designs they work to reinforce and preserve buildings with historical value. They spend

a lot of time around historical buildings or possibly analyzing the structural integrity by crawling

around in the attic. Sustainable architects spend their job working on sustainable or green

development. The work on designing buildings that are environmentally friendly and energy

efficient. This can include controlling pollution and wastewater disposal. Real estate developers

work to design the buildings that meet the needs of the economy and public policy.

There are also multiple degrees that students can earn in architecture. These can include

Architectural, civil, and CAD certificates which are designed to prepare students for a two year

program. These degrees cover construction, computer-aided drafting, civil technology and

algebra. Associate’s degrees in architecture prepare students to work with engineering and

architecture professionals. Most of these programs prepare students for Computer-Aided

Drafting, blueprint reading, and using 3-D models to design buildings. Some of the associate’s
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programs educate students on industrial processes which can help them understand basic

manufacturing and construction practices.

Next is the Bachelor’s degree in architecture. The goal of this program is to provide

students with basic skills and understanding in the major areas in architecture. These include

working on Computer Aided Drafting, freehand drawing, construction principles, building codes,

and design principles. These programs usually take about five years to complete and also require

students to participate in a professional experience. This program is also a necessary step for

students who plan on earning a master’s degree in architecture. The pre-professional master’s

degree allows students to work on projects through studio and professional experience. This

typically takes place after the bachelor’s degree or a five year degree.

After completing a four year degree it is possible for students to enroll in a program for

urban design or real estate development however before working on bigger projects it’s possible

that students will be required to complete gateway or evaluation courses. These are designed to

teach students about public policy, and economic or environmental needs.

There’s also a Master’s of architecture (post professional) that is available to students

who have an architectural degree. This is a program that is meant to teach students how to

specialize in research and acting as a professional.Some of the offered specializations that are

taught in sustainable energy development, historical research, or urban planning.

Architects also need to earn a bachelor's degree that is accredited by the national

architecture accreditation board. Also known as the NAAB. Architects also need to work under a

professional for three years before they can get their architecture license.
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There are also three major associations that can benefit architects and aspiring architects.

These include The American Institute of Architects (AIA), The National Architecture

Accreditation board (NAAB), and The National Council of Architecture Registration Boards

(NCARB). AIA is focused primarily on providing resources and assistance to new architects.

NAAB is responsible for setting the standards of education for architects. NCARB specializes in

cataloging license requirements in each state, as well as monitoring interns and keeping records

for state organization.

According to the BLS, as far as hours go, most architects work full time and many work

additional hours, especially when facing deadlines. Self-employed architects may have more

flexible work schedules. Unfortunately, as a self-employed architect there would also be a lot

more responsibilities. When working in a large firm, architects would likely be working with a

team and specializing on a specific task in order to create buildings. However, in a small firm

architects would be required to take on multiple tasks such as management responsibilities,

creating a business plan, hiring other employees, overseeing expenses, and billing or obtaining

insurance.

The BLS also says in the Occupational Outlook Handbook that the median annual salary

for architects in 2017 was $78,470. That means that half of all architects earned more than that

and half of them earned less. It also says that the lowest 10th of all the architects made $47,480

annually, and the highest 10th made $134,610 annually. The pay also depends on what part of

the architecture field they worked in. Those who worked in the government portion made the

most with a median annual salary of $89,720. Next was the the construction with $79,110. And
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the last portion is the architectural, engineering and related services which earned $77,640

annually.

Overall Architecture is a very stable career. Schooling does take a fair amount of time,

and possibly will not prepare all students as much as it should, but once in the career architects

earn a decent pay for their work. The job allows employees to work with other people as well as

on their own and to let their creativity flow. Hours can be strict, but it’s very rewarding to see

projects come together.

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Works Cited

PEDERSEN, MARTIN C. “Large Firms: As Technology Streamlines the Design and

Drawing-Production Process, Large Practices Grapple with Antiquated Business Models

and Fee Structures.” ​Architectural Record​, vol. 206, no. 6, June 2018, pp. 125–128.

EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=130822279&site=ehost-live.

Zimmerman, Mike. “POWERGRIDLA.” ​Interior Design,​ vol. 90, no. 2, Feb. 2019, p. 95.

EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=134714872&site=ehost-live.

“Architecture.” ​Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia,​ Jan. 2018, p. 1; ​EBSCOhost,​

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=ar134300&site=ehost-live.

Wilson, Elizabeth. “A Day at the Office.” ​Australian House & Garden​, Feb. 2010, p. 151.

EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=47780211&site=ehost-live.

“Salaries on the Rise in Construction.” ​Contractor Magazine,​ vol. 64, no. 1, Jan. 2019, p. 3.

EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=134084272&site=ehost-live.

BERNSTEIN, PHIL. “Show Me the Money: Architects Must Change the Profession’s Value

Proposition and Find New Ways to Do Business.” ​Architectural Record​, vol. 206, no. 6
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June 2018, pp. 133–134. ​EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=voh&AN=130822281&site=ehost-live

Thakur, Anubhuti. “Stepping into the ‘Real World’: Architecture Students’ Preparedness for

Professional Practice.” ​College Student Journal​, vol. 43, no. 3, Sept. 2009, pp. 910–923.

EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=43969293&site=ehost-live

Tolia, Citlali. “Inside Architecture.” L

​ earningpath.org​, 
learningpath.org/eguides/Architecture.html#/page/3. 

“Summary.” ​U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics​, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22 Feb. 2019, 
www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/architects.htm.