Concert Calendar New Releases Artist of the Week Classic Hits Links Listen Now Join the Workforce Promotions JC & the U-Man All Around Town Singles Connection Air Personalities Contact Info Advertise With Us Half Price Deals Great Outdoors Clubs / Venues St. Louis Attractions Career Channel Autoworld Traffic		Architecture - A refuge from more mundane lines of work! Career Overview Would-be artists and entrepreneurs alike have long sought out careers in architecture as a refuge from more mundane lines of work. What other job allows you to spend the morning arguing about postmodern effects on the essence of form and get paid for it? What You'll Do Some of the glamour is warranted. Architects are, after all, in the business of dreaming up new structures. But design is only part of architecture. Once a design has been selected, architects draft the final construction documents and oversee the actual construction. In those detail-oriented stages, architecture seems more like engineering than a creative venture. As one architect puts it, "One of the biggest things we do is coordinate." Architects must understand the science behind the design, down to the strengths of various materials and the benefits and limitations of competing designs. They also absorb stacks of building codes and zoning requirements. Before construction can start, a licensed architect must sign off on all documents. Simply put, architecture is both the art and science of constructing buildings. To deliver projects on time and under budget, architects must grasp the big picture and sweat the details. Communication skills and managerial skills are paramount-architects work closely with clients, contractors, and other architects. Few architects are given the freedom or money to design the next Guggenheim Museum, but that doesn't deny them the basic satisfaction of seeing their ideas transformed into lasting structures. Who Does Well Architects need to be detail oriented. Often, they need account management skills, as they'll be dealing with clients. They need to be excellent at project management, too, because they'll need to work with a wide variety of consultants. Finally, they need to be excellent designers: They'll be creating spaces, both public and private, in which people will live, work, and interact. In no small way, architects give shape to the environments in which people live, so they need to understand the effects their designs and buildings will have on people. Job Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of architecture positions will grow at the same rate as the average for all occupations between now and 2010. But remember that the industry is heavily cyclical. When the economy is good, there's more money for construction, and firms scramble to find enough architects. The slightest economic downturn, however, can freeze construction budgets. Even in good times, architecture is a highly competitive field. Landing an entry-level job can be difficult, especially at the more prestigious firms. To get an edge on other candidates, it's wise to seek summer internships while you're still in school. Compensation The following are median salary ranges for architecture professionals: Architect: $50,000 to $75,000 Senior architect: $55,000 to $85,000 Draftsperson: $30,000 to $40,000 Landscape architect: $40,000 to $60,000 Interior designer: $30,000 to $45,000 Senior interior designer: $35,000 to $50,000 Industrial designer: $35,000 to $80,000 « Return to Previous Page Career Content ©2003 The Employment Channel		What do you like the best about St. Louis? • KHIT's 96 • The Pot Holes • Gus's Pretzels MO Power Ball:  16, 18, 26, 39, 48, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 5 IL Mega Millions:  9, 10, 17, 41, 52, Mega: 19 results posted by 9am following day Saint Louis, MO Sunny 51°F MORE→
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