Whether you’re building a new home, renovating your current home or developing any new kind of building, one of the best decisions you can make is to hire an architect.
An architect sees the big picture — bringing the education, training, experience and vision to guide you through the design, planning and construction process from start to finish. They’re the person who helps you define what you want to build while getting the most for your dollar.
What are all the things an architect brings to the (drawing) table?
When choosing an architect, you need to do a little research. Here are five things to look for:
1. An architect has a specific education and additional training.
To become a licensed architect, you typically need to complete a professional degree in architecture, gain relevant experience as an intern, and pass a licensing exam.
An architect’s career starts with earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture (BArch) from a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited program, which can take about five years to complete. A mix of classroom and studio experiences may cover topics from housing design and computer-aided architectural design (CAD) to lighting/ventilation and electrical/fire safety.
After receiving their degree, a budding architect enters an accredited internship program to gain practical experience. Next, they need to pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) to become licensed.
Some architects pursue a master’s degree in architecture, which can take anywhere from one to five years. Regardless, continuing education is required throughout an architect’s career.
2. An architect has experience before they get to work — and they get better with more experience.
Every licensed U.S. architect must complete the Architectural Experience ProgramⓇ (AXP), which includes 96 key tasks within six practice areas. Architects need to report a total of 3,740 hours across the six areas in their National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Record to demonstrate their ability to perform those key tasks.
3. An architect has creativity and the ability to see the big picture.
When it comes down to it, an architect combines their creative talent with art and science — solving design challenges and creating innovative solutions that meet their clients’ needs.
If a client has a uniquely challenging request, architects must use their out-of-the-box thinking and creativity to turn that idea into a reality. They need to use their imagination to create innovative designs and bring visualizations to life.
Most architects boost their creativity by immersing themselves in diverse design disciplines and cultures — looking for inspiration from nature, art, and historical architecture, engaging in creative exercises, and collaborating with professionals from different fields for fresh perspectives.
4. An architect is skilled at using technology to bring ideas to life.
With all of that education, experience and creativity, turning designs into buildings requires cutting-edge technology. While a few decades ago architects got by with pencils and paper, today’s professionals have a variety of tools at their disposal.
For example, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools are essential for creating precise technical drawings and plans. Architects use this software to draft architectural layouts, cross-sections, and elevations with accuracy.
And the most advanced tech being used today in Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology to communicate ideas and information from the original design phase all the way to the construction document phase, and then finally through the completion of the project.
Of course, today’s communications and file-sharing tools enable architects to enjoy seamless collaboration, regardless of location. They can connect with other stakeholders in the building process, such as engineers, contractors, and clients.
5. An architect is an effective communicator and builds strong relationships.
When you first hire your architect, they’ll discuss your wants and needs. It’s important for them to understand all details about the project, so architects must be able to communicate clearly and concisely.
It’s crucial that architects are transparent and honest about the feasibility of the requests, potential challenges, and the estimated timeline and costs.
With clear communication and honesty, architects can establish trust with their clients (and vendors and partners) that gets the job done and builds a positive reputation.
When you hire a good architect, you’re hiring:
- A creative thinker
- A problem-solver
- An efficiency expert
- A budget manager
And when you work with a professional from Patuxent Architects, you get all this and more. Contact us and discover why you should hire one of our architects for your next project!
