Architecture Careers: A Comprehensive Guide

Explore Architecture Careers

If you love to use your imagination, take the lead on creative projects, and bring your artistic vision to life, exploring architecture careers is a great way to launch your new profession! As an architect, you can have the exciting opportunity to collaborate with small and large-scale businesses to help guide the construction of buildings from initial design to completion. Whether you’re transforming a hospital space to create a serene, welcoming environment for patients, or mapping out the details for a multi-family housing community, your job as an architect allows you to harness your creativity all while making a sustainable and environmental impact in the process. Whether you’re a graduate student or midway through your career looking for a new start, this is a great opportunity to build a rewarding career in architecture.

Are you ready to bring your vision to life and make a difference across communities throughout the country?

What is Architecture?

Architecture combines art, science, and strategy to design all types of buildings – commercial buildings, offices, schools, houses, and one-of-a-kind structures. As an architect, you are responsible for planning, designing, managing, and guiding the construction process for a diverse range of clients. Working with clients involves developing multiple design options (depending on the project), preparing drawings and specifications for contractors, and traveling occasionally to visit different sites to ensure that construction aligns with the drawings and the client vision. As an architect, it is always helpful to have a drafting, architectural drawing, and multi-discipline conceptual design checklist on hand to ensure that each detail of your project meets satisfactory standards and all task requirements. Doing so streamlines processes and makes each phase of the project run a lot smoother and efficiently for both the architect and their client.

As an Assistant Project Manager in Architecture at Colliers Engineering & Design, and a graduate from the University at Buffalo, Colleen Braun loves developing design solutions for challenging projects making her role both collaborative and exciting. Overseeing numerous project teams, Colleen is the main point of contact for both clients and the multi-discipline design team, working through design solutions and assisting them with building code research, writing specifications, scheduling, and mentoring architectural designers with whatever they need to reach their project goals.

“I love it when a big design challenge arises that enables our team to get hands on across multiple disciplines. It allows all of us to get creative and collaborate with one another to develop a solution that works for everyone, especially our clients, making the project a huge success” says Braun.

Beginning as an intern at a local firm, Colleen has found immense value in asking questions, learning from others, and having multiple points of contact she can reference to. Having multiple mentors has helped her significantly by allowing her to develop a greater understanding of important design decisions, and seeing things come together when going on site visits to see the bigger picture.

Career Paths Within Architecture

Architects work on drafting designs for a multitude of building types across various markets, elevating the brand identity and designs for their clients. If you’re thinking about harnessing your skillsets in different areas of architecture, there are other exciting career options you can explore:

Architectural Designer

Ideal for entry-level candidates. Heavily involved in collaborating with engineers, construction teams, and design firms to produce technical drawings and construction documents.

Building Architects

Focuses on designing structures including houses and commercial buildings.

Construction Project Coordinator

Ideal for mid-senior level individuals. Oversee different stages of construction process, determine project budget, and timeline.

Hospitality Architect

Focuses on the design, construction, guest experiences, and cohesive brand identity for hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars.

Interior Architect

Focuses on the design and planning of interior spaces including homes, offices, and retail spaces.

Landscape Architect

Focus on the restoration of natural areas like parks and campuses in addition to environmental aspects of design including botany, horticulture, and soil sciences.

Residential Architect

Focuses on enhancing the quality of life for residents by understanding needs, natural landscapes, and design systems.

Restoration Architect

Responsible for restoring and preserving historic buildings, structures, or monuments that have been aged and depleted over time.

Urban Designer

Work on multiple city development projects, account for population growth, zoning, and environment regulation in urban areas.

How to Become an Architect

If you’re considering becoming an architect, you must:

• Obtain a degree in architecture
  • Note: Your degree may need to be accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), depending on the state you are seeking licensure in.
• Have work experience through a paid internship (the length of time is determined by the state you are seeking licensure in)
• Pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

To earn your license, it is required that you pass all six divisions of the examination including Practice Management, Project Management, Programming & Analysis, Project Planning & Design, Project Development & Documentation, and Construction & Evaluation.

For helpful study guides and references, click here.

Does a Career in Architecture Require a Certification?

Obtaining a certification in your field is an excellent way to establish your credibility, skillsets, and expertise as a professional. Depending on the trajectory you wish to take your architecture career, you may consider exploring one of these top certifications to help you stand out in the industry:

• Architect Registration Examination (ARE)
• Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant (CPHD/C)
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
• Certified Healthcare Architect
• Certified Green Building Engineer

If you desire to take on projects across the United States, then you must obtain a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards certification (NCARB). With this certification, you can have the opportunity to practice in a variety of jurisdictions providing job stability, flexibility, and continued career development.

Furthering Your Education in Architecture

In addition to obtaining your professional degree in architecture, you may also consider pursuing a master’s degree in a specialized field you find yourself strongly passionate about. Depending on the state that you live in, educational requirements may vary, however, testing requirements to obtain your license remain the same. With this level of education, you can open the door to a variety of opportunities, as well as increase your earning potential. Continue to explore your passion as an urban planner, interior designer, or project manager where you can supervise design, construction, and development in unique projects.

Work Hours & Environment as an Architect

Architects typically work a 40-hour work week. However, due to strict deadlines, competitive environments, and strategic planning, it is not uncommon for an architect to work overtime. While they work in the office most of the time like architecture firms, studios, or independently, architects travel to construction sites to meet with clients to determine project goals, engineers, and other staff members. To meet client needs, architects are required to be agile in their field of work as unexpected changes can occur in project duration.

Skills to Accelerate Your Success as an Architect

Becoming an architect requires a diverse set of skills to be successful in the field including mathematics, having a keen eye for design, being creative, and exceptionally computer savvy. Being an expert in calculus, trigonometry, geometry, algebra, and applied mathematics will also serve one well in the field.

As recommended by Colleen Braun, Assistant Project Manager, some of the skillsets sought in an architecture candidate include:

• Collaboration skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Listening skills
• Possessing knowledge of building codes and local laws

Colleen also noted that it is helpful to have software experience with Autodesk Revit, a 3D tool that is helpful for modeling all components of a structure, and for collaborating with the rest of the design team. She also strongly recommends starting an internship early on to gain hands-on experience and exposure to what daily life is like for an architect. Whether you’re interning for a small architecture firm or large, multi-discipline office, Colleen stresses that the earlier you discover where your interests fit best will allow you to have a more enjoyable and fulfilling career path going forward.

How Much Do Architects Get Paid?

While pay as an architect may vary from state to state, it is important to note that architecture careers are generally stable. To further advance your earnings and qualify for senior level positions, you may consider pursuing a master’s degree in architecture. In addition, earning certifications that increase your knowledge base, software skills, and network will accelerate your success and set you apart from other candidates in the field.

Why Choose Colliers Engineering & Design?

At Colliers Engineering & Design, we offer an array of remote positions, full-time job opportunities, and an engaging internship program tailored to meet your personal and professional goals. We also offer flexible working schedules, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, health coverage, mentorship programs, and 401K plans to suit you and your needs.

As a member of our team, you can advance within the company and acquire multidisciplinary skillsets with the guidance of mentors and experts within architecture. At Colliers Engineering & Design, we stand behind the philosophy that by working together, staying curious, and doing what’s right, we can achieve exceptional work experiences and accelerate the success of our communities, clients, and people. Whether you’re traveling across the country or meeting with other team leaders in the field, there are plenty of exciting opportunities for you to grow personally and professionally in the architecture discipline.

Currently, Colleen is working on finalizing The Clark House Rehabilitation and Addition project alongside her team where they’re building a new modern event space for weddings and social events in Penfield, New York. From preparing concept sketches and presenting at town board meetings to preparing the bid documents and overseeing construction, Colleen has found fulfillment in helping transform the local historic landmark alongside the rest of the design team to bring the design to fruition.

Apply today for Colliers Engineering and Design

Being an architect comes with numerous responsibilities; however, Colliers Engineering & Design sets you up with the tools needed for long-term success, support, and multidisciplinary growth no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Apply today to discover your next exciting career path in architecture.

Click here to begin your new journey.