is there anyone out there who's gone from being an architect to getting an MBA and going into a different field? or maybe coming back to the same field?
there seems to be an interest now in schools and also at companies in bringing design processes into large companies.
is it hard for someone with skills in architecture to present themselves to MBA admissions people, and also to companies outside of architecture, as being relevant? i'm wondering if business schools and companies would have some interest in the skills architects may have.
being a generalist, doing a lot of coordinating, dealing with many constituents, reconciling conflicting demands, managing a creative process that can be unpredictable...
penn has a dual MBA M.ARCH... dont think many have done it but its an option for us at least... architecture must be appealing to some business school admissions committees
: I've walked the path you describe and have a few observations.
1. While I'm sure it varies from school to school, most MBA programs seek to assemble a diverse student body. If you have a good academic record, score well on the required testing and prepare your application well, you should be attractive as a candidate for admission.
2. While the curriculum is quite different from Arch school, you'll be surprised at the similarities. Mostly, remember that most business situations have no "right" answer - any more than architecture. There are a range of acceptable responses - the challenge is to find an optimum response, tailored to the specific situation.
3. The other students are just like you (sort of) - don't let them intimidate you - you're just as smart, you just have a different vocabulary.
i think it's a great idea. i don’t know many people who have gone all out and completed a MBA program. But i do know a few who have completed real estate programs that are offered at Columbia and MIT. Are you thinking about getting into development?
I don’t have any inside information, but I would imagine admissions committees would take your application seriously, and view you as a strong candidate with your architecture background. I think most people view architecture academically, and professionally as a challenging and competitive field. Awhile back I was thinking about going back to law school, I picked up a book about the ins and outs of the admission process. There was chapter on academic background, where they interviewed various admissions people and had them rate various degrees. For example if they saw someone with a degree in elementary education they didn’t take that person as “seriously as someone with a professional degree like engineering or architecture.” I remember see that quote exactly.
Well good luck!!
In the end, what's really important to your decision is your thinking about what you want from your career. Typically, an MBA will take you in directions that aren't what most of us consider "the practice of architecture" -- within the profession, most job titles for those of us with MBA's have the word "management" (or some variation) attached: i.e. Managing Principal; Project Manager; Construction Manager. Be sure that's what you seek.
If you go outside the world of architecture for employment, your architectural background will be of only secondary interest to employers -- they'll look first at your MBA, then they'll consider how your prior training and experience applies (or not) to the position they're trying to fill. IMO, the most relevant applications of a combined education in architecture and business occur in the real estate development field.
Good luck. It can be an interesting, and rewarding, ride for those so inclined.
in some sense I don't think real estate or development is that related to architecture. I think with the skills you learn in architecture you could apply yourself just as well at a high tech company or a as a management consultant.
i've heard real estate will have to do so much with financial models and stuff that it's not very related. it's just related because you are involved in the built environment. but i think that may be one of the reasons i am considering an MBA is so i can go into a field that is not as slow as architecture.
architecture just seems to be slow in terms of career advancement, and length of projects, downtime between meetings...
the only issue is whether someone in another field would view someone who had a background in architecture, then got an MBA, as valuable in a different field. like people will study history and then go do an MBA so i figure why not with architecture
i think what i meant about real estate development careers not being very related to architecture careers is that a real estate developer would want people working for them that have kick ass analytic and financial modeling skills.
maybe one way it is related is if you are a great project manager in architecture you'd be useful to a real estate developer.
experience counts in any industry. you'll be at a loss, depending on what business you pursue. i do think that development and real estate (especially construction/project management) would benefit from your background. there are quite a few similarities.
on the other hand, a number of architecture firms consider an MBA as a significant asset. when the two are put together, the possibilities for synergy are great, especially in design/build firms where projections, market analysis, etc. are required. you may want to consider this.
business is a political game. i found it much more difficult to find a "business" job than an architecture job. once i did get my foot in the door in the city i was working and began gladhanding the local business people, it was much easier to find a job. i did not find this type of stipulation with architecture. that's probably because architects care more about your work than who you know.
consulting firms like mckinsey are known for taking top professionals with non-mba backgrounds. in this case, i wonder if it would almost be more beneficial to not have the mba. degree for degree, i don't think most architects would stand a chance against a freshly minted harvard mba, but in terms of experience, a licensed architect who has worked on and coordinated major projects could be a great asset to a management consulting firm. it's difficult to know the best way to play your cards to land a job like this. there's no one right way.
I´m considering this step also, but having now another 1.3 years time before next start in 2009 - so some time to prepare this - even with working in a different office towards this...
dont know if you need mba or not if you wanna work with mckinsey or bcg or...they are always writing that they are taking in everyone independent of what they studied, but if you wanna move higher i think you should go for that mba...which doesnt mean you´re stuck to business only later
one of my friends works at mckinsey. they'll only hire you straight out of undergrad, or straight out of an MBA program. i guess the other time they would hire you is if you are a specialist in one of their fields and have a phd or are an overachiever in your field.
architecture/construction isn't one of the fields they consult for so they won't hire architecture specialists. same at bain, boston consulting an all those guys.
so that's why you would need an MBA to work there. and you would need to be hired straight after your degree otherwise it is unlikely you will be hired there. when they say they hire people in other fields i think it means you studied another subject but you're still basically hired right out of school.
they train up their own people and have a system of either you get promoted or you're out. so the senior people are people who have made it through the tough ranks of the company and not people hired from outside.
no idea about the US market, but back in germany the 3 main players are searching quite intensive for other people than economics only, both graduates and 2-3-4 years professionals
real estate development firms generally offer two career paths -- a) the deal makers, who spend a lot of time with pro formas, financing, leasing, and tenants; and b) the development process guys ... these folks tend to have engineering and architecture backgrounds and worry about getting the projects built.
architects are well suited to the development process side of the business -- the MBA gives you the conceptual skills, vocabulary and credibility needed to work effectively with the deal makers.
"Our architecture schools must be doing something wrong. Almost monthly we hear of domes and walkways collapsing in public places, causing great harm to human life. In their pursuit of some dubious aesthetic, architects design buildings that sway, crumble, and even shed windows into our cities' streets. this kind of incompetence will disappear only when the curricula of our architecture schools devote less time to so-called artistic considerations and more time to the basics of good design.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
1. All architecture students are given training in basic physics and mechanics.
2. Most of the problems with modern buildings stem from poor construction rather than poor design.
3. Less than 50% of the curriculum at most architecture schools is devoted to aesthetics.
4. Most buildings manage to stay in place well past their projected life expectancies.
5. Architects study as long and as intensively as most other professionals."
Jun 24, 08 6:37 pm ·
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architect transitioning to business school
is there anyone out there who's gone from being an architect to getting an MBA and going into a different field? or maybe coming back to the same field?
there seems to be an interest now in schools and also at companies in bringing design processes into large companies.
is it hard for someone with skills in architecture to present themselves to MBA admissions people, and also to companies outside of architecture, as being relevant? i'm wondering if business schools and companies would have some interest in the skills architects may have.
being a generalist, doing a lot of coordinating, dealing with many constituents, reconciling conflicting demands, managing a creative process that can be unpredictable...
they have interest in architects skills, they just dont want to pay for them.
penn has a dual MBA M.ARCH... dont think many have done it but its an option for us at least... architecture must be appealing to some business school admissions committees
Yale had a similar thing a few years ago. I think you had to tack on an extra year of study in your masters'.
: I've walked the path you describe and have a few observations.
1. While I'm sure it varies from school to school, most MBA programs seek to assemble a diverse student body. If you have a good academic record, score well on the required testing and prepare your application well, you should be attractive as a candidate for admission.
2. While the curriculum is quite different from Arch school, you'll be surprised at the similarities. Mostly, remember that most business situations have no "right" answer - any more than architecture. There are a range of acceptable responses - the challenge is to find an optimum response, tailored to the specific situation.
3. The other students are just like you (sort of) - don't let them intimidate you - you're just as smart, you just have a different vocabulary.
Busy today - more later.
Go for it - good luck.
i think it's a great idea. i don’t know many people who have gone all out and completed a MBA program. But i do know a few who have completed real estate programs that are offered at Columbia and MIT. Are you thinking about getting into development?
I don’t have any inside information, but I would imagine admissions committees would take your application seriously, and view you as a strong candidate with your architecture background. I think most people view architecture academically, and professionally as a challenging and competitive field. Awhile back I was thinking about going back to law school, I picked up a book about the ins and outs of the admission process. There was chapter on academic background, where they interviewed various admissions people and had them rate various degrees. For example if they saw someone with a degree in elementary education they didn’t take that person as “seriously as someone with a professional degree like engineering or architecture.” I remember see that quote exactly.
Well good luck!!
: there have been some very interesting discussions of this topic here on Archinect before - I provide below a few links:
MBA+B.arch?
MArch + MBA
In the end, what's really important to your decision is your thinking about what you want from your career. Typically, an MBA will take you in directions that aren't what most of us consider "the practice of architecture" -- within the profession, most job titles for those of us with MBA's have the word "management" (or some variation) attached: i.e. Managing Principal; Project Manager; Construction Manager. Be sure that's what you seek.
If you go outside the world of architecture for employment, your architectural background will be of only secondary interest to employers -- they'll look first at your MBA, then they'll consider how your prior training and experience applies (or not) to the position they're trying to fill. IMO, the most relevant applications of a combined education in architecture and business occur in the real estate development field.
Good luck. It can be an interesting, and rewarding, ride for those so inclined.
in some sense I don't think real estate or development is that related to architecture. I think with the skills you learn in architecture you could apply yourself just as well at a high tech company or a as a management consultant.
i've heard real estate will have to do so much with financial models and stuff that it's not very related. it's just related because you are involved in the built environment. but i think that may be one of the reasons i am considering an MBA is so i can go into a field that is not as slow as architecture.
architecture just seems to be slow in terms of career advancement, and length of projects, downtime between meetings...
the only issue is whether someone in another field would view someone who had a background in architecture, then got an MBA, as valuable in a different field. like people will study history and then go do an MBA so i figure why not with architecture
i think what i meant about real estate development careers not being very related to architecture careers is that a real estate developer would want people working for them that have kick ass analytic and financial modeling skills.
maybe one way it is related is if you are a great project manager in architecture you'd be useful to a real estate developer.
yes and no.
experience counts in any industry. you'll be at a loss, depending on what business you pursue. i do think that development and real estate (especially construction/project management) would benefit from your background. there are quite a few similarities.
on the other hand, a number of architecture firms consider an MBA as a significant asset. when the two are put together, the possibilities for synergy are great, especially in design/build firms where projections, market analysis, etc. are required. you may want to consider this.
business is a political game. i found it much more difficult to find a "business" job than an architecture job. once i did get my foot in the door in the city i was working and began gladhanding the local business people, it was much easier to find a job. i did not find this type of stipulation with architecture. that's probably because architects care more about your work than who you know.
consulting firms like mckinsey are known for taking top professionals with non-mba backgrounds. in this case, i wonder if it would almost be more beneficial to not have the mba. degree for degree, i don't think most architects would stand a chance against a freshly minted harvard mba, but in terms of experience, a licensed architect who has worked on and coordinated major projects could be a great asset to a management consulting firm. it's difficult to know the best way to play your cards to land a job like this. there's no one right way.
I´m considering this step also, but having now another 1.3 years time before next start in 2009 - so some time to prepare this - even with working in a different office towards this...
dont know if you need mba or not if you wanna work with mckinsey or bcg or...they are always writing that they are taking in everyone independent of what they studied, but if you wanna move higher i think you should go for that mba...which doesnt mean you´re stuck to business only later
one of my friends works at mckinsey. they'll only hire you straight out of undergrad, or straight out of an MBA program. i guess the other time they would hire you is if you are a specialist in one of their fields and have a phd or are an overachiever in your field.
architecture/construction isn't one of the fields they consult for so they won't hire architecture specialists. same at bain, boston consulting an all those guys.
so that's why you would need an MBA to work there. and you would need to be hired straight after your degree otherwise it is unlikely you will be hired there. when they say they hire people in other fields i think it means you studied another subject but you're still basically hired right out of school.
they train up their own people and have a system of either you get promoted or you're out. so the senior people are people who have made it through the tough ranks of the company and not people hired from outside.
no idea about the US market, but back in germany the 3 main players are searching quite intensive for other people than economics only, both graduates and 2-3-4 years professionals
like Boston COnsulting Group Workshop 2008 ...
real estate development firms generally offer two career paths -- a) the deal makers, who spend a lot of time with pro formas, financing, leasing, and tenants; and b) the development process guys ... these folks tend to have engineering and architecture backgrounds and worry about getting the projects built.
architects are well suited to the development process side of the business -- the MBA gives you the conceptual skills, vocabulary and credibility needed to work effectively with the deal makers.
from a kaplan gmat book...
"Our architecture schools must be doing something wrong. Almost monthly we hear of domes and walkways collapsing in public places, causing great harm to human life. In their pursuit of some dubious aesthetic, architects design buildings that sway, crumble, and even shed windows into our cities' streets. this kind of incompetence will disappear only when the curricula of our architecture schools devote less time to so-called artistic considerations and more time to the basics of good design.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
1. All architecture students are given training in basic physics and mechanics.
2. Most of the problems with modern buildings stem from poor construction rather than poor design.
3. Less than 50% of the curriculum at most architecture schools is devoted to aesthetics.
4. Most buildings manage to stay in place well past their projected life expectancies.
5. Architects study as long and as intensively as most other professionals."
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