Archinect - Features

When Should Architecture Firms Start Hiring? Five Factors To Consider

2024-11-14T13:46:00-05:00

With the U.S. Federal Reserve embarking on rounds of target interest rate cuts in late 2024, AEC industry commentators are forecasting that architectural business conditions may improve in the coming months. Architecture firms experiencing an increased workload may, therefore, find themselves asking the deceptively simple question: When should I start hiring?

Should hiring decisions be made in response to secure work or more speculative projections? Should onboarding time be taken into account? Are there economic considerations beyond workload projects that should be factored in?

In search of answers, Archinect spoke with four firms about their hiring strategies: Fogarty Finger, FXCollaborative, Marmol Radziner, and Marvel. From our conversations, five key factors emerged for firms to consider when designing their own hiring strategies.

Interest Rates Were Cut, but Growth Takes Time: Archinect’s State of AEC October 2024

2024-11-05T08:00:00-05:00

Welcome to the fifth installment of Archinect's new series, State of AEC. At the end of each month, we will guide you through the latest analyses, indexes, and trends on how the architecture and construction industries are performing economically.

Throughout the last month, commentators in the architecture and planning spheres have noted that, although interest rates were cut in September, clients remain cautious about commissioning architects for new projects or committing projects to planning. For one commentator, the industry may not feel the full positive impact of the rate cuts until the middle of 2025, which may lead to strong nonresidential planning performance.

Read our full roundup of the month's economic and business figures below and find out more about how the business health of the architecture profession is faring via our recently released survey results here.

10 Tips for Architects To Survive Downturns by Former HOK CEO Patrick MacLeamy

2024-10-18T13:55:00-04:00

“I spent 50 years at HOK, working my way up from junior designer to CEO,” Patrick MacLeamy wrote in his 2020 book Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories, and Strategies Behind HOK. “Where else can you do that?”

During his time as HOK CEO and Chairman from 2003 to 2016, MacLeamy exerted great effort in shaping a resilient practice that, in many ways, harks back to the ethos of the firm’s founding. As a child of the Great Depression, co-founder George Hellmuth purposely structured HOK along the principles of what he described in 1944 as a 'Depression-Proof Firm,' one that could step off the typical economic rollercoaster that many firms, then and now, continue to ride.

Eight decades later, MacLeamy believes the industry has much to learn from the approach taken by Hellmuth, along with his co-founders Gyo Obata and George Kassabaum. “Architecture is a passion, not just a profession, and my own passion for the field extends to the business side,” MacLeamy writes...

The Industry Reacts to Interest Rate Cuts: Archinect’s State of AEC September 2024

2024-10-08T08:39:00-04:00

Welcome to the fourth installment of Archinect's new series, State of AEC. At the end of each month, we will guide you through the latest analyses, indexes, and trends on how the architecture and construction industries are performing economically.

Since our last edition, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its first interest cut in four years, lowering its rate by half a percentage point. In previous editions of this series, we noted that many commentators had expressed hope that such a move would begin to reverse the fortunes of firms that, as can be seen in the data published below, continue to see declining billings. As we noted in a recent feature published after the rate cut, history tells us the move will indeed have a positive impact on architectural business conditions, though it may be several months before such an impact is felt.

Read our full roundup of the month's economic and business figures below and find out more about how the business health of the architecture prof...

Delivering Projects on Time Is a Challenge. Here’s How Architects Do It

2024-09-30T14:35:00-04:00

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “plans are nothing; planning is everything.” This sentiment rings true in architecture, where architects are required to establish project timelines potentially spanning several years for schemes potentially costing millions of dollars. No matter how robust the timeline is at the beginning of the project, however, unforeseen circumstances often threaten to derail our best-laid plans.

To explore how architects can effectively design project timelines, as well as adhere to plans and respond to disruption, we speak with both Assembledge+ founder and principal David Thompson and EC3 founder Edwin Chan for their tips and perspectives.

The Fed Just Cut Interest Rates. What Does It Mean for Architects?

2024-09-27T08:13:00-04:00

In September 2024, the U.S. Federal Reserve cut the target range of interest rates for the first time in four years. The move was long anticipated by AEC commentators, who hoped that the lower cost of borrowing would begin to pull the sector out of a two-year stagnation in business conditions.

We explore what the interest rate cut means in the context of 2024’s architectural business conditions with input from Phillip Ross, partner at the AEC division of financial firm Anchin.

How Architectural Licensure Helps and Hurts the Profession

2024-09-21T08:00:00-04:00

Our Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series concludes with a look back on a four-month journey through the U.S. architectural licensure system. Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities in the current system highlighted by readers and commentators, we offer final thoughts on how licensure helps and hurts the architectural profession.

Your Architecture Work Sample Isn’t Your Portfolio. 10 Creative Tips To Keep in Mind When Job Searching

2024-09-12T12:20:00-04:00

In many cases, your work sample is the first visual evidence you will offer a prospective employer when applying for a new architectural position. What you include in your sample, as well as how you structure and present it, is therefore important for creating a good first impression and increasing your chances of progressing through to an interview and job offer.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to work samples, just as there is no one-size-fits-all approach to design. Your own work sample will be influenced not only by your preferences and tastes but also by the medium through which you are presenting it, the type of firm you are applying to, and the stage of your career.

The following set of ten tips on creating your work sample is, therefore, not a rigid prescription but answers to common queries we hear on the topic, suggestions based on the experience of our team and community, and questions to ask yourself as you assemble your own work sample to aid your next job searc...

How to Effectively Introduce Your Architecture Firm in Under 2 Minutes

2024-09-11T08:13:00-04:00

Recently, we explained how to create an elevator pitch for your architecture portfolio when searching for your next role as a job seeker. As we noted, the ability to capture a body of work as rich, complex, and varied as an architecture portfolio in a timely, clear, and succinct manner requires planning and preparation.

The same holds true when introducing your architecture firm. In addition to hosting their own portfolio of work, firms possess their own ethos, characters, specialties, and value propositions to clients, collaborators, and beyond. For architects representing their firm, there is, therefore, merit in developing an elevator pitch that is brief, persuasive, and capable of sparking outside interest in what a firm stands for and what it can do for others.

With that in mind, we have assembled below a series of tips to help you design and deliver a brief elevator pitch to introduce your architecture firm.

Do you have further advice for succinctly pitching your firm to new a...

Six Views on the Future of Architectural Licensure

2024-09-09T08:45:00-04:00

Throughout the Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series, our explorations into U.S. architectural licensure have included a variety of views beyond our editorial team, including ten views on licensure from Archinect readers shared at the midpoint of our series.

Beyond reader insights, our series has heard from individuals who, whether through their research, experiences, or roles in relevant organizations, have developed strong views on how U.S. licensure stands today and how it could evolve in the future.

Below, we set out six such viewpoints from voices already featured in our series, painting a variety of possible futures for architectural licensure that range from strategic evolution through radical reframing and reorganization.

Architecture's Interest Rate Prayers Answered: Archinect’s State of AEC August 2024

2024-09-04T08:00:00-04:00

Welcome to the third installment of Archinect's new series, State of AEC. At the end of each month, we will guide you through the latest analyses, indexes, and trends on how the architecture and construction industries are performing economically.

In our previous edition of the series, we noted the almost unanimous hope expressed by commentators across the AEC industry that the U.S. Federal Reserve would announce interest rate cuts in the coming months, which may propel growth in design studios and construction sites alike. In August, those prayers were answered by the Fed's confirmation that rates would be cut from September onwards.

While the industry waits to see what impact such cuts will have, divergent trends among architecture and construction business activity continue. While billings and design contracts in architecture firms continue to decrease, construction starts rose 10%, and both apartment and hotel construction activity sits at record highs.

Read our full roundup of ...

Architectural Licensure Is Becoming More Diverse, but Barriers to Equality Remain

2024-09-03T12:08:00-04:00

According to recent data, the demographics of candidates on the path to architectural licensure are beginning to counter the longstanding underrepresentation of women and people of color in the profession. However, deeper studies of the licensure experience reveal ongoing disparities along gender and race on exam pass rates, completion time, financial burdens, and external support.

In this latest edition of Archinect In-Depth: Licensure, we explore how architectural licensure could evolve to address these inequalities, including perspectives with NCARB CEO Mike Armstrong, NOMA President Pascale Sablan, and architect, author, and Archinect contributor Melvin L. Mitchell.

Many Architecture Firms Don’t Know How To Pursue International Work; We Spoke With Some That Do

2024-08-29T09:07:00-04:00

Over the past year, the number of U.S. architecture firms working on international projects has gently increased. However, a recent AIA survey found that many firms do not know how to pursue international work. In search of insights and advice on the topic, we spoke with three practices who have won acclaim for projects far beyond their base of operations: Safdie Architects, Steven Holl Architects, and Mecanoo.

Being Laid off Is Tough; So Is Waiting To Be

2024-08-26T08:00:00-04:00

Findings from our recent Archinect Business Survey suggest that many architecture employees do not feel secure in their current roles. For those facing the looming prospect of layoffs in the coming weeks or months, the emotional strain can be as taxing as that experienced by those who have already lost their jobs. What can employees and employers alike do to mitigate such anxiety?

The Pandemic Is History, but for Architects, Its Impact on Office Design Remains

2024-08-21T08:45:00-04:00

Our recent analysis of the Archinect Business Survey highlighted concerns among architects that their business health has been impacted by the ongoing adoption of remote and hybrid working patterns across the U.S. in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore in more detail how the supply and demand of workplace real estate has changed in recent years, where it is heading, and what opportunities and challenges it presents for architects.

The Longevity & Legacy of the 'Vanilla Architect': How a Monoculture Yields Cycles of Unconscious Bias, Tokenism, and System Justification

2024-08-20T15:18:00-04:00

This Op-Ed explores how unconscious bias of mentors, tokenism, and resultant patterns of system justification reinforce a status quo that marginalizes women and people of color. These complex and long-lived dynamics are unpacked through personal anecdotes, historical analysis, and contemporary research. By examining repeating organizational behaviors, we can better discuss the barriers that women and people of color face within the industry. I hope that the anecdotes act as a lens to another perspective to those without these experiences and give voice to those with similar.

Are Architectural Workers More Pessimistic About the Economy Than Firm Owners?

2024-08-19T08:00:00-04:00

In our recent analysis of the Archinect Business Survey published last month, we observed a distinct divergence between how firm owners and workers were feeling about the business health of their firm, industry, and the wider U.S. economy. Across the board, our survey suggests that firm workers felt more pessimistic and insecure about today’s economic landscape than firm owners. Why?

There is likely no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this question. However, a number of trends playing out across the economy, including architecture-specific trends previously reported by Archinect, offer several lines of speculation.

When California Tried to Abolish Architectural Licensure

2024-08-16T12:48:00-04:00

Throughout the 20th century, every state and territory across the U.S. passed laws establishing a requirement to license architects. Since then, no jurisdiction has successfully repealed such a requirement. In the late 1970s, however, California almost became a notable exception.

The story of how California nearly abolished architectural licensure, a multi-decade saga led by some of the most prominent leaders across the political aisle, holds lessons and reflections for the profession of today, including its members and representative bodies. In this latest edition of Archinect In-Depth: Licensure, we retell the story with insights from those involved at the time.

LEED? BREEAM? WELL? Six Major Green Building Labels Explained

2024-08-14T14:00:00-04:00

When embarking on a mission to deliver a building to a high environmental and ecological standard, architects are presented with a range of accreditation systems to both guide the design process and reward the results.

While some systems, such as LEED and BREEAM, emphasize environmental and energy performance, others, such as WELL, are preoccupied with occupant health. Meanwhile, programs such as the ILFI's Living Building Challenge span typologies from schools to wineries, while others, such as Passivhaus and NGBS, have their origins in residential design.

To help designers choose which system(s) are appropriate for their projects and to further inform readers on buildings already accredited, we have rounded up six prominent green building labels from across the industry, including examples of accredited buildings previously featured on Archinect.

An Industry Pins Its Hopes on Interest Rate Cuts: Archinect’s State of AEC July 2024

2024-08-08T13:49:00-04:00

Welcome to the second installment of Archinect's new series, State of AEC. At the end of each month, we will guide you through the latest analyses, indexes, and trends on how the architecture and construction industries are performing economically.

As we reflect back on June and July 2024, we see continued declines in billings among architecture firms, in addition to a decrease in new on-site construction activity. Commentators on the business health of the industry are almost unanimous in voicing hopes that interest rate cuts, rumored to be announced by the Federal Reserve next month, may propel growth in design studios and construction sites alike.

Read our full roundup of the month's economic and business figures below, and find out more about how the business health of the architecture profession is faring via our recently-released survey results here.

How To Create an Elevator Pitch for Your Architecture Portfolio When Job Searching

2024-08-07T11:49:00-04:00

Your architecture portfolio is one of your most powerful tools when searching for a new career opportunity. Whether describing your work at a networking event or presenting your previous projects in an interview setting, the ability to clearly and succinctly pitch your portfolio has the potential to evoke intrigue and excitement in the listener and influence the lens through which your prospective employer will read your wider work. However, the ability to capture a body of work as rich, complex, and varied as an architecture portfolio requires deliberate planning and preparation.

With that in mind, we have assembled below a series of tips to help you design and deliver a brief elevator pitch to introduce your architecture portfolio during a job search.

Do you have advice for pitching your portfolio while searching for your next role? Let us know in the comments.

UK Architectural Licensure Had Not Changed in 50 Years. Until Now.

2024-08-05T12:59:00-04:00

Having previously examined architecture licensure systems in the United States and across mainland Europe, this edition of the Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series profiles changes underway in the United Kingdom's licensing system, which is currently undergoing a “fundamental overhaul” for the first time in half a century.

10 Tips for Overcoming and Preventing Burnout in Architecture

2024-08-01T12:30:00-04:00

If you’re experiencing burnout in your architecture role, you’re likely not alone. In 2023, Archinect’s Mental Health Survey found burnout to be a common theme among those who told us they were experiencing stress at work. Our community has also raised the issue among themselves, with an Archinect Forum post titled ‘Burnout Check-In’ prompting almost 100 comments by users describing their own experiences.

Building on our previous feature articles on the subject, which focused on both the architecture work culture and architecture workplace, we have assembled below a series of tips for those currently experiencing and seeking to overcome burnout in their work setting.

Do you have advice for overcoming burnout beyond those set out below? Let us know in the comments.

'Architect' is a Protected Title. What About 'Architectural?'

2024-07-31T08:00:00-04:00

Our Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series continues with an examination of exceptions and nuances related to the protection of the title 'architect' in the United States. In particular, we ask how architect-adjacent titles such as 'architectural designer,' 'architectural intern,' and 'design professional' can and cannot be used by unlicensed designers, with input from state licensing boards across the U.S.

10 Views on Architectural Licensure From Archinect Readers

2024-07-29T13:28:00-04:00

As we continue our ongoing Archinect In-Depth: Licensure series, we highlight perspectives from individuals with extensive research backgrounds on the topic, as well as those in positions to lead, guide, and evolve the licensure pathway. Additionally, we launched a survey among Archinect readers, many of whom are either experiencing or have completed the path to licensure, to hear about their own views and challenges.

We have now analyzed and collated the responses shared by our community into a series of ten key reflections. Stay tuned for more Archinect In-Depth: Licensure features, which will include commentary on some of the reader perspectives shared below.

How To Reduce the Stress of an Architecture Job Search

2024-07-12T08:58:00-04:00

At some point in their careers, most, if not all, individuals in the architecture profession find themselves looking for new employment. This can include graduates looking for their first job out of architecture school, experienced designers and architects moving from one firm to the next, whether through layoffs or wanting a fresh start, and individuals seeking to enter the profession from an adjacent field.

Searching for a new job can be a source of excitement through the promise of a new chapter in life, but it can also be a time of uncertainty, anxiety, and disappointment. To help you navigate this emotional rollercoaster, we present below ten non-exhaustive tips to employ when seeking new employment.

Do you have advice for managing emotions during a job search beyond those set out below? Let us know in the comments.

Five Big Factors Behind the Architecture Industry’s Economic Slowdown

2024-07-05T12:59:00-04:00

Earlier this week, we released Part One of our findings from the Archinect Business Survey, which invited you to share how you were feeling about the economic outlook of your firm and sector. Our analysis found that across the United States, architects have seen business conditions decline in the past year and are downbeat about their firm’s business health, the health of the architecture industry at large, and the wider U.S. economy. Meanwhile, clients are cautious about starting or continuing projects.

While Part One offered an insight into how architects and clients are faring within the architecture industry’s current economic slowdown, this article, Part Two, explores the potential causes of the slowdown itself. The five factors set out below reflect what respondents to our survey, and economists and commentators from within and beyond the architecture industry, have identified as driving forces behind today’s business climate.

While each of these factors deserves to be isolate...

Architects and Clients Downbeat About Economy: Archinect's Business Survey Results Revealed

2024-07-03T08:29:00-04:00

Throughout May and June 2024, we invited our community to offer us insights and feedback on how you were feeling about the economic outlook of your firm and sector. As we explained at the time, this project was motivated by several observations from economists within and beyond the AEC industry that the U.S. may be “sleepwalking” into a recession.

To investigate how the architecture profession was fairing against such headwinds, we asked you a series of questions on the economic health of your firm, your sentiments on the wider sector, your experience of the job market, your conversations with clients, your plans for the future, and more.

Having analyzed your feedback, Archinect can now reveal our findings, which will be published in two parts. Part One, below, offers an overview of how both architects and clients are feeling about the industry, in addition to how they are responding to the challenges they are facing. Part Two sets out some of the key factors and driving forces behi...

What To Do If You Hate Your Architecture Job

2024-06-21T13:02:00-04:00

Every architecture worker will, at some point, endure a period of stress or anxiety in the workplace. Sometimes, these feelings can be fleeting, caused by an exceptionally short project deadline, a difficult client, or even a legal dispute. If you find yourself actively hating your architecture job over a prolonged period, however, it may be time to take action. While your first instinct may be to seek a new job in a new firm, this is not always necessary, or even helpful. Rather, there may be steps you can take that can improve your experience and circumstances within your current workplace. Below, we offer our suggestions.

Do you have advice for colleagues stressed or anxious about their jobs beyond those set out below? Let us know in the comments.

Architect: Whose Title Is It Anyway?

2024-06-17T15:00:00-04:00

When is an architect not an ‘architect?’ In the fourth part of Archinect In-Depth: Licensure, we explore the proliferation of the title 'architect' in cases beyond the built environment, most notably in the technology sector through terms such as 'software architect' or 'IT architect.' Are such titles legal? Who has responsibility for monitoring their use or misuse? What does their use say about the value of architect the noun versus architect the title?