assignment meaning in architecture

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The ultimate guide for architecture students, a 2024 comprehensive guide for aspiring architecture students: building your path to success.

Becoming an architect is both exciting and challenging. Architecture is a field that combines creativity, science, and practicality, making it a unique discipline to study. Whether you're a high school student considering architecture school or a current architecture student looking to excel in your studies, this comprehensive guide is here to help you navigate your journey. We will cover what an architecture student should know, how to prepare for architecture school, strategies for studying architecture effectively, and tips for becoming proficient in this field.

Section 1: What an Architecture Student Should Know

The Basics of Architecture Education

Architecture education is a blend of art, science, and technology. In this section, we'll delve into the fundamental aspects of architecture school, including the curriculum, studio culture, and the importance of creativity in architectural design.

• Types of Architecture Courses
• 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
• How to Become an Architect?
• How to Become an Interior Designer?

Key Skills and Traits

To thrive as an architecture student, certain skills and traits are crucial. We'll discuss the essential abilities, such as problem-solving, communication, and attention to detail, that every aspiring architect should develop.

• Free Architecture Courses
• Online Architecture Courses

The Importance of Inspiration

Architecture is as much about inspiration as it is about technical knowledge. Discover how to find and nurture your sources of inspiration and why it's vital for your development as an architecture student.

Section 2: Preparing Yourself for Architecture School

High school preparation.

If you're still in high school and considering architecture school, this section is for you. Learn how to choose the right courses, build a strong portfolio, and make informed decisions about your future.

• Choosing the Right Architecture School: A Comprehensive Guide  updated
• Thriving in Graduate School for Architecture Students

Section 3: A Guide for Architecture Students - Types Degrees of Architecture

Types degrees of architecture.

• Free Architecture Courses with a Certificate
• Online Architecture Degree
• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
• Online Bachelor's Degree in Architecture
• Master of Architecture and Urban Design
• Studying Architecture in the United States
• Best Architecture Schools
• Environmental Studies
• Online Environmental Science Degree
• Human Values and Environmental Studies

Interior Design Education

• Online Interior Design Colleges  (An extensive complete guide)

The Application Process

Navigating the application process for architecture school can be overwhelming. We'll provide a step-by-step guide on how to prepare an outstanding application, including tips for writing an effective personal statement and portfolio preparation.

• Preparing an Impressive Architecture Portfolio for Architecture School Admission
• Preparing a Strong Graduate School Application for Architecture Students

Financial Planning

Studying architecture can be costly. Explore financial planning strategies, including scholarships, grants, and managing student loans, to make your education more affordable.

Section 4: Studying Architecture Effectively

Mastering time management.

Time management is crucial in architecture school. Learn techniques to balance studio work, coursework, and personal life while staying productive.

• The secrets of learning Architecture : 9 Things Every Architecture Student Needs to Know Now
• Time Management Tips for Architects
• Construction Management

Effective Study Techniques

Discover study techniques tailored to architecture students, including visual learning strategies, 3D modeling tools, and collaborative project management.

• Architecture Time Management: How to Stop Wasting Valuable Study and Work Time

Making the Most of Studio

Architectural studio is the heart of your education. Find out how to optimize your studio time, engage with professors, and collaborate with peers to enhance your learning experience.

Section 5: Excelling in Your Architectural Journey

Building a strong portfolio.

Your portfolio is your calling card in the architecture world. Get tips on creating a standout portfolio that showcases your skills and creativity.

Internships and Work Experience

Gaining practical experience through internships is invaluable. Explore how to secure internships, what to expect, and how it can shape your career.

Networking and Professional Development

Building a professional network is essential for future success. Learn the art of networking, attending architectural events, and staying updated with industry trends.

Section 6: A Guide for Architecture Students - PDF Free Download

Download Your Comprehensive Guide

We offer this guide as a free PDF download for your convenience. Get all the valuable insights and tips in one easy-to-access document.

Explore Further

Related Subjects

• Architecture Career Paths: Beyond the Studio: Discover the diverse career opportunities that await architecture graduates, from urban planning to sustainable design.
• Architectural Styles Throughout History: Dive into the rich history of architectural styles, from ancient civilizations to modern design movements.
• Sustainability in Architecture: Designing for the Future: Explore how architects are leading the way in sustainable and eco-friendly building practices.

The journey to become an architect is a rewarding endeavor. This guide has provided you with valuable insights into what it takes to excel in architecture school and beyond. Whether you're just starting or well on your way, remember that dedication, creativity, and continuous learning are the keys to success in the field of architecture. Keep exploring, designing, and building your path to a fulfilling architectural career.

Questions and Answers 

FAQs: Navigating Your Architecture Education

In this section, we provide detailed answers to some common questions that aspiring and current architecture students might have. Whether you're just starting to consider a career in architecture or are already on your path to becoming an architect, these insights aim to guide and inform your educational journey.

What should an architecture student have?

Essential Tools and Resources:

• Drawing Supplies: Pencils, pens, markers, and drafting paper are fundamental for sketching and drafting.
• Model-Making Materials: Cardboard, balsa wood, cutting tools, and adhesives are crucial for creating physical models of your designs.
• Digital Software: Familiarize yourself with essential architecture software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Revit.
• Laptop: A reliable and powerful laptop that can run design software smoothly is indispensable.
• Portfolio: Develop a portfolio to showcase your best work, including drawings, models, and any real-world projects or internships.

Personal Attributes:

• Creativity and Imagination: These are core to generating original and effective design solutions.
• Technical Aptitude: Understanding basic principles of mathematics and physics is beneficial for grasping structural and mechanical aspects of building design.
• Time Management Skills: The ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines efficiently is crucial.
• Resilience: Be prepared to receive and constructively respond to criticism; resilience is key to growth and improvement.

What books should architecture students read?

Foundational Texts:

• " Architecture: Form, Space, and Order " by Francis D.K. Ching: Provides a visual introduction to the basic elements of architectural design.
• "A Pattern Language" by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, and Murray Silverstein: Offers practical design guidance applicable to architectural projects of any size.
• "Towards a New Architecture" by Le Corbusier: Presents pioneering concepts that have influenced modern architectural design.

Inspirational Reads:

• "The Poetics of Space" by Gaston Bachelard: Explores the importance of spatial imagination in architecture.
• "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino: A novel that can expand your perception of how space and cities can be imagined and interpreted.

How many hours should an architecture student study?

• Varied Schedule: The number of hours can vary widely depending on coursework, project deadlines, and individual work habits. However, architecture students often engage in extensive studio work, which can require more hours than typical classroom-based courses.
• General Guideline: On average, expect to dedicate at least 40-50 hours per week to your architecture studies, including time spent in class, studio, and completing assignments. During periods of project deadlines or exams, this may increase significantly.
• Balanced Approach: While dedication is essential, ensure you allocate time for rest, exercise, and social activities to maintain overall well-being and prevent burnout.

How do I prepare myself for architecture school?

Academic Preparation:

• Strengthen Relevant Skills: Enhance your drawing skills, familiarize yourself with design software, and strengthen your math and physics fundamentals.
• Read Widely: Engage with both technical books and architecture magazines to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the field.
• Visit Architectural Sites: Experiencing architecture firsthand can provide valuable insights and inspiration.

Personal Preparation:

• Develop a Routine: Cultivate strong time-management habits that can help you balance the demanding workload.
• Connect with Peers and Professionals: Join online forums, attend architecture-related events, and network with current students and professionals to gain insights and advice.
• Mindset: Cultivate resilience and openness to feedback, as these will be crucial in navigating the challenges and critiques inherent in architecture education.

Additional Questions and Answers for Aspiring Architecture Students

How can i improve my design skills in architecture school.

Practice Regularly: The more you design, the better you get. Engage in regular sketching, model-making, and digital design exercises.

Study Great Works: Analyze and learn from the designs of renowned architects. Understand their approach to problem-solving and innovation.

Participate in Competitions: Competitions can provide unique challenges that push your creative boundaries and offer valuable feedback.

Collaborate: Working with peers can introduce new perspectives and techniques that can enhance your own design skills.

Seek Feedback: Constructive criticism is essential for growth. Be open to input from professors, peers, and professionals.

What should I focus on in my first year of architecture school?

Fundamental Skills: Concentrate on developing strong drawing and modeling skills, understanding architectural terminology, and grasping basic design principles.

Build a Solid Work Ethic: Establish good study habits and time management strategies that will support you throughout your education.

Network: Begin building relationships with peers, professors, and professionals, as these connections can be invaluable.

Explore Diverse Interests: While focusing on architecture, also consider related fields like urban planning, landscape architecture, or interior design to broaden your perspective.

Maintain Curiosity: Stay curious and open to learning, as the first year is about exploration and foundation building.

How do I choose the right architecture software to learn?

Research Industry Standards: Understand which software programs are most widely used in the industry, such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, and Rhino.

Consider Your Educational Goals: Some programs may be more suited to conceptual design, while others are better for technical detailing.

Seek Advice: Ask professors, peers, and professionals for recommendations based on your interests and career goals.

Utilize School Resources: Many schools provide access to software and training, so take advantage of these opportunities to learn.

How can I balance studio work with other coursework in architecture school?

Prioritize Tasks: Understand deadlines and prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency.

Create a Schedule: Develop a weekly schedule that allocates time for studio work, other courses, and personal time.

Stay Organized: Keep your workspace and digital files organized to save time and reduce stress.

Communicate with Professors: If you're struggling, discuss your workload with your professors. They can provide advice or adjustments.

What extracurricular activities should I consider as an architecture student?

Join Architecture Organizations: Groups like the AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) can provide networking opportunities and resources.

Participate in Workshops: Engage in workshops that offer skills not covered in your regular coursework.

Volunteer: Consider volunteering for community projects that involve design or construction to gain practical experience.

How can I stay updated with architectural trends and news?

Read Industry Publications: Regularly read magazines, journals, and online publications related to architecture.

Attend Events: Conferences, lectures, and webinars can provide insights into current trends and future directions.

Follow Influential Architects and Firms: Social media and blogs can be great sources for staying informed about innovative projects and ideas.

How do I develop a unique architectural style?

Explore Broadly: Expose yourself to a wide range of architectural styles and theories to understand your preferences and influences.

Experiment: Use your school projects as opportunities to try different styles and methods.

Reflect on Feedback: Consider feedback from your work to understand what resonates with your audience and what feels authentic to you.

Personal Interests: Incorporate your interests and values into your designs to create a style that is uniquely yours.

By addressing these questions and taking proactive steps to prepare, you can set a strong foundation for your studies and future career in architecture.

Architecture Assignment Brief Guide

Introduction.

Throughout your architecture studies, you will carry out countless architecture assignments. These assignments will take many different forms. You certainly won’t just be asked to write essays. Whether it is model making, dissertations, designing spaces or carrying out research, it is really important to understand how to get the best out of yourself for these assignments. 

Much of this comes from understanding how to break down an assignment brief to establish what is being asked of you. Secondly, it is being productive with your time and carrying out the work efficiently.

S tudy is more about efficiency than time. Some people boast about the hours they have spent researching, reading or studying, but if they have not been productive with their time it doesn’t really count for anything. However, if you maintain an effective process in carrying out your research, study, reading, note taking and so on, you will find you get better results in half the time.

Scroll to the end to download this article as a handy PDF guide!

Understanding your assignment brief.

Generally speaking, when you are provided with an architecture assignment brief, the brief will establish the main criteria for the assignment. You will usually be given details of the assignment, the learning objectives, intended learning outcomes, assessment requirements, deadline, presentation, and so on.

With student projects that are developed without a client focus, it is possible to consider the site or place as the client, and consider the needs of the site itself, and how the project design is going to meet those needs.

Since the brief will contain a lot of information, make sure you read it a couple of times to fully understand it. As you do this, you can even highlight key words that stand out to you or make a note of things that you don’t really get. Feel free to write down some initial ideas that may pop up as well. 

Once you have done all of this, put the brief to one side and come back to read it at a later point. Doing this will help some of those initial ideas breathe a little and at the same time ensure that you do not miss anything.

It is really important to extract from the assignment brief as much information as possible, and be aware not only of what is being asked of you, but also what is the expected outcome. Understanding this, will help you structure your assignment and time more efficiently.

Let’s look at each part in a bit more detail.

The main assignment information

The main assignment – what is being asked of you? What are you looking for? What information will you need to gather? What problem do you need to solve?

Pick out the keywords associated with the question or brief. Then make a list of alternative keywords that will help you in your search to find relevant information.

We found this really useful guide to process words. This was courtesy of the University of Westminster (https://www.westminster.ac.uk/library-and-it/support-and-study-skills/guides-and-tutorials/researching-your-assignments/understanding-essay-questions/understanding-process-words) and originally from the Student Study Support Unit at Canterbury Christchurch College.

Account for

Explain, clarify, give the reasons for. This is quite different from “give an account of…” which is more like “describe in detail”.

Break an issue down into its component parts, discuss them and show how they interrelate.

Make a case, based on appropriate evidence and logically structured for and/or against some point of view.

Consider the value or importance of something, paying attention to positive, negative and disputable aspects, and citing the judgements of any known authorities as well as your own.

This term asks for a combination of the criteria found in “analyse” and “assess”. Although it sounds as if it would be similar to “describe “or “summarise” it is asking you to be critical and evaluative in your approach.

Identify and discuss the characteristics or qualities two or more things have in common you will probably need to point out their differences as well. Quite often an essay will ask you to “compare” and “contrast”.

Point out and discuss the differences between two things. You will probably need to identify their similarities as well. Quite often an essay will ask you to “compare” and “contrast”.

Spell out your judgement as to the value or truth of something, indicating the criteria on which you base your judgement and citing specific instances and arguments as to how the criteria apply in this case.

Make a statement as to the meaning or interpretation of something, giving sufficient detail as to allow it to be distinguished from other similar things.

Spell out the default aspects of an idea or topic, or the sequence in which a series of things happened.

Probably the most common word to appear in essay titles and usually requiring analysis and evaluation of evidence as well as weighing up arguments and drawing conclusions.

Similar to “assess” in that you need to consider the value and importance of something and weigh up its different aspects, citing evidence and argument in support of your case.

Tell how things work or how they came to be the way they are, including perhaps some need to “describe” and to “analyse”.

To what extent

Explore the case for a stated proposition or explanation, much in the manner of “assess” and “criticise”, probably arguing for a less than total acceptance of the proposition.

Pick out what you regard as the key features of something, perhaps making clear the criteria you use in doing so.

Similar to “explain” but probably requesting you give specific examples or statistics to support your case.

Clarify something or explain it, perhaps indicating how the thing relates to something else, or explaining a particular way of looking at it.

Express valid reasons for accepting a particular interpretation or conclusion, probably including the need to argue a case.

Indicate the main features of a topic or sequence of events, possibly setting them within a clear structure or framework to show how they interrelate.

Survey a topic with the emphasis on “assess” rather than “describe”.

Give the main points briefly, omitting details and illustrations.

Describe in narrative form the progress, development or sequence of events from some particular point.

Learning objectives and outcomes

Why are these important? The learning objectives and outcomes usually list what the student will have learnt or achieved by the end of the module or assignment. Being aware of these outcomes and objectives might inform the direction you take with your assignment.

Let’s say for example, one of the objectives is for the student to understand how a building fits into a local context. This is suggesting that during the assignment it will likely be important that you consider the local context when carrying out your research or design. How will you demonstrate that you have considered this? How will you present this information?

You get the idea….

Assessment requirements / presentation / deadline

Of course, this is the really important stuff. What do you have to produce, and by when?

Some assignment briefs will show how many credits each part of the assignment is worth. This is really useful as it can help you to understand which parts of the assignment carry more weight, and therefore focus more time on those areas.

If your assignment is asking for submissions in multiple media formats, for example, plans, an isometric, photographs, a model, design journal etc, I find it useful to sketch out a storyboard of how that might look. To make bullet points into a more visual storyboard can help you start to envisage what your final output might look like.

As your assignment develops and you get closer to the end of the project you can start to make a more detailed storyboard of the expected output. This type of thing is particularly useful for design projects when you need to produce multiple sets of drawings, visuals and so on.

If it is a large assignment, with a deadline in the distant future, consider breaking it down into chunks, making milestones that you have to achieve by certain dates. This will help spread the work out, give you plenty of time to complete the assignment and not leave everything till the last minute.

So now you understand your project brief, you know what is required of you and what the output must be.

Marking Criteria / Grading Matrix

Sometimes, your university may even provide a matrix that will be used by your tutors to grade your assignments. Access to this can be beneficial as you will be able to identify the key criteria needed to get the best marks. 

If you are working on an assignment with a later deadline, you can set a milestone wherein you use the provided marking matrix and grade yourself. You can even get your friends or studio mates to grade your work. Doing this will help you see where your work stands and how you can improve it.

Thinking outside the box

As you start forming ideas and reflecting on your assignment brief, do not be afraid to push some boundaries and test your ideas. Student project briefs are meant to give you a starting point. Some university briefs may give you some flexibility as to what direction you take the project. But definitely consult your tutors for advice in this regard. 

Carry out your research

Depending on the type of assignment you are working on, it is easy to skip the research and start sketching out ideas and getting carried away with the fun stuff before really understanding the task in hand.

Check the assignment brief for any suggested or compulsory reference material that you should check out.

Next, start collecting information.

If you are a student, the chances are you will have access to a library with some sort of electronic database. This is a good place to start finding the resources you need. Every system is different, so if you aren’t sure how to access the information you are looking for, speak with your librarian, I’m sure they will be very happy to help.

Don’t forget there is more to life than just the internet! Yes, google comes up with some good results, but you need to expand your research beyond the comfort and ease of google. Make sure you consider books, journals, articles, audio, video as part of your research wherever possible. This will give you a much wider and valuable set of information to start your work from.

If the course you are enrolled in has been running for a few years, chances are the university will provide you with some previous year examples. These can act as guides and really help you visualise what is expected of you. Do be careful not to blindly follow these examples though, as the assignment brief for your year may have been altered.

Try to find case studies and precedents relevant to your assignment requirements. This will help you dive deep into real world responses that your assignment may be asking you to investigate.

Check out our helpful post on Precedent studies:

https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/architecture-precedent-study-and-analysis/

• Film and television programmes
• Market research
• Official publications (government etc)
• British Standards Institution
• Manufacturer information
• Previous year student work

Be careful not to spend too much time researching and not enough time actually doing. Limit your research to a certain amount of time, then get started. If you find you still need more information later, you can circle back and do a bit more research.

Make an outline

Call it what you will, a journey, road map, plan. Start looking at the bigger picture of the assignment, what topics are you tackling? Of course, the requirements of a plan or outline will vary wildly according to the type of assignment you are doing. A great start to an essay is usually a simple outline that helps you get from A to B. A studio design project might be a bit different.

Either way, make a bit of a plan, however loose it may be. Having a list of topics or titles can really help to get started when you are stuck on writing. Rather look at the broader picture first and then start fleshing out the details, instead of trying to get into the details straight away which can be daunting.

Be productive with your time

This is pretty obvious, but in a way it’s not. Sometimes you can get caught up on a tiny detail without realising you have lost hours to something that has a small part to play in the assignment as a whole.

Use your time wisely. You can read more about my productivity tips here.

https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/work-smart-productivity-tips/

Give yourself the best working environment

You’ve read the brief, you know what is required of you. You’ve carried out your research, collected your data. Now you need to get started…

Distractions can be the perfect productivity blocker. So make sure you give yourself the working environment that you need. For some, this might be working in the busy studio, with your colleagues around you to bounce ideas. Others might need a quiet space to work alone, without distractions of social media, friends etc.

Do what works for you. Maybe you work better by minimising distractions. Switching off your email, putting your phone on silent, and playing some background music (that has no words!), can prove to be really helpful. Try to figure out your working style and identify your distractions so you can best combat them!

Remember – quality, not hours spent…

Make sure you are making good quality work, not just spending hours on something for the sake of it. Architects can be perfectionists, and it is easy to tweak, adjust, tweak for hours on end. Be aware, there comes a point where the tweaks you make won’t be having a positive affect on your overall mark, just a sap on your time. Stay focussed.

Keep checking the assignment brief to be sure you are covering all of the tasks that are being asked of you, and you have a plan to produce each of the items that form part of the assignment, whether it be drawings, models etc.

Review – later

If you are writing an essay, take time away from the assignment before coming back to make edits. You need to give yourself a break from writing before returning to read it through with fresh eyes.

If it is a big design project, then you will no doubt continue to review and edit as you work through your design solutions.

Our Architecture Assignment Planner

To help you carry out the points mentioned in our post, we have produced an Architecture Assignment Planner. This planner follows a Gantt chart layout with broken down assignments on the left and a time scale that runs across the top.

Now, a Gantt chart is mostly used in project management, and is one of the most popular and useful ways of showing tasks or events displayed against time. Wish to learn more? Check this out:

What is a Gantt Chart? Gantt Chart Software, Information, and History

We created this planner so that as a student you will be familiar with using this type of format, if you come across it at a professional level. 

After you dissect your brief and identify your key deliverables, simply slot them into this planner and curate it to your own liking. It will help you have an overview of the tasks you need to have completed and the time you have until your big deadline.

You could even incorporate little milestones in your planner to help you evaluate your work. Simply schedule days to refer back to the assignment brief and see what you have yet to cover and what areas you could improve further.

We have included a hypothetical project to give you an idea on how to use it.

Start using our Architecture Assignment Planner and get organised!

You might also be interested in:

We have lots of helpful architecture student content. Be sure to check it out:

Architecture assignments are often huge bodies of work that can feel insurmountable at times. Breaking it down into manageable chunks, and drawing out what the deliverables will be can really help.

Give yourself the right environment to work in, be structured in your approach to the project, and take note of the weight of each part of the assignment.

Best of luck!

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23 Common Introductory Assignments You'll Find in Architecture School

If you imagined you'd spend the first day of architecture school designing your dream home or imagining a skyscraper, you would be way off base. Depending on what school you attend, the flavor of your initial project will vary, but all will be designed to help develop your design-thinking and -making abilities.

The following are 23 common design prompts architecture school professors have given young minds entering the field of architecture, all of which have been recounted to me by current day architects. Some are brief while others, more lengthy prompts, but all are impactful for their ability to make one think and explore!

1. Paper and Sticks and more

Everyone is given a single sheet of a heavy stock paper, approximately 18 inches by 24 inches, and some balsa wood sticks with instructions to create curves using only those two items. After creating the paper form, everyone is asked to draw the curves as well as the negative space formed by the creations. This is the warm up exercise to get ready for the next critical step. “Go outside and find yourselves a nice twig (not too big) lying about on campus.” Once in possession of the twig, rotate it and draw the space formed as the twig rotates (not the twig itself but the actual volume of space formed). The next step is to make it three dimensional while limiting your model to two sources using no glue. 

2. The Conversion

The prompt was to take a simple object and make it complex. Reportedly, one young student turned in a crumpled up piece of paper for the assignment!

3. Regenerate Your Thoughts

Design a "regeneration unit," another term for a bathroom. The exercise is intended to get students to rethink a common place.

4. Translating Anatomy

Draw five independent translations of your hand.

5. The Onion

We were called over to a large work table where the professor placed a sweet onion. The professor said something to the effect of, “I’ll be back in 20 minutes and we will discuss the onion and how it can teach you about architecture.” We stood around looking at it until someone cut it in half, giving us more to think about as we now explored the interior layers as well as the exterior. The professor was very excited when he returned to see we had cut the onion in half.

6. The Circle

Students are instructed to get into small groups of 5-6 and draw a series of concentric, freehand circles on a large piece of paper (6’ square). The first student begins by drawing a circle in graphite, about the size of a fist. The next student is meant to correct the imperfections of the first circle by drawing one around it, also in graphite (1” bar of soft graphite). This continues until the circle is about 4-5 ft. in diameter. 

The exercise is meant to prompt discussion on the idea of circle. The project is simple in that everyone knows a circle, but most haven’t spent much time thinking about them. In just a few days, questions about the role of media, tools, drawing, ideas, geometry, history, and context arose and were returned to throughout the year.

7. The Walk & Sketch

With a 9 x 12 sketchbook and an HB pencil, we were instructed to walk for an hour through the campus and neighboring town. The catch was we needed to do our sketches while walking, never letting the pencil leave the paper. As we returned, we pinned up our sketches and had a lengthy discussion about each sketch and the patterns discovered in them.

8. The Tower

Instructions were to take 10 strips of paper, approximately 1” x 18” each, and a box of paper clips and construct a tower. No other items could be used.

9. The Cube Manipulation

This prompt is for a complex, multiple-day project involving the manipulation of two 4”x4” cubes to create one object. The assignment involves a two dimension (cruciform) pattern which is to be folded. The model was required to be watertight (no openings) and made of only white cardstock. 

10. The Differential

We were asked to create a model of an object whose “differential was the resultant of a tetrahedron.”

11. Interpreting Art

The professor walked in with a box full of reproduced prints by great masters. Students selected a piece of art and made a square representation of it. You could use any medium you desired but it needed to be six by six. Upon completion, we were instructed to then develop a three dimensional representation of the 2-D square representation, in the form of a cube.

12. One Into Many

The assignment was to create a single unit and convert it into many that would then become a new unit.

13. The Key Drop

Upon entering the studio, the professor requested we empty our pockets onto the desk. One common item each person had was a set of keys. We were instructed to pick up our keys, raise them above our head, and release them. Each set of keys dropped creating their own unique patterns. We then had to explore the patterns created looking at the spaces between the cuts, shoulders and bows through sketching.

14. The Eraser Project

Using a pink eraser and sandpaper, create something architectural.

15. Copper Art

We were handed a tangled hunk of heavy gage copper wiring and asked to create something beautiful. No other materials would be permitted and you would have four hours to complete the task. You were limited to bending, cutting and twisting only.

16. Scoring & Cutting

We were given a sheet of paper and instructed to create depth by scoring, cutting or folding.

17. The Transformed Sketch

We were asked to make 10 sketches a day of everyday objects for about a week. Then, we were instructed to choose one sketch, abstract it, and create a 3D model of the abstraction. One student made an abstract 20oz coke bottle out of cardboard.

18. Conceptual Photography

We were assigned to read Louis Kahn’s “Between Silence and Light,” and then go out and try to photographically represent concepts within the book such as Order, Joy, Touch, Site, and Wonder.

19. The Non Box

We were given three days to respond to the question "when is a box not a box."

20. Music Meets Computers

The professor walks into the studio, presenting a box of computer cards and a bundle of piano wire and tells us to make something architectural.

21. Not Exactly Technical

Find an object and create a technical drawing of said object. One student chose an x-acto knife and another drew their hand.

22. Add-Drop

We were all given an add/drop form which was used at the university to drop or add classes from your schedule for the semester. The professor instructed us to build a model both with the form and in response to it. We could not use any glue or tape. Joinery is key here in creating something worthy of discussion. If we were unable to complete the task we were asked to fill out the form and leave!

23. Brick Support

The assignment was to create a sloped platform with a flat top surface using the following three elements: chipboard, toothpicks and glue. The platform is required to support a brick.

Aric Gitomer Architect, LLC  is a small, boutique architectural practice giving one on one attention to each individual client. Aric Gitomer, AIA principal has been creating solutions for over 30 years. He specializes in home renovation, new construction, additions and alterations.

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About the Author

Aric Gitomer

Aric Gitomer Architect, LLC is a small, boutique residential architectural practice giving one on one attention to each homeowner. Aric Gitomer, AIA principal architect has been creating residential architectural solutions for over 30 years. He specializes in home renovation, residential design  ...

I teach a class in the school of Entrepreneurship at Florida State University titled Beyond Innovation, Reimagining Everything.

I'm a registered Architect - some of my work and thinking is on my LinkedIn page.

I am currently the Director of the Campus Reimagined Initiative - CampusReimagined.fsu.edu

I really like your list of 23 introductory assignments and would like to have your permission to use this list (with a notation of you as the provider) in my learning related work. In my class, I'm really trying not to Instruct but to trigger the students to "think different" or, as I see it, to "See Different". I had these type of thought provoking exercises while in Architecture school at University of Florida and that teaching style is what I'm trying to follow.  

In addition to using your list in class and for remote learning (my current format) I have a team working on collecting, and ultimately providing access, to what we are calling a collection of Tales for the budding innovators (I can share a few if you interested) and I would like to include parts of your list in my efforts.

let me know if I have your permission.

Thanks, Bill

[email protected]

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Types of Architect Positions and Levels: The hierarchy within a firm

• Updated: February 15, 2024

Architecture is a dynamic and creative field that melds art, engineering, and culture, resulting in spaces that can inspire, comfort, and functionally serve their users. Given the complexity and significance of this task, it is executed by a team of professionals each contributing distinct skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Understanding the various architect positions and levels is crucial not only for those considering a career in this sector but also for clients, contractors, and related professionals who engage with architects regularly. This comprehension provides insights into the responsibilities, skill sets, and the trajectory of growth within the architectural field.

The different types of architect positions and levels within a firm

The purpose of this article is to elucidate the different levels and positions within the field of architecture . We’ll delve into the roles ranging from interns and entry-level architects, progressing through mid and senior-level positions, and finally arriving at the leadership roles.

By doing so, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the career paths, and what each role entails in terms of responsibilities and required qualifications. Start with…

Entry-level positions

In the early stages of their careers, architects start at entry-level positions that lay the foundation for their future development. These positions provide budding architects the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired in their studies in practical scenarios. Let’s take a closer look at these roles:

Intern architect

• Responsibilities: An intern architect is usually a graduate of an architectural program who works under the supervision of licensed architects. They assist with design work, help prepare drawings and models, and perform basic architectural tasks. They also learn to navigate the practical aspects of building codes and zoning regulations.
• Required qualifications and skills: An intern architect must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture. Strong design skills, proficiency in design software like AutoCAD or Revit, and a basic understanding of construction processes are essential.

Architectural designer

• Responsibilities: An architectural designer, although still an entry-level position, often carries more responsibilities than an intern. They develop designs and layouts for architectural projects and help prepare drawings, models, and architectural plans. They may also be involved in meetings with clients, presenting designs, and getting their feedback.
• Required qualifications and skills: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture is required. Additionally, skills in using advanced design software, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and good communication skills are essential.

Junior architect

• Responsibilities: Junior architects are involved in more complex design and planning tasks, under the guidance of senior architects. They participate in every phase of a project, from conceptualization to construction documentation. This role may involve direct communication with clients and other stakeholders.
• Required qualifications and skills: A professional degree in architecture, a few years of relevant experience, and proficiency in architectural design software are required. In addition to technical skills, good time management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a team are critical.

These positions form the stepping stones in an architect’s career, providing invaluable hands-on experience, cultivating professional skills, and refining the understanding of architecture’s intricacies. As the architect gains more experience and demonstrates skill, they are likely to move up to mid-level and senior positions.

Mid-level positions

Mid-level positions in architecture are typically occupied by individuals who have gathered a few years of experience and have developed specific areas of expertise. These positions require more independent work, decision-making skills, and are typically involved in managing parts of projects.

Project architect

• Responsibilities: As the title implies, a Project Architect is responsible for overseeing an architectural project from start to finish. They coordinate the project team, maintain the schedule, manage budgets, and ensure that the work is done in compliance with the architectural plans. This role involves coordinating with clients, contractors, and other stakeholders, to ensure that everyone’s needs are met while adhering to the project’s quality standards and timeline.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: A Project Architect typically requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture, along with several years of work experience. In addition, licensure from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is generally necessary. Key skills include project management, communication, problem-solving, and proficiency in architectural software like AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp.

Landscape architect

• Responsibilities: Landscape Architects focus on outdoor spaces, including parks, gardens, neighborhoods, and public spaces. They design these areas to be functional, beautiful, and compatible with the natural environment. Their tasks include preparing site plans, cost estimates, and land impact studies.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: A Landscape Architect typically requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, and they often need to be licensed, depending on the state. Key skills include knowledge of horticulture, creativity, problem-solving, and proficiency with landscape design software.

Interior architect

• Responsibilities: Interior Architects focus on designing the interior spaces of buildings. Their work involves creating designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. They consider the purpose of the space and ensure it meets the needs of its users. Responsibilities may include drafting plans, selecting materials and furnishings, and coordinating with contractors and suppliers.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: Interior Architects require a degree in interior architecture or a related field. Experience in the industry is a plus, but many start directly from college. They should have strong design skills, knowledge of building codes, and proficiency in design software like CAD and 3D modeling tools.

Senior-level positions in architecture

At the senior level, architects are expected to be competent in the core aspects of architectural practice, including design, project management, and technical aspects of construction. Their roles involve greater responsibilities and require more experience compared to entry and mid-level positions. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these senior-level positions.

Senior architect

• Responsibilities: Senior Architects are primarily responsible for overseeing all aspects of a project from start to finish, ensuring that the designs are executed correctly and efficiently. They oversee the work of junior architects, ensuring compliance with design plans, client specifications , and building codes. In addition, they may take part in key meetings with clients, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: A Senior Architect typically has a professional degree in Architecture and at least 10 years of experience. They also need to have a strong portfolio demonstrating their competence in handling complex projects. Leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are crucial for this role.

Design architect

• Responsibilities: The primary role of a Design Architect is to create the conceptual and schematic designs for projects . They often play a leading role in the development of a project’s aesthetic, working closely with clients to ensure that the final design aligns with their vision and requirements.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: Apart from a professional degree in Architecture, Design Architects need to have a keen eye for aesthetics, a deep understanding of different architectural styles, and strong visualization abilities. They should also have proficiency in design software such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Technical architect

• Responsibilities: Technical Architects are responsible for the technical aspects of a project. They ensure that the design can be translated into a buildable structure that meets safety standards and building codes. They work on construction drawings, detailing, and specifications, and often coordinate with engineers and other technical professionals.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: A Technical Architect needs a professional degree in Architecture, proficiency in technical drawing and 3D modeling software, and a solid understanding of building codes and regulations. They need to be detail-oriented and have strong problem-solving skills.

These senior-level roles offer architects the opportunity to take on leadership positions in projects, whether it’s directing the overall execution, focusing on design elements, or delving into the technical aspects of construction. The experience gained in these positions often serves as a stepping stone towards the highest leadership roles in architectural firms.

Leadership positions

Leadership roles in architecture represent the pinnacle of one’s career in the field, signifying not only a high degree of expertise and experience but also a significant level of responsibility and influence. At this level, individuals are expected to combine their extensive architectural knowledge with strategic thinking, business acumen, and outstanding leadership skills.

• Responsibilities: As the lead figure in a design team, a principal architect is responsible for creating architectural designs, developing strategies, and overseeing multiple projects. They are responsible for coordinating teams, liaising with clients, and ensuring that all architectural aspects of the projects align with client needs and industry standards. In addition to this, they usually have a role in business development, client relations, and may also contribute to the strategic planning and development of the firm.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: A principal architect typically holds a professional degree in architecture and possesses several years of industry experience, with a demonstrated history of successfully completed projects. They must have excellent communication and leadership skills, a deep understanding of architecture principles, and proficient knowledge of architectural software and tools. Certification from a recognized architectural association is usually required.
• Responsibilities: A partner architect often shares ownership responsibilities of the firm along with other partners. They are actively involved in planning, designing, and overseeing the execution of projects. Their role also extends to forging new business partnerships, nurturing client relationships, and representing the firm at industry events. Furthermore, they contribute to the strategic decisions about the direction and growth of the firm.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: To become a partner architect, one must hold a professional degree in architecture and have extensive industry experience. They should possess exceptional leadership, negotiation, and business management skills. Being a partner also requires a strong portfolio showcasing a high level of architectural design competence.

Director/owner

• Responsibilities: The director, often known as the lead architect, typically manages the architectural aspects of a company’s projects or product line. Their role spans from developing the overall architectural strategy to ensuring that the technical work aligns with the company’s business goals. They also often guide a team of architects, and liaise with project managers, software development teams, and stakeholders.
• Required Qualifications and Skills: A director should have a professional degree in architecture, along with many years of experience in the field, particularly in a leadership role. They need to have exceptional technical and design skills, with a deep understanding of architectural principles and practices. Leadership skills, strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills are also vital. Often, a chief architect would also have experience with various design software and technologies.

The Changing Landscape of Architectural Roles

Impact of technology on architectural roles.

As in most industries, the advent and advancement of technology have significantly reshaped the field of architecture. The application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has changed the way architects design and visualize their projects, increasing efficiency and accuracy. The growing adoption of virtual reality (VR) allows architects to virtually step into their designs, providing a better understanding of the spatial characteristics of their projects before they’re built. Similarly, the rise of AI and machine learning is poised to offer architects new tools for design optimization and problem-solving. As technology continues to evolve, architects must adapt by learning and integrating these technologies into their work processes.

Emergence of New Specializations

The architecture profession is not static. It continuously evolves, driven by societal changes, environmental concerns, and technological innovations. New specializations are emerging in response to these changes. For instance, Green Architecture or Sustainable Architecture has gained significant prominence given the growing concern for environmental sustainability. This specialization focuses on designing buildings that are energy efficient and have a minimal environmental impact.

Another burgeoning specialization is Digital Architecture, focusing on using digital technology not just as a tool for designing and visualizing, but as a fundamental part of the design itself. There’s also an increased focus on Resilient Design, creating buildings and infrastructures capable of withstanding natural disasters and the impacts of climate change.

The Importance of Adaptability and Continuous Learning

In the face of these changes and the emergence of new specializations, one of the most critical skills an architect can possess is adaptability. The ability to learn new tools, adapt to new methodologies, and understand emerging specializations is increasingly important. Continuous learning and professional development are not just advantageous – they’re essential. This might involve formal education, such as pursuing advanced degrees or certifications, or informal learning, like attending workshops, webinars, and industry conferences. The goal is to stay current with the latest trends and advancements, ensuring relevancy in an ever-evolving field.

To sum up…

As we conclude our exploration of architect levels and positions, it’s crucial to remember the immense diversity and importance of these roles within the architectural profession. From interns to chief architects, each position plays an integral part in the successful completion of architectural projects, big and small.

Each role, from entry-level to leadership, carries with it unique responsibilities and requirements, thus offering distinct pathways for aspiring architects to channel their skills, passion, and creativity. It’s important for each individual to identify the role that resonates with their interests, whether it be in design, technical aspects, management, or a particular architectural specialty.

Moreover, in the rapidly evolving field of architecture, the impact of technology and the emergence of new specializations are continually reshaping the professional landscape. With this change comes a demand for adaptability and continuous learning. Aspiring architects should embrace these changes, seeking opportunities to learn new tools and methodologies, and be ready to take on the future challenges in the field.

Finally, let’s remember that the ultimate goal of architecture goes beyond constructing buildings. It’s about creating spaces that resonate with the people who use them, contribute to the environment, and inspire future generations. Therefore, regardless of the level or position, every architect plays a vital role in shaping our shared built environment. Let this inspire you as you embark or continue your architectural journey, for the work you do truly makes a difference.

FAQ’s about architect positions and levels

What is the high position of architect.

The highest positions in the field of architecture typically are the Principal Architect, Partner Architect, or Chief Architect. Their responsibilities extend beyond the technical aspects of architecture, and often include business management, strategic planning, and leadership roles within their respective firms or companies.

A Principal Architect often leads a design team, overseeing the strategic and creative aspects of multiple projects.

A Partner Architect, on the other hand, often shares ownership of the architectural firm and plays a key role in business development, client relations, and high-level strategic decision-making.

Finally, the role of Chief Architect can vary depending on the context. In some cases, this role refers to the leading architect within a large architectural firm. In the context of a technology company, a Chief Architect might be responsible for overseeing the technical strategy for the company’s products or systems.

These roles represent the pinnacle of a career in architecture, requiring a combination of extensive experience, technical expertise, leadership skills, and business acumen.

What is difference between assistant architect and junior architect?

Assistant Architect and Junior Architect are both early career roles in the field of architecture. However, their responsibilities and required qualifications can vary slightly.

• Assistant Architect: This position is often considered an entry-level role, sometimes filled by recent graduates or individuals who are still working towards their professional licensure. Responsibilities typically include assisting senior architects in creating plans, 3D models, and technical drawings, conducting research, and performing administrative tasks. They may also help with the preparation of project presentations and reports. The primary goal of this position is to gain experience and practical knowledge under the supervision of more experienced professionals.
• Junior Architect: This role is typically one step above an Assistant Architect and is usually filled by individuals who have completed their professional degree in architecture and are working towards their licensure, or are newly licensed. Junior architects have a greater level of responsibility and often work more independently compared to assistant architects. They may design certain parts of a project, prepare architectural drawings, coordinate with other team members, and may even interact with clients under supervision. The goal of this role is to gain more hands-on experience, often with the aim of becoming a Project Architect or a similar mid-level position.

In practice, the exact duties and qualifications for these roles can vary widely depending on the specific firm and region. In some firms or regions, these terms might even be used interchangeably.

What is an entry-level architect called?

An entry-level architect is often referred to as an “Intern Architect” or “Architectural Intern”. This title is generally used for individuals who have completed their architectural education but are in the process of completing the required hours of professional experience needed to take the Architect Registration Examination, which is the licensing exam in many regions, including the United States.

In some places, terms like “Junior Architect” or “Assistant Architect” might also be used for entry-level positions. However, these can sometimes imply that the individual has already earned their license to practice architecture.

The specific titles and their meanings can vary somewhat depending on the region and the specific practices of different architecture firms.

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architecture , the art and technique of designing and building , as distinguished from the skills associated with construction . The practice of architecture is employed to fulfill both practical and expressive requirements, and thus it serves both utilitarian and aesthetic ends. Although these two ends may be distinguished, they cannot be separated, and the relative weight given to each can vary widely. Because every society—settled or nomadic—has a spatial relationship to the natural world and to other societies, the structures they produce reveal much about their environment (including climate and weather ), history , ceremonies, and artistic sensibility, as well as many aspects of daily life.

The characteristics that distinguish a work of architecture from other built structures are (1) the suitability of the work to use by human beings in general and the adaptability of it to particular human activities, (2) the stability and permanence of the work’s construction, and (3) the communication of experience and ideas through its form. All these conditions must be met in architecture. The second is a constant, while the first and third vary in relative importance according to the social function of buildings. If the function is chiefly utilitarian, as in a factory , communication is of less importance. If the function is chiefly expressive, as in a monumental tomb, utility is a minor concern. In some buildings, such as churches and city halls, utility and communication may be of equal importance.

The present article treats primarily the forms, elements, methods, and theory of architecture . For the history of architecture in antiquity, see the sections on ancient Greece and Rome in Western architecture ; as well as Anatolian art and architecture ; Arabian art and architecture ; Egyptian art and architecture ; Iranian art and architecture ; Mesopotamian art and architecture ; and Syro-Palestinian art and architecture . For later historical and regional treatments of architecture, see African architecture ; Chinese architecture ; Japanese architecture ; Korean architecture ; Oceanic art and architecture ; Western architecture ; Central Asian arts ; Islamic arts ; South Asian arts ; and Southeast Asian arts . For a discussion of the place of architecture and architectural theory in the realm of the arts, see aesthetics . For related forms of artistic expression, see city ; interior design ; and urban planning .

The types of architecture are established not by architects but by society, according to the needs of its different institutions. Society sets the goals and assigns to the architect the job of finding the means of achieving them. This section of the article is concerned with architectural typology , with the role of society in determining the kinds of architecture, and with planning—the role of the architect in adapting designs to particular uses and to the general physical needs of human beings.

0010 Your First Architecture Assignment

The brief   .

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen to the Architecture Student Diaries where it is my mission to help you kill it in Architecture school whilst making you, the best you in the process. Today we're going to discuss how to tackle your first assignment in Architecture School to get you the best result possible with minimal tears. In architecture school the first year is a test, the staff will throw you in the deep end with perceivably impossible assignments; this is to eliminate those from the course who are not serious about architecture. This is where you need to dig deep and be resilient. When you get presented with your first assignment, you will most likely look at it and its size and think you are way in over your head, but trust me, you’ve got this. Below, I am going to provide you with the essential tips to succeed in your first assignment and in doing so, provide you with the foundations to tackle every assignment for the rest of your time at university.

Below is a breakdown of what we will discuss in today's lesson: 

Read the Brief

Go to class, ask for help, follow the rubric.

Explore the Studio

Put the Hours In

Don’t Be Scared to Be Different

Find inspiration but don’t copy, do not plagiarise.

Now, let’s get into it. Class is now in session. 

Architecture assignments are similar in concept to that of a real-world design job that you will be exposed to in practice. A simple way to look at it is to think of yourself as the architect, the lead professor or unit chair as the client and your studio group tutor as your boss in the firm. The unit chair (client) will present to you the brief of what needs to be completed in the assignment. An architectural brief is in simple terms, a list that outlines the wants and needs of the client, the assignment brief represents the same thing but typically with stricter guidelines. The earlier in your degree, the stricter the guidelines will be as unpractised students may go in the wrong direction if not clearly explained in the brief.

It is integral that you read and understand the brief for your assignment, because if you don’t, your product will not be what the assignment is meant to be. The brief will explain things like what type of structure you may be designing, whether your end product should be a physical model or a computer render, what material you should make your model out of, if you need to write text and if there is a specific location you are designing for. Know the brief inside and out and you are on the right track to a solid finished product.

University in the age of technology, its easy right? Every lecture is recorded and uploaded to the cloud along with the Keynote Slides, all required information is online, if you get confused you can just slide into one of the smart kids DMs to ask for help and submissions are online! You don’t even need to go to Uni anymore, do you?! Welllll... Sorry to tell you, but if you want to pass Architecture School, you’re going to need to go to class, especially Studio! 

Architecture is a difficult degree, no matter what university you study at, no matter what country you live in, architecture is hard, and I guarantee you are going to get confused and lost at some point in an assignment. When this happens, you are going to need to seek help from a tutor, and yes, you can email them and hope for a response, and you might be lucky enough to get a highly digitally literate and kind tutor who can genuinely help over email, but the likelihood of this is very low.

You have heard of teachers pets in High School, right? They were the ones who always got made fun of. Yeah, well they are also the ones who got good marks because they had strong relationships with the teachers and therefore got extra help. In university you are going to want to swallow your pride and become a teacher's pet of sorts. The easiest way to produce the best assignments, is to produce the exact thing that your tutor wants, and how are you going to know what your tutor wants? Be in class and talk to them! Show them what you have so far, get feedback, change what they think you should and repeat these steps until the assignment is completed. Do this and you are basically guaranteed a good mark. 

A terrific reason to go to each class other than getting good marks is as stated above, creating strong relationships with staff. The more you are at class, the more the tutors know you and therefore the more likely they are to help you. If a tutor hasn’t seen a student for the entire semester, and then all of a sudden the day before submission this girl shows up, says that she is in this tutors group and asks for help, the tutor will likely not be interested in helping as the student has not shown commitment to the course. However, if this girl went to every class from the very start of the semester, maybe missing one class for an important reason and still contacting the tutor that week, the tutor is almost certain to give up time for this girl because she has been consistent.

If you haven’t picked up on this, the difference here is not simply attendance, but respect. By attending classes and conversing with your tutor each week, asking for help and genuinely taking their comments on board, you are showing that you respect the tutor and their wealth of knowledge. Respect is a two way street, if you show respect to the staff, they will show respect to you and I guarantee, this mutual respect between you and staff will make your time at university perpetually better and open future possibilities to you that you didn’t think possible. This includes possibilities such as study abroad opportunities, leadership opportunities, scholarship opportunities and employment opportunities. It pays to be respectful in life.

Expanding on going to class and building relationships with the staff discussed above, asking for help is one of the easiest ways to boost your grades. You will find a point in your assignment when you get stuck, lacking inspiration or simply hating the design you have so far, this is where asking for help comes in. Every designer has a bit of an arrogant side where they always think that their design is the best design and that they can do better than everyone else. It’s okay, that is actually an important quality to have in architecture, because sometimes you genuinely are right, and you need to be able to stand up for yourself. However, in first year of architecture school you probably aren’t right... But that is what school is for, it is for learning and getting better and they are two of the most valuable things in the world.

If you get stuck, ask the staff for help. Don’t be scared because it is literally what they get paid for, they are teachers and they are there to help you on your journey to becoming the best architect as possible. You will come across one every now and then who is simply just there for the money and who doesn’t want to help, but that is very rare, and you simply need to move on to the next staff member. Asking for help is something important to learn how to do, some people have too much pride to ask for help and these are the people who get left behind. It is integral that you learn from an early stage that gaining help and tips from other people is guaranteed to make you a better architect; and in life outside of architecture, a better person. You’re here, reading The Architecture Student Diaries so you already understand that finding resources to help you become a better student is beneficial and I commend you for that. Sometimes in life you will get tips that are bad and that shouldn’t be followed, but don’t overlook these tips as they have also taught you something; what not to do. Mistakes can sometimes be more valuable than doing something right the first time around because of what those mistakes have taught you, remember that.

With each assignment you will get a brief as discussed above, however, along with each brief comes the rubric. The rubric is the breakdown of how your assignment will be marked, it explains each area that marks are awarded to and typically how many marks are awarded to the respected areas. Think of the rubric as your marking bible, to be followed on your path to a successful assignment mark.

Explore the Studio  

Something that I wish I had done more in my first year of architecture school was to take the time to walk around the studio space, look at other students work and discuss it with them. Walking through the studio whilst others work is something that can be incredibly helpful for inspiration, understanding of the assignment and simply seeing the great work that others are capable of. It also gives you a chance to see who appears to be as dedicated as you are and therefore might be a good person to team up with in group assignments.

Getting to know other students by walking around also gives you a larger group of people who you can ask for help from or discuss ideas with. Remember, this is just like High school, this will be your cohort for a minimum of three years, so try to get along with them and make some friends, it will make your life easier. One saying that I live by is ‘you are the sum of the five people that you spend the most time with’; basically, this means that the person you are is combination of the five people who you spend the most time with. So yes, it is good to make friends in university, but it is also important that you choose wisely and don’t waste one of your five spots on someone who will hold you back. Choose people who push you to be better and that will help you succeed.

Put the Hours In  

If you want to do well in Architecture School, you cannot simply breeze your way through it. I have said this on The Architecture Student Diaries a hundred times, and I will probably say it two thousand times more, but architecture is hard, and it takes time and commitment to succeed. Being someone who is able to be committed is a difficult but important personality trait. If you are not a committed type person you will either need to learn how to be one or you have most likely chosen, the wrong career path, I apologise for being so blunt but it is better that you find that out sooner rather than later. Your first assignment in architecture school will typically be quite large and that means it will take a lot of time to do. You can’t just leave it until the last minute and cram everything in in a few days. Okay, you can, and lots of people do, but these assignments are always horrible quality, and these are the people who either fail or only pass by the smallest of margins.

Typically, in architecture school, hours wise you will be wanting to put in 10-12 hours per week for each subject that you are doing. If you put in these hours and they are good quality working hours you should be able to put together a strong assignment. Depending on the assignment you may be able to do it in slightly less hours or it may be a big assignment that requires more; but the bottom line is that you need to put in the hours to be successful. A trap that a lot of people fall into in architecture school is messing around in Studio classes and not getting work done; to be successful and to free up as much personal time outside of university work as possible, you need to utilise these studio hours to do your assignment. This is not only a great time to put your head down and focus on your assignment, but your tutors and peers are there by your side to give you tips or to bounce ideas off; the atmosphere will be filled with creative and talented juices.

Architecture is a passion fuelled profession where you are able to be creative and you will throughout your years typically find your personal design ‘style’. The best thing to do is to find designs, architects and eras of design that really speak to you and that you find beautiful. This is a great place to start to get inspired at the beginning of your course as you will go in with ideas and be ready to start designing. Instagram and Pinterest are incredible resources for finding inspiration and new work that you may not be familiar with. Use these resources, find a few architects who's work you really love and try drawing some of their past work or finding buildings that are similar to find even more inspiration. If you are feeling particularly excited by the work you find, try to design something yourself using those styles and see what you can come up with. You may surprise yourself.

One of the great things about studying in the digital age is that is has never been easier to get inspired. With social sites such as Pinterest and Instagram as well as a simple Google search, you are able to see the best architecture from all around the globe. Another old school method is simply going outside (I know, scary right?) and going for a walk to have a look at some of the local architecture, or even to your closest major city and admiring the skyline. Something that I always enjoy, and I am lucky with living close to Melbourne, Australia, is looking at modern structures right next to old structures and dissecting the differences and similarities between the two. Finding inspiration is a simple way to kick start your design for your assignment however, you cannot, and I repeat, cannot, simply use the design that you saw. You need to use this design as inspiration only, take the design and try to adopt some of its elements that you like and change them until you have made them your own. That is what architecture is anyway, being inspired by something and generating something new and beautiful from it. You can be inspired by a wave in the ocean or a lighthouse on the cliff overlooking it, but what you create from this inspiration is your own choice and should be your own creation.

Plagiarism and University, two words that should never go together yet unfortunately, so often do. The simplest way to describe plagiarism is taking someone else's work and pretending that it is yours. This is a big no no in University and can bear serious consequences to the point of expulsion from your course; this can also go onto your transcript and follow you to another university if you attempt to enter another course. So, please listen to me when I say this: DO NOT PLAGIARISE. You can borrow other people’s work and change it up to make it your own as described in finding inspiration above, but it all depends on the assignment and the brief you are given. It is far simpler to use others work as inspiration on a design assignment without running into issues than it is in written assignments.

In written assignments, if you utilise someone else's work you are required to reference this work, referencing is recognising that it is not your work and giving the owner of the work credit for what they have done. Depending on where you are in the world and what university you attend the required referencing will differ, referencing can even differ from assignment to assignment in a single course. Your university will provide referencing guides on how to reference correctly and typically there are dedicated writing staff members who can assist you in learning how to reference correctly. Something that I do at the start of each assignment is to talk to my tutor and ensure that I know which referencing style I should be using; the style will typically also be stated on the assignment brief.

Final Notes

So, it’s time to start your very first assignment in Architecture School, you are probably excited and a little bit scared (or a lot), but you have read all of my tips above which means you’ve got this. As long as you follow these simple steps you will be able to create a terrific assignment, create a good relationship with staff members and peers and know exactly where to find inspiration. I wish you all of the best with your first architecture assignment and all of the assignments to follow. And remember, don’t plagiarise, it’s not worth it.   

Ladies and Gentlemen, class dismissed. 

Iain Colliver, SONA, YBA, GKIHS

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0009 how to prepare for first year.

Understanding Architect Credentials

By Destiny Johnson

As you navigate the path to licensure, you may encounter professional credentials you haven’t seen before. While some can be earned by completing training and passing an exam, others require an architecture license. No matter the means it takes to attain the credentials—we’ve got you covered with a breakdown of the profession’s most commonly used credentials.

Your Passport to Licensure

The NCARB Certificate simplifies the reciprocal licensure process, plus you'll gain access to free CE and more!

AIA Membership

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional membership association for architecture professionals. The organization offers several designations based on licensure status and other criteria:

• AIA : Members who are licensed in the United States 
• Assoc. AIA : Unlicensed members
• International Assoc. AIA : Members who are licensed outside of the United States
• FAIA : Members elected to the AIA College of Fellows, one of the profession’s highest honors
• Hon. AIA : Honorary member
• Hon. FAIA : Honorary fellow

Recent graduates of NAAB-accredited programs can receive a free AIA membership for up to 18 months!

AIAS Membership

The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is a membership organization for high school and college students interested in architecture or other design-related professions.

• AIAS : Designation used by members

CSI Membership and Certifications

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is a national association for the construction industry. In addition to membership, the organization offers several certification programs of interest to both emerging professionals and architects. The organization offers the following designations:

• CSI : Designation used by members
• CCS : Professionals achieving the Certified Construction Specifier credential
• CCCA : Professionals achieving the Certified Construction Contract Administrator credential
• CDT : Professionals achieving the Construction Documents Technology credential
• CCPR : Professionals achieving the Certified Construction Product Representative credential

U.S. Green Building Council Certifications

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is an organization focused on sustainability within building design, construction, and maintenance. In addition to membership, the organization offers several certification credentials:

• LEED Green Associate : Professionals with general knowledge of green building practices and working on LEED projects
• LEED AP Building Design + Construction (BD+C) : Professionals with expertise in the design and construction phases of green buildings
• LEED AP with other specialties : While LEED AP BD+C is the most common specialty; LEED offers several other specializations that designate expertise in green building practices

NCARB Certification

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is a membership organization for the architectural licensing boards of 55 U.S. states and territories. Architects can earn the NCARB Certificate , a professional credential signifying they have met the national standards for licensure, that can facilitate licensure within the U.S. and abroad! Plus, with the NCARB Certificate, you'll gain access to free CE and more. 

• NCARB : Designation used by Certificate holders

NOMA Membership

The National Organization of Minority Architects is a membership organization (NOMA) open to all that are passionate about progress, community, and design and is used by many professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. NOMA credentials include

• NOMA : Licensed or unlicensed professional member
• NOMAS : Student members

Registered Architect (RA)

This qualification is sometimes used by architects who are not affiliated with other professional associations to signify licensure.

Related Professions

Architects frequently collaborate with other professionals in the design industry, and some architects are also licensed to practice other skills! Here are some of the more common credentials for related professionals:

National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ)

The Council for Interior Design Qualification is a certifying organization for interior design professionals. This designation is used by Interior designers who have passed the CIDQ’s three-part national exam, signifying they’ve met the CIDQ’s standards for interior design education, experience, and examination.

Professional Engineer (PE)

Individuals using this distinction are licensed in the United States to practice engineering.

Professional Landscape Architect/Certified Landscape Architect (PLA/CLA)

The PLA designation is used by individuals who have passed the five-part, written Landscape Architecture Registration Exam (LARE), while CLA describes an individual certified in landscape architecture.

Related Blogs

Sustainability & Design: NCARB’s Top Continuing Education Courses

U.S., Australia, and New Zealand Sign New Mutual Recognition Agreement

What is NCARB? A Guide to Commonly Used Licensure Terms

• Enhancing Design Development for Architecture Assignments

Optimizing Design Development for Architecture Assignment Success

When tackling architecture assignments, the design development phase is critical to your success. This phase requires you to translate your conceptual ideas into tangible designs that meet specific requirements and contexts. It is a pivotal part of the architectural process, involving rigorous analysis, creativity, and technical precision. During this phase, you refine your initial concepts into detailed plans and models that can be tested, evaluated, and iterated upon. The goal is to develop a design that not only meets the project's functional and aesthetic goals but also addresses any site-specific conditions and regulatory constraints. This comprehensive approach will help you optimize your design development process, allowing you to effectively navigate this complex phase and produce high-quality work. By following these strategies, you can enhance your ability to create intelligent, thoughtful, and well-executed designs, ultimately leading to greater success in your architecture assignments .

Understanding the Assignment Brief

A clear understanding of the assignment brief is the foundation of any successful architecture project. This document provides the essential guidelines and expectations that will shape your work from start to finish. Here's how to effectively analyze and comprehend the assignment brief:

Thoroughly Read and Analyze

The first step in any successful architecture assignment is to understand the assignment brief fully. This document contains the objectives, context, and requirements that will guide your work.

• Objectives: Identify the main goals and deliverables. Understand what is being asked of you, including any specific tasks or outputs expected.
• Context: Note any specific themes, concepts, or site conditions that need to be considered. This might include cultural, historical, or environmental factors that will influence your design.
• Requirements: Determine the key tasks and outputs expected, such as models, drawings, or conceptual statements. Pay attention to details such as scale, materials, and presentation formats.

By thoroughly analyzing the assignment brief, you can ensure that you are addressing all necessary elements and not missing any critical components.

Conducting In-Depth Research

In-depth research is a cornerstone of successful design development. It provides the necessary insights and information that will inform your design decisions and ensure that your project is grounded in reality. Comprehensive research helps you understand the broader context of your assignment and identify innovative solutions. Here's how to conduct thorough research:

Site Analysis

A thorough site analysis is crucial for understanding the physical, cultural, and regulatory context of your project.

• Physical Context: Study the site's geography, climate, and physical features. Consider how these factors will influence your design choices, such as orientation, materials, and structural systems.
• Cultural Context: Understand the cultural, historical, and social aspects of the site. This might include local architectural styles, community values, and historical landmarks.
• Regulatory Context: Be aware of zoning laws, building codes, and other regulations that will impact your design. This includes setbacks, height restrictions, and accessibility requirements.

Client Needs

Understanding your client's needs is essential for creating a design that meets their expectations and requirements.

• Detailed Research: If specific client needs are mentioned, research their work and requirements thoroughly. This might include their aesthetic preferences, functional requirements, and budget constraints.
• Precedent Studies: Look at similar projects to understand how others have addressed similar challenges. This can provide valuable insights and inspiration for your own design.

Developing and Refining Concepts

Developing and refining concepts is a creative and iterative process that transforms initial ideas into viable design solutions. Here's how to effectively develop and refine your concepts:

Brainstorming and Ideation

The conceptual phase is where your creativity and innovation come into play. Generate a range of ideas and concepts that respond to the assignment's themes.

• Generate Ideas: Start by brainstorming a wide variety of ideas. Don't limit yourself at this stage; the goal is to explore as many possibilities as possible.
• Sketch and Diagram: Use sketches and diagrams to explore and visualize your ideas. This helps to clarify your thinking and communicate your concepts to others.
• Iterative Process: Develop multiple iterations of your concepts to explore different possibilities. Each iteration should refine and improve upon the previous one.

Selecting and Refining a Concept

Once you have generated a range of ideas, it's time to select the most promising concept and begin refining it.

• Evaluation: Assess your concepts based on feasibility, originality, and alignment with the assignment objectives. Consider factors such as structural integrity, environmental impact, and aesthetic appeal.
• Feedback: Seek feedback from peers, instructors, or TAs to gain new perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and willing to make changes.

Detailed Design Development

Detailed design development is the phase where your conceptual ideas are translated into comprehensive plans and models. This stage involves refining your selected concept into detailed designs that can be further evaluated and presented. Here's how to effectively approach detailed design development:

Design Development Process

• Technical Drawings: Create detailed technical drawings that illustrate the dimensions, materials, and construction methods of your design. These drawings should be precise and comprehensive, providing clear guidance for implementation.
• 3D Modeling: Use digital tools to create 3D models of your design. This allows you to visualize the project from different angles and perspectives, identifying any potential issues or improvements.
• Material Selection: Choose appropriate materials based on your design requirements, budget constraints, and sustainability considerations. Consider factors such as durability, aesthetics, and environmental impact.
• Integration of Systems: Integrate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural systems into your design. Ensure that these systems work harmoniously and efficiently within the overall project framework.

Iterative Refinement

• Feedback Loop: Continuously seek feedback from stakeholders, including clients, instructors, and peers. Use feedback to refine and improve your design, addressing any concerns or suggestions.
• Prototyping and Testing: Build prototypes or mock-ups to test the functionality and feasibility of your design. This allows you to identify and resolve any potential issues before finalizing the design.
• Documentation: Document every stage of the design development process, including revisions, decisions, and rationale. This documentation serves as a record of your design evolution and supports future decision-making.

Preparing for Presentations

Preparing for presentations is a crucial aspect of architecture assignments, as it allows you to effectively communicate your design ideas and decisions to stakeholders. Here's how to prepare for presentations:

Presentation Preparation Steps

• Content Organization: Structure your presentation to effectively convey the key aspects of your design. Include sections on concept development, site analysis, design rationale, and technical details.
• Visual Aids: Use visuals such as drawings, renderings, and 3D models to illustrate your design concept. Ensure that these visuals are clear, impactful, and support your narrative.
• Practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to refine your delivery and timing. Practice speaking confidently about your design choices and addressing potential questions.
• Feedback Sessions: Seek feedback from peers, instructors, or professionals before the actual presentation. Use this feedback to improve clarity, coherence, and overall presentation effectiveness.
• Documentation: Prepare supporting documentation, such as design boards, handouts, or digital presentations, to supplement your oral presentation. These materials should be concise yet informative, providing additional context and details.

Feedback and Revision

Incorporating feedback and making revisions is a critical part of the design process.

• Incorporate Feedback: Use feedback from interim reviews or consultations to make necessary revisions to your design and presentation materials. Be willing to make changes based on constructive criticism.
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously seek ways to improve your design and presentation. This might include refining details, improving clarity, or addressing any weaknesses.

Final Submission

The final submission is the culmination of your hard work and effort. Ensure that all required documents, models, and drawings are complete and well-presented.

• Complete and Polished: Ensure all required documents, models, and drawings are complete and well-presented. Double-check your work for accuracy and completeness.
• Double-Check: Review the submission requirements and deadlines to avoid last-minute issues. Make sure you have met all the criteria and addressed all aspects of the assignment brief.

Tips for Success

Success in architecture assignments relies on a combination of creativity, technical expertise, and effective project management. Here are some essential tips to optimize your design development process and excel in your architecture assignments:

Stay Organized

Organization is key to managing your time and tasks effectively.

• Scheduling: Keep a schedule and checklist to manage your time and tasks effectively. Break your work into manageable chunks and set deadlines for each stage.
• Documentation: Document your design process, including sketches, models, and feedback, to track your progress and decisions. This will help you stay organized and provide a record of your work.

Communicate Clearly

Clear communication is essential for conveying your design intent and process.

• Presentation: Ensure your models, drawings, and statements clearly convey your design intent and process. Use high-quality materials and professional presentation techniques.
• Simplicity: Strive for simplicity and clarity in your presentation to make it easily understandable. Avoid unnecessary complexity and focus on the key points.

By following these meticulously outlined steps, you can effectively optimize your design development process, thereby enhancing your capacity to deliver exceptional quality work for your architecture assignments. It is crucial to strike a harmonious balance between creativity, methodical research, and iterative development to achieve success.

Begin by thoroughly understanding the assignment brief, analyzing its objectives, context, and specific requirements. Conduct comprehensive research, encompassing site analysis and client needs, to lay a solid foundation for your design exploration. Engage in robust brainstorming and ideation phases to generate diverse concepts, followed by careful evaluation and refinement to select the most promising idea.

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Understanding and Using Architectural Scales

• Written by Julia Daudén
• Published on November 05, 2018

The work of an architect and urban planner can take on many forms thanks to the diverse curricular composition of most graduate courses, with subjects that deal with designing in different scales and contexts. From great urban plans to home renovations, and the metropolis to furniture design, these branches deal with different objects, however, all in common are the use of drawing and models as a tool for representation.

Whatever the project may be, drawing is the way to represent reality, ideas, speculations, and conceptions. Scale , a factor that establishes the level of reading one must make of these representations, determines the link between the real world and the dimensions of the drawing or model. For instance, the scale 1:1 is also known as “full size.”

More than a relation between two numbers, scale works as a guide to the degree of detailing and/or indicates in which phase the project is in (since the natural tendency of the designing process is to start from a broader thought process, which requires a smaller scale, to a more detailed consideration, which requires a larger scale). However, how do you determine what is the ideal scale for a specific representation?  

1:50.000 to 1:2.000

The scope of small scales of representation, that is, drawings that are reductions of reality, are usually good for big dimensions. cartography, urban maps, regions, and even small towns can make use of them, for they can handle comprehensive data.

This type of scale is also found in urban planning and zoning propositions, such as master plans, as well as in aerial photogrammetric surveys.

1:1.000 to 1:500

Zooming in on projects that demand a contextual reading without needing to show large territorial extensions, the interval between 1:1000 and 1:500 is ideal for most site plans.

An overview of the building and its location in the urban fabric, such as a block or a neighborhood, for example, can be contained in those scales. It is possible to highlight important elements such as the availability of infrastructures, among others.

When it comes to studies and researches, they come in handy for surveys such as buildings’ heights, land use, etc.

1:250 to 1:200

Once the representation’s aim stops being the surrounding context and starts focusing on the design itself, it becomes necessary to zoom in. The scales 1:250 and 1:200 handle these type of site plans.

The components of the design become more evident here; the shape and volume, the access, roof characteristics, and the relation among built and empty spaces. These scales can also serve plans, sections, and elevations in larger buildings for a broader reading of the proposal, and they can even contemplate some spatial compositions and layouts.

Even when it comes to smaller interventions, they can be used on a first approach, working satisfactorily in the early phases of discussions and decision making that, with time, will guide a more accurate development of technical and constructive matters.

1:150 to 1:100

As the scales get bigger, it is necessary to evaluate the degree of expressiveness and the size of the work being represented. Scales between 1:150 and 1:100 can also work well for first approaches of smaller works and typologies. In the case of larger buildings, they contemplate more detailed drawings and models, including structural elements and a better-defined layout.

In any case, it is important to consider the intentions behind each representation, be it two or three-dimensional, so as to rank which elements are to be highlighted.

1:75 to 1:25

Just as well, the scales 1:75 and 1:50 work with structures, layouts and the relations among floors. 

In some cases, they are also valid for flooring, specifying wall coatings and for interior design. From 1:50 to 1:25 it is also possible to zoom in on rooms to better detail specific components, such as plumbing, electrical or structural plans.

1:20 to 1:10

A more specific use of the 1:20 and 1:10 scales is to represent furniture. This is common for both architects and furniture designers to present the workings of the components and their structure. Being smaller objects, the need for a greater scale is evident.

In buildings, these scales are used in detail drawings.

When the aim is no longer to represent the spatial organization of the projects, but the constructive aspects and its components, the large scales are the ones that allow us to communicate the technical details with more precision. It demands great development in drawings, particularly when it comes to materials, fixings and fittings, that is, the functioning of the components and how they should be built. This means that they are more common in the advanced phases, such as an executive project.

Large-scale tridimensional models are better suited as prototypes for solutions that come about during the designing process that may or may not be used in the construction site.

The attempt to systematize a guide for the use of scales in architecture intends to highlight the importance of thinking and decision making when it comes to selecting what is to be shown in a project. Scaling reality to deal with different levels of complexity during the designing process is part of every architect’s development and daily work.

Note: the examples presented in this article were not necessarily made in the referred scale. Digital reproduction issues and zooming tools make it impossible to confirm the real scales. They are hereby shown to illustrate the elements that can be part of architectural drawings in each of the aforementioned scales.

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Introduction to Architecture (Arch1101)

Open Educational Resources for Architecture

LESSON 02: Introduction to Architectural Drawings

Lesson 2  introduction to architectural drawings:                                    measuring, dimensioning, drawing.

All built objects have a size that can be measured. When architects receive a commission for a building they are given measurable conditions either as a site or as an existing building. The site must be measured to know its exact dimensions and likewise, an existing building must be measured to ascertain its exact dimensions. There are several means by which an architect can take measurements. Often a tape measure is used; for larger distances a laser is used.

After measurements are taken, the numbers need to be recorded on a sketch of the object. Hence, before taking measurements, the architect must freehand sketch the object as accurately as possible, and large enough to fit all the dimensions.

Dimensioning

In the United States, all measurements are in the English system (feet and inches); most other countries use the metric system (based on multiples of 10). Interestingly, the English system is a product of the building industry where builders could “step off” distances on the construction site. Dimensions on architectural drawings are represented as feet and inches. For example, a measured distance of six feet and ten inches is represented as 6’-10”; a distance of 5 inches is represented as 0’-5”. Fractions of an inch are represented with a diagonal line ½” and not with a horizontal line as in arithmetic: 12’-6½”

Class Schedule

Discussion : Homework writing assignment – Vitruvius Demonstration : Introduction to drafting Exercise : Using the architectural scale: drawing a simple shape at 1/16, 1/8, ¼, ½ scales. Lab : 1. Sketch the four sides of a chosen object in the classroom. Each sketch should resemble its proportions. 2. As a class, measure the object and mark the dimensions on your sketches. 3. The class will pick an appropriate scale and you will draw the four elevations, plan, and section.

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Course info.

• Prof. Mark Jarzombek

Departments

• Architecture

As Taught In

• Architectural History and Criticism
• World History

Learning Resource Types

Introduction to the history and theory of architecture, assignments.

Select one building** and write a 5–7 page double spaced paper developing ONE of the four following themes. Remember that your TA is available for help and discussion. In each case, your paper will be evaluated in terms of

• richness and specificity of observations
• coherency of writing

** MIT students in the class were given a list of buildings to choose from. This list is not provided for OCW users.

• There might be some overlap between themes. If you discuss ‘use,’ you might also have to discuss ’ plan’ and so forth, but the idea is consistency.
• This paper does not require any specific literature or ‘reading.’ Of course any reading that you do is welcome. However, anything that is cited, borrowed or quoted from any source (including from the web) must be fully cited!
• Each paper will also be checked for plagiarism by the TAs and by a plagiarism-searching software program.

From the first five chapters in the textbook (3500 BCE to 400 BCE), or from sites mentioned in class, pick one building or set of buildings and elaborate on one of several themes… [Further details about this assignment are not provided for OCW users.]

Pick any lecture prior to this one (Lecture 16, Early Christian Transitions) or after. Write up the entire lecture from your notes and from the lecture images shown in class… [Further details about this assignment are not provided for OCW users.]

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Architect's Guide to Project Management

As architects, we’ve spent hours scouring the web and reading articles looking for the best tips on project management, but typically found information that is too generalized to be of much help. Below is a guide compiled from our own personal experiences, tips from old colleagues, and relevant snippets of information from our research. Welcome to “Project Management for Architects”!

How Can Pre-Design Help with Project Management?

There are many phases of an architecture project, and frequently a firm is only contracted to perform a select number. In order to determine the best project management process, you must understand these phases and the needs of each.

Pre-design is especially pertinent to overall project management by merit of the discoveries made. Depending on the size and sophistication of a project, the architect might be engaged in pre-design. As Jorge Fontan AIA explains it: …the owner and architect establish and analyze a set of conditions and research that will establish the framework and requirements for the building development. This includes site analysis, zoning, budgeting, and programming use requirements.

In a way, pre-design lays a lot of the groundwork that comprises the crux of this article. Setting up an agreed-upon, legally binding framework and requirements allows you to make educated predictions about how to budget time, money, staffing, and ensure that the project will be run through to completion while meeting the goals of the full team.

Use Effective Work Plans for Scheduling and Staffing

Not all projects will have pre-design done by the architect, possibly because the client has completed much of the work themselves. While it’s great that the client may come to you with documents of site analysis, zoning and code analysis, programming, etc., you will likely end up vetting some of their work.

Regardless if you are assisting in pre-design or not, you should create a work plan, often referred to as the roadmap of a project. This document helps outline a smooth path to complete an architecture project. Development of a work plan for the project begins with consideration of schedules, ways to organize relationships between the parties, the firm's available resources, and perhaps fees. In addition, how the leadership for the project will be organized and what experience and specialty levels will be required are identified.

A work plan should include:

• Project description
• Statement of deliverables
• Team Org Chart
• Responsibility Matrix
• Preliminary Project Schedule
• Preliminary Staffing needs
• Project directory
• Internal project budget and profit plan
• Code information (optional).

A good work plan will help define an accurate project schedule. You will have to use your experience to create the timeline of design phases based on size of the project, services requested, and staffing availability.

Often times for commercial interior projects, the client might approach a firm with a hard deadline like their lease ending in nine months. Sometimes it is possible to rush design and construction to have this client moved into a new space on time, but it frequently causes pain for everyone.

In cases like that, you may be desperate for revenue and accept the project, but when possible, learn to say “no” to projects that will set you up for failure. It won’t benefit you in the long term to have a bad project with unhappy clients, staff, and partners.

If a client approaches who is pushing an unrealistic deadline simply to save money, past experience is a powerful tool for adding more time. If you can prove the added costs and mistakes made during a rushed schedule, and the successes of a project with proper time, the client should come to agree with your professional advice.

The work plan also helps with project staffing, the difficult task of balancing the availability of staff that might be working on multiple projects that are in different phases. The more your work plan is broken down, the better you are set to find the right people for the right task.

If you’re a sole proprietor, it’s always good to take your estimated time and multiply by 1.5 or even 2. If the client is accepting, you’ve given yourself leeway for surprises that will inevitably pop up and decrease late nights.

Facilitating Project Progress - Tips for Meetings and Agendas

The New York Times has a list of general tips that should be part of any meeting: Have a clear agenda, stick to the scheduled time, and ensure that everyone leaves the room knowing their next tasks. Those are valuable ideas, but given the complexity of architecture projects, the number of parties, and the software involved, here are some specific tips.

Let’s think of meetings in two ways:

1. Setting up meetings

You’ve likely had projects with too many meetings, meetings that ran too long, involved too many players (wasting their time), and didn’t have the right technology. When it’s your turn to organize meetings, avoid the pitfalls by determining the necessary parties and realistic time required and then reserve a space that will provide all the amenities to suit your needs.

If the teams’ office settings do not work, there are online services like Breather and Peerspace that list meeting rooms by location and include information about the number of seats, square footage, technology, and extra features. Ideally you won’t have to rely on this much as the reservations come at a cost.

Often there will be weekly meetings with the larger team to speed along the communication and get much needed face time. Great Business Schools put out a survey showing that 85% of people believe in-person meetings “build stronger, more meaningful business relationships” and a significant majority believe they benefit negotiations, interviews, and understanding.

2. Running the meeting

There should be a clear leader of any meeting, going through the agenda line by line and ensuring all parties have their questions, concerns, and answers added to the minutes. For those who attend in-person, make sure there are printed copies of the agenda for their own personal notes.

A master copy should be kept by the leader or notetaker, ideally displayed on a monitor so everyone is assured their responses are added. For remote attendees, screenshare software is an incredible tool for sharing notes and visually showing drawings or models to various consultants.

Screenshares are a major plus for remote clients when discussing design. If you or your team can make updates to a 3D model in real time for a client, they are often surprised and excited.

All agendas should include basic information like project title, meeting date, attendees, a list of topics with key info or questions, action items, and space for new items.

Agendas should be emailed ideally a day in advance to all attendees, printed for all parties physically attending, and signed off after a designated notetaker has added comments as topics are addressed. That copy serves as meeting minutes for future reference and potentially future agendas.

Given the drastic differences in process throughout the life of a project and various needs of each party, one style of agenda is usually not the best direction. At the least, consider templates for two different situations:

Meetings with Clients

For small projects, the client is likely not savvy about the design process, code and zoning concerns, and the jargon and minutiae of construction. It is important to not only avoid “archispeak” and take time to clearly explain various concepts, but to keep the agenda visually simple as well: a simple word processor document with bold headings and complete sentences in plain font.

Let’s consider a “kickoff” meeting as an example. Along with the general agenda information listed above, the first formal meeting between the client and design team might contain the following headers:

• TEAM INTRODUCTIONS** There is no need for notes here unless the absence of any key players needs to be explained and how that person will interface with the group.
• DISTRIBUTION LIST / COMMUNICATION This will explain how day-to-day communications should happen and who should be included. It might also stipulate the time and location of recurring in-person or remote full team meetings.
• PROJECT GOALS While the stock AIA Contract B101 does specify the client should “set forth the Owner’s objectives”, this heading provides a more informal discussion in which goals can be discussed. We’ve found it’s more inclusive for the design team to list their goals as well; this serves as a document for everyone to go back and check the project is on track to meet everyone’s expectations.
• ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS These are critical to have clearly understood by all. The information, processes, or timelines for billing procedures, milestones, budget and pricing should be clarified.

Meetings with Consultants and/or Contractor

Unsophisticated clients might only attend a few of these technical meetings, so it’s not critical to keep everything in laymans’ terms. Given the numerous consultants and trades, a table format that is organized by company or category with columns for item #, date of addition and description, date of update and description, completion required by, and responsible party.

This is a great way for everyone to see the progress of everyone else and organize their own work accordingly. A method for good project management process is to grey out completed items, cross out items that are no longer correct, use red for overdue items, and keep open items in black. See a simple example below:

1. Brooklyn Architects (BA)

2. NYC Structural Engineers (SE)

Supervising Project Progress - Track Services and Manage Budget

Keeping track of required services.

Contracts are key to cementing services, and are typically only brought out when a disagreement of responsibility arises. There are many types of contracts , and it is wise to not begin work without the legal protection of an Architect-Prepared Contract or an AIA Contract Document .

It’s important to have a strong handle on the phases of an architecture project as well as the work they typically entail. For instance, the client might request that the schematic design phase have three iterations with a set number of plans, elevations, and 3D images.

Since your entire team might not all be at meetings, i.e. interns not attending contract discussions, it’s important that at some point they do review and understand the agreed upon services. Imagine the situation a junior designer found herself in:

A client sent an email requesting a few design updates and a different view to the pantry. She wasted two hours working on this when the project manager had to correct her since an additional service had not yet been approved.

That brings me to my next point: Add services . Pretend a client isn’t happy with the third and final iteration of schematic design and would like to see more options or refinement. The original contract should have a section that stipulates the method for creating an Additional Service so the architect is paid for additional work.

Tracking and managing budgets

Whether your fee is hourly , percentage of cost , by phase , or a fixed fee , you will have several factors to consider to profitably manage a budget. While there are various software out there that manage some aspects of financial resources, they are few that are designed specifically for architects. Monograph is a purpose-built solution to help architects track their time as well as their budgets.

If you have a budget from the prior year, this is a good starting point for predicting income and finding expenses that can be eliminated . Break down your totals for the upcoming months, track actual revenue and expenses next to predicted, and use that to adjust costs for the remainder of the year.

What Happens When a Project is Complete?

Post-construction evaluations.

Construction Administration is usually a basic service of architects which involves site visits to ensure conformance with Construction Documents , and in some cases, inspections that must be submitted to various agencies.

Since the duration of your liability exposure could be tied directly to the date of substantial completion a Certificate of Substantial Completion is great for establishing a hard stop point and for beginning the countdown for liability. Prior to punch list, have a conference call with client and contractor to review project closeout requirements and get everyone’s idea of what remains to be done (not a punch list), with verbal agreement. One of your closeout requirements could be Contractor’s final submittals. During the call, give your client and contractor a checklist that they both agree to. Be sure to memorialize all of this in formal minutes: reference to contract requirements, the agreed upon task list, submittals list and a restatement that everything was agreed upon.

Once the building has final completion signed off, there are other tasks that are considered post-construction services depending on how the contract was negotiated. This can include assisting with occupancy permits, review of warranties, and providing as-built drawings.

It’s important to discuss these topics at the outset of the project rather than have them come up as unwelcome add services. Surprises are unpleasant not only for the client, but for the carefully planned project staffing of a firm.

Archiving projects

Consider the value of your information - it can serve as a reference for future projects, but more importantly, protect you from liability if there is a building failure over its lifespan. All firms need an established process for closing out projects. Most states have a minimum time period during which project records must be stored. You may need to reference these records in future events such as when you need to provide facilities management information, providing information for future renovations, and at the worst case, documenting a defense in the event of a claim or lawsuit.

As your collection of projects grows, you will eventually have to find a way to archive projects in a manageable way. The vast amount of data that architecture projects require will take up valuable storage, so it’s wise to consider compression or cloud based storage .

• Compression If you are hesitant about cloud based storage, you will likely have to increase the size of your server or invest in a type of portable drive. But to increase the value of storage space, files should be compressed - a ZIP file is a common format and can be accomplished with a variety of tools, usually included with your operating system.
• Cloud based Storage Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable setting up a network in your tiny home office, or you’re worried about the loss of an external drive. You can invest in a third party cloud to store your files. Similar to buying more drives for more information, you will pay more for greater amounts of cloud storage. However, consider the advantages: you can connect to your information from any computer, collaboration is easier, you have less responsibility for maintenance, there are no capex investments just operational, and these large companies are paying a hefty sum to make sure your data is safe.

No matter your choice, properly archiving projects digitally is the best way protect yourself from future legal troubles.

A Great Project for Your Portfolio

Remember that pre-design is your friend at the outset of any project - it helps establish the goals of a project and outlines the overall requirements of a project. From there, you can create a work plan that will guide scheduling and staffing.

Once the ball is rolling, use our tips to help create and run meetings to effectively communicate with the larger team. Don’t forget to have an agenda ready in advance that is catered to the audience and issues at hand.

At the outset of a project, the contract should cement all of the services that a firm will be providing. Be sure to avoid surprise services with the client so that additional services don’t interfere with your project staffing.

Finally, bring your project to a close by ensuring your vision was correctly built and then archive your work. Project management for architects can feel like a daunting task, but by following this advice, you will have a happy client and a great addition to your portfolio!

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Top 10 Project Management Software for Architects

A list of the top project management software for architects to help you stay organized and keep track of your budget and time.

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A complete guide on client onboarding for architecture and design firms. We’ll cover 7 steps to create the best client experience at the beginning of your project.

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The Art of Crafting Architectural Assignments: A Comprehensive Guide to Complete Architecture Assignment

Sarahwilliams

As a student pursuing a degree in architecture, you’re undoubtedly aware that assignments play a pivotal role in your academic journey. These assignments are not just a way to assess your knowledge; they also serve as a canvas where you can express your creativity, understanding, and analytical skills. In this blog post, we will explore the art of crafting architectural assignments, offering tips and insights to help you excel in this important aspect of your education. Additionally, if you’re looking for expert assistance and thinking how to complete my architecture assignment , we’ll discuss how to find reliable services to support your academic needs.

• Understand the Assignment

Before you dive into creating your architectural masterpiece or seek help to “complete my architecture assignment,” take the time to thoroughly understand the assignment. This involves reading the instructions, objectives, and any specific guidelines provided by your instructor. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, don’t hesitate to seek clarification. A clear understanding of the assignment is the foundation upon which you’ll build your work.

• Research and Gather Information

Every architectural project begins with research, and assignments are no different. Start by gathering information relevant to your topic. This may include historical context, design principles, building materials, and case studies. The more you know, the more informed and insightful your assignment will be.

• Organize Your Thoughts

Once you’ve collected the necessary information, it’s time to organize your thoughts. Create an outline that maps out the structure of your assignment. Break it down into sections like introduction, methodology, analysis, and conclusion. This not only helps you stay organized but also ensures your assignment flows logically.

• Express Your Creativity

Architecture is an art form, and your assignments are an opportunity to showcase your creativity. Whether you’re designing a building concept, analyzing a famous structure, or solving an architectural problem, don’t be afraid to inject your unique ideas and perspectives into your work. This is what sets you apart from your peers.

• Visual Aids

In architecture, visuals speak volumes. Incorporate sketches, diagrams, photographs, and renderings to support your ideas. Visual aids not only enhance the visual appeal of your assignment but also help convey complex concepts more effectively.

• Proofread and Edit

Attention to detail is crucial in the field of architecture, and the same applies to your assignments. After completing your work or seeking assistance to “complete my architecture assignment,” take the time to proofread and edit. Check for grammatical errors, clarity, and consistency. A well-polished assignment demonstrates your professionalism and dedication.

• Cite Your Sources

When referencing external sources, be sure to cite them properly. Use a citation style recommended by your institution, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. Accurate citations show that your work is well-researched and based on reliable sources.

• Seek Feedback

Before submitting your assignment, consider seeking feedback from peers or professors. Constructive feedback can help you improve your work and catch any overlooked errors or areas for enhancement.

• Meet Deadlines

Time management is essential in architecture, and the same goes for your assignments. Always aim to meet the submission deadlines. Late submissions can reflect poorly on your commitment to the task.

Crafting architectural assignments is an art in itself. With the right approach, you can turn these assignments into opportunities for personal and professional growth. By understanding the assignment, conducting thorough research, organizing your thoughts, and expressing your creativity, you can create assignments that not only earn you top grades but also showcase your potential as a future architect. Remember, each assignment is a stepping stone towards your future success in the world of architecture.

If you ever find yourself struggling with an architectural assignment and need someone to “complete my architecture assignment,” don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals who offer architecture assignment help services. They can provide you with the guidance and assistance you need to excel in your academic endeavors.

Happy designing, writing, and completing your architecture assignments!

#architectureassignmenthelp #completemyarchitectureassignment #student #university #college #onlinehelp

Written by Sarahwilliams

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• Engineering Mathematics
• Discrete Mathematics
• Operating System
• Computer Networks
• Digital Logic and Design
• C Programming
• Data Structures
• Theory of Computation
• Compiler Design
• Computer Org and Architecture

Computer Organization and Architecture Tutorial

In this Computer Organization and Architecture Tutorial, you’ll learn all the basic to advanced concepts like pipelining, microprogrammed control, computer architecture, instruction design, and format.

Computer Organization and Architecture is used to design computer systems. Computer Architecture is considered to be those attributes of a system that are visible to the user like addressing techniques, instruction sets, and bits used for data, and have a direct impact on the logic execution of a program, It defines the system in an abstract manner, It deals with What does the system do.

Whereas, Computer Organization is the way in which a system has to structure and It is operational units and the interconnections between them that achieve the architectural specifications, It is the realization of the abstract model, and It deals with How to implement the system.

Table of Content

• Basic Computer Instructions :
• Instruction Design and Format :
• Computer Arithmetic :
• Microprogrammed Control :
• Memory Organization :
• Input and Output Systems :
• Pipelining :
• IEEE Number Statndards
• Miscellaneous :
• Quick Links :

To deepen your knowledge in Computer Organization and Architecture and prepare for exams like GATE, consider enrolling in the GATE CS Self-Paced course . This course offers detailed coverage of essential topics, helping you build a solid foundation in computer science and achieve your academic and career goals.

• Basic Computer Instructions
• A simple understanding of Computer
• Issues in Computer Design
• Computer System Level Hierarchy
• Computer Architecture and Computer Organization
• Timing diagram of MOV Instruction in Microprocessor
• Assembly language and High level language
• Addressing Modes
• Memory based Vs Register based addressing modes
• Von Neumann architecture
• Harvard Architecture
• Interaction of a Program with Hardware
• Simplified Instructional Computer (SIC)
• Instruction Set used in simplified instructional Computer (SIC)
• Instruction Set used in SIC/XE
• RISC and CISC
• RISC and CISC | Set 2
• Vector processor classification
• Essential Registers for Instruction Execution
• Single Accumulator based CPU organization
• Stack based CPU Organization
• General Register based CPU Organization
• Data Transfer instructions in AVR microcontroller
• Arithmetic instructions in AVR microcontroller
• Conditional Branch Instructions in AVR Microcontroller
• CALL Instructions and Stack in AVR Microcontroller
• Branch Instructions in AVR Microcontroller
• Logical Instructions in AVR Microcontroller
• Data Manipulation Instructions
• Machine Control Instruction
• Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) Architecture

Instruction Design and Format

• Different Instruction Cycles
• Machine Instructions
• Instruction Formats (Zero, One, Two and Three Address Instruction)
• 2-address instruction and 1-address instructions
• 3-address instruction and 0-address instruction
• 3-address instruction and 2-address instructions
• Register content and Flag status after Instructions
• Debugging a machine level program
• Vector Instruction Format
• Vector instruction types
• Branch Prediction in Pentium
• Instruction Word Size
• >> Problem Solving on Instruction Format

Computer Arithmetic

• Computer Arithmetic | ALU and Data Path
• Computer Arithmetic | Set 1
• Computer Arithmetic | Set 2
• Difference between 1’s complement and 2’s complement
• Restoring Division Algorithm For Unsigned Integer
• Non-Restoring Division For Unsigned Integer
• Booth’s Algorithm
• Overflow in Arithmetic Addition
• How the negative numbers are stored in memory?
• Conventional Computing vs Quantum Computing

Quiz on Number Representation

Microprogrammed Control

• Micro-Operation
• Microarchitecture and Instruction Set Architecture
• Types of Program Control Instructions
• Difference between CALL and JUMP instructions
• Hardwired v/s Micro-programmed Control Unit
• Implementation of Micro Instructions Sequencer
• Performance of Computer
• Control Unit and design
• Horizontal micro-programmed Vs Vertical micro-programmed control unit
• Camparisons between Hardwired Vs Micro-programmed Control unit
• Computer Organization | Subprogram and its characteristics

Memory Organization

• Introduction to memory and memory units
• Memory Hierarchy Design and its Characteristics
• Difference between Byte Addressable Memory and Word Addressable Memory
• Difference between Simultaneous and Hierarchical Access Memory Organisations
• Register Allocation
• Cache Memory
• Cache Organization | Set 1 (Introduction)
• Multilevel Cache Organisation
• Locality and Cache friendly code
• Locality of Reference and Cache Operation
• Amdahl’s law and its proof
• Subroutine, Subroutine nesting and Stack memory
• What’s difference between CPU Cache and TLB?
• Different Types of RAM
• Types of computer memory (RAM and ROM)
• Secondary memory – Hard disk drive
• Introduction to solid-state drive (SSD)
• Read and Write operations in memory
• 2D and 2.5D Memory organization

Input and Output Systems

• Priority Interrupts | (S/W Polling and Daisy Chaining)
• I/O Interface (Interrupt and DMA Mode)
• Direct memory access with DMA controller 8257/8237
• Asynchronous input output synchronization
• Programmable peripheral interface 8255
• Interface 8255 with 8085 microprocessor for 1’s and 2’s complement of a number
• 8255 (programmable peripheral interface)
• Microcomputer system
• Working of 8085-based Single board microcomputer
• Interface 8254 PIT with 8085 microprocessor
• Synchronous Data Transfer
• Input-Output Processor
• MPU Communication
• Memory mapped I/O and Isolated I/O
• BUS Arbitration
• Instruction Level Parallelism
• Execution, Stages and Throughput
• Types and Stalling
• Dependencies and Data Hazard

IEEE Number Standards

• IEEE Standard 754 Floating Point Numbers

Miscellaneous

• Microprocessor
• Microprocessor | Externally Initiated Operations
• Bus organization of 8085 microprocessor
• Generations of computer
• Intel x86 evolution and main features
• Memory Banking
• Introduction to quantum computing
• Rethinking binary with Quantum computers
• Flynn’s taxonomy
• Clusters In Computer Organisation
• Parallel processing – systolic arrays
• 8259 PIC Microprocessor
• Block Diagram of 8259 Microprocessor
• Microprocessor | 8251 USART
• Evolution of Microprocessors
• Human – Computer interaction through the ages
• Computer Ports
• Introduction to Parallel Computing
• Hardware architecture (parallel computing)
• Computer Architecture | Multiprocessor and Multicomputer
• Timing diagram of INR M
• Program for Binary To Decimal Conversion
• Program for Decimal to Binary Conversion
• Program for decimal to octal conversion
• Program for octal to decimal conversion
• Program for hexadecimal to decimal

Quick Links

• ‘Quizzes’ on Computer Organization and Architecture !
• ‘Practice Problems’ on Computer Organization and Architecture !

Computer Organization and Architecture Tutorial – FAQs

What is computer organization.

Computer organization refers to the operational units and their interconnections that realize the architectural specifications of a computer. It involves the structural relations and the manner in which the components of the computer system are connected and work together.

What is computer architecture?

Computer architecture is the conceptual design and fundamental operational structure of a computer system. It encompasses the layout of the hardware, the design of the instruction set, and the techniques for data handling and processing. The objective is to outline a blueprint that ensures optimal performance and efficiency.

What is the difference between computer organization and architecture?

While computer architecture is concerned with the conceptual design and functional specification of a computer system, computer organization deals with the detailed operational implementation of the system. Essentially, architecture provides the macro-level blueprint, while organization focuses on the micro-level realization.

Why is understanding computer organization and architecture important?

Understanding computer organization and architecture is crucial for designing efficient computer systems, improving existing ones, and making informed decisions about hardware resources. It also helps in optimizing software to make full use of the underlying hardware and enhance overall system performance.

What are the key components of computer organization?

The key components of computer organization include the central processing unit (CPU), memory hierarchy (registers, cache, RAM, and secondary storage), input/output devices, and the interconnection system (buses and communication channels) that allows these components to interact effectively.

this Computer Organization and Architecture Tutorial has covered the fundamental concepts essential for understanding how computer systems function. From the basic building blocks like registers and ALUs to complex concepts such as pipelining and memory hierarchies, you now have a solid foundation. This knowledge is crucial for anyone pursuing a career in computer science or related fields. Keep exploring and practicing these concepts to deepen your understanding and stay updated with the latest advancements in computer architecture. This tutorial is just the beginning of your journey into the fascinating world of computer systems.

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