Came here angry, didn't you? 

Your beef isn't with us.  It's with whatever architect you're not naming.  

I'm perfectly capable of doing structural analysis.  But our structural engineers do it every day and can do it in 1/4 the time.  Likewise, they can probably do quite a bit of architectural detailing.  But I can do it a whole hell of a lot faster than they can.  It makes business sense to put the job in the hands of the people who can do it quickly and correctly. 

I could probably still do residential, though I'm pretty rusty right now.  Commercial work requires a structural engineer.  Mid-level architects seem to be able to guess the sizes of beams and columns, thicknesses of slabs, etc, based on precedent, and if anything, when the structural engineer comes back, his sizes are smaller... so you could say if we were allowed to do it ourselves, we'd just waste materials.  I don't know of any architect who actually runs calcs or using the programs.  Our structural engineers are in-house, but I can't name what programs they use (though I know what they look like since we sit at the screen together often to discuss detailing).

two licenses? are you nuts?

To keep the ball rolling, our electrical engineers (also in-house) don't check footcandles or otherwise layout lighting anymore.  All the reps do it for free (of course providing their product lines as basis of design) and while I personally might be against this concept, the higher-ups can't ignore the advantage of free work, which allows the highest paid employees at the firm to stick to doing their panels, specs, generators, etc.  They also seem to farm out low-voltage a lot, but that doesn't always come back for free.

Glad you asked!

I spend the same exact amount of time on structural analysis as my engineer does on programming, area calculations, space planning, composition of massing & articulation, facades & fenestration, materials selection, circulation, fixture layout, finish detailing, waterproofing details, solar orientation, and conformance to zoning regulations and building code rules.

I know: coincidence, right?

What were you hoping to gain from this thread? 

Recently heard a story about a PE speccing a solid 8" steel column. In a house. 

Yes.

I do too...if you're willing to pay for it.

Now that I've come back to this thread...

Generally, structural engineers oversize things.  It's actually a running joke in my office.  Even our clients make jokes about their buildings being over done.

the op took a dump and left.  

The thing is, it's not nearly as difficult as some people think it is. Even engineers use simplifications because that is good enough. Not an exact science. Doing what has been done before gets you 80% of the answer anyways.

Architects design the building structure (not foundations/footings but the rest of it) before engineers get involved most of the time anyways. Then it is a joint coordination event where many things are considered, not just mass of material compared to cost as you suggest. Structure must designed with usability and comfort in mind. That is why you don't have a column in your parking spot.

Do you even have a wind tunnel, bro?

My favorite part of the thread is the title calling out B.Archs. Is the implication that with the extra year or two, and thousands more in student debt, that M.Archs do it all?

I think the OP has had a bad experience.

Anyway, I'm not trained in any Engineering discipline, whether it is Civil, Structural, Electrical or Mechanical, and working in Architecture firms without the PI cover to do any of those disciplines, I'd be crazy to take on what I'm not skilled at and expose the Directors to the potential for negligence claims.

I would in my home country (Australia) happily apply some design guides e.g. timber frame construction, as that is within the scope of my competence, but that is about it.

That isn't to say I don't get mixed up in an awful lot of Engineering work, often enough figuring out what everyone else (inexperienced Engineers on my current project) missed in their reviews of contractor submissions for materials, calculations and method statements.

There is a lot to be said for having an experienced Architect on a project, but expecting one to do everything?  Specialisation doesn't work like that, unless the Architecture firm concerned also has Engineers on staff.

I used to work for an engineer. I know much, much more about engineering than any of the engineers knew about architecture. There is a reason the engineers work for the architects and not the other way around. 

Why would you stop at structural analysis? Personally, I'm still trying to figure out what relevant information BArch's and MArch's learn.