Architects, please check in . I need a mentor. (long)

In My Humble Opinion
1

Tell me about yourselves.

Here is me:

I went to Architecture school.
Pursued art at the same time.
seriously got burned out.
dropped out of architecture school in senior year.
got art degree.

worked in a museum. disliked it as I realized working at an art museum has nothing to do with art.

worked at an architecture model making firm.
It was fun, but I wanted to finish school at this point.

Went back.
am currently 4 classes shy of graduating.
(which must be consecutive. so about 2 years)

I got a job with a firm. worked there for two years.
The job was ok. kinda dull. it was nothing what school leads you to believe it is. it was rather dull.

so here is where I am currently:

I really was miserable going back to school. I hated the retoric. I hated being told what to think. (I am now 30. I have had way to much time away from school. I think for myself now). I felt rather alienated from fellow students. I had nothing in common with them on the whole. I don’t have a need to go party etc. I take my architecture very seriously.

which leads me to this:

at work I honestly felt discriminated because I am a woman. I got paid as well as the men, but honestly was not given the same types of jobs. And I would say that maybe its me, but after seeing the same situation happen to other women (and in other firms) I realize that the old boys club is alive and kicking. :frowning:

I really dreaded school. I dont really want to go back. But then I have the nagging thought that I am sooooo close. I found that most of the teachers were the same ones from when I went to school the first time. Except older and more bitter. And I had a hard time listening to a few of them drone on and on about Architecture. I found their words to be empty.

but even still…

what’s the point? What’s the point in being an “Architect”
or Bad News Baboon, AIA. I saw my fellow coworkers: that simply meant the work was piled on higher and higher. They didn’t really get the perks of designing…what design is involved in apartments and warehouses anyway? Many cool buildings weren’t designed by certified architects anyay (they are designed and passed on, Plus, it sucks having a salaried job. my co-workers would put in countless hours.
and now, the biz is slowing down.
My firm laid off all interns (which included me).
So I am pursing my art now.

Any advice or comments?
Would you go back and do it all over again?
What would you change?

2

Well, (long post ahead)

Speaking as someone in a similar boat, I can understand your frustration and uncertainty.

I am 1 year from my degree, and I have been working as a drafter for about three years.

My first degree was in Systems Engineering, my first career was programming (8 years with one company). But along the way the Architecture bug bit, and I had to check it out. I was fortunate that I lived near Drexel University, whose Architecture program is in the Evening School and consists of mature (in their 30’s) people who work in architect offices by day and school by night. So they are very understanding of the needs of the older student (things like, couldn’t get to class because I was having a baby.)

While at times the student designs have too much of a practical bent, the general attitude of the faculty is to encourage critical thinking and to develop the design skills that CAD drafters often lack.

Most schools are not set up like this, and instead are creating their type of Architect (a good example of this is University of Penn who produce ARCHITECTS who are GREAT THINKERS, but who don’t know a CMU block from their left foot.) :wink:

There are a few students at Drexel who think they know everything they need to be architects, since “they do it all day” so what they want is a degree, not an education. But most are there to learn the process.

It’s this process that, IMHO, separates the Architect from the drafter. It is easy to copy elements and details from someone elses design, but to understand why those elements are appropriate is the realm of the Architect. Now, having said that, you can have the understanding and education of an Architect, but not the title. To be registered (generally speaking, since each state is slightly different still) you need:

  1. An accredited degree
  2. Complete the Intern Development Program
  3. Hi Opal!
  4. Pass the licensing exams

Then you are a registered Architect. In practical terms it means that you can certify a set of drawings. Within a firm it means less, because there may be people with much more experience then you getting the senior roles. And the senior partner or Principal will be the one sealing drawings. If you don’t think that you will ever do a side project, you don’t need to be registered.

So, why be an Architect? The pay is lousy, when the economy hiccups our workload shrinks, we have lost a lot of the respect the profession used to command, our role in construction is dwindling, and people think that you don’t need much education to design a warehouse or much else. The reason most architects do it is because they have to. This is what they want to do - create buildings, spaces, environments that people can inhabit and use. At it’s best, architecture can shape the way people behave and interact. At it’s worst it can be mindnumbingly banal.

I think a similar question could be asked of mechanics or others in professions that aren’t highly regarded. Why do it if the money sucks and you are treated like crap? Because its what we want to do - its what we are good at.

Honestly, I don’t think I have the temperment to be a designer. I think that the world of the project architect is better suited for me. Or perhaps working obliquely in the profession as a software developer.

About me: 34 years old, male, two kids, 1 previous degree (Eng.) and 8 years at Drexel when I’m done. Currently a drafter/intern which means mostly AutoCAD and some code searches. Occasionally I get to do a little design (door surrounds or something small) I am more sure that architecture is what I want to do than I was of programming, and a lot more sure than I was of engineering.

A book I recommend to anyone who is thinking about architecture is “Architect: A Candid Guide to the Profession” Too bad you didn’t have a chance to read it before beginning your odyssey.

Last two things:

There are very few women in the field. This will cause some degree of discrimination among people who are idiots. I don’t have enough experience to know if firms run by women would be better, but its worth a try. What is more important is to find a firm that believes in educating its interns. There are ones out there.

Second, I think that the architectural education, done properly, can provide benefits beyond designing buildings. Architects are taught to be inclusive, to seek solutions that benefit everyone. They would make good politicians, as one of my teachers said once. They also make good problem solvers. That is a skill that is valuable wherever you are.

Good luck.

3

You could probably insert the title of nearly any profession you could name into your OP and hear a similar tale. My chosen profession is land use planning and I went through a similar period. What the hell am I doing this for? I didn’t go to school to do all this crap - I want to plan cities! I want to change the landscape! I want to help people come together to make their collective ideas come to life! <Insert first Planning Director’s voice here> Great, but before you do all that, could you make sure that the Planning Commission’s conference room is set up, and that the coffee pot is full. We got a complaint that they ran out of coffee during last month’s public hearings.

Getting a start in a profession almost always calls for doing the scut work for low pay and no recognition; however, its by doing the scut work that you learn the meat of the profession. Frank Lloyd Wright didn’t come to work on his first day on the job and say, “I’ve got this great idea for a house - I’ll call if Falling Water.”

So you do the day-to-day stuff. You get a few projects under your belt showing that you can do the work, on-time, on-budget. Then you start getting a few more interesting projects. Maybe you fuck up a few times (maybe? probably). You learn from that, too. Didn’t they teach you how to deal with a construction superintendent who is telling his men that they can punch out at 5:00, even though the owner needs the Certificate of Occupancy next Monday or he owes the bank $500,000? No? That’s OK, you’ll figure something out (my situation was a little more nerve-wracking - the first horse race facility in VA was being constructed under my guidance ($60,000,000 project) - the paint was still wet when we opened the doors). It is in those situations where you really earn your keep and your stripes.

Keep at it. You’ve got a vision and something to say. No, you may not be able to say it in warehouses and schlock apartments, but you’ve got to earn your place at the table and your chance to say, “Hey, I’ve got this great idea…let’s build a…”

4

I am not an architect, but I go to sleep next to one every night.

Well, a former architect.

My husband went through school for the Masters and worked several years in architectural firms. He started a firm with some other people, too, at one point. The pay was lousy and his ability to do anything on his own (while he was working under other architects) was nearly nil. He burned out quick. He instead started to put his CAD and computer skills to work doing architectural animations, moved into computer programming for a while, and now is back to doing computer animation consulting. He is not really an architect anymore; he’s just got the degree.

One of his classmates, however, struck out on his own and began to specialize in church construction and renovations. He is very successful, works on amazing projects that are meaningful and are used by hundreds of people every week. His wife does not work and they live in a very nice large house with a tennis court, swimming pool, etc. And they’ve got five kids to clothe/feed. Last year he took an all-expense-paid trip to Italy, sponsored by some Italian Marble Board. He is not yet 40. He also claims that he is not half the architect Mr. Cranky is. But what he’s got are people skills, drive, and passion.

I think that if you want it, you can succeed. Mr. Cranky couldn’t take it, but his friend did and did so with (he claims) a lot less talent. So who knows?

5

i work at an ae firm. i gotta say if i was going to work there as either an arch or an eng, i would go with structural engineering. the archs in our firm tend to be 5 years and out. the larger firms really chew you up and spit you out. you rarely get any design work, mostly you are chained to a computer all day.

if you enjoyed the model making i would go with that. the amount that our firm pays for a model is incredible. arch modelers really can name their own price. if you need to have a bit of creativity in your life, think theatrical. i have a friend that works in ca with movie studios, they do amazing stuff there. digital modeling is fantastic, and the firm i work with would love to have someone to do that full time. if you like drawing and art think architectural renderings. you wouldn’t believe how specialized this is. if you are good with water colours and have an arch backround you could go very, very, far with that.

6

epeepunk,
I actually did read that book. See, I have always wanted to be an architect. Even as a kid I wanted to be an architect.
So, reading that book, being the oh so wise teenager (:rolleyes:) of course that wouldn’t apply to me! LOL.

plnnr,
re:
Keep at it. You’ve got a vision and something to say. No, you may not be able to say it in warehouses and schlock apartments, but you’ve got to earn your place at the table and your chance to say, “Hey, I’ve got this great idea…let’s build a…”.

Well, I do know that I have to earn my place. I don’t have an issue with that. I completely agree that one must work one’s way up. However, the reality of the situation is: This having a chance to come to the table…well, that doesn’t happen so much. I see people at my firm, people that have been in the field 6 or 7 years and it hasn’t happened to them yet. Most firms have an upper design person who does all the “trophey” work. And prying them from that job…well good luck. surely you must know what an architect’s ego is like!

I have been given stuff to work on that was of merit. We worked on a Train Station (me and my P.A) and while that was exciting…our hands are so tied behind our backs on EVERYTHING. It seems like everytime you would suggest something cool, it would be cut from the budget. Or I find that Ultimately, the contractor designs the job. He tells the client how much cheaper it is to use XX item…well, you know how this story goes. (BTW< it opened up WITH the paint wet!)

and as for FLW, well, he didn’t even go to architecture school. Things were a lot different back then. There were genuine apprenticeships. There was more of a dignity to Architecture. The Architect was held in higher esteem (I believe) and was more free with design elements.
rocking chair,

Model making was fun…
however, working with the materials was so caustic. Model making is a pretty hazardous occupation. Model making firms are few and far between. The one I worked at in CA closed down. now that I a home, I am learning 3d modeling. That is something I could enjoy doing. Where do you work? If you are looking for a full time employee, I do know someone who does that and is looking to do that full time. I do enjoy drawing ( I concentrated in drawing with my art degree)and I especially like watercolours. please tell me more.

7

also,
thank you all for your advice. I appreciate it.

8

rocking chair is in Philly, I think.

And if her firm can deal with a telecommuter, they should talk to my husband! He does gorgeous 3-D architectural modeling (if I do say so myself), and has all the software and video output stuff to do it from our home.

9

Bad News Baboon

You have a general idea about how it works in the “real world”. Yes, generally, owners are budget-focused. Yes most firms have a few designers and a lot of CAD drones. Yes people spend all day building warehouses. But still there are firms where you can do design work (albeit on a small scale), where you do interesting projects, where the clients appreciate good design over cost-value. The trick is finding these firms. Perhaps some web research is in order. Look at all of the architecture firm’s web sites in your area. They all should have a portfolio that you can look at. You have enough experience to be able to tell if a project was value-engineered to death. Also try to decide what kind of architecture you like. I’m at my current firm partly because they do healthcare work. After looking around you should be able to tell if there are any firms that you would like to work for - and then you can pursue them. If might be flattering for them to have you tell them that you want to work there because of the work they do.

I think the question you asked - “what’s the point of being an Architect?” hasn’t really been answered. That may be because its a very personal decision that one makes at some point - I chose a much more frustrating (on the surface) career when I was reasonable happy as a programmer (and making better money :)). Why? Simply because I got more satisfaction out of architecture. Everyone has different reasons - all valid.

So the question I would ask you (if I were mentoring you) is this: You’ve seen one aspect of architecture in the real world, you’ve seen one aspect of architcture in the academic world, you’ve been an artist, you’ve been a model-maker. Which one gave you the most satisfaction? If you decide that its architecture, but the office politics and drudgery turn you off, determine what kind of environment would make it enjoyable - and then find a firm like that. While you can’t avoid all of the boring intern work, a better firm should allow you to participate at a variety of levels.

And reread the “Candid Guide to the Profession” now that you have some experience. Anything different now that you’re not a oh-so-wise teenager?

This time is the best for changing you mind about your career. You don’t want to feel locked into one when you are 40 - that just leads to a mid-life crisis and other bad stuff.

And feel free to e-mail me if you have more specific questions.

10

Paging Weird Al Yankovic

Did you know that Weird Al is an architect? He says he got his degree and couldn’t find a job because he was “overqualified”. So he took a job as a DJ- started making fun of Michael Jackson and Madonna. The rest is history.

You know I think “Ray of Light” is just ripe for parody and I’m sure Madonna wouldn’t mind if you…

11

he is NOT an architect.

going to architecture school does not make one an architect.
you have to be an intern for X years and then pass X number of tests before you can call yourself an architect.

it may seem like a nit pick, but is actually against the law. It is similar to calling yourself a doctor if you are not.

and until recently, interns were NOT allowed to use the title: Intern Architect. A case occured where someone usd this title and due to a long story, lost all his intern hours and had to start over.

LOL:I saw that behind the music too.
He got a degree and didn’t want to pursue architecture. He wanted a “regular” job, but no one would hire him. He went to Cal-Poly with a friend of mine.