re: Who here is an Architect?

I did a semester. It was like some sort of hazing experience rather than actually learning anything about architecture. The market can’t take that many new architects so in my class they were trying to take like 92 freshman down to like 25 graduates. In order to do this, they just developed some horseshite, cult, hazing experience. Like i would have preferred tests on everything about Roman architecture to modern, art history, engineering, anything really. But no let’s just have pompous arse professors who prefer the ego boost than actually doing, succeeding in, and or teaching proficiently architecture themselves.

Also you can get a masters in architecture and only be like one year behind the bachelors of 5 years in architecture so I thought I might as well do that instead of spending 75hrs in the studio at 18 years old and having a social life.

Lastly, that undergraduate time requirement will undoubtedly detract from your other classes and interests. So if you want a well-rounded classical education, it will be very difficult fitting that in.

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Ask George Constanza

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Mike Brady was an architect who met a lovely lady. And they knew it was much more than a hunch, that they must somehow form a family.
That's the way they became the Brady Bunch.

"First, it's a pretty hard degree path."
I am not an architect, but I do think some people choose Landscape Arch thinking it will be easier than Architecture or Civil Engineering which it may be. But the actual program is very rigorous and more than anything requires a ton of time and both sides of your brain.

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alternative career paths open up (ex: facility directors, etc).

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I'm an architect and this is what I do. Most retail corporations (banks/restaurants/etc.), municipalities, hospitals, universities, school districts, etc. have people or a team of people that are in charge of new building, renovations, and repairing their facilities. I hire architects and contractors to preform the work, and I mainly manage the budget and schedule.

I work little to no overtime compared to when I was in private practice. I may have to answer an email or two occasionally after hours, but that typical for most jobs these days. I do miss some of the creativity that comes with being an architect, but I'll sometimes sketch over a drawing I get from an architect or put an initial design down on paper to send to an architect or contractor. So, I occasionally get to scratch that itch.

The company I work for does a good bit of high profile projects and when I tell most people where I work and what I do, they have a ton of questions. The downside is that there is a lot of pressure to make sure it goes smoothly.

I make a good living and really enjoy what I do. I sure a principal at a firm makes more than me, but I don't have to worry about downturns in the economy and working long hours.

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I enjoy the hell out of it. It is immensely gratifying seeing something go from a piece of an idea to a 75 page volume of drawings and then rise from the ground to something tangible that is enjoyed by people.

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My love was something similar. I loved seeing the evolution of a landscape over time. You design a park or space with an experience in mind, and that experience may not happen right at ribbon cutting. It takes years for a landscape to develop into what you envisioned. It's fascinating to me. I love checking in on projects I worked on 15-20 years ago and seeing how they've changed. You get in the space and think "yeah, this is finally what it's supposed to be." It's hugely satisfying.

On the flip side, it's a huge fricking bummer when you go back and see something hasn't been maintained and never saw it's full potential.

How is UL's masters program?

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So, for the architect (including landscape), what's y'all's take on working with structural engineers? Asking for a friend.

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As a custom residential builder, I can tell you they both suck.

I kid, but on jobs where I did not do the design work, I am constantly having to explain to the client why they need to look at the engineered stamped drawing of their plan and not the one they paid the architect to submit when they say "but my architect said this was ok".

And I am not Gods gift to architecture and design, but for coastal construction, I do know what an engineer needs to see and why for instance, you cant put 3ea 4060 bay windows on each wall within 18 inches of the corner of said walls and not expect your costs to rise like a phoenix in order to make it structurally sound enough to get an engineer to stamp it.

EDIT
To be clear, this primarily relates to an owner hiring an architect to design a piling home when they have little experience in doing so.

I’m a fan of I M Pei’s work

Architect here. LSU undergrad in 92. Masters from Oklahoma in 94. School was all consuming to meet crazy deadlines. My longest stretch of no sleeping to meet a deadline was 3+ days. Starting salary of $20k. Got my license in 96. After working for a few firms I went on my own in 99 and own a small firm in Baton Rouge. Decided if I was going to work 60+ hours a week I was going to do it for myself and my family. LOVE what I do and the relationships I have made over the years.
I have had employed interns that don’t have the same work ethic and didn’t last long. Always tell parents of architect hopefuls to let them work for me in the summer and if they still are interested then they have a chance. Some of them went on to be architects, most of them do not.
If you have questions feel free to pm me.
Joseph