Anyone here an Architect?

[Jersey_17011 0]

Hi, I am very interested in becoming an architect, engineer, or urban planner, I am mainly focusing on becoming an architect though, i just wanted to know more about it, i tryed doing research on this and all i could come up with was a yearly income on monster I just want to know some more things such as how long would it take to get a masters degree in college, how satisfying the carrer is, what kind of projects you've been on, just things like that, in january I am going into my vocational class...Drafting & Design Technology... By the time i finish highschool i will have a cirtification for drafting and CAD, hopefully this will give me a head start on becoming an architect....hmm not sure what else to ask

[Frankie_Grove 32]

I too would like to become an architect, i am lucky to have some of the best colleges for the field around here, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia Tech......not sure on all the requirements, but CAD is a start, drafting on paper would also be necessary. Hope you're good at math,.....

[Irgoodboy 0]

Hi, this is my first post here.

Anyway, I'm currently in school for Architecture (in the Midwest) and I can maybe give you some idea of what its like. It seems right now alot of universities are focusing on environmental design. I know that the two universities I've been to (Iowa State and NDSU) both focus alot on the environment now. There is also a new thing called LEEDs, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, alot of Architects are now taking an exam to pass this text to become LEED Certified, which is more for 'green building'. Im sure if there are Architects that are out there they can elaborate more on it as I am just still a student. But the way I see it it sure seems alot of the future of architecture will be involved alot with the environment. I also worked with someone who's son went to Clemson for architecture, I heard its a great school.

Your first year you would probably take mostly general classes, along with some art classes (which they seem to focus on alot now too). First year Architecture classes at Iowa State consisted of 2 semesters of Art classes, one was mostly drawing and the other was mostly model design (not buildings though, so I didnt really enjoy it much). I also had a lecture class that was pretty much useless but it was called a 'Design Lecture'. Here at NDSU the first year consists of pretty much the same thing, 1 semester of drawing, 1 semester of intro to models, 1 design lecture (which I found more useful than the other one I took), and usually an Architecture History class. Along with those you'll also take English (only 2 semesters), Math (up to Calc. usually), Physics (which you only have to take 1 or 2 semesters at the most, 1 minimum), some Humanties class (Soc., Psyc. or whatever), etc.

Once you finish your first year they either have you put a portfolio together of your work of that first year to show off and they look at your grades, generally a 3.5 GPA would get you in, or they just look at your grades and dont have you do a portfolio (depends on what school you go to). So its a selective admission, a 3.5 GPA would probably get you in for the 2nd year in which you will get more into the actual architecture classes. Some schools wont actually have you start on CAD until your 2nd year 2nd semester or even until your 3rd year (once again depends on what school you go to, it really varies). I would also focus on a minor that would relate well to Architecture, maybe Math or History or even Art.

You will end up being in school for at least 5 years to get your Architecture degree, after that Im not really familiar with the area as Im just still a student. But I think you end up doing a paid internship for sometime and after that take an exam in the state which you work to actually obtain an Architecture License in that state. Hopefully there is some Architect on here that will be able to help you more with that since I can only give you a midwest student's point of view.

I hoped I helped a little.

[6459978. 106]

If you like math and science, structural engineering can be very interesting. I'm currently an engineering student. Initially I wanted to go into architecture, but I was won over by the promise of understanding how buildings stand up.

[ImpliedObject 0]

I got my Bach. of Architecture back in 2003. It was a five year program with about a total of 160 credit hours needed to graduate. Some schools have been switching to 6 year programs and you end up with a Masters degree. I have been working in a residential firm for the last 2.5 years now and I has been a lot of fun. It is a smaller firm so the attention from the top people is pretty good. So far I have not had a lot of oppertunities to design, mostly just CAD work.

Once you get a job, (at least in the US) you then start your IDP (Intern Developement Program - see http://www.ncarb.org/). This is designed so a new grad in the marketplace can gain experience in multiple areas (design, structures, community service etc.) to help them prepare for when that want to take the registration exam. Depending on the ype and size of the firm as well as the person, the IDP program generally takes between 3 and 5 years to get all the credits needed. Afterwhich, you can start taking the parts of the registration exam to become fully licensed.

Hoped this helps.

[_MostlyHarmless 17]

I am currently getting my Masters in Urban Planning at University of Illinois at Chicago. Hope you like math! No really though, I love it. Not too keen on architecture, be we also use CAD and ArcGIS, so learn those.

[Jersey_17011 0]

Wow, thanks for all the comments! Yeah i've heard of 'green buildings' new york city is trying to build green buildings from now on, like WTC 7, The bank of america, new york times building.

Frankie_Grove- Thanks !

Irgoodboy-You helped alot!! Thanks!!

6459978.- yeah I find structural engineering very interesting, i am also considering that too. thanks!

ImpliedObject-  don't think i've heard of an IDP thanks!

northsider1983- ooooh urban planning, another one i'm iterested in, yeah alot of math is involved, never heard of ArcGIS, i do know i'll learn CAD, thanks!

Thanks Again!

[Camaron 1]

I have also considered becoming an architect, though I have since switched over to a more environmental / urban planning route. I am finishing school soon and I am applying to go to college now. I am hoping to do Advanced Level (aka, college level) Geography, Environmental Science and with it ICT and Biology, this should put me on track for the environmental / urban planning area. What I am going to do at University I am still thinking about, I could do a Degree (aka, university level) in either Environmental Science, Geography or even Planning. I did work experience at the local council in the Planning Department a while ago and most of the people there have Degrees in Planning or Geography.

[Ratieya455 1]

I am also an architecture student at North Dakota State University and can vouch that there is a major emphasis on sustainable design and also on advanced design theory. I like the program here, which is a consolidated bachelor's and master's and takes five years. They recently revamped the program, which was originally five years for bachelor's then two additional years for a master's. As far as I know, most schools still operate with separate programs.

As for taking CAD classes early on, they would pretty much be optional, at least with the way this school operates. They still start us off with old fashioned pen and paper and put a lot of emphasis on hand-drawn drawings and such. Computers come into play later on, unlike many other schools that start students off with computers. The University of Minnesota doesn't even have students building models until their third year, whereas NDSU students start the second semester of their first year with that sort of thing, in its most basic context then working up to more complicated design problems (you don't start out designing buildings, you start out designing what is essentially a random series of spaces). I wouldn't go out and spend a lot of money on CAD software early on if your school operates this way.

[Jersey_17011 0]

Camaron - good luck & thnks for the info!

Ratieya....about the CAD, i was worried that hand drawing was...(for lack of a better term)..outdated? i thought that they would only use cad! even though i always draw/design buildings on paper and sometimes use 3D home architect, i thought that CAD would pretty much be the only thing used, i'm so glad thanks

[organicsabre 1]

As a UK architect I cannot advise on how to get there as the US system is different, i can however give you an insight into the job.

First things first. You see all these massive buildings going up, futuristic designs etc. Yes? well forget them, when you start you will start on the bread and butter stuff.  You will come out of university thinking you know alot, when actually that is just a small backbone.  The real learning in architecture is when you work in a practice.  The thing that 100% of architecture students do not know how to do is detail drawings, they can draw a pretty picture, know about form and function, but when you ask them how will you build it, the face drops and the ermmmm ahhh etc.  My best advice would be as follows.

When at college/university try and get a holiday job in a practice, get a feel for the job you will be devoting 6-7 years of your life in university to, you wont get paid much, but in this industry experience sells you more than your qualification so any once of experience you can get, grab it.

Go for a small practice, why you say? well simple large practices means that you sometimes get the dregs i.e. big project needs a door schedule doing, who does it, yup the probie you will find yourself doing the stuff people don't what to do and you don't learn anything.  If you are in a small practice they need every body to work on different projects so you get immersed in projects at a deeper level and you learn alot, yes the learning curve is steep, but it makes yo a better person and a better architect.

Don't be afraid to ask for help and do a bit of background research on basic construction principles, it will help you base knowledge.  Always look at things with this attitude:-

    * How does that stand up

    * how is that protected from the weather

    * how does that stay there

    * how do i move around in there

    * If I do this how will it effect other things

I could list over a hudnred questions, but you get the point.

By constantly disecting your design and building, makes it easier for you to present the correct information to the builder and not have him keep phoning asking those questions.

The most important thing to remember is its not just the design and detailing work.  You have to elarn contract law, about different trades (general knowledge helps) i.e. mechanical services, structural, civil engineering etc.  You will have to do lots of paperwork, i.e. architects instructions, reports, letters/faxes/emails, sort out disputes, bollock contractors, attend lengthy meetings, do site visits in all weathers and be expected to look at every part of the building i.e. going on roofs, sometimes much higher than you think, crawling through roof spaces etc. Deal with the ever increasing regulations and in a few cases be expected to do unpaid overtime just to get a job out on time.

It is not a cushy job, you need alot of commitment to do it, but I always say it is a satisfying job in the end as if you design a building well and it looks great, it'll be there for hundreds of years to come and you can always walk down that street and say to your grandkids, "I designed that".

Originally posted by: Jersey_17011

Ratieya....about the CAD, i was worried that hand drawing was...(for lack of a better term)..outdated?quote>

Nope, you are expected in teh UK to give CAD drawings to the planning department and building regulation control services, mainly because it is easier to read, but I still sketch on a board when doing first sketch schemes and also its good to sketch on a piece of paper when you are trying to work out construction details, so alsways keep a dab hand in drawing with a pen or pencil.

As CAD has been brought up in the office I work we use ArchiCAD V9 on Macs.

[benry8 0]

I am a CAD Operator and work in an engineering firm. Being an architect I can't really tell you if you need basic CAD training, I'm not in that industry. If you wanted to become an engineer, you don't need any CAD experience as they generally teach you the basics when you get a job. However, I'm just talking from the point of view of my company.

[ExiL3 10]

I am currently studying Construciton planning (regional and urban planning) and designs. Though, I am not entirely satisfied with all my subjects, so I am applying for Construction Management in QUT Brisbane.

I am studying in Norway now btw,...

Anyone here studying at QUT btw?

take care,

[Mulefisk 15]

Originally posted by: ExiL3 I am currently studying Construciton planning (regional and urban planning) and designs. Though, I am not entirely satisfied with all my subjects, so I am applying for Construction Management in QUT Brisbane.

I am studying in Norway now btw,...

Anyone here studying at QUT btw?

take care,quote>

I've been thinking about doing something similar myself. Where are you studying?

[topcliff 1]

RL kind of sucks. I really enjoy architecture and going to different cities and wondering, I'd like to see a timeline of architecture here. I draw (I hate the term because it implies doodling, and doodling implies carelessness in the artistic universe) a lot, and most of that is either cities or parts of cities. My two most complete drawings that I've spent the most time on are an American city and an Asian city (both stereotypical, of course). I used to think that I wanted to be an architect, but I have found that I enjoy writing better. After reading some of this, it has convinced me that writing is good, but I'm spending almost all my effort on mathematics and art. After all, art is the basic design for all things existent. TopCliff

[josefmayor 8]

I have a friend who's an Urban Planner or something to that affect, and he told me to get 2 degrees, one in Architecture and the other in Construction Management, he told me that you get paid a lot more starting out if you have Construction Management.

[benvoliothefirst 36]

I kind of wanted to be an architect when I was younger and getting into SimCity, but eventually ended up majoring in graphic design. Now I want to go into environmental stuff... I feel like as soon as they invent a career for someone with my qualifications, I'll be great at it!