With this evolution of the building industry, marked by significant cultural, economic and technological shifts, the role of architects gains a multidisciplinary dimension that allows them to pursue a broader range of career opportunities. New production techniques, computational design, innovative organizational structures and the amalgamation of industries through technology are bringing forth an array of new, exciting job profiles.

We have compiled a list of 5 open career opportunities in firms that combine different disciplines, allow architects to shepherd projects from inception to completion, and gain insights into the business side of the profession.

Industrial Design Intern at BIG IDEAS

BIG’s incubator, called BIG IDEAS, is the place where the firm develops innovative ideas, design prototypes, products and new materials for the AEC industry. Here they work on products and designs that push the envelope and come up with original solutions that broaden the scope of the architectural practice.

BIG IDEAS is looking for an industrial design intern studying in the field of production design, industrial design and furniture design to collaborate with designers and architects in Copenhagen. To be considered, you must be a current student for the duration of the internship, have at least 2 years of design school behind you, and have relevant work experience. Candidates should have advanced knowledge and experience with Rhino, Solid Works (or similar 3D software), V-ray, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. Knowledge and experience with prototyping is a bonus.

Link to job ad

Design Applications Manager at Perkins+Will Global

One of the leading architecture offices in the United States, Perkins + Will, experiments with new technologies to improve healthcare design. The firm is at the forefront of the efforts to integrate technology and architecture.

This position requires experience in all phases of the architectural design process, high-level of proficiency leveraging Revit in the architectural production process, and working knowledge of design visualization, VR, computational design and environmental analysis applications. Among other responsibilities, applicants will be expected to represent and coordinate with the firm-wide Digital Practice group to promote local adoption of new technologies, including Virtual & Augmented Reality, Computational Design, Digital Fabrication, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence & Internet of Things, workflows and practices.

Link to job ad

Architect for Innovative Timber Building at Menges Scheffler Architects

Those experienced working with innovative uses of timber in architecture should check out Menges Scheffler Architects, led by Achim Menges, one of the leading figures in computational design and material exploration. Menges is also Director of ICD Institute for Computational Design and Construction in Stuttgart.

The firm is looking for an architect for an innovative building project with a novel timber shell structure. Responsibilities include leading the architectural design of the project from schematic design to construction within an interdisciplinary team of consulting engineers, ICD researchers and the timber manufacturer. This is a project-based job related to building an innovative timber building in a prominent city location in Germany, and will last approx. one year ((with longer term employment perspective).

Link to job ad

Project Architect at WeWork

WeWork is redefining space as a service by offering co-working and, as of recently, co-living spaces for a generation of young entrepreneurs.

The firm is currently in search of a Project Architect who is proficient and highly experienced with all phases of the design and construction process from schematic design through the bid process and construction administration. The candidate is expected to ensure efficient and quality design projects, by collaborating with all teams on the execution of WeWork standards, goals and brand ideals. You would work collaboratively with internal and external team members, determine and organize functional requirements, provide programming and space planning, and code analysis with minimal direction. Candidates should have 4+ years practical experience in high end hospitality, residential, commercial or retail architectural design. They should also be proficient in the following programs: Revit, all things Google, CAD, SketchUp, and MS Office.

Link to job ad 

Senior Project Management at AE3 Partners

AE3 Partners is a 26-person architecture and construction management practice headquartered in San Francisco. They work on projects as a prime, joint venture partner, or as a member of larger team. This could be a great opportunity to work on design-build projects with a vertically integrated process.

The idea candidate will report directly to the firm owners and be involved in key decision-making processes. You have to be a licensed architect in California with a Bachelors or Masters in architecture, and have advanced skills with Revit Building Design Suite and AutoCAD. Ideal candidates should also have great writing skills and the ability to assist principals and business development team with technical writing for presentations, RFP responses, and other business correspondence.

Link to job ad

Have you worked in any of these firms? Let us know about your career opportunities and experiences.

***

To companies who wish to advertise their job positions here:

Please contact us at media@archipreneur.com

The post Jobs in the Digital Era: New Career Opportunities in the Building Industry appeared first on Archipreneur.

It is the age-old story of technology changing the industry, simultaneously eviscerating old and creating new job profiles. Early CAD systems were extremely expensive and involved the use of cumbersome machines operated by specially trained workers. Designers had to bring their work to the CAD Departments and wait for hours or even days to receive plotted outputs. While this way of working seems ridiculously inefficient, back in the time of the first minicomputers and mainframes, this technological advancement allowed for the production of work which previously took 10 to 12 people to complete.

Blue-collar workers such as painters, plasterers, carpenters and brick masons may become extinct due to automation and new technologies, but according to several studies, computerization jeopardizes desk jobs the most-particularly middle-skilled positions that involve the execution of routinized tasks. The term “job polarization” describes the diminishing employment opportunities when it comes to jobs requiring moderate level of skills, especially compared to high-skilled workers and those at the bottom of the labor market.

Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne from Oxford University, authors of “The future of Employment”, have created a table ranking architecture jobs by probability of computerization according to which model makers, technicians, drafters and urban planners are at a much greater risk of disappearing compared to architects, interior designers and civil engineers. Meanwhile, computerization has birthed some new occupations within the field of architecture, mainstream profession in particular.

Here we bring you five relatively new job titles featured extensively on job boards across architecture-related platforms and websites:

#1 – BIM Specialist

Since the introduction of virtual building solutions during the 1980s and the emergence of 3d representation, the industry adapted to include these into its design processes and use building information technology in decision making, cost estimation and production of construction documents. Parametric modeling, associated data and rules have evolved to a degree which required highly-skilled employees that can keep track of the changes and be in charge of different aspects of the project. The position BIM Specialist can relate to different areas of expertise, from modeling, consulting, developing applications and software to researching and management positions. The general requirements for the position are usually a certification for specific software and experience in project planning and tracking.

# 2 – Digital Making Technologist

Over the last 15 years, rapid prototyping has found its way from car and aerospace industries into architecture. Large architectural firms dedicated to innovation and emerging technologies have established their own teams of specialists focused on the production of physical models and complex geometries, 3d printing and digital fabrication. The job title Model Maker has been substituted with Digital Making Technologist, describing employees capable of handling an entire set of complex tasks related to in-house rapid prototyping. Since 3d printers are being adopted as a new standard design tool, the demand for people skilled in handling technical and creative aspects of digital fabrication has significantly risen. Management skills and ability to handle infrastructure systems are highly valued when considering potential candidates.

#3 – Social Media Manager

The recent boom in social media has been embraced by architecture as well as other disciplines. The way architects communicate has changed drastically. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Pinterest and other platforms have permeated the industry and helped introduce a new position within the industry-Social Media Manager/Communication Manager. Many among the large firms working across the globe rely on their social media followers to communicate their ideas and brands and integrate user feedback into future designs. Choosing the best platform, forming a community and handling various social media accounts are the main responsibilities of potential social media managers.

#4 – 3d Architectural Visualizer

Pencil drawings, ink tracing and watercolor representation of architectural projects are things of the past and, as such, today they mostly have value as collectibles. Ever since the emergence of the first version of CATIA in 1982, it became apparent that the new technology can be applied to architectural representation. Today, architectural visualization has developed into creating photorealistic renders meant to infuse designs with the element of reality. Visualization can be part of the design process itself, but is most often used to represent finished projects. Architectural visualizers work either as part of a specialized visualization agency or as members of an in-house team in the case of large architectural firms. Working within a specialized agency can refers to 3d artists specialized in modeling, lighting, rendering or post-production, requiring extensive knowledge of specific software. People looking to break into the archiviz industry don’t have to be architects, but most jobs actually require an architectural background.

#5 – Motion Graphic Designer

Although photorealistic renders have become an industry standard, an increasing number of firms and developers turn to animation and promo videos to reach their target audiences. Architectural films conveying atmosphere and sense of lifestyle are becoming increasingly popular and facilitate a more interactive way of presenting projects to clients. Large firms such as Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects and several developers have created videos which provide immersive experiences of spaces and urban interventions. Although this type of content can be created in-house, most large companies hire specialized agencies for the production of great-looking video content.

[The above-mentioned job profiles have seen numerous iterations over the years, causing some confusion among job seekers. The fact that the IT industry has hijacked the word “architect” can be a source of frustration for those looking for employment within the field of architecture, but this appropriation also reveals the increasing complexity of the job market and the immense influence technology has on all industries, including architecture. ]

The Royal Institute of British Architects’ think tank, Building Futures, have published a report that examines the role of architects in 2025. Through a series of interviews and round-table sessions, the study presents prevailing opinions of leading architects, consultants and contractors working in expanded fields of the practice.

“The profession is heading towards consultancy. I think that architects will have the greatest influence if they concentrate on high-end consultancy and strategic thinking,” states a project manager of a global consultancy. Another chief executive thinks that the “entire range of middle sized practices from about 25-150 people will be gone” by 2025.

What are your thoughts? Do you think your job will remain relevant in by 2025? Which other positions will emerge in the next few decades?

The post 5 New Architecture Jobs Created by Technology appeared first on Archipreneur.