Following last week’s look at an open opportunity for a Director of Design Entrepreneurship and Inclusion at Kent State University, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore a role for a Senior Architect at CHECKSET.

The successful candidate will work with CHECKSET’s team in reviewing drawing sets and specifications sent to the company from their customers, namely developers, architects, and construction managers. The role, which can be performed remotely, requires a minimum of 15 years’ experience in architectural practice and construction, and a strong knowledge of building codes, standards, regulations, and construction administration.   

Why the role interests us

The CHECKSET role’s emphasis on a deep knowledge of building codes comes at a time of constant change for regulations concerning U.S. projects. Such changes, or campaigns for future change, arise from a wide variety of issues in the built environment.

In response to climate concerns, California’s building codes have recently been updated to facilitate high-rise mass timber buildings, while last year, the state also announced an upcoming mandate for solar panels on new buildings. In New York, meanwhile, concerns regarding air pollution have recently seen the introduction of a bill barring the construction of schools near highways, while last month, Montana made history as the first U.S. state to approve 3D printed alternatives to concrete walls. As we found in our recent feature on the subject, building codes are likely to undergo further amendments to facilitate the use of 3D printed materials and construction techniques on-site.

Recent building disasters in the U.S. have also led to further calls for building code reform in order to improve occupant safety. In the aftermath of the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside, Florida in June 2021, several industry groups called for higher building safety standards to improve structural safety. Similar calls for enhanced fire safety measures in buildings came after fires at publicly-funded properties in the Bronx and Philadelphia claimed 29 lives in early 2022.

In addition to highlighting the role of building codes in the design process, CHECKSET’s role also demonstrates a familiar trend in our Job Highlights series: the potential for architects to apply their knowledge and skills beyond their traditional design team role. By positioning architecture firms as customers rather than collaborators, CHECKSET’s third-party service role for the industry is also reminiscent of the approach demonstrated by the architects in our 2021 feature on software design, who have achieved success in creating and marketing digital products to be used by their fellow design professionals.

Further reading for interested candidates

• 2021 showed the power of policy, codes, and regulations in the United States and around the world
• New California building codes allow for high-rise mass timber buildings
• Montana makes history as the first U.S. state to approve 3D printed alternatives to concrete walls
• Several groups call for higher building safety standards after Surfside collapse
• A House of Cards: The Miami Condo Collapse Exposes a Dehuminized Mindset in the Built Environment
• America’s Public Housing is Burning, Fueled by Cold Indifference
• Archinect’s ongoing coverage of building codes
• Archinect Tips: Employment Edition

Job Highlights is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Meet Your Next Employer profiles and interviews interesting studios with open positions currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.