RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE

Single Family Housing
Multiple-Unit Residential
Tract Homes
Senior/Assisted Living
Remodeling/Renovations

• Architecture firms
• Real estate developers
• Construction firms
• Individual homeowners
• Self-employed

Description: Designing new homes or renovating existing ones for either single or multiple families.

Gain experience in an architect's office. Obtain an internship while in school.
Develop strong communication skills and patience which are important when working with individuals in designing their homes.
Study houses and architecture styles.
Read books and magazines about architecture.
Develop computer skills.

COMMERCIAL/INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE

Private Industry including:
Office buildings
Convention centers
Medical offices
Healthclubs
Motels, hotels
Restaurants
Shopping centers
Supermarkets
Theaters
Arenas
Public/Government including:
Schools, colleges, universities
Government facilities
Military facilities
Libraries
Hospitals
Recreational facilities
Churches
Museums

• Architecture firms
• Large corporations
• Manufacturers
• Research institutions
• Transportation companies
• Universities and colleges
• Local and state government

Federal government agencies including:

• Department of Defense
• Department of Interior
• Department of
• Housing & Urban Development
• General Services
• Administration
• Preservation firms
• Self-employed

Description: Designing office buildings, factories, laboratories, malls, schools and other
commercial or government facilities.

Get hands-on experience while in school.
Learn the technical side of preparing construction documents; spend time in the field to understand the mechanics of construction.
Important to understand the various jobs and
processes that will take place in the buildings.
Advanced training may be helpful if specializing in a certain typology such as historic preservation and
renovation or a certain type of building such as
schools or hospitals.
Get involved in leadership roles on campus; architects
may serve as project leaders coordinating the work of engineers and contractors.
Take computer classes.
Writing skills are necessary for advancement in firm.

EDUCATION

Teaching
Research
Part-time Instruction
Special Collections Libraries

Colleges and universities

RELATED PROFESSIONAL

Urban Planning
Real Estate Developing
Contracting
Property Assessment
Landscape Design
Interior Design
Architectural Engineering
Consulting
Facilities Management
Product Development/Marketing
Law
Insurance Liability
Writing

• Federal, state, local government
• Real estate firms
• Developers
• Contractors
• Self-employed
• Architecture firms
• Design firms
• Engineering firms
• Corporations
• Architecture departments
• Law firms
• Magazines, journals, publishers

Specialized training or advanced degrees may be
required, i.e. master's in urban planning, degrees in landscape design, interior design, etc.
Learn about real estate market and supply and
demand in area for developing.

A contractor's license is considered valuable for
working in the design/build area of architecture.
MBA degree may open more opportunities within business and industry.
Many large corporations employ architects to serve
as client representatives when working with
architectural firms.
Design and organizational skills are helpful.
Earn JD for laW practice. Hands-on-experience in
architecture and construction will help prepare one for contract negotiation and litigation.
Take courses in English and journalism. Develop writing skills. Get involved with campus publications.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• To gain entry into the field of architecture, one must receive either a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited school of architecture, complete a full-time
internship (three to five years) and pass a licensing examination.
• Architecture is a combination of art and science.
• Architecture involves much more than designing buildings. Talk to architects and visit their offices to learn more about the field.
• Students of architecture must be able to conceptualize and understand spatial relations and be detail-oriented. Develop creativity, analytical skills, and a sense
of quality.
• Take many art and photography classes but not mechanical drawing classes.
• Oral and written communications skills are important, particularly when working with clients, construction crews or government officials. Good writing skills are
valuable for developing architectural proposals.
• Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) and other computer technologies are prevalent in the field of architecture. Develop as many computer skills as
possible.
• The job market for architects, especially residential, varies with changes in economy as demand is often tied to level of construction.
• One third of architects are self-employed as either partners or running their own firms.
• Most architects work in firms of fewer than five people.
• Related fields include: graphic, interior, or industrial planning, real estate development, civil engineering, and construction management.
• Some architects specialize in a particular building type. Graduate study in the field may be helpful for specializing. Other architects may specialize in a certain
function of the firm such as project management or specification writing.
• Areas of specialization include: historic preservation/renovation, healthcare facilities, sports facilities, educational facilities, master planning and interior design.
• Students should design a portfolio to use when interviewing. Include freehand drawings, final drawings by hand and computer, process sketches, photos of
study models and finished models, a sample of writing, and work from technical courses.