A day in the life of an architect or drafter

For any structures to exist in the first place, architects and drafters make comprehensive plans for the spaces before they are constructed. Architects are responsible for the spaces’ designs, while drafters specialize in the technical specifications and meticulously rendering the spaces. Some of the structures and spaces architects design include:

• Offices
• Homes
• Apartment buildings
• Schools
• Spiritual or religious spaces
• Parks and recreational areas
• Urban centers
• Airport terminals
• Malls and restaurants
• College campuses

Architects and drafters must consider several factors before construction can begin. They conduct thorough meetings with their clients to determine the building’s most important functions and requirements. The structures designed by architects should also be safe and as economical as possible. Architects and drafters work together to translate a client’s needs and imaginations into physical structures.

Important skills an architect will need during the design and construction process are:

• Design expertise
• Engineering knowledge
• Management and supervisory techniques
• Excellent communication skills to explain ideas to clients and builders

Before a building is designed, architects must thoroughly evaluate the project. This involves conducting feasibility and environmental impact studies, selecting a site on which to build, preparing the cost analysis and land-use studies and specifying design requirements.

Drafters and architects are responsible for creating visual renderings of a structure, but these drawings are more detailed than some people realize. Along with the actual appearance of the building, architectural plans must show the structural systems. These include:

• Air-conditioning, heating and ventilating systems
• Electrical systems
• Communications systems
• Plumbing systems
• Site and landscaping plans

To create buildings’ drafts and plans, today’s architects and drafters primarily use Computer-aided Design and Drafting (CADD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, rather than paper designs that are created by hand. Computerized designing is often more efficient and adaptable than traditional drawings. Changes and improvements can be made quickly and easily.

Architects and drafters spend most of their work day in offices. This is where they meet with clients and contractors, and create and edit their designs. Architects also have important duties at the construction site. They regularly visit the site to ensure that contractors are following their design plans, that construction is on schedule, that the right materials are being used and that quality standards for the construction are being met. Finally, after construction is completed, some architects continue to offer their client other services, such as facilities management.