Nature of work
An architect plans and designs buildings and other structures.He/she can get new job by marketing himself /herself and giving presentations, consults with clients to determine requirements for structures, estimates materials, equipment, costs, and the period of completing constructions. Also, he/she prepares, designs, and defines specifications, directs workers who prepares drawings and documents, and of the project. Moreover, he/she prepares contracts documents for building contractors, manages construction contracts, and visits worksites to ensure that construction matches the architectural plans. An architect is responsible for designing places, whether they are private or public, indoors outdoors, rooms or buildings.
An architect also may help clients get construction bids, select contractors, and negotiate construction contracts. He/she may visit building sites to ensure that contractors follow the design, fit the schedule, use the specified materials, and meet work-quality standards. He/she works closely with his/her client and users to make sure that designs match his/her needs and are functional, safe and economical.
Environment of work
Contracted working hours may be from 9am to 5pm, but it is not common for the architect to work long hours, including evenings and weekends. An architect is mainly office based, but his/her work might include out-of-office visits to clients and sites. Appropriate safety equipment, such as protective boots and headgear, must be worn on sites. Self-employment or freelance work is possible, especially for experienced architect. Part-time work or career breaks may be possible in some organizations, although are generally fairly uncommon. The dress code can be conservative, and architects are expected to dress smartly, even when visiting sites. There may be considerable travel within a working day, although absence from home overnight is uncommon. A car is not usually offered, but mileage for site visits may be payable. Professional life
In private practices, there is no set career structure, with promotion and career development dependent on the individual firm and on the architect’s professional competence, reputation and field of employment. Generally, there is more opportunities to advance through the company structure with larger firms. With experience, a considerable number of the architect set up his/her own practices. In the public sector, career progression differs in structure and is influenced by the nature and responsibilities of public institutions. In local authorities and the Civil Service, it is possible to progress to become head of a much larger department employing. It is also common for professionals to move between local authorities and organizations in the private sector in order to gain broader experience and seek more senior positions. There are also opportunities to move into lecturing work in universities or into specialist fields, such as project management, planning, landscape architecture or conservation. There are also many opportunities in consultancy or for employment overseas, as all the big construction and engineering companies operate throughout the world.Range of typical starting salaries: 55000 SYP.
Getting the job
Courses in architecture generally require a high standard of academic ability. In addition to reasonable proficiency in mathematics and science, an interest in artistic fields such as drawing and model making can be a great help.There are three main steps to become a chartered architect: completing a professional degree in architecture, gaining work experience through an internship, an
architect earn his/her professional degree through a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree program, intended for students with no previous architectural training. Others earn a master’s degree which can take 1 to 5 years to complete, depending on the extent of one’s previous training in architecture.
Skills
There are many skills an architect needs to have and improve, such as:Analytical skills: he/she must understand the content of designs and the context in which they were created.
Communication skills: he/she shares his/her ideas, both in oral and writing, with clients, other architects, and workers who help prepare drawings.
Creativity: he/she creates the overall look of buildings.
Critical-thinking skills: When designing a building, he/she must be able to provide solutions to unanticipated challenges.
Organizational skills: he/she often manages contracts. Therefore, he/she must keep records related to the details of a project, including total cost, materials used, and progress.
Technical skills: he/she uses computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) programs to create plans as part of integrated building information modeling (BIM).
Visualization skills: he/she must be able to "see" how the parts of a structure relate to each other.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:· www.architecture.com, Royal Institute of British Architects
· www.architecturaldigest.com, international design authority, featuring the work of top architects and designers.
· The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256
· www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.
· Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.
Summary
An architect is a person trained and experienced in designing, buildings and coordinating and supervising all aspects of the construction of buildings.He must be creative and practical, and have an understanding of structure, materials, aesthetics, costs, regulations, the construction industry and the personal tastes and needs of clients.
He must be able to negotiate through conflicting elements to provide a creative solution briefly, and to transfer the solution from idea to reality.