So you want to be an Architect? Designing skyscrapers, drinking coffee while wearing all black sounds right up your alley, huh? Well it’s a little more than that.
I think we’ve all been in a similar situation. You’re at a party (or some mundane networking event) and you are slowly making your rounds, going through the same greeting scenario with new people.
For me, it goes something like this:
New Person: Hi, I’m Tom (I’m currently trying to shake your hand with a professional firmness that has taken me time perfecting)
Me: Hi Tom, I’m Stevie (I prepare for the reaction to my name. I’ve gotten only a few different ones and, over my 30 years, I have solidified the response to each)
Tom: So Stevie, what do you do?
Me: I’m an Architect at my firm.
Tom: Oh wow! So what does an Architect do exactly?
And there it is. A question that, without them knowing, is so loaded that most of the time I’m not sure where to begin. You see, TV and movies have Architect’s portrayed in a particular way that, in my opinion is the exception, not the rule.
I’m not even going to touch on the appearance and dress of the stereotypical Architect (that will be addressed in a separate post.) I’m mainly speaking about how the media portrays our daily tasks and what an architect does.
Yes, there are very famous Architects all over the world whose day-to-day is completely different from mine I’m sure. But this post is about the everyday Architect. The one you sit by at church, see in the grocery store shopping (and price checking) every week.
The one who is in a career they love, but it does not define their life.
Now, let me just address that each and every day is completely different for me. On some days I may be able to put my headphones one and design to my heart’s content on one of my client’s projects (these are the good days!) But, the reality is that most days are filled with juggling a multitude of different tasks. Tasks I never even thought about while I was attending Architecture School.
And this is one of those days:
7:45-8:00 – I open shop. I’m usually one of the first to arrive at the office. This is my time to prepare my coffee, look at my email (and answer emails I may have gotten over night), and mainly just get organized for the day.
8:30 – I email my engineers about a project I am needing their sheets on. As the Architect, it is my job to combine all the engineer’s sheets in order to give the project over to Code Enforcement for review. Maybe I’ll get something from them after lunch.
In the meantime, I guess I’ll PDF my sheets to have ready. This is a renovation project we have been working on for about four months. It’s going to be a fun one to watch come to reality!
8:45 – One of my clients wants me to select a door pull for their office renovation. Let me see what I can find.
9:15 – I create a color/material board for another one of my client’s office project. No messy vision boards here! In true Architect fashion, it’s a clean simple layout (not my best layout, honestly, but it delivers the information well.)
9:35 – Try to wash the spray fix off my hands (Nope, they don’t show this in the movies. Gross!)
9:45 – Awesome! I have a couple hours to do some CAD work! Turn up the headphones and let’s get rollin’!
10:13 – Oh wait, call just came in for me. Contractor needing a sketch of how to install a specific window type. Save CAD work, sketch detail.
10:50 – Before jumping back into CAD world, let me check my email. Yep. Some submittals are coming in for another project. I’ll look at these before lunch and send back.
11:30 – LUNCH TIME!!! For most employees this is a welcomed one-hour break from all the hustle and bustle. And for me, it’s honestly not so different except I have the perk of working with my husband. This means I always have a lunch buddy to talk shop with!
12:45(ish) – Ok. Let me get back on this CAD work until something pops up that needs my attention.
2:30 – I go to take some pictures of a building a potential client is looking to renovate (inside and out.) This one may be a little tricky since the Town it’s in considers it to be historic. In short, Historic = limited options in what an architect can do. I’ll be scheduling a meeting with the Town Planner to discuss possible options soon.
3:15 – My (awesome) CAD tech delivers a check set of one of our projects. Time to look it over and make any corrections. (Note: these redlines always look worse than they really are!)
4:00 – The Engineer’s set has been emailed to me. Time to look it over, combine all the sheets together, and update the Index on the Coversheet. I get the set ready and email it over to the Contractor. He’ll take care of submitting it to Code Enforcement.
5:00(ish) – Well, time to pack up and get ready to head home! Another day in the books!
Recap:
Did I get everything accomplished I wanted to today? No. And usually I never do; my day is constantly changing and evolving. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned is that everything will be there tomorrow; that everyone needs to make time to go home and enjoy their families at the end of the day.
Some days, or weeks even, I will work weekends or longer days because the company is just that swamped with work. But mostly I just try to prioritize my day as best I can and give each project the attention it deserves.
Architecture is a part of who I am, but it does not define me.
So no, unlike the media may have you believe, I don’t design all day on a drafting board, I don’t sketch in my moleskin, and I haven’t created a physical model since college (though I would LOVE to do all these things!) But I LOVE what I do all the same.
I love helping my client’s dreams become reality; whether it’s doing a small renovation to their offices, helping select a new paint scheme, or designing a brand new building. My career is very rewarding and I don’t regret a second of it!
Check out NCARB to find out more about the basics of becoming an architect. And learn more about my personal experience of architecture school and the architect licensure process by checking out my posts!
