In our 2021 feature titled Meet the Architects Designing Software to Fight Climate Change, we explored the intersection between architecture and web development by speaking to four firms who have internally developed software to support their design process.

Among the firms we spoke to was Boston-based Sasaki. In our conversation, we learned that the benefits of creating in-house software and applications led Sasaki to form an entire division of designers, planners, data scientists, and software developers dedicated full-time to web development. Named Sasaki Strategies, the group’s output can vary widely, from interactive apps and software to data visualization and storytelling.

The propagation of such teams within architectural practices will unlock new career opportunities for architects interested in pivoting towards web development; opportunities we have explored in previous editions of our Job Highlights series on computational designers and building simulation analysts.

However, in addition to diversifying the career opportunities of those from an architectural background, the creation of dedicated web development teams in architectural studios will also have the opposite effect: Attracting those from a non-architectural background into the architectural process.

To demonstrate how this phenomenon is playing out in real-time, we are using our Job Highlights series this week to explore an opening for a Web Developer role at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF). The successful candidate will form part of KPF Urban Interface (KPFui) which, like Sasaki Strategies, operates as an in-house wing of the architectural practice with a focus on computational design, data analytics, and technology development.

“KPFui uses technology and data analytics for informed decision making in the design of buildings and cities for people,” the firm says, citing examples such as an interactive web map for understanding sidewalk crowding for re-opening businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A demonstration of how those without architectural training can assimilate into design practices, the role at KPFui requires no formal background in architecture. Instead, the firm asks for a minimum 2 years’ experience in web development, and skills in designing web applications, coding, and web visualizations.

The role also offers an insight into how KPF believes web developers can form a productive part of their business.

“This role centers around how to scale the tools, workflows, and innovations from KPFui to the entire office through Software Development, Training, and Deployment; all of which will impact the hundreds of buildings and master plans that KPF designs each year,” the firm says.

“In addition to scaling tools developed with KPFui, you as part of the development team will collaborate with and across specialty teams at KPF, such as the Environmental Performance and Data Science teams, to look for opportunities to deploy new tools, leverage automation, and apply machine learning models within the design practice.”

Full details on KPF's latest job opportunities can be found here on Archinect Jobs. Stay tuned for future curated job highlights, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more exciting opportunities on Archinect's industry-leading job board. Recent editions of our Job Highlights series have seen career opportunities for a Rural Getaways Designer at HUTS, an Experiential Graphics Designer at C&G Partners, and a Modular Studio Architect at EVstudio.