THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT

What is the difference between a civil engineer and an architect?

Both civil engineers and architects are involved in planning and designing structures. However, a
civil engineer will concentrate on making sure the structure will be safe and be able to endure
everyday and extreme conditions, while the architect will focus on the aesthetics of the
structural work, as well as concentrate on the look, feel, and functionality.

The civil engineer will analyze and evaluate the structural integrity of the design that the architect
has created, and find ways to make the construction design possible by suggesting
alterations/modifications in order to turn the architect's vision into reality.

Civil engineers and architects often work with each other, as their work sometimes overlaps. A
good working relationship between the two professions will make a construction job more
effective and successful.

What is it like being a civil engineer?

Civil engineering is a very demanding yet fulfilling career, as the engineer is able to work on a
project from its inception right to its completion. When you drive over a bridge, see a building,
fly out of an airport, or visit a museum, a civil engineer has had a major part in that project.

Civil engineers have many duties; they interact with clients, customers, inspectors, suppliers,
vendors, architects and design teams. They submit and revise drawings many times over until they
are approved. They also spend time tendering, looking at reports, doing cost estimates, analyzing
designs and infrastructures, testing, commissioning, and spend time on construction sites to see
what progress is being made on projects. Construction sites need to be visited and monitored
frequently, in all kinds of weather conditions, to make sure work is going smoothly and disputes
are resolved in a timely manner in order to meet specific deadlines.

Do architects and civil engineers work together?

The two main designers of a structure are the architect and the civil engineer; both professions
being integral to the structure's execution and construction.

Their responsibilities often overlap. The architect will design a space to meet the client's needs,
and will come up with blueprints for both the inside and outside of a building. Because the
architect is ultimately responsible that the building is safe for its occupants, he or she will work
closely with a civil engineer to ensure the structure meets all the appropriate building codes. The
civil engineer can also advise and/or select the appropriate structural materials, and help with
specifying the plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems that will be
needed.