thats a pretty massive list. i have friends who have been at/or are at cook+fox, 1100 and workAC and have actually met the parters of all 3 of those firms. They're all 3 really awesome and do great work. Ive been in the office of cook+fox in New York which is really nice and the office of 1100 Architect in Frankfurt which is also pretty nice. what is it you're looking for?

hours in nyc can range from brutal to relatively harsh.

in most nyc firms, leaving before 6:30pm is frowned upon.

expect 45-55 hours on a normal week. 65+ on most deadlines.

Hey thanks for the remarks.  Yes i guess its a large list, i'm searching for a job.  I've worked at SOM-sf for a year, and a couple of small firms abroad for a few months each.  I guess i'm looking for a firm that does medium ish projects (bonus points if they're local) because I find that its way easier to feel closer to the work.  right? (i know polshek and shop do larger projects)   shop's business and practice model really interests me.  not really sure why polshek.    

I also don't want to work with a bunch of architecture zealots, sacrificing their health and personal lives for some mutation of their project leader's interpretation of the starchitect design partner's vision.  (is that too harsh?)

I'm particularly interested in the ARO, because of the exceptional amount of intellect/thought they put into their work (so it seems) but am feeling uneasy about working over 60 hrs a week every week.  50 is doable though, 9-7 workday. and the occasional 65 is fine too.

I don't know, maybe working for a som, gensler or perkins wouldnt be so bad.  That's mainly the types of offices in the sf region anyway.  

thoughts?

I have a friend who works at SHoP, apparently if he wants to grab lunch outside the office, he needs to get permission from his boss... i think that sums up his experience with them...

"I don't know, maybe working for a som, gensler or perkins wouldnt be so bad.  That's mainly the types of offices in the sf region anyway.  "

That's what I did right after I graduated - SOM-SF for 16 months - mainly working from 9-8pm each day doing production and renderings with Revit - it was kind of like post grad school - Now I work at a small office in Jackson Square just up the street from William Stout architectural books - It's more laid back - 8:30 - 5:30 doing a lot of TI work(42,000SF mostly and now a historic project up over on North Front Street - we are busy - but except for an occasional 2-3 hour rush - it's pretty laid back. - we always have projects to work on though. - I miss working in the Majors though

"50 is doable though, 9-7 workday"

i've never met an architect who works less than 45 in nyc.

eh, 9-7 every day for a week will put you at 45-47 hours if you take a half decent lunch break every day (that's only way you're keeping yourself sane. because it's the only time you won't be too exhausted to take a stab at a book or communicate with the outside world in a coherent fashion). you do know when I say 45-50 i'm not including my 45 minute lunch break.

work any less, and the try-hards will have you under their wheels, and you'll be sacrificing a lot, career-wise.

architecture is a not just a job. if you want a job, go rock out the consultant card elsewhere.

thanks for the comments. keep em comin.  

@dani- yes, i heard shop used to be like that, but is now more of a 9-7 (or 9-8, fluxbound) kinda of deal. have a friend working there as well.  maybe they have really tasty team lunches everyday? 

@zenakis - what's TI work? jackson square is awesome.  you know much about any of the other offices up there?  

@fluxbound -  9-8 then.  its pretty difficult to be productive after that.  Architecture is not just a job, but come on, if you're not the boss, it's a job.  so you work in nyc?  know much about any of the offices i mentioned? or any others you like?  

Thanks

get on my level

as far as offices are concerned - you could e-mail me(one of them was classmate of mine back in high school architecture) or check out the AIA-SF index they have them at the AIA office on 130 Sutter. MEM on Pacific does a lot of custom high end residential - they use Revit -

TI = tenant improvement - building-out the interior space of the building,  retrofit work - it's a lot of technical stuff - problem solving - coordination with structural,MEP, design - Quick turn around 1 month on design SD,DD,CD and off to permit and construction - Most of the long hours happens with the big name firms.

flag/bump

The big offices are corporate cults. Unless you are compensated for the hours or it's a great experience for you and you are learning a lot, you are being taken advantage of... Don't see many people older than 40 if you think about it... unless they are senior.

50 hours is a standard work week in NYC so imagine what all the architects think they should be working until...

Check here. 

http://www.honestr.com/Archleaks_UK

I just visited Saitowitz and Aidlin Darling, overall very impressed with there processes, working environments, and projects. :) If everything goes through i should be interning at Aidlin Darling in the Fall :)

http://www.honestr.com/ArchleaksUS.  Everyone should use this so we can all get insight into them!

The SF scene tends to be a bit more chill than the ny scene.  Nyc is just extreme in all ways.  But you do actually find firms - even in nyc- that have a great rep and that have reasonable hours as well.  (45-50)

Chill more so than NY? in what ways? -