6 answers
Deyhanara
Student
Berkeley, California
1
Question
Asked
2043 views
With evolving technologies, would it be recommended that I dual - major or at least minor in programming to better incorporate technologies in my future career as an architect?
Hello, I'm a first year architecture student in UC Berkeley. I've wondering about the developing models of creation and planning and how that will affect my future in the field. I wonder how will the future of planning & drafting change. About how will we incorporate developing models of technology. Will there be incorporations of Virtual Reality in the creation of spaces? Will AI be used as a tool for creation? If we are headed towards this model of innovation would any professionals in the architecture field recommend that I dual-major or at least minor in programming? Are there any professionals out there that I could get in contact with who have current work experience in the field and could help me out in making my decision? Thank you!
Login to comment
6 answers
Ibrahim Ali
Software Developer
9
Answers
Mogadishu, Banaadir, Somalia
Updated
Ibrahim’s Answer
Hey! First of all — huge respect for thinking about this early on. Architecture is evolving fast, and your instincts are spot on. Technology like AI, VR/AR, generative design, and parametric modeling is becoming a big part of the field, and it’s only going to grow.
Here’s my honest take, as someone who’s seen tech blend with design in real-time:
👷♂️ Yes, Learning Programming is a Smart Move
You don’t need to be a full-stack developer, but knowing how to code — even at a basic level — will give you a serious edge. Especially with tools like:
Grasshopper + Rhino (parametric design)
Unity or Unreal Engine (VR walkthroughs)
Python or JavaScript for scripting automations in modeling software or AI tools
Even a minor in Computer Science or programming could open doors to creative tech roles in architecture that most grads won’t be qualified for.
🔮 The Future of Architecture = Tech + Design
AI is helping generate floorplans, analyze energy use, and optimize layouts
VR/AR is huge in presenting immersive designs to clients and stakeholders
Generative design lets you test hundreds of variations instantly
Automation is cutting time on repetitive modeling tasks
The best part? These tools don’t replace creativity — they enhance it. Architects who understand tech will lead the future of design.
💬 How to Connect With Pros
Check out:
LinkedIn – Search "computational designer" or "architect + AI" and message them respectfully
UC Berkeley’s architecture or computer science departments – Ask professors for alumni or guest speaker connections
ACADIA & AIA conferences – You’ll find tons of pros innovating at the intersection of tech and architecture
You could also look into Design Technology or Computational Design roles — those are real jobs now!
🎯 Final Thought
If tech excites you and you want to stay future-proof, go for the minor in programming. It’ll stretch your skills, deepen your design thinking, and make your work stand out. You don’t need to know everything — just enough to speak both design and tech fluently.
Proud of you for thinking like a future architect and innovator. You’re on the right path. 🙌 Let me know if you want help finding beginner coding resources made for designers!
Here’s my honest take, as someone who’s seen tech blend with design in real-time:
👷♂️ Yes, Learning Programming is a Smart Move
You don’t need to be a full-stack developer, but knowing how to code — even at a basic level — will give you a serious edge. Especially with tools like:
Grasshopper + Rhino (parametric design)
Unity or Unreal Engine (VR walkthroughs)
Python or JavaScript for scripting automations in modeling software or AI tools
Even a minor in Computer Science or programming could open doors to creative tech roles in architecture that most grads won’t be qualified for.
🔮 The Future of Architecture = Tech + Design
AI is helping generate floorplans, analyze energy use, and optimize layouts
VR/AR is huge in presenting immersive designs to clients and stakeholders
Generative design lets you test hundreds of variations instantly
Automation is cutting time on repetitive modeling tasks
The best part? These tools don’t replace creativity — they enhance it. Architects who understand tech will lead the future of design.
💬 How to Connect With Pros
Check out:
LinkedIn – Search "computational designer" or "architect + AI" and message them respectfully
UC Berkeley’s architecture or computer science departments – Ask professors for alumni or guest speaker connections
ACADIA & AIA conferences – You’ll find tons of pros innovating at the intersection of tech and architecture
You could also look into Design Technology or Computational Design roles — those are real jobs now!
🎯 Final Thought
If tech excites you and you want to stay future-proof, go for the minor in programming. It’ll stretch your skills, deepen your design thinking, and make your work stand out. You don’t need to know everything — just enough to speak both design and tech fluently.
Proud of you for thinking like a future architect and innovator. You’re on the right path. 🙌 Let me know if you want help finding beginner coding resources made for designers!
Sneha Deb
Tech Consultant
194
Answers
Edison, New Jersey
Updated
Sneha’s Answer
Hey Deyhanara! You're asking the right questions at the perfect time, and your curiosity already puts you ahead. As architecture becomes more integrated with technology, through tools like VR, AI, parametric design, and smart building systems. Having programming skills will absolutely give you an edge. Minoring or dual-majoring in programming can open doors to innovative design approaches and make you more adaptable in a rapidly evolving field. Connecting with professionals through platforms like LinkedIn, school alumni networks, or architecture tech conferences can give you real-world insight and guidance. Good luck!
Emer Delos Reyes
Network Architect
3
Answers
Pleasant Hill, California
Updated
Emer’s Answer
Hello Deyhanara, You're definitely on the right path with this mindset! Adding programming to your education is a smart choice, especially as technology keeps changing the world of architecture. Today’s architecture often uses new techniques like parametric design, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and tools for studying the environment. With programming, you can build your own tools or improve the ones you already use, making them fit your needs perfectly. Plus, programming lets you try out computational design, helping you create exciting new structures that are hard to make with just traditional methods. Keep going, and best of luck!
John Venuto
Telecom Engineer
1
Answer
Dallas, Texas
Updated
John’s Answer
Greetings Deyhanara, Great questions! I think that you are on the right track here. Even if you don't pursue a minor in CS, if you take a couple of CS/AI/VR classes to get a good feel of the basics and concepts behind programming it should prove worth it.
I'm not in architecture of buildings, but in my current role, I do design and architecture of technology elements to elegantly and efficiently solve problems for my company. So I'm a huge proponent of the importance of design! Even though I eventually landed on a major of computer engineering, one of my very first classes in college my freshman year was AutoCAD drawing.
With a little CS background, besides just developing up-to-date technology knowledge skills, you'll still be designing... You'll might find that there are a lot of design aspects and approaches that you can also learn-by-doing with programming. Design is design! :) Innovation comes about when you can find ways to apply approaches and ideas in one domain and bring it to another domain. Systems thinking is also huge... learning how things affect other things, dependencies, scalability, usability, etc. etc.
My current view is that AI will be valuable for design thinking in the future, but it will always only remain a tool for humans to leverage. It will probably be instrumental for your career to know and keep up to date with AI and VR capabilities, but I believe that AI will continue to be no substitute for the design ability we retain as humans. There are just to many inputs and externalities that AI can't ever know about. Technology and tools to create things will continue to evolve and the "barrier to create" will continually go down, but the key will always be what you will bring with these tools to your work.
I'm not in architecture of buildings, but in my current role, I do design and architecture of technology elements to elegantly and efficiently solve problems for my company. So I'm a huge proponent of the importance of design! Even though I eventually landed on a major of computer engineering, one of my very first classes in college my freshman year was AutoCAD drawing.
With a little CS background, besides just developing up-to-date technology knowledge skills, you'll still be designing... You'll might find that there are a lot of design aspects and approaches that you can also learn-by-doing with programming. Design is design! :) Innovation comes about when you can find ways to apply approaches and ideas in one domain and bring it to another domain. Systems thinking is also huge... learning how things affect other things, dependencies, scalability, usability, etc. etc.
My current view is that AI will be valuable for design thinking in the future, but it will always only remain a tool for humans to leverage. It will probably be instrumental for your career to know and keep up to date with AI and VR capabilities, but I believe that AI will continue to be no substitute for the design ability we retain as humans. There are just to many inputs and externalities that AI can't ever know about. Technology and tools to create things will continue to evolve and the "barrier to create" will continually go down, but the key will always be what you will bring with these tools to your work.
Stefan Elser
Data Scientist
8
Answers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Updated
Stefan’s Answer
Hi Deyhanara,
I'm in a programming heavy field and successfully use programming in my daily tasks but I did not major or minor in the field. However, I did take a course in programming in high school and another in my undergraduate. I think these were both beneficial to me in providing a foundational understanding of how computers work and how to get started. In the rapidly advancing ability for generative AI and low or no code applications to handle the details for you, an approach like this might be a good way to get started and prepare you.
My approach of adding a few courses to my degree program worked well because when I did eventually find myself programming regularly it was in a specific field (statistics) that has its own specialized languages and it was better for me to immerse myself hands on with these when the time came, many years after taking these initial courses.
Best wishes!
I'm in a programming heavy field and successfully use programming in my daily tasks but I did not major or minor in the field. However, I did take a course in programming in high school and another in my undergraduate. I think these were both beneficial to me in providing a foundational understanding of how computers work and how to get started. In the rapidly advancing ability for generative AI and low or no code applications to handle the details for you, an approach like this might be a good way to get started and prepare you.
My approach of adding a few courses to my degree program worked well because when I did eventually find myself programming regularly it was in a specific field (statistics) that has its own specialized languages and it was better for me to immerse myself hands on with these when the time came, many years after taking these initial courses.
Best wishes!
Tim Dwight
telecommunications engineer
3
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Tim’s Answer
I'm not sure what sort of "architecture" you're studying, but if it's computer related then a background in programming is IMHO essential. You're not likely to start as a computer systems architect, that's more a position to which you'd aspire. Programming expertise may get you into the role from which you advance to system architect. Or not... you may find you love programming! In general I find programming develops and allows you to demonstrate skills (e.g., analytical thinking) applicable to many roles. Full disclosure... my degree was in Computer Science and I taught it at University (so may be biased).