Ryan Hansanuwat's Blog, page 3
November 18, 2013
Architecture Titles – Where do you fit in?
What's the difference between a CAD Tech and an Intern? Are you going to be an Architect or a Project Manager? There are so many different architecture titles out there it can get confusing, so I will try to break it down here. These roles depend on the type of architecture firm and the project types/sizes they work on, but are generally listed below.
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So who builds the models?[/caption]INTERN
When you first start working at an architecture firm, you will typically fit into the Intern job description. Intern can mean so many different things in different industries, but is typically meant to be a student who works, sometimes for free, in order to get work experience. This is not what it means in Architecture. Nearly all States do not allow anybody to call themselves an Architect unless they are officially licensed, so this means most people, until they are licensed, are considered Architectural Interns. This can be somebody who is just starting out, to somebody who has been in the industry for years, but isn't licensed yet. Most importantly, in Architecture, it does not mean you are working for free.
DRAFTER/CAD TECHNICIAN/BIM TECHNICIAN
This role can sometimes be filled by interns, but is generally specifically focused on the production of the drawings needed to construct the building. Drafters generally are not responsible for design, construction observation or client interaction and are focused solely on the creation of drawings. They are experts in the use of computer programs and are responsible for the maintenance of the system and standards. Many times drafters can move up to become Job Captains who manage production departments or even Project Managers.
PROJECT ARCHITECT
Project Architects are usually used in larger firms who work on multiple projects. Their primary responsibility is to act as the Architect for that particular project. The may oversee the design, consultant coordination, client interaction and construction observation for the project. A project architect can be a senior employee, or can also be a junior employee who is capable of running a project independently.
PROJECT MANAGER
Similar to Project Architects, Project Managers work on a select number of projects in a larger firm. This role is usually used in firms where there may just be one head Architect who deals with the big-picture, while the Project Managers deal with the day-to-day tasks. They may or may not be involved in the design, or client interactions, but they will generally deal with production, internal budget and schedules and consultant coordination.
ARCHITECT/PARTNER/PRINCIPAL
Depending on the firm, the lead decision maker might be just called the Architect, or Partner/Principal. In small sole-practice firms, the Architect can be the owner, project manager, drafter and marketing director at the same time, but will generally just be referred to as the Architect. In larger firms with multiple Architects, the title of Partner or Principal signifies that they hold a leadership position in the firm and are generally responsible for big-picture tasks and don’t always get involved in day-to-day activities.
TAKE AWAY
These just cover the most common architecture titles you will see and all have different responsibilities depending on the firm. Search through job boards like Archinect, or AIA and see if you can decipher how firms doing the project type and size you are interested in refer to their team and that might help you in narrowing down your job search and expectations. If you want to find out what these positions make, check out the 2013 Architecture Salary post.
To find out more about the upcoming "Beginner's Guide to Architecture" book, sign up below.
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November 11, 2013
How to appreciate architecture
Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright[/caption]Appreciating architecture is a very fulfilling trait to learn, whether you are new to the field of architecture, or maybe you are taking a trip to a foreign city, or you just want to appreciate your local buildings. Understanding buildings is much like understanding artwork, some people might see it differently, but those who see it, get it. Architecture can introduce you to more than just the building. It can help you understand a culture, their history and its inhabitants.
Architecture, like artwork may seem hard to understand because of all that goes into it, but if broken down to it's various pieces it can be understood on so many different levels. All it takes to understand architecture is to have an interest in it. Buildings are everywhere and are fairly accessible. Unlike a lot of artwork where you have to go to special galleries of museums to see it, architecture is everywhere and you can usually walk right up and touch it.
Understand the historical context
Every building has a story to tell and in order to appreciate it, you must do some research on the architecture's history. From European monasteries, to Southwest US cliff dwellings, all buildings were built for a purpose and held an important place in the current time frame. Make an effort to do some internet searches to find out more about the building, go to the local library, or better yet find a nearby university that has an Architecture program as they will have a lot of information.
What you are looking for in this historical context is not just facts about the building itself, but what was going on in the area at the time it was built and occupied. This is where you will find the true stories behind the architecture. For example, in order to appreciate early modern architecture, you have to understand that a lot of it was in reaction to the highly ornate buildings that were happening at the time, and their response was to become efficient and only include what was necessary. During housing shortages it was necessary to put together simple and efficient buildings, so they had to design houses that were simple. Or understand that some incredibly ornate churches were built at a time that most citizens were poor and uneducated and these churches were symbols used by the clergy to attract congregants.
Appreciate the Innovators
While understanding the historical context of the time the buildings were built, it is important to appreciate the rebels that bucked the trend and set new standards. If it weren't for these innovators, we wouldn't have the buildings we have today. Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright showed what was possible with large concrete cantilevers, the Wainwright Building by Louis Sullivan brought a steel structure inside, hanging the walls on the outside, allowing for the future introduction of modern office buildings and skyscrapers.
Get a sense of scale
It is important to understand how scale can influence our psychology. Very tall and large buildings can produce a sense of awe and evoke a sense of importance. That is why you see a lot of classical cities where the church or landmark are the most visible and can be seen from throughout the city. This showcases the importance of that structure and puts it on top of the city hierarchy. The same holds true for the components of the buildings themselves. Architects put intention into what aspects of the building they want to get a feel for. Public buildings might have a large, grand entrance, while individual offices will have a smaller scale.
Get a sense of space
A building isn't just about the solid walls that hold the roof up, it is really about the void in between the walls. This is what we refer to as the space, an intangible concept of each separate area in the building. Spaces can be designed to evoke certain emotions and produce specific results. Large open areas that give a feel of grandeur can invite people to come in and congregate, while a small space can provide a sense of comfort and invite individual use. Colors can evoke emotions as well, where warm, bright colors can give people a sense of energy and excitement, cool colors can give a feeling of calm and comfort. Lighting adds to the sense of space as well, as harsh down lighting evokes the opposite feeling of cool ambient lighting. The materials used in the space can influence the same emotions and also help to control sound as well. Empty concrete buildings will echo and feel cold, while a wood and stone wall will feel comforting and warm.
Get into the details
Once you get an overall feel for the building and its history, start looking closer and take a look at the details that go into making it work. The greatest architecture in the world is appreciated mostly for the details. Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe once famously quipped, “God is in the detail”, and this was clearly evident in his work. There is an anecdotal story that goes around that during the construction of his Barcelona Pavilion, Mies would go though to ensure that every screw head lined up perfectly. It was this attention to detail that made the man so famous. Most people won't notice the details, and just have a good feeling about the space, but if they looked a little deeper it might be because of all the details. Having great details is what makes architecture great because it shows that the Architect is able to produce a great piece of art, from the building all the way down to the screws.
Take Away
Appreciating architecture is more than just looking at the building, it is about understanding the meanings behind the design and the emotions it evokes. It is about understanding the building in relationship to society as a whole as well as the details within. This is what makes being an Architect so great, being able to be a part of all this and knowing you can affect so many aspects of a person's life. How do you appreciate architecture? Go out in your town and pick any building to study. Think about the time it was built, why it was built and what particular details went into creating the emotions it evokes.
To find out more about the upcoming "Beginner's Guide to Architecture" book, sign up below.
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The post How to appreciate architecture appeared first on Architecture Career Guide.
November 7, 2013
Architecture Related Careers – Construction
Credit: USACE HQ via Flickr[/caption]So you've done some research and you have found that you are still interested in architecture, but don't really want to be an Architect. That's ok, I won't hold it against you. Whatever your reason for not wanting to be an architect is, I probably agree with you. In order to become a successful Architect, you need to love it so much that it is worth all of the sacrifices, and for me that is the case. But not everyone will feel the same way.
I'm here to tell you there are other options out there if you still want to work in a field related to architecture, but just don't want to be an Architect. Today we will be focusing on construction trades that relate to architecture.
CONSTRUCTION
Beyond the design of the building, there are infinitely more roles related to the construction of the building. Generally once the design is complete, it is handed over to somebody to build, and this is where contractors come into play.
GENERAL CONTRACTORS
General Contractors are the most common type of construction related career. General Contractors are responsible for taking the drawings from the Architect and Engineers and building it or organizing the trades who will be specializing in each aspect of building. They are responsible for the overall schedule and budget of the project and report directly to the owner. Many times the General Contractor will perform a lot of the construction tasks themselves.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS
Construction Managers are similar to general contractors except they do not always perform the construction tasks themselves. They can take the form of a Construction Manager at Risk, meaning they are responsible for organizing the sub-contractors, or Construction Manager as Agent, meaning they act as adviser to the owner only.
SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS
Subcontractors typically work under the GC or CM and specialize in a specific trade such as plumbing, electrical, framing, drywall, painting, etc. They typically do not have contact with the owner or Architect, but will work through the general contractor or construction manager to produce the desired product.
This list is just a few of the construction related jobs out there, but there are many more. Look into all the different trades out there and see if one interests you. Some states require special licensing to be a contractor as well, so make sure you look into that states specific requirements for that trade.
Is being an Architect still for you? Would you rather be a contractor? Leave a comment on what the pros and cons of each profession are so we can collectively help others find their calling.
To find out more about the upcoming "Beginner's Guide to Architecture" book, sign up below.
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November 1, 2013
How much does an Architect make? – Architect Salary 2013
Photo Credit: Borman818 via Flickr[/caption]Architect Salary 2013
I know you have been dying to know this, so today I might be able to clarify it a bit for you. Maybe you heard that being an Architect is a professional career and you will be rich, or maybe you have heard the opposite that you will be living in poverty as an Architect. Well, both might be true, depending on your situation. Unlike many careers where there is a set range for your level and occupation, Architects can work in so many different avenues, ranging from project types to firm sizes, the amount Architects make varies wildly. Thankfully there are different resources we can use to get a gauge on what to expect and how much Architects make.
More than money
Before we get into the facts and figures of an Architect's salary, we have to first ask the question, "Why does it matter?" I have been a part of many career day's with high school students, and salary is almost always the first question that is asked. The usual response is that it doesn't matter what you make so long as you are happy, which for the most part is true, but I feel that it does still matter. It matters because you don't want to be so idealistic that you get taken advantage of, and you definitely don't want to starve. We have become so afraid to talk about money in our profession that it has almost become a dirty word. Of course you want make money, but that comes as a side-benefit to being able to do the work you love. I heard this quote recently from Walt Disney and I think it totally applies to architecture as well, "We don't make movies to make more money, we make money to make more movies." Stop right now. Re-read that. It's important to the discussion. We do what we do as Architects not to become rich, but rather to allow us to do it more. If you want to become an Architect, you need to understand this now.
[GARD]
Bureau of Labor Statistics
So back to the topic, the first place to visit for factual data is the Bureau of Labor Statistics administered by the US Department of Labor, they have data on the "Occupational Outlook". According to their website, the 2010 Median Pay is $72,550 per year, or $34.88 per hour. Delving a little further, they state that the lowest 10% earned less than $42,860, while the highest 10% earned more than $119,000. That's a pretty big range there, so where would you fall into? Unfortunately for these purposes, architecture is such a varied profession and it depends on a multitude of factors. What size firm do you work at, what type of projects do they do, where in the country are you? These are all factors that make up the wide variance.
Comparison
Before we get into the different factor, let take a look at other occupations for comparison purpose. Unlike Architects, Engineers are broken down by the BLS by the type of engineering they do. Civil Engineers have a median pay of $77,560, while Mechanical Engineers are nearly the same at $78,160. Now let's look at some other professional, non-architecture occupations. Lawyers are at $112,760, Dentists are at $146,920, and Physicians come in at $166,400. As you can see by the comparisons, Architects are on par with peers in the industry (Engineers), but well below "other professionals" outside of architecture. So if money is critically important to you, maybe you should look into those other occupations.
Bear in mind however, that these numbers are for licensed professionals, so they mean to say that Licensed Architects and Professional Engineers, and actual Doctors make that amount of money, and doesn't take into account what level you are at before you become licensed. When you first get out of college, I guarantee you will not be making $72,550 as an Architectural Intern. Depending on the level of responsibility you have, your pay varies greatly.
AIA Compensation Report - 2013
With the variance in positions, firms, location, etc, it is time to start looking at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Compensation Report which indicates an Architect salary 2013. This report was published this year and is based on a survey they sent out to 10,059 architecture firms and the 1,023 responses. This is not meant to be an all inclusive list, but what is spectacular about it is when you look at this article in Architect magazine that breaks it down. According to the report, an Architect I, or newly licensed Architect, averages $59,700 in the country. If you take that same Architect and look at it by region, you will find that in the New England area, they may make $64,700 and in the Mountain region, make $51,700. Following the same Architect, you find that in a small firm of less than 5 employees, they would actually make $53,300 and in a large firm of 250 employees plus, $64,900. You can do the same exercise for all levels including Intern I, or zero years experience, for your particular situation and find where you should be. What this shows us is a bit of a clearer picture to how much money an Architect should make based on their firm size, experience level and location, which is much more helpful.
Take away
I want to close by reiterating that for most of us, we don't do architecture because we hope to become ridiculously wealthy, and if you get into the profession hoping for that, you might want to consider another path. I do architecture because I love what I do and I know that I can make a difference in peoples lives, while still getting paid comfortably to do it. We may not make as much as lawyers or doctors, but I wouldn't want to do their job anyways, because I am happy with my chosen profession. So with that being said, how much does an Architect make? Enough to be able to keep doing Architecture.
How much money do you need to be able to keep doing what you love. Take an inventory of all of the things you now, or eventually will have bills for. Rent/Mortgage, utilities, groceries, entertainment, student loans, etc. and find out what you need to live comfortably. Would an Architects salary cover all of that? Do you need a higher paying salary, or do you need to cut back? These are all things you should know ahead of time before jumping into being an Architect. Let me know in the comments whether an Architects salary comes anywhere near what you need.
This information and much more is now available in the Beginner's Guide: How to Become an Architect!
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The post How much does an Architect make? – Architect Salary 2013 appeared first on Architecture Career Guide.
October 29, 2013
Intern Application Mistakes & Portfolio Tips
In my guest post I spoke about the 5 most common mistakes I see in Architecture Intern applications. These are simple mistakes that you should not make when you apply ranging from the obvious (typos) to the not so obvious (how often to call back). Check out the post now to learn what you need to do to get your next architecture job.
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How many of these resumes have typos?Photo Credit: Jenni from the Block via Flickr[/caption]
While you at it, also check out a post I did a while back for Career Thoughts that spells out what needs to be in your professional portfolio. The post is generic to any design profession, but does specifically apply to Architects. Between these two posts, it should get you started on compiling a complete and complimentary application package and get you on your way to become an Architect. Also be sure to add to your package by creating an architecture portfolio website.
The post Intern Application Mistakes & Portfolio Tips appeared first on Architecture Career Guide.
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