Careers Related to Architecture

1. Careers Related to Architecture A career in one of the many architecture-related fields is rewarding, involves hard work, and offers good to excellent financial returns. The greatest satisfaction, whether you become a blue-printer or a structural engineer, is the reward of seeing your creations and efforts take form in structures that become part of our physical environment. Architecture-related professional and technical careers, including educational requirements, are described in this unit.

2. Careers Related to Architecture RECOMMENDED SUBJECTS FOR PRE-ARCHITECTURAL STUDENTS The following subjects are listed according to their importance: • Math • Physics • English • Social studies • Chemistry • Mechanical drafting architectural drafting • Physical education • Foreign language elective industrial arts elective • Art

3. ARCHITECT • Architecture is a rewarding and demanding profession. The architect must be an artist, engineer, and businessman combined. Special qualities are required of the architect. He or she must understand people. She or he must have a talent for creative design and have skill in math and science. And he or she must be able to graphically communicate ideas and designs.

4. ARCHITECT (con’t.) • The architect is trained in school and then must serve an internship before entering practice. High school preparation is the first step in becoming an architect. The outline below indicates the courses needed at this stage. All accredited architectural colleges have the same general requirements, although it is a good idea to write to the college of your choice for exact information. If you are planning to attend a junior or community college first, check with your prospective university concerning what courses will be accepted for transfer of credit. Practical experience is invaluable. Some architects will hire students for summer or part-time work if the students are known to be responsible and are interested in becoming architects. Take any job which will enable you to work near practicing architects.

5. ARCHITECT (con’t.) PROBABLE COURSES IN THE UNIVERSITY FRESHMAN YEAR FOR ARCHITECTURAL STUDENTS • Architectural design • Analytical geometry • Calculus • Physics • Materials of construction surveying • English and public speaking architectural rendering history of architecture • Psychology • Physical education For further information write to: American Institute of Architects 1735 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006

6. ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTSMAN • The architectural draftsman is the channel of communication between the architect and the builders. She or he translates the ideas, sketches, and designs of an architect into sets of drawings from which a structure can be built. The work includes drawings, sketching, tracing, computation, and detailing. The architectural draftsman must be able to get along with people. He or she must be able to take criticism and follow instructions carefully and must be able to work as a member of a team. • An architectural draftsman may become an architect by gaining architectural drafting and design experience, by obtaining letters of recommendation, by additional education, and by passing a state examination. For further information write to: American Federation of Technical Engineering 1126 16th Street, NW, Suite 28 Washington. DC 20036

7. CITY PLANNER • The city planner studies and plans the development or redevelopment of large areas such as cities, communities, housing projects, commercial projects, and so forth. The planning takes into account the utilities and necessities required for today’s living. After designs are completed, the individual buildings may be designed by other architects. The other facets of the planner’s overall design are handled and completed by other engineering specialists. With the growth of our country, the construction of new cities and the renovating of slum areas in older cities will require much new personnel in this area. The planner’s college degree should be in architecture, planning, engineering, or landscaping with further training for a master’s degree in planning. For further information write to: American Institute of Planners 917th Street. NW Washington. DC 20005

8. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER • The structural engineer, through the use of calculations, designs the structural part of buildings. He or she is usually a civil engineer who specializes in structures. Of all the professional areas in the building trades, this is considered one of the most difficult, because of the high competence it requires in physics and math. For further information write to: American Society of Civil Engineers 345 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017

9. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT • The landscape architect controls the development of the site, which includes earthwork, planting, layout of streets and walks, and the orientation of the structure. She or he should have an understanding of plant life and a background in math, art, architectural drafting, and rendering. A college degree in landscape architecture is required. For further information write to: American Society of Landscape Architects. Inc. 2000 K Street. NW Washington. DC 20006

10. CIVIL ENGINEER • The civil engineer handles the calculating and designing also done by the structural engineer. In addition, he or she may survey or may conduct large-scale planning of utilities, roads, structures, harbors, airfields, tunnels, bridges, and sewage plants. The field of civil engineering is so broad that a civil engineer has to specialize in one area, such as structures. • The civil engineer’s college degree is in civil engineering. For further information write to: American Society of Civil Engineers 345 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017

11. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER • Electrical engineers form the largest group of engineers. The need for them is great in the computer sciences and in the fields of aviation. The electrical engineer in the building trade designs the electrical components of structures. The electrical engineer’s college degree is in electrical engineering. For further information write to: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 345 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017

12. AIR-CONDITIONING ENGINEER • The air-conditioning engineer designs the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems for structures. This person’s college degree is in mechanical engineering, and he or she will specialize in air conditioning. For further information write to: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers United Engineering Center 345 East 47th Street New York, NY 10017

13. ACOUSTICS ENGINEER • The acoustics engineer is responsible for controlling sound in the structure. However, this work is not confined to buildings; it can also be applied to noise suppression in machines, industrial factories, aircraft, and rockets. This field is very technical. The acoustics engineer needs a broad background in math and physics. Her or his college degree is in physics, engineering, architecture, or math. For further information write to: American Institute of Physics 335 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017

14. MECHANICAL ENGINEER • The mechanical engineer is the engineer who does not specialize in one area. He or she works in production, the use of power, and machines which use power. The mechanical engineer who works in the building trades designs for operational parts of a structure. The degree is in mechanical engineering. For further information write to: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

15. ESTIMATOR • The estimator prepares estimates of the cost of building projects by figuring material requirements and labor costs. Her or his work must be accurate, because mistakes are expensive. • An estimator working in large construction should have a general or specialized college degree and knowledge of construction and builders. His or her math skills must be good. An estimator for small construction, such as that of homes, can come from the ranks of the craftsman. The estimator’s skills are largely learned in the office and in the field. For further information write to: Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. 1957 E Street NW Washington, DC 20006

16. SPECIFICATION WRITER • The specification writer prepares specifications (a written description of exact materials, methods of construction, finishes, and tests and performances of everything required for the structure). Knowledge of all types of construction is needed, as is a technical background and experience in building. His or her college degree can be general or specialized. Specification writers for small construction can come from the ranks of the craftsman. The specification writer’s skills are learned in the office and in the field. For further information write to: Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. 1957 E Street, NW Washington DC 20006

17. SURVEYOR • The surveyor defines in both words and pictures (usually maps) the specific space, position, and topography of a piece of land. The accuracy of the work is essential for proper foundations and construction. This work is the first step in the construction of roads, airfields, bridges, dams, and other structures. Her or his college degree is in civil engineering. One may become a surveyor’s aide with two years of junior college and on-the-job experience. • For further information write to: American Congress on Surveying and MappingWoodward Building Washington, DC 20005

18. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER • An architectural designer designs and plans homes and other small buildings. She or he is usually an outstanding architectural draftsman but does not have a degree in architecture. The engineering for their structures is done by architects or structural engineers.For further information write to:American Institute of Building Design2730 Arden Way, Suite 138 Sacramento, California 95825

19. CONTRACTOR • The contractor is a business- person who is responsible for the construction and finishing of a structure. He or she can do this work either with his or her own employees or by subcontracting other workers. The contractor can work from his or her own plans, but usually builds from an architect’s or a designer’s plans. Several years’ experience in the building trades and a state license are required to become a contractor. For further information write to: Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. 1957 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20006

20. CONTRACTOR (con’t.) For further information write to: Associated Builders & Contractors P. O. Box 8733 Baltimore Int’l Airport Baltimore. MD 21240 National Association of Home Builders 15th and M Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 General Building Contractors Association, Inc. Suite 1212, 1 Penn Plaza Philadelphia, PA 19102

21. CARPENTER • Carpenters form the largest group of building trades-people. The carpenter is a skilled worker who constructs the wooden parts of a building. A rough carpenter works on the framing, floor, and roof system. The finish carpenter does the trim, cabinets, hardware, and floor cover. Carpenters must be skilled with all hand and power tools used for wood and must be able to use all types of fasteners. The best way to enter this trade is through an apprenticeship program followingvocational school training. For further information write to: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and joiners of America 101 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington. DC 20001

22. MASON • The mason works with stone of all kinds. The stone can be used either for the basic structure or as a veneer cover over another building structure. The mason must he highly skilled in the use of specialized masonry tools, and must be familiar with the characteristics of natural stone, fired clay products, and artificial stone. The best way to enter this trade is through an apprenticeship program following some vocational school training. For further information write to: Bricklayer’s, Mason’s and Plasterer’s International Union of America 815 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005