Expert: John Henry Architect - 10/6/2009

Question
Hello John Henry, my name is Raj and I am currently in high school in grade 11 and is really wanting to become an architect.I am a phenomenal artist and have won awards. I have been considering University of Waterloo for my studies as I live in Ontario, Canada. I would like to know how universities check your marks, I am taking math courses, architectural designing, visual art, English, and physics. I would also like to know if physics is heavily oriented when you are in university? I do have a passion for designing and having people admiring them. Is it a competitive career? And is it really worth it when university is done, salary wise and the workload?

Answer
Hi Raj, art and science are the two pillars of the definition of architecture.
I can tell you that very little applied physics is used by architects; the structural engineers go through calculations over and over daily and they are best qualified and licensed to design beams, foundations, wind loading, seismic, and other related cause and effects.
Architecture is VERY competitive and right now in the tank.
By the time you graduate with a degree I bet that things will be either just fine or in another economic depression.
Salary wise not too good for several years.  Owning your own firm helps.
If you like art, then you will understand that you must 'pay your dues'.
I find this detestable.
Becoming a 'star' architect is as probable as being in the NBA or other professional sport where the top players make the most money.
But if you have it in you, you should be able to climb to the top.
Business skills are very important so make sure you take several business courses.
I believe architecture has to have an aesthetic foundation before anything else.  It is not simply physics nor a mathematical equation of any kind.
Conditions of site, budget, client likes, your background, the general artistic climate, technological advancement, philosophical approach, all have a part in creating 'good' architecture.
I do not follow college curriculums and cannot recommend any school in particular, but be advised that 'name' schools tend to have an agenda and approach that differs from university to university.
You have some time to investigate this and visit the actual design labs of schools of interest.
See also who their staff and guest lecturers are.
Best wishes,
JH