Architecture As A Career

Architecture As A Career

Summary

An Architect designs new buildings, makes changes to existing buildings and advises on conservation and restoration of old buildings. These buildings can be commercial, such as office buildings, factories, and restaurants, as well as residential, such as apartment complexes. They work very closely with end users and clients to customize the designs to their needs and specifications. They make sure that these potential designs are safe, economical, functional and aesthetically pleasing. They often employ the use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to diagram their designs and ensure their feasibility. They usually work on a project from start to finish and with lot of engineers and designers to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

Career Opportunities in Architecture

• Architect
• Architecture Designer
• Architectural Engineer
• Interior Designer
• Landscape Architect
• Naval Architect

How to Become an Architect

	Stream	Graduation	After Graduation	After Post Graduation
Path 1	Clear Class XII in Any Stream (Maths compulsory)	Pursue B.Arch for 5 years	Pursue M.Arch for 2 Years	-
Path 2	Clear Class XII in Any Stream (Maths compulsory)	Pursue B.Arch for 5 years	Pursue MURP for 2 years	-

Important Facts

• For Most colleges have eligibility performance criteria of minimum 50% aggregate marks in Class XII.
• For B. Tech degree in Architecture, most colleges require a minimum score of 60% and for M. Tech and Ph.D. programs the eligibility criteria is 60% in B.Tech and M.Tech respectively.
• Besides that some colleges/ universities also have an age limit.
• For admissions into IITs, NITs and SPAs, the candidate is required to clear 10+2 with Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics.
• However, for other institutions, candidates from all streams are eligible if they have Mathematics as a subject

Leading Institutes

Top Architecture Institutes in India

College	Location	Website
Department of Architecture, IIT Kharagpur	Kharagpur	www.iitkgp.ac.in
Department of Architecture, IIT Roorkee	Roorkee	www.iitr.ernet.in
Sir JJ College Of Architecture	Mumbai	www.sirjjarchitecture.org
Aligarh Muslim University	Aligarh	www.amu.ac.in/departmentpage.jsp?did=27
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology	Bhopal	www.manit.ac.in
Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture & Fine Arts University	Hyderabad	www.jnafau.ac.in
Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi	www.jmi.ac.in
School Of Planning and Architecture	New Delhi	www.spa.ac.in
Andhra University	Vishakhapatnam	www.andhrauniversity.edu.in/engg/arch/index.html
Chandigarh College Of Architecture	Chandigarh	www.cca.nic.in
Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT)	Gujarat	www.cept.ac.in
School Of Planning and Architecture	Bhopal	www.spabhopal.ac.in
Sushant School Of Art & Architecture (Ansal University)	Gurgaon, Haryana	www.ansaluniversity.edu.in/sushant-school-of-art-and-architecture
Department of Architecture, NIT Tiruchirappali	Tiruchirappalli	www.nitt.edu/home/academics/departments/architecture
Department of Architecture, NIT Calicut	Tiruchirappalli	www.nitc.ac.in
Manipal School of Architecture & Planning	Manipal, Karnataka	www.manipal.edu/foa.html
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra	Jharkhand	www.bitmesra.ac.in
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)	New Delhi	www.ipu.ac.in

Top Architecture Institutes in the World

Institution	Location	Website
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	United States	www.web.mit.edu
Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London	United Kingdom	www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States	www.berkeley.edu
Delft University of Technology	Netherlands	www.tudelft.nl/en
Harvard University	United States	www.harvard.edu
National University of Singapore	Singapore	www.nus.edu.sg
University of Cambridge	United Kingdom	www.cam.ac.uk
Tsinghua University	China	www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/newthuen
The University of Tokyo	Japan	www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/index.html
The University of Sydney	Australia	www.sydney.edu.au
University of British Columbia	Canada	www.ubc.ca/academics

Architecture Entrance Exams

Undergraduate

College	Tentative Date	Important Elements	Website
National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA)	April-August	Drawing, Aesthetic sensitivity	www.nata.in/2016
JEE Main (Paper 2)	April	Maths, Drawing, Aptitude	www.jeemain.nic.in/webinfo/Public/Home.aspx
JEE Advanced	May	Physics, Chemistry, Maths	www.jeeadv.ac.in
Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT)	June	Freehand drawing, Geometrical Drawing, Three-dimensional perception, Imagination and aesthetic sensitivity, Architectural awareness	www.jeeadv.ac.in/aat
BITSAT	May	Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English and Logical Reasoning	www.bitsadmission.com/bitsatmain.aspx
Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED)	January	Visualization and Spatial Ability, Observation and Design Sensitivity, Environmental and Social Awareness, Analytical and Logical Reasoning, Language and Creativity, Design Thinking and Problem Solving	www.iitb.ac.in/uceed/2016
Maharashtra Architecture Common Entrance Test (MH Arch CET)	May	Maths, Aptitude, Drawing	www.mhtcet2016.co.in

Postgraduate

Institution	Tentative Date	Important Elements	Website
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)	January to February	Architecture and Design, Building Materials, Construction and Management, Building and Structures, Environmental Planning and Design, Urban Design, Urban Planning and Housing, Planning Techniques and Management, Services, Infrastructure and Transportation	www.gate.iisc.ernet.in
Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED)	December	Interaction Design and Visual Communication, Problem identification & solving, Sketching Representation techniques, Visual perception Poster, Logo, Character designing, Story telling, Interface design & Product Design, Basics of materials and manufacturing processes	www.gate.iitb.ac.in/ceed2016

Work Description

Architects design new buildings & also modify existing buildings. They also help in the restoration and protection of old buildings. 
Typical work activities include

• Discussing about the aims, needs and financial plan of a project
• Formulating, designing and presenting possible plans & drawings to the client;
• Recommending to the client the functionality of their plans;
• Working within the given budget and time limit
• Bargaining with multiple service providers and contractors
• Managing the project and ensuring timely and proper functioning of service providers
• Supervise projects from its starting stage to its completion stage
• Frequent site visits to know about the development of the projects
• Solving complications and matters that surface during construction stage
• Ensuring that the ecological balance of the project is achieved

Pros & Cons of a Career in Architecture

Pros

• Architecture is a very rewarding and satisfying career for those who are driven by the need for creativity in their field of work.
• Architects work in environments that are continually changing, where they are faced by diverse challenges everyday. Thus, the likelihood of boredom is very low.
• It is a highly respectable career that will make you feel good about yourself.
• Architects make a difference to our surroundings, ensuring that our living environment is safe, practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Cons

• Architects are required to undergo lengthy and extensive training.
• Salary compensations received by architects are average, and a bit on the low side compared to other professions that require similar amount of training and specialization.
• Architects are expected to carry the project through to the deadline, which can often mean working overtime and at odd hours.
• It is subject to changes in the economy and the real estate market, and is thus volatile.