The community design firm I worked for last summer had a pretty healthy relationship with both Habitat and Americorps. Both groups do great work, however the nature and commitment levels vary considerably. From my experience, working as a construction leader on Habitat projects would better utilize an architectural education than would a comparable Americorps position, as Americorps volunteers tend to perform more transitory jobs that may not require a specific skill set.

My neice spent a long Summer working for them a couple of years ago, she was in Georgia, Alabama and Minnesota. Seemed like a good experience for her. She moved on to work for Amenisty International in Washington DC baby sitting a boss. I think the Habitat for Humanity gig was the more rewarding of the two.