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TheGlobalRoleofArchitecture

BrianFort

EnglishIIIHonors
Mrs.Kopp
February26,2014

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BrianFort
Mrs.Kopp
EnglishIIIHonors
26February2015

TheGlobalRoleofArchitecture
Asanartform,architecturerepresentsmanydifferentfieldsofstudyandcareerpathsone
maychoosetopursue.Ahighdemandforaccomplishedarchitectshasexistedwithincitiesfor
centuriesuponcenturies,datingbacktoevenbeforetheeraofancientEgypt.Inthe20thand
21stcenturies,architectureinitsentiretyhasexperiencedgrowthandchange,mainlyinthe
methodsofconstructingcities,homes,andmodesoftransportation.Furthermore,architectsin
modernsocietyoftenworkalongsideoneanotherandcollaborateinordertocreatethemost
efficientdesignspossible.Subdivisionsofarchitectureincludebuildingdesign,cityplanning,
landscapearchitecture,andmore.Thedemandforarchitectsintheworkforcehasgrownin
recentyearsascitieshavealsoexpanded,meaningthatacareerinarchitectureprovides
exceptionaljobstabilityinacompetitivejobmarket.
Architecture,thepracticeofdesigninginhabitablestructuresandenvironments,consists
ofmanydifferentelements,shapedbyvariouspeopleandcivilizationsthroughouthistory
(Architecture).Today,thetermrepresentsavaguefieldinwhichmanymorefocusedavenues
exist.Landscapearchitects,cityplanners,andbuildingdesignersallworkinarchitectureasa
wholeandoftencollaborate.Collaborationamongthedifferenttypesofarchitectsleadstothe

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formationofmoderncountries,cities,andtownsthatcanfunctionsmoothlyonadaytoday
basis.JustasancientRomeandGreecerevolutionizedarchitectureinthatera,moderncities
suchasNewYorkandLosAngeleshaveexpandeduponthosepracticesandadaptedthemto
todayssociety.
Inordertoworkasanytypeofarchitect,ahigherlevelacademicdegreeofaBachelorof
Architectureorgreaterservesasarequirement(TheBasics).Thepathofstudytakenin
undergraduateorpostgraduateschooltoachieveadegreemaygreatlyvaryfromthatofother
students,howevertheultimategoalofachievingthatdegreeremainsconstantamongallpeople
studyingthesubject.Practicingarchitecturerequiresmoretimeandeffortthanjustearninga
degreehowever,andposteducationfinancialsuccessreliesheavilyonseveralfactors.The
degreeofeducationearnedaswellastheabilitytofindaninternshipormentorshippromptly
upongraduatingbothplaylargerolesinonesfuturecareerexperience.Whilearchitectural
firmsobviouslyaimtohirethemostqualifiedindividualstofillavailablepositions(asdoall
employers),opportunityforprogressionwithinarchitecturalfirmsdrivesmanyindividualsto
workupfromaveryinsignificantpositiontooneofpower.
Oneofthemanyfocusesofarchitecture,landscapearchitecture,payssuperiorattention
totheexternalimageofastructureasnaturesurroundsit.

Landscapearchitecture,definedasthe
modificationofnaturalspacebymeansofreorganizationoforganicmaterials,makesupalarge
portionoftheaestheticsofcitiesandresidentialareas(LandscapeArchitecture).Fromthe
ancienteratothemedievalera,thenontotheromanticperiodandthe20thcentury,landscape
architecturehaswithstoodsignificantchange.Althoughoriginallycalledlandscapegardening,
thattermhassincechanged,yetlandscapearchitecturealsonowincludeslandscapegardening,

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whencommercialgardenersplantandmaintainflowersandothergreeneryonaproperty.A
landscapearchitectwouldmostlikelyholdanacademicdegreeequivalenttothatofabuilding
designerorcityplanner,andreceivedirectpaymentfromclients(LandscapeArchitecture).
SincetheeraofancientEgypt,certaindesignaspectsofthelandscapehaveheldcultural
significance.Forexample,inancientPersia,intricategardenssymbolizedparadiseandlater
influencedPersiancarpetpatterns.Also,inancientGreece,peoplebelievedthatsacredgroves
servedashomestothegodsandotherdivinefigures(LandscapeArchitecture).Althoughnotas
obvious,culturaldevelopmentalsoheavilyinfluencedlandscapinginthe20thcentury.
FollowingWWIandWWII,economicdepressioncausedbythewarsledlandscapearchitects
andcityplannerstothinkmoreconservativelythaninpreviousyears,thusashiftfromsmaller
domesticsettingstolargerpublicsettingsoccured.Thepricesofnearlyallaspectsof
constructionrose,causingadeclineindemandforpeopleperformingthosejobs.Inrecent
decades,therejuvenationofsuburbandurbanlivinghascausedthedemandforlandscape
architectsandtheirinvolvementintheshapingofourphysicalenvironmenttoriseonceagain
(LandscapeArchitecture).
Thesecondmajorbranchofarchitecture,cityplanning,consistsofthedevelopmentof
citiesandtownsandtheirsurroundings(CityPlanning).Cityplanningdatesbacktotheearliest
humancivilizations,butcontinuestoincreaseincomplexityovertimeastechnologydoesthe
same.Themanyelementsofcityplanningcometogethertoformefficientlivingandworking
spaces,howeverplanningforthefuturewhenconstructingcitiesalsostandsasahighpriority.
Theseelementsmayincludeplansforlanddevelopment,legalusesoflandduetozoninglaws,
methodsofwhichtooptimizetheefficiencyofpublictransportation,andstrategiesforhowto

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economicallyrejuvenatepotentiallydepressedareas,helpunderprivilegedsocialgroups,and
keeptheenvironmentascleanaspossible(CityPlanning).Also,justasarchitecturebranches
offintomanysmallermorefocusedcategories,cityplanningdoesthesamethroughmeansof
collaborationbetweengovernments,constructioncompanies,transportationcompanies,and
more.
Formostofitshistorycityplanningdealtexclusivelywiththephysicalcharacteristicsof
cities,suchasinancientGreeceandRome,howeversincethe20thcenturyithasalsofocusedon
thesocialandeconomicaspects(alongsidethephysical).Evidencefoundbyarcheologists
suggeststhattheverydeliberateplanningofancientGreeceincludedgridsystemsofhome
placement,geometricdesignsoftownsthemselves,andanoverallaestheticbalance.
ArcheologistshavealsofoundthattheformatofancientRomedrawsinfluencefromGreece
bothinitsfocusonsymmetryaswellasinitsuseofgridpatternsforstreetsandhomes(City
Planning).Currently,extremeattentiontowarddesigningenvironmentallyconscious,or
green,citiesandtownsdominatestheindustry.Forexample,architectsandcityplannersin
Egyptoftenworkinconjunctionwithoneanothertocreateefficient,sustainabledesigns
intendedtolastformanyyearstocome.Thosesamedesignslessentheoverallcarbonfootprint
andoperatingcostofthebuilding,whilesimultaneouslyexpandingitslifecycle.Analysisofthe
designshasrevealedanaveragelifetimeincreaseofapproximately16%,aswellasapotential
energysavingsofapproximately50%(Assad,etal.).
Inaddition,buildingdesignrepresentsthefinalpieceofarchitecture(alongsidecity
planningandlandscaping).Mostpeopleimmediatelyrelatebuildingdesigntotheentiretyof
architecture,becauseitmostlikelyrepresentsthelargestaspectofthefield.However,

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equivalentlytocityplanning,theactionsofmanysmallergroupsduringcollaborationwithone
anotherenablebuildingdesigntoexist.Alsoduetothecumulative,progressivenatureof
technologyusedintheindustry,methodsofdesignandconstructionhavedrasticallyevolved
overtime.Asanexample,theRomanPantheontookalmostexactlytenyearstobuildwith
ancienttechnology(AD11828),whereasmoderntechnologyhasledtonotablyfasterandmore
efficientconstructionthanduringthattimeperiod(Rome).
SincetheendoftheAmericanIndustrialRevolutioninthemidtolate19thcentury,
technologyhasconsistentlyinfluencedtheprogressionofbuildingdesignandconstruction
practices(IndustrialRevolution).AlthoughAmericancitieshadneverbeforeexperienced
expansionotherthanthroughurbansprawl,thelate19thandearly20thcenturiesmarkedthe
formationofanentirelynewdimensionofmodernarchitecture.Beginninginthelate1880s,
LouisHenriSullivanandDankmarAdlerexperimentedwiththeconstructionoftall,yetstable
buildingsinChicago,IllinoisandSt.Louis,Missouri.ThepartnersdesignedtheAuditorium
BuildinginChicago,completed1889,andtheWainwrightbuildinginSt.Louis,completed
1891,bothofwhichstoodtenstoriestallandhadsteelframes(Sullivan,LouisHenri).Laterin
1931,theerectionofthe102story,1,454foottallEmpireStateBuildingconcludedinNewYork
City.Thegoliathtowernotonlydwarfedthepreviouslymiraculousfirstgenerationskyscrapers
conceivedbySullivanandAdler,butdidsoonly40yearslater,bygreaterthantenfold,andafter
lessthanjusttwoyearsofconstruction(Sacks,Partouche).Lastly,theEmpireStateBuilding
servedasaprominentinternationalsymbolofthedegreeofpowerandtechnologicalsuperiority
oftheUnitedStates.

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Moreover,thecultural,artistic,andarchitecturalcharacteristicsofaregionintertwineto
formtheoverallenvironmentofthatarea.Culture,theumbrellatermforthecharacteristicsofa
community,consistsofthingssuchaslanguage,food,andreligion.However,thequalitiesofa
regionrarelyoriginatesolelyfromthatregion.Humanmigrationthroughouthistoryhas
representednotonlythemovementofactualpopulations,butalsothespreadoftheirideasand
practicesovertheglobe.Likewise,thecollectionofpersonswithsimilarbeliefshasalways
tendedtodrivetheformationoforganizedcivilizations.Whilethereasonsforandmethodsof
whichpeoplemigratemayhavechangedovertime,theoverallgoalofmigrationhasremained
constant.Peoplerelocatetofindbetterlivesforthemselvesortheirfamilies.
Intheworldasitcurrentlystands,religiousbeliefshavegreatlyemergedandbegunto
naturallydividetheglobe,resultinginallotheraspectsofculturefollowingsuit.Forexample,
themajorityoftodayspopulationpracticesChristianity(twobillionintheyear2000)orIslam
(onebillionintheyear2000)withlargefocusesinAsiaandNorthAmericaandthemiddleeast,
respectively.Totalledout,thosetworeligionsrepresentedapproximatelyhalf(ormore)ofthe
worldsdocumentedsixbillionpeopleintheyear2000(Ellwood).Furthermore,religionaffects
allothercharacteristicsofcultureandcontinuallyimpactsthedevelopmentofcountriesinall
fourhemispheres.Forexample,SyriaandtheU.S.haveneverexperiencedanythingmorethan
extremelybriefperiodsofpeaceandcooperation,duetothenearlypolarcontrastinthesocial,
religious,andpoliticalbeliefsofbothcountries.Thisvalidatesthesignificanceof
interdependencebetweenallelementsofsociety,andshowshowalackofsuchmayadversely
affectfunctionality.

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Uponconsideringpursuingadegreeinarchitecture,onemustalsoconsiderallaspectsof
architecture,whatitconsistsof,andhowitaffectstheworldpriortomakingadecision.
Secondly,duetothewidevarietyoffocuses,studentsmusthaveaveryclearunderstandingof
whattheywouldliketodouponfinishingtheireducation.Highschooldraftingcoursesmay
provideunsurestudentswiththeinformationtheyneedtomakeamorewellinformeddecision
(Page).Also,architecturalstudentstypicallyexperienceagreaterfinancialburdenthansome
othermajorsduetothefactthatbecomingapracticingarchitectrequiresfarmorethanabasic
fouryeareducation(U.S.DepartmentofLabor).Acareerinarchitecturemayseemextremely
underwhelmingatfirstglance,consideringthelargerthannormalinvestmentintoeducationand
thelongprocessrequiredtobecomelicensed,howeverthemedianannualpayofarchitects,at
$73,090in2012,healthilycounterbalancesthepriceofpursuingthejobitself(U.S.Department
ofLabor).
Generallywhenchoosingauniversitytoattend,regardlessifforanundergraduateor
postgraduatedegree,moststudentsseekoutaprogramthatmeetstheirneedsacademically,
socially,andfinancially.Instateuniversities,suchasAppalachianStateUniversityorUNC
Charlotte,oftenprovidealowpricepointandasolideducationalandsocialexperiencefor
students,thussufficingquitewell.AppalachianStateUniversity,forexample,offersaminimum
annualcostof$13,438forinstateattendees,howeverthatpriceapproximatelydoublesfor
outofstateattendees,to$26,605peryear(Costs).AfterfiveyearsinaBachelorofArchitecture
degreeprogramatASU,residentsofNorthCarolinawillhaveonlypaid$67,010fortheir
degree,whereasnonresidentsofNorthCarolinawillhavepaid$133,025.Evidently,attending
aninstateuniversityservesasaviableoptionforanyoneaimingtosavemoneyontheir

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education,andtheexperienceprovidedtypicallyrivalsthatofmuchmoreexpensiveschools
throughouttheU.S.
Asastarttobecomingapracticingarchitect,mostpeopleearntheirprofessionaldegree
throughafiveyearBachelorofArchitecturedegreeprogram.Followinggraduationwiththat
degree,onemaychoosetoextendtheireducationwithaMastersorDoctorate,orbegintheir
requiredpaidinternshipinordertogainexperienceintheworkforce.Moststatesrequirea
professionaldegreeinArchitectureandapaidinternshipofatleastthreeyears,butallstates
requireapassinggradeontheArchitectRegistrationExam(ARE)inordertobecomelicensedto
practice.OnemaynotsitfortheAREuntiltheirinternshipconcludes(TheBasics).Upon
sittingforandpassingtheARE,gainingalicensetocontract,andenteringtheworkforce,
practitionersmustexerciseaspecificsetofskillsinordertosucceed(U.S.Departmentof
Labor).FromdrawinginelectronicCADprogramstointeractingwithclients,thereisagood
varietyfromdaytodaybetweenmeetings,andsitevisits.(Page).
Astechnologyevolvesinamodernworld,civilizationwillfollowsuitwiththeexpansion
andchangeofcitiesandtowns,andhowhumansoccupythem.Architectsandengineersalike
drivethesechangestooccurthroughmeansofinnovationandreinvention,thusforminga
continualdemandforpeopletoperformsuchjobs.Analystsprojectthatfrom2012to2022,the
employmentofarchitectswillincreaseby17%,ascausedbyanincreaseindemandfor
architectswithknowledgeofsustainablemethodsofconstructionanddesign.However,analysts
alsoprojectanequalorgreaterincreaseincompetitionwithinthejobmarket,asgraduateswith
architecturaldegreeshavebecomemorecommoninrecentyearsthaneverbefore(U.S.
DepartmentofLabor).Inregardtosupplyanddemand,thejobmarketfunctionsinasimilar

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mannertoeconomics,howeverqualifiedworkersrepresentsupplyandissuesthatneed
resolutionsrepresentdemand.Duringtherecentrecessionof2008,peopleofmostprofessions
sufferedtofindworkduetoalackofdemandfortheirservices,yetsinceabout2011,economic
recoveryandrestorationhastakenplace.Todayin2015,asurbansprawlcontinuestodominate
thesixmajorcontinents,demandshallalsocontinuetosurge,forminganevermorehealthyjob
market(McDougall).
Whenmakingadecisionaboutwhetherornottopursuethiscareer,onemusttakeinto
accountalltheinformationaboutthecareer,includingthepriceofeducation,theprocessof
becomingqualified,andthepotentialearnings,yetnotdisregardthemostimportantfactor,ones
passion(orlackthereof)forthesubject.Whilecertainlyofgreatimportance,thefinancialand
economicalfeaturesofanycareershouldonlyslightlyinfluenceonesdecision,becausean
uninterestingcareerwillneverprovidefullsatisfaction,regardlessoftheamountofmoney
earned.ThemediansalaryofarchitectsintheU.S.,asrecordedat$73,090bytheU.S.
DepartmentofLaborinMay2012,representsthevaluethatthetop50%ofpeopleearnmore
than,andthatthebottom50%ofpeopleearnlessthan,inayear(U.S.DepartmentofLabor).
Duetothis,architecture
restsbelowtheupperechelonofhighpayingprofessionsmadeupof
sixfiguresperyearpositions.Alongsidetheunderwhelming,yetsufficientsalaryand
sometimeslongorsporadichours,architectsworkforcontractingfirms,meaningthatjob
insecuritycommonlydelineatesthefield
(Caven,Diop).Byvirtueofthesefewnegative
qualities,architecturemayappearasagenerallyuninterestingcareerpathtopursue.Inreality,
therewardsassociatedwiththebusinesshaveatendencytocomeintheformofhealthy

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relationshipswithcolleaguesandclients,ratherthanintheformoftangibleitems,leadingtoa
formerlyunrecognizeddegreeofinternalsatisfaction(Caven,Diop).
Extensiveresearchofthisindustryhasrevealedmanyofitscommonlyunknown
qualities,shedlightontoitsinnerworkings,andprovidedhelpfulinsightintotheprocessby
whichonefollowsinordertostartworkingwithinit.Forexample,observationofpastand
presenttrendsofbuildingdesign,cityplanning,andlandscapearchitecture,aswellashow
culturalcharacteristicsaffectthem,hasshownthewaysinwhichtheindustryasawholehas
changed.Secondly,exploringdifferentroutesofeducation,theirfinancialbenefitsand
downfalls,andhowtheymayaffectonesfuturecareer,assistsinthemakingofdecisionsbest
suitedtoonespersonalneeds.Subsequently,interviewinganindividualthatcurrentlyworksin
thefieldfurtherequipspotentiallyaspiringarchitectsfortheirjourneythrougheducationby
preparingthemforwhattheymayencounter.Thepersonalexperiencesofpeoplethathave
alreadymovedthroughtheprocessmayalsolendahelpinghandtothosestrugglingtosucceed,
orthosestrugglingtodecidewhatoptionbestsuitsthem.
Inconclusion,pursuingarchitecturerequiresaconsiderableamountofforwardthinking
onthebehalfofthestudent,withdecisionsmadeearlyonpossiblyaffectingtheroutetakenlater
intheprocess.SinceaBachelorofArchitecturetakesfiveyearstoachieveandmoststates
requireatleastathreeyearinternshipandapassinggradeontheARE,studentsmustexpectand
fullyprepareforthefinancialandtimecommitmentnecessarytobecomealicensedarchitectural
contractor.Uponthegrantofalicensetobeginworking,architectsmustthenutilizea
specializedskillsetonadailybasisinordertoprofit.Architectscatalyzeinnovationandgrowth
byprovidingtheimaginationnecessarytothinkdifferently,aswellasthetechnicalskill

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necessarytotransferthoseideasintotheworldintheformsoflivablespaces.Without
architects,varietywouldceasetoexist,andcultureless,flat,andbleakcitiesaroundtheworld
wouldformmonotonous,painfullysimilarcountries.

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