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 (cont.)

• 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 (cont.)

• 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 todays living. After designs are
  completed, the individual buildings may be
  designed by other architects. The other facets of
  the planners 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 planners college degree should
  be in architecture, planning, engineering, or
  landscaping with further training for a masters
  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 engineers 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 engineers 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
  persons 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
  estimators 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 writers 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
  surveyors aide with two years of junior college
  and on-the-job experience.
• For further information write to American
  Congress on Surveying and Mapping Woodward
  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 toAmerican Institute of
  Building Design 2730 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 architects or a designers 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 (cont.)

• For further information write to
• Associated Builders Contractors
• P. O. Box 8733
• Baltimore Intl 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 following
  vocational 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
• Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers
• International Union of America
• 815 15th Street, NW
• Washington, DC 20005