So…you want to be an ArchitectCLC Career Day 2012 Presentation

The Profession of ArchitectureBy Tony K. Tso LEED AP & Dale Adams R.A.

But, pray tell…WHY? What do you hope to gain?

“My Mom always wanted to have an Architect son!”

“Most architects don’t wish it on their children!”

1. Power?

2. Popularity?

3. Money?

4. Fame?

‘cos the boom & bust cycle makes it difficult to provide for

a family

Like the Maker of Heaven & Earth, we design & build structuresof beauty & grandeur, fashion places within which life takes place

“A tourist travels to see 2 things: God’s creation & architects’ artifacts”

for Imago Dei

for beauty & majesty

for blessing & joy

for Dominion

So why do architects still love it so?‘cos our profession reflects the glory of the Creator God like no others

$800M in 1997by Cesar Pelli

circa 1887by Montgomery

Meigs

$100M in 2005by William Rawn

$108M in 1962by Eero Saarinen

Getting there (www.ARCHcareers.org)

3 Phases of becoming an R. A.*• 1. Education: 5 to 7 yrs• 2. Experience: 3 to 5 yrs• 3. Examination: 1 to ? yrs

A 10 to 15 yr process(& some never pass the exam)

R. A. = Registered Architect

1.Education (www.ARCHschools.org)

GET a professional degree (www.NAAB.org)

• 154 programs in 123 institutions• 58 (B. Arch) • 95 (M. Arch) • 01 (D. Arch)

• Several diff. pathways• B. Arch (4+1 or 1+4)• M. Arch (4+2 or 4+3)• D . Arch (more for academia than licensure)

• Schools in our region

DC (2)• Catholic• HowardDE (0)MD (2)• UMD• Morgan StateVA (3)• Hampton U• U Va• Va TechPA (6)• Carnegie

Mellon• Drexel• Penn State• Phila U• Temple• U Penn

2.Experience (www.ncarb.org)

COMPLETE internship (IDP)• administered nationally by NCARB

• Min. 5,600 training hours• In 16 training areas (4 categories) • Under 7 potential work settings

• attainable in 3 yr., 4-6 typical• self-directed w/ support from a

mentor & employer(s)• each jurisdiction can & may

impose additional requirements

3.Examination (www.NCARB.org)

PASS the ARE (Arch’l Registration Exam)• NCARB administered standardized test• 7 sections (4 to 6 hours each)• Take it anywhere, anytime, in any order• Statistically 2 out of 3 tested pass• Licensure per jurisdiction requirements

Overview of our Industrythe 3 closely related professionsAEC is the largest by $ value

• Architecture• Planning• Architecture• Interiors

• Engineering• Infrastructure• Building Systems

• Structure• Plumbing• Mechanical (HVAC)• Electrical

• Specialty Technology• Construction

Community of Playersin capital improvement projectMany Stakeholders & Participants

– AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)– Clients

• Patrons of Architecture• Developer Clients• Owners

– Government– Institutions– Corporations– Individuals

– Collaborators/Consultants– Occupants/Users– The Public

Unique ChallengesBuildings & developments last a long time

Some projects take a long time to complete

Once built some projects last “forever”– A Lawyer’s mistake can be locked away– A Doctor’s mistake can be buried– An Architect has to live with his

So we have obligations beyond our life time

Diversity of Talentswithin the field• by Project Time-line (& Competency)

– The Design Architect– The Architect of Record– The Construction Administrator

• by Roles & Functions– The Programmer : define requirements– The Design Arch’t: develop design solutions– The Project Arch’t: document the design– The Project Manager: coordinate the project team

• by Skills/Tools– The Renderer/Animator– The Draftsman/CAD– The Modeler/BIM

Individual Giftingpassions & talents needed to succeedA Renaissance man, a generalist who can• bridge between the Arts & the Sciences &• deliver firmitas, utilitas & venustas* w/ economyAn aspiration for • DIVINITY

– a desire for GLORY like the Creator– a passion for intelligent DESIGN

• PERFECTION– everything must be just “right”– everything must fit & work well together

• OMNISCIENCE– a desire to understand everything– & master whatever needs to be learned

*firmitas: firmness, solidity, stability (holds up well)*utilitas: utility, usefulness, functional (works well )*venustas : beauty, delight (joy for the soul)

Types of Career2 Great Divides

Type of Architecture:• Residential (Housing)• Non-residential (also “Commercial”)

Type of Roles• Design• Non-Design

Types of Design Practice“A”firms (most tend to be very small)• 1 sole proprietor• < 5 tiny studio/partnership• <25 small• <50 medium• >50 large• >100 multiple-office corporation

“A/E” firms“E/A” firms---------Design/Build firms

contractor w/ in-house architectsA: Architecture & Interiors, NO engineersA/E: Architects w/ in-house engineersE/A: Engineers w/ in-house architects

Revenue of Large Design Firms2010 Stats by DesignIntelligence“A”firms----------#1 @ $657M Gensler#2 @ $400M P+W#3 @ $194M NBBJ----------07 > $100M16 > $ 50M69 > $ 10M

FTE: Full Time Equivalent (employee count)$200k/FTE max. anticipated revenue, industry norm$500k/FTE achieved by highly profitable firms

“A/E”firms---------#1 @ $474M

HOK#2 @ $320M

HDR#3 @ $251M

SOM----------09 > $100M16 > $ 50M50 > $ 10M

“E/A”firms----------#1 @ $3,032M

Jacobs#2 @ $1,503M

AECOM#3 @ $424M M+W----------14 > $ 100M20 > $ 50M37 > $ 10M

Types of Non-Design CareerPublic Sector (Gov.)• Develop Design Standards• Review as AHJ (Jurisdiction )• zoning code• building code

Other Niches• Owner Rep• Manufacturer Rep• Green/Sustainability• Construction Management• Facility Management• Specialty Consultants

“None of us ever aspires NOT to be a designer. But the reality is, only a small % gets to synthesize creative solutions & do fun designs on a regular basis.”

Compensation (www.di.net)2011 mean base salary for top 3-tier firms*

Pay range varies greatly depending on firm• Type• Size• Locality• Revenue

Means from survey** (range estimated)• Graduates start at $ 37k $30-45k• Interns @ 3-5 yr $40-60k• RA @ 10 yr & > $ 79k $70-90k• RA @ 15 yr & > $ 86k $75-100k• RA @ 20 yr & > $101k $85-120k• Principal/Partner $214k $150-250k• CEO/President $318k $250-500k• Super Stars $250k-$1M

*published research by DI (Design Intelligence)**numbers on the high end as data is from top 700 out

of 20,500 firms & includes engineers (Structural & M/E/P)

Now, go & experience real architecture

& decide if YOU too want to bethe ONE who gets to design them!

CLC Career Day 2012 PresentationThe Profession of Architecture

by Tony K. Tso LEED AP & Dale Adams R.A.

www.ARCHcareers.orgwww.ARCHschools.org

www.AIA.orgwww.ACSA-ARCH.orgwww.NAAB.orgwww.NCARB.org

an excellent site for all kinds of resources

www.aia.org/education/AIAS075223