AboutPaul S. Brown, AIA Expertise How to work with an Architect. What to expect for design fees. What services are normally
included; what are not included? How do I find an Architect in my area? Why do I need an
Architect? How to be clear about your space needs. Why time must be managed properly.
Experience 24 years involvement in the practice of Architecture, including some teaching experience. Most of my work has been within the employment of various firms, but I have also done some small-scale projects on my own.
Particular interests include Environmental Design, "Green" Design, and Appropriate Technologies. LEED (TM) Accredited Professional.
I have some specific experience with Historic Preservation, Medical Facilities, Commercial Interiors, and Public School projects.
Expert: Paul S. Brown, AIA Date: 7/1/2008 Subject: What do I need to be an architect?
Question QUESTION: Hi,
My name is Nicol, and I am a 17 years old student living in Canada, Toronto. I have some questions about being an architect such as if I am capable of doing so. I am a quite well artist, delight in sketching and enjoy everything related to arts, except for art history because I have a terrible memory for dates and names. I like math and enjoy physics, but sometimes, my math and physic teachers are so HARSH (trust me, they are) that I might temporary hate it. Eventhough I am not getting EXTREMELY high marks like some do, I still have a good facility in understanding these subjects (if i try), but I am NOT crazy about math and physic either (like some science math freaks do). Please, remember that. However, leaving the MATH world, I also LOVE to design, houses, funiture...etc ; as you can see I play a game called "The Sims", it is a designing video game. Unfortunately, my linguistic skills are bad, well, good as well in a way. I am fluent in 3 languages, English, French and Chinese, but I don't think I will ever master all of them. I got a really bad mark in English this year, and I don't know why; perhaps my English teacher just hated me, you know , unlike math and science, English has no correct answer, the teacher can give anything he or she wants; or it is just my english skill is horrible. Last of the few things are, I am quite patient depending on the situation, and I am quite creative, (but after years being at school, my creative mind has been diminishing, little by little). So What do you think? Is there anything else I have to be developping? I heard architecture is HARD in university.I am planning to go to McGill Univeristy in Montreal, which requires Chemistry and I don't have a clue why. (Maybe they just want to torture us even more with these stuffs)
ANSWER: Hi Nicol:
Architecture is a great career choice, but also very challenging. It is hard work. What you need most, is determination and stamina. I can tell from your note that creativity, drawing and science/math skills are your strengths. It sounds like these things come relatively easy to you, which is good, because those are also obvious skills that you need. But Architecture as a career is quite different from Architecture as a hobby or as a degree program. You need to really know that this is what you want to do, so that when you have days where you need to fight through the details of codes and regulations, or delivery problems from materials suppliers, or angry clients who won't pay, you have the fortitude to keep going. It is hard work in school, because they are trying to prepare you for a career of hard work. In school, mostly you are working long hours to get as much done on a design project as you can in time for a project review. You will spend many nights working all night in studio when you are in school, while your friends in other majors are sleeping. You will become great mates with the other Architecture students, because you will spend your life with them. If this sounds like fun; go for it. If it sounds like not-fun, maybe wait a while before signing up for an Architecture major.
Good luck,
PB
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QUESTION: Hi,
But I was wondering, what is best to put in my portfolio. I have some paintings and alot of pencil sketching (still life), and I was wondering if I should do something related to dimention and architectual stuffs (which i have never tried). Are they looking for my skills, crativity, or my ability to sketch buildings? I am now panicking because Architecture major requires a really HIGH mark, which I don't think I will ever get with ENGLISH class around.
Answer Architectural design work is not important for your application portfolio. If you have some, and if it is good, go ahead and put it in; but, this is what they expect to TEACH you; not what they expect you to already be able to DO.
Your still-life sketches, and any other general artwork, are more important.
Re: English skills; if you make it clear on your application that you (is this assumption correct?) come from a multi-cultural background, then your poor English grades will be more understandable by the person reviewing your application. But, of course, do what ever you can to get those grades up.
Are you passionate about doing this? Architecture? Or would you rather be an Art major as an undergraduate; and perhaps do architecture as a master's program?
