people say to me, “hey Babs, what is it you do, really?”
and this is what I say:
my job as an architect intern
by
B.N.Baboon
my project leader comes up with the idea.
s/he he goes to the structural engineer.
ideas are sketched off.
s/he gives me the sketches and I draw them in Auto Cad (a drafting program).
I print out my drawings, hand them to project architect.
s/he redlines them, meaning that all corrects are done in red pencil.
they are put back on my desk and I fix all mistakes/updates.
this continues for a long while. sometimes the client requests changes. sometimes they lose their budget. sometimes something on site makes a change necessary. (such as an unaccounted for soil condition, etc).
in the mean time, while I and others are drawing, the PM (project manager) compiles all the info…makes sure all the info is correct. makes sure the drawings are referenced correctly. makes sure all handicap codes are followed. meets with clients, etc.
then we print for the client.
they make corrections, modifications.
resume drawing/redrawing stage.
once client accepts the drawings, a bid set is printed up for jobs going up for bid.
once a contractor is selected, the building begins.
then as the contractor has questions or unforseen problems arise, we re draw to clarify or correct a problem.
this continues until the building is done.
an intern by the way, is someone who is not licensed.
you typically do 3 to 5 years of internship (typically after graduation)before you are eligble to take the tests.
in Texas, there are 9 tests which must be passed.
then and only then are you and architect.
the end.