Anyone studying/working in Architect?

[kngai]

I need some suggestions about studying in university...

I am currently a 4th year student and will "hopefully" graduate with a Bach. degree in Civil engineering this may. After the graduation, i am planning to start all over again and go for another bach degree in Archi for 3 years.>>> ultimately to become a registered architect after another 2 years of Master degree study and all those professional exams...

Anyone did things like that?? and what is the outlook of the industry now? and will my background in civil engineering help at all??

thx for any inputs

 

[ThePresence]

Bump cuz I'm interested too.

 

[kngai]

anyone?

 

[Reel]

My roommate is doing architecture masters right now. He graduated with undergrad degree in Spanish and Math. Now he is a post-bac student taking the prereqs for his grad studies in architecture. So in the end his masters will say architecture but he won't have any undergrad of it.

 

[kngai]

more opinion needed

 

[Descartes]

Does software architecture count?

 

[kngai]

nope =)
only the traditional one..
but what is software architect anyway?

 

[911paramedic]

My brother-in-law is an architect, graduated from Cal Poly SLO. He has been working with the same firm since about '95. It has been treating him well and he was the head of the office here in Las Vegas until they decided to close it. He went back up to NoCal and is working out of the main office.

I did quite a bit of cad drafting and was a project manager in the very early 90's before I got into medicine. I think the outlook is pretty good, and if you are decent with autocad you should do well. Oh, clean up those drawings, no overlaps or joined lines, argh.

 

[kngai]

anyone here in particular went thro' BASC, then a degree in architecture?

 

[BlueWeasel]

I graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering (structural emphasis) from Miss. State University in May of 2001. I currently do structural design where most of our clients are arch. firms. I spend all of my time doing either steel, concrete, or wood design, and spend the remaining time evaluating old buildings.

I'd say your background in CE (particularly structures) will help you tremendously. No offense to architects, but most I know have no understanding of structural loads and the basics of statics. They think that because they put up a steel beam, that it will hold up the world...nevermind its a W8x24 that is spanning 30-feet.

Feel free to PM or email me if I can answer anymore questions....

 

[kngai]

anyone else?

 

[kngai]

btw, anyone knows of the Parsons School of Design in NY? Is it a good school for designer cos I am planning to start building my portfolio there during the summer.
Any opinion is greatly appreciated.

 

[kngai]

up

 

[Pepsi90919]

art vandelay, pleased to meet you.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: kngai
btw, anyone knows of the Parsons School of Design in NY? Is it a good school for designer cos I am planning to start building my portfolio there during the summer.
Any opinion is greatly appreciated.

Parson's has some of the hottest women in NYC.

I wanted to study architecture but went into Mech E instead. I don't think there really is a glorious career in architecture as drafting skills aren't as important anymore because of CAD. Engineering is a better way of getting into architecture than just plain architecture IMO unless you are a top student at Cornell or MIT.

 

[kngai]

up

 

[FoolishMcNasty]

Stick with civil...your starting pay will be better. Overall civil firms take home a larger percentage of the overall construction budget (10-15%), while only the most notorious architects get big fees, all others get approximately 5%.

Just get experience then get your PE, don't worry about spending another 3 years in school.

 

[kngai]

decision time.... how about the A/E firms that do both design and construction under the same roof??

i am switching to architecture because i don't really see myself working in civil eng. industry... then i think, being an architect is kind of cool and probably will serve me better...

ONE Question... how much do you get paid being an architect or an engineer??

 

[The Wildcard]

Well I did a short internship in a small architectural firm in the Bay Area and I can tell you, it's hard work. It involves long hours and from what I could gather, the pay isn't something to get excited about. Of course that can vary from firm to firm and your porfolio. My former co-workers encouraged me to go for my alternative, which was computer science, lol....

 

[FoolishMcNasty]

Originally posted by: kngai
ONE Question... how much do you get paid being an architect or an engineer??

In the Northeast, starting architects go anywhere from $25k-$35k, while starting engineers (with EIT) go $35k-$45.

Reagrding frims that are both A/E under the same roof. This idea is starting to get phased out. The age of specialization is also hitting these shops. I used to would for an all inclusive, 300 person A/E firm. Now I wourk in 10 person Building Envelope Technology firm, all the big boys aren't nearly a profitable as once thought.

 

[kngai]

then what are the promotion opportunities for both professions?

 

[FoolishMcNasty]

Originally posted by: kngai
then what are the promotion opportunities for both professions?

that really depends...

in civil the next logical step is getting your PE (which should bump you up past $60k). after that, you need to continue gaining project management skills. to get you even higher...you need to get into more of the management side, less engineering to probably get you over $100k. own your own firm, then you have more control...

as for architecture, it really depends on the portfolio and reputation you build. you can sit and make $45k or $50k after you get AIA certification. or you can end up becoming a prestigious designer, commanding huge contracts.

the main issue comparing and contrasting the two is that most frequently people see only the top architects, which probably make up less the 5% (that is a fairly liberal estimate) of all architects. they see the great building with amazing design elements and want to do that. unfortunately that rarely happens.

i think the main question you need to ask yourself is this:
are you more interested in the art/design side or the "why is this happening? how can i make it better " side?
if you choose the first, then you should probably study architecture. if you picked the second, engineering.

this might be a little overly simplistic, but i think it a fair way of looking at the situation.

 

[kngai]

to tell you the truth... one of the reasons i am thinking about switching has to do with my family. My dad owns a company and buys properties/lands for redevelopment in Asia. For a long time he has been managing everything on his own (project manager, constractor, you name it)... until a few years ago at which time my older brother finished MASc(civil) and helped out the heavy workload (btw, he is now mainly acting as a project manager). My older sister also finished MASc(civil) 2 years before and is now working in dad's company as an interior designer...
Then here comes my dream... being an architect so that my family can pretty much finish a project (in term of design and construction) under the same roof.... i guess any practising engineers know that to have a consensus among all the participants in a project is not easy at all... so i may be able to fill in and contribute as an architect. (cos family members are much easier to communicate than any financial partners. And i am really hoping to maintain the strong bonds between family members we currently have)

don't get me wrong, it is one of the reason but not the biggest. the main reason is that i don't really see myself practising as a civil engineer in the future and may as well give a shot at architecture.

well, here is my little history and fantasy. I hope someone with real-world experience can point out if this fantasy will come true.
thx for any inputs.