4 answers
Giselle
Student
Durham, North Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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What do architects actually do?
What do they do on a daily, do you talk to a lot of people and do you ever get days off?
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4 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3918
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Architects are skilled professionals who craft and coordinate the construction of buildings and other structures. They merge their artistic flair and technical abilities to produce functional, secure, and visually appealing spaces. Their work spans various projects, including homes, commercial structures, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, museums, and public areas.
Here's a breakdown of their daily duties and responsibilities:
1. Design: Architects dedicate a considerable amount of time to designing buildings and structures. They collaborate with clients to comprehend their needs and desires, then create initial designs that fulfill these requirements. This process includes generating sketches, drawings, and 3D models with computer-aided design (CAD) software.
2. Planning: Architects are tasked with planning the arrangement and structure of spaces within a building, considering elements like functionality, accessibility, safety regulations, and environmental impact. This involves deciding the location of rooms, windows, doors, staircases, and other architectural features.
3. Research: Architects must keep up with the latest trends, materials, technologies, and building codes to integrate them into their designs. They investigate various architecture-related topics, such as sustainable design methods or inventive construction techniques.
4. Collaboration: Architects frequently team up with other professionals like engineers, contractors, interior designers, and landscape architects. They work closely with these individuals to ensure every aspect of the project is effectively coordinated.
5. Client meetings: Architects often meet with clients to discuss project requirements, present design proposals, and address any concerns or modifications. Clear communication is vital in understanding the client's vision and converting it into a viable design.
6. Documentation: Architects produce detailed drawings and specifications that guide the construction process for builders and contractors. These documents include floor plans, elevations, sections, construction details, material specifications, and cost estimates.
7. Site visits: Architects monitor construction sites to track progress, confirm the design is being executed correctly, and address any issues that may arise during the construction phase. They work closely with contractors to resolve any design-related challenges and make necessary adjustments.
8. Project management: Architects oversee the entire construction process from inception to completion. They liaise with various stakeholders, manage budgets and timelines, and ensure the project is completed within the specified parameters.
Architects interact with a diverse group of people daily. They communicate with clients, engineers, contractors, interior designers, landscape architects, and other professionals involved in the project. Effective collaboration and communication skills are vital for architects to successfully realize their designs.
Regarding time off, architects usually work a standard 40-hour week. However, during busy periods or when project deadlines approach, they may need to work extended hours or weekends. Like any profession, architects also take vacations and time off for personal reasons.
In summary, architects are instrumental in designing and planning buildings and structures. Their daily tasks involve designing, planning, researching, collaborating, meeting with clients, preparing documentation, conducting site visits, and managing projects. They interact with various individuals throughout the process and may have flexible working hours depending on project demands.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications or Domain Names Used:
1. American Institute of Architects (AIA) - www.aia.org
2. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) - www.architecture.com
3. National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) - www.ncarb.org
Here's a breakdown of their daily duties and responsibilities:
1. Design: Architects dedicate a considerable amount of time to designing buildings and structures. They collaborate with clients to comprehend their needs and desires, then create initial designs that fulfill these requirements. This process includes generating sketches, drawings, and 3D models with computer-aided design (CAD) software.
2. Planning: Architects are tasked with planning the arrangement and structure of spaces within a building, considering elements like functionality, accessibility, safety regulations, and environmental impact. This involves deciding the location of rooms, windows, doors, staircases, and other architectural features.
3. Research: Architects must keep up with the latest trends, materials, technologies, and building codes to integrate them into their designs. They investigate various architecture-related topics, such as sustainable design methods or inventive construction techniques.
4. Collaboration: Architects frequently team up with other professionals like engineers, contractors, interior designers, and landscape architects. They work closely with these individuals to ensure every aspect of the project is effectively coordinated.
5. Client meetings: Architects often meet with clients to discuss project requirements, present design proposals, and address any concerns or modifications. Clear communication is vital in understanding the client's vision and converting it into a viable design.
6. Documentation: Architects produce detailed drawings and specifications that guide the construction process for builders and contractors. These documents include floor plans, elevations, sections, construction details, material specifications, and cost estimates.
7. Site visits: Architects monitor construction sites to track progress, confirm the design is being executed correctly, and address any issues that may arise during the construction phase. They work closely with contractors to resolve any design-related challenges and make necessary adjustments.
8. Project management: Architects oversee the entire construction process from inception to completion. They liaise with various stakeholders, manage budgets and timelines, and ensure the project is completed within the specified parameters.
Architects interact with a diverse group of people daily. They communicate with clients, engineers, contractors, interior designers, landscape architects, and other professionals involved in the project. Effective collaboration and communication skills are vital for architects to successfully realize their designs.
Regarding time off, architects usually work a standard 40-hour week. However, during busy periods or when project deadlines approach, they may need to work extended hours or weekends. Like any profession, architects also take vacations and time off for personal reasons.
In summary, architects are instrumental in designing and planning buildings and structures. Their daily tasks involve designing, planning, researching, collaborating, meeting with clients, preparing documentation, conducting site visits, and managing projects. They interact with various individuals throughout the process and may have flexible working hours depending on project demands.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications or Domain Names Used:
1. American Institute of Architects (AIA) - www.aia.org
2. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) - www.architecture.com
3. National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) - www.ncarb.org
Melinda Miles
Interior Designer
9
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Melinda’s Answer
Hi Giselle,
Architects design the look and structure of a building or home. They lay out the footprint of the structure, where the walls will go, and where the plumbing, lighting, doors, and windows will go. They determine the finishes that will be on the outside of the house. They plan how the roof lines will go on top of the building. They use AutoCAD to draw the blueprint plans that will be used to build the structure.
Architects work directly with the owners of the building being created. They often sit down with these clients and get the clients' input in order to design the project to suit their needs. Sometimes they spend time out on the projects while they are under construction advising the contractors on any design issues that may arise.
As a rule, architects keep standard business hours, Monday through Friday, putting in eight or nine hours days. They get weekends off but may meet a client on an occasional Saturday if that is what fits the client's schedule.
Architects design the look and structure of a building or home. They lay out the footprint of the structure, where the walls will go, and where the plumbing, lighting, doors, and windows will go. They determine the finishes that will be on the outside of the house. They plan how the roof lines will go on top of the building. They use AutoCAD to draw the blueprint plans that will be used to build the structure.
Architects work directly with the owners of the building being created. They often sit down with these clients and get the clients' input in order to design the project to suit their needs. Sometimes they spend time out on the projects while they are under construction advising the contractors on any design issues that may arise.
As a rule, architects keep standard business hours, Monday through Friday, putting in eight or nine hours days. They get weekends off but may meet a client on an occasional Saturday if that is what fits the client's schedule.
Juanita Brown
Vendor operations specialist
21
Answers
Apopka, Florida
Updated
Juanita’s Answer
Hi Gisellle! Architects design the overall look of buildings. They manage contracts with buyers and others and make sure the final product is what is desired or better! You work with lots of floor plans and blue prints that are basically the maps to these buildings. These could be offices, apartments, stores, houses, malls, anything honestly!
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
Matt Gardner
Data Science and Analytics
8
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Matt’s Answer
Unless you are an architect that runs their own business and do not want to take any time off - then yes - if you work for a company as an architect you will have benefits that include paid time off - but it can vary between firms.
And yes you will talk to lots of people - communication skills are critical in almost all jobs - and architecture is no different - for example you might be working for a client and need to spend quite a lot of time understanding what they need!
And yes you will talk to lots of people - communication skills are critical in almost all jobs - and architecture is no different - for example you might be working for a client and need to spend quite a lot of time understanding what they need!