r/askarchitects

I’m exploring Architectural Technology programs in the GTA and trying to understand what actually leads to stronger early career outcomes in architecture and design. My focus is on building strong skills in drafting, design workflows, and gaining real industry exposure that can lead into a first role in a firm (ideally through co-op or internships). Instead of only comparing programs on paper, I’m trying to understand what actually makes the biggest difference when entering the field. From your experience in architecture / construction / design: What has the strongest impact on early career success?

1. Co-op / internship quality

2. Industry reputation of school

3. Software skills (Revit/CAD)

4. Portfolio/studio work

I’m a student looking to get into the tech side of architecture and am trying to learn about the ai side of architecture and how they are used and their weaknesses, as well as opportunities that I could possibly hop in on. I’m really into architecture, the design side of it as well as the background operations of the actual tools and softwares used in it. Thanks to anyone who replies!

Hello, I’m a student who will be studying architecture in the fall, and was wondering how those in the field decided that this was the right path. From what I’ve seen and heard, architecture is a difficult major to pursue if you aren’t passionate about it.

Now that university is approaching, I’m kind of scared that this wasn’t the right choice.

So I’ve come here to ask, what made you sure that architecture was right for you?

Can anyone recommend a good draftsperson (or drafting company) who can draw basement plans for a legal suite in Saskatoon? I'm looking for someone who can prepare the drawings required for a city permit.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

curious how other architects and designers handle it — do you rough out the site yourself first to check feasibility, or go straight to a surveyor? feels like it depends on the project but wondering what people's workflows look like.

Interior design clients don't compare one design firm with another.

At least, not in the way they used to.

Long before they contact a designer, they've already been living inside a stream of beautifully photographed homes.

A kitchen from Copenhagen.
A villa in Bali.
A penthouse in New York.
A mountain cabin in Canada.

Saved to Pinterest.

Shared from Instagram.

Forwarded on WhatsApp.

The average homeowner doesn't arrive with a design brief anymore.

They arrive with an evolving collection of possibilities.

Pinterest is now one of the most-used planning tools during a home redesign, while designers themselves overwhelmingly agree that social media is shaping design trends. At the same time, many homeowners admit that the sheer volume of inspiration leaves them feeling less certain, not more.

I don't think this is making clients more demanding.

I think it's making their decision-making environment more dynamic.

Because inspiration doesn't stop after the first meeting.

Or after the concept presentation.

Or even after construction begins.

Every evening, another remarkable home appears on their feed.

Another idea.

Another finish.

Another lighting detail.

The project hasn't changed.

But the reference point has.

Understanding that shift changes how we think about client communication, expectation management, and even the design process itself.

It's what happens when every homeowner carries the world's largest design library in their pocket.

#InteriorDesign #Architecture #ResidentialDesign #DesignThinking #HomeDesign #ClientExperience #DesignLeadership

hello, I am going to be in grade 11 this year, looking to major in architecture for uni, primarily in the UK.
I was wondering for the portfolio I will be submitting, in addition to art pieces, should I be submitting architectural renderings? If so, which softwares would be reccomended by those who have gone through this journey.
Additionally, do they teach rendering softwares in university, or is this something I should learn prior.

I’m second year AE and I struggle with design…..I need a book or a course to improve my way of thinking and to make eligible concepts so I convince my professors

Hi Architects,
I have a heavy background in construction and design. My main goal is to become an architectural designer. Throughout my last 2 years at community college, my favorite classes I took were philosophy. I am planning to stay for one more year at cc and transfer as an undergrad to pursue a B.A. in philosophy at a 4 year. Later, I want to aim for USC's master's program in Architecture, which will end up being 3 years.

I genuinely enjoy both, and it would be a dream for me to hold a philosophy degree next to a master's in Architecture.

Has anyone on here taken such a path?

If you had to go back and choose a Master’s or PhD in Architecture, what direction would you take (design, urbanism, computational design, sustainability, etc.)?
And honestly, do you think it’s worth it in today’s job market?

TLDR: Is it possible to get the 'look' without having to spend money on tile flown in from Italy, wood hand carved by an artisan (exaggeration)? If yes, how much of a percentage drop do you think it would be to the total cost of the renovation between finishes that are a step or two above builder grade vs the best of the best?

Sorry for such a broad question, let me explain. We are due for a major renovation. My parents purchased this home in the 90s (built in the 70s) and it has never been properly remodeled since. We have money saved up for this remodel but may have underestimated how much we should have saved, for the kind of transformation we are hoping for. I follow a local design & build construction company on social media, and saw what they did a similar home (built in the same era, dated), it was an incredible transformation. They were generous enough to share that the client spent $750/sq ft though, I don't think we would ever be able to afford that even if we saved for the next decade. I'm assuming that homeowner chose the most expensive finishes and the best of the best, because it definitely turned out like they did.

I am not expecting to pay 40% less and have an identical result but I am curious, what if they chose the same design BUT with more affordable grade of finishes, how much lower that $750/sq ft would have been instead

Edit: We only have enough for a $200/sq ft ($350,000) remodel here on the inland side of Orange County, CA. We're hoping this can allow us to get more than just paint and new floors, but after hearing the $750/sq ft figure...we're not sure anymore

hi , i am currently a 4th year student in CS , i love to paint , sketch landscape and stuff , so i really wanted to ask that can i shift to architect by doing masters in it and like what is the scope and will i be able to achieve it and get a god job ? and how does it actually works

I am a Civil Engineer, but I moved into the architectural side through BIM. Over time, my role became more focused on BIM modeling, and I feel that I have moved away from engineering and become more of a modeler.

I want to develop an architect's mindset and gain strong architectural design knowledge. How can I become like an architect without studying a bachelor's degree again?

Would a 400sq ft dome house made of granite and basalt fiber mortar. The granite being a triangular prism-like shape larger on the outside narrower as it goes in to make it stay up on itself dry stacked onto each other 2ft thick. Then covered in slate shingles outside and in. With a main cylindrical pillar in the center with a 4ft diameter that seconds as a central masonry heater for support and utility. Then for the windows they would be Mullioned Windows with stone millions but a bunch of them dozens at least so if broken, only a small bit breaks, and the window will be triple paned. To solve the weight problem with the windows but to still allow for usability they will be on a stone pivot and will be vertical from the ground not going with the dome shape that allows them to rotate 360⁰. The door also works on a stone pivot but is made the same way the walls are just thinner and will also like the windows have to be vertical from the ground not following the hr dome shape. For the floor it will be an alternation of 5 layers of tile, sand, tile, sand, tile, with the walls being mortared to the bedrock so it will act as a bowl keeping it in. Then it should be constructed away from a plate boundary and in a dry place so the center of the Australian outback directly mortared to the bedrock. Then to lessen the effects of weathering then it will have a wall around it taller than the house, made of the same granite slab and slate shingles 2ft thick as well placed 10ft away from the house. This is my design for the longest lasting house possible.

For quick context I'm a licensed architect with a little over a decade of experience, but I'm not nearly a building envelope expect. I work on multifamily buildings and the firm I work for is somewhat young and doesn't have a lot of technical expertise, and projects we've designed in the past seem to have very, very poor roof drainage in our cricketing plans.

We do 1/4" per foot main slopes which is reasonably standard, but my concern is moreso the valley slopes along cricketing to drains. Every firm I've worked for in the past does pretty standard drainage as I've come to expect with crickets to drains come at a 45 degree angle in plan. This should result in a valley slope along the cricket of around 3/16" per foot, which is still below code minimum but I believe it's pretty accepted practice.

The issue I'm seeing is that we are barely providing any cricketing whatsoever - in some cases we're showing a cricket angle (in plan) of as low as 10% which is probably like 1/32" per foot or basically flat. I'm not sure how this has made it past ownership or the contractor, but I've raised concerns before and I basically want to say that we need to provide significantly more cricketing than we're showing and do 45 degree angles to our drains. Am I overacting for this or is it not as much of a big deal as I'm making it out to be? Just looking for some other opinions since there isn't a lot of technical experience to lean on at the company I'm in.

We have some photos of our recently constructed projects that there are definitely visible drainage puddles all along cricket valleys and some pretty serious algae/bacteria growth in some locations. Here are a few images.

https://preview.redd.it/n5boaxu202ah1.jpg?width=507&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a703eaaf5d6a3ded2ce9b8b6f46272985bd90c68

https://preview.redd.it/5x0x8yu202ah1.jpg?width=854&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a4ad6dd0c3dd7eab89af6ca5c798d4027e86d0f7

https://preview.redd.it/xd3dbyu202ah1.png?width=450&format=png&auto=webp&s=c28ccb307599ac5428c6f1236f1f5db684ce1af7

Were kitchens treated differently than the rest of the house when built in the American South during the 1940's?

I ask because my mother-in-law's original hardwoord flooring is gorgeous oak throughout, but the original kitchen floor is a wood of much lower quality and it wasn't installed with the same care. I might have taken it for subfloor if I hadn't been udner the house many times and seen the actual sub-floor from below. Was it assumed during that era that servants would be in the kitchen so less was spent on it?

Thanks in advance if you're able to share your expertise.

We have a garage conversion - 440 square feet. Besides the AIA, what’s the best way to find a local architect who specializes in ADU? Is there an online resource- trying to avoid horror stories.