Architectural Profession Is Resilient And Relevant. The Skepticism Is Misplaced

In early January 2010, data released from Department of Labor, employment for American Architects had dropped from its peak of 224,500 to 184,600. The public’s perception of architecture as a good career, took a beating.

The future is calling for professional practices to transform, to reinvent. Over the last few months, opinions are divided upon the future of careers in architecture. I feel that they are misplaced and flawed. There is too much unwarranted pessimism and cynicism.

The industry has seen a resurgence and many more people have started opting for a career in architecture. Big scale projects, technological advancement and emergence of a number of specializations within the field of architecture have brought in positive changes, breathing fresh life into it. Architecture has re-emerged as a highly attractive career option carrying great potential in terms of future growth.



There are many reasons that give indications that those who want to pursue a career in architecture can feel upbeat about. All the architects need to do is to reinvent themselves. Changing with the times and paying attention to entrepreneurship will keep you ready and prepared for embracing the opportunities that an architectural career is geared up to provide.

1. Technology is on the upswing and more and more architects are using BIM, 4-D scheduling, 3-D printing, social media, and mobile computing technology in their work. If you can make these technical tools part of your armory, than an entirely new avenue of work opens out to you.
2. Moreover, owing to the recession, many architects lost their jobs. Many of them never re-entered the professions, so it's likely that there will be a gap in the chain, which will benefit budding architects.
3. There is a global demand for good architects and they are getting work regularly from countries as varied as India, Brazil and countries in South East Asia and Africa. New openings are showing up in Canada and South America.
4. Architects are now open to collaboration with design-building teams and to use integrated delivery methods and ensuring that all things that a client wants are under one roof.
5. Projects are being chased by firms, across the board, who want to take advantage of the new market opening across the world, and more architect jobs and work is likely to be available.
   

James P. Cramer and Jane Gaboury in DesignIntelligence say, “The challenges we face today and those we see on the horizon are complex. However, the opportunities are bigger than most of us imagine: profound new practice and delivery structures, technologies that are just beginning to show their potential, high-performance global networks, open marketplaces that redefine commodity work for the better, and so much more.”

According to the 2010-2011 edition of the DesignIntelligence Compensation Survey, architect income remains steady despite the economic downturn. Salaries for recent architecture school graduates are increasing.

Thomas K. Fridstein, manager of major architectural firms, including leading the world's largest architectural practice at AECOM, said, “Humans live, learn, work, and play in the physical environment, of which architects are the creators and guardians. As the needs of the environment change, so do the responses of the architects need to change. The future is promising for architects who understand, embrace, and rise to the challenge of the new normal.”