Architects often face immense pressure as the lives of many depend on them and their work. Any miscalculation could have serious repercussions; for this reason, architects are required to obtain full insurance coverage in case something unexpected should arise.
Though architecture can be challenging and demanding, its rewards can be endlessly creative and enjoyable. Additionally, you may enjoy relatively short workdays and free weekends!
1. Professionalism
Architecture is a rewarding profession that blends creativity with technical know-how to craft buildings and structures. An architect’s daily tasks may range from meeting with clients to preparing cost estimates; their responsibilities provide ample opportunity for growth throughout their career.
Although some may find the work of an architect stressful, there are many advantages associated with this profession. Architects can earn substantial salaries while enjoying flexible schedules; furthermore, architects have an opportunity to impact many lives through the buildings they design.
Architecture is unlike many other careers in that it does not involve much physical labor; most of it can be completed indoors without risking sunburn or back injury, and most calculations for projects are handled by engineers working on them – leaving architects more time for creative expression.
2. Expertise
Expertise is a term often used across various fields to describe someone who has reached the pinnacle of their performance, often being called a virtuoso, master, maven, prodigy or genius. Expertise can be found anywhere from craftsmanship and sports to music, art and even science and mathematics.
Scientists like Anders Ericsson and Giyoo Hatano have studied the nature of expertise from different angles, offering differing recommendations on how to build it. Ericsson believes the key to becoming an expert lies in practicing skills beyond your current ability level; this helps expand your skill set while increasing performance.
Hatano advises architects to actively search out problems and challenges that will test their abilities, which is known as adaptive expertise. This type of expertise is particularly helpful when facing unpredictable circumstances like diseases, economic crises and weather patterns; architects need to adapt quickly and precisely in order to remain competitive in their fields.
3. Experience
While working as an architect may appear like the dream job for some individuals, becoming licensed professional takes years of hard work and dedication. Furthermore, your success as an architect may depend on economic factors like construction halting; should that occur then your job will likely decrease and demand will decrease too.
Architecture can be an arduous task since no two projects are the same, requiring architects to address various issues such as meeting with clients and contractors, reviewing estimates, drawing plans or accommodating last-minute requests and changes. While such variety can sometimes prove taxing on their professional lives, architects often enjoy their careers for this very reason.
Travel is another key benefit of becoming an architect, from visiting museums to touring new complexes in Asia or architectural achievements around the world. Travel provides them with an invaluable opportunity to expand their creative thinking while learning more about themselves and the world they inhabit – not to mention keeping abreast with current developments within architecture!
4. Time
Architecture is an intensive field that demands much time and dedication, as well as being subject to fluctuating economic cycles that could see construction projects slow down or disappear altogether, leaving architects without business opportunities.
Therefore, architects must keep up-to-date with current construction techniques by reading books and blogs on design developments, as well as traveling and experiencing different places and structures firsthand. Traveling gives architects new insights that may enable them to design superior buildings for their clients.
Architects typically enjoy an ideal work-life balance compared to professions like train driving. Their offices tend to be in relatively comfortable settings without needing to endure rain or heat in order to do their jobs, while long weekends and free nights allow them to enjoy a healthy work-life balance and allow more flexibility when structuring work days around productive periods of time.
5. Cost
Architectural Firm fees can differ widely depending on an architect’s payment methods, level of skill and project size. While some charge fixed prices for smaller jobs that can easily be estimated up front, others use various unit pricing methods including hours per drawing/rendering/dollar per square foot/labor hours plus reimbursed expenses to determine their fees.
No matter their structure, all architectural firms must ensure they’re competitive to attract and keep clients. Some architects may use different pricing models for large projects which require extensive design expertise and design involvement.
An architect may use cost per square foot estimates when dealing with larger custom high-end residential projects that cost millions and involve complex designs with design fees reaching six or seven figures, respectively. Under such circumstances, they must provide accurate cost estimates as well as competitive bids from general contractors – something which may prove more difficult in times of an economic downturn than anticipated.
