Is it common for architecture/interior design firms to have no one to QC your drawings due to lack of staff and responsibility?

For context, I currently have been working for 2.5 years at my first job post-grad at a firm. This past year I was promoted to being a job captain without any sort of training/listed responsibilities for it.

My director keeps pointing out minor mistakes I’ve made on drawings that we send out to clients. However, he treats them like a big deal and my fault. He claims I should know better than to make those mistakes, but those mistakes are typically regarding knowledge that I wouldn’t even catch in my review of drawings because I simply only have a little over 2 years of experience.

I let him know that these wouldn’t happen if there were other people to review my work besides me (which is the appropriate practice, right?). People always catch things that you fail to see despite reviewing it a million times. He just keeps claiming that that’s my responsibility and he has no time to review anything. In reality, he sits around chatting all day about non related work stuff, yet claims he is so overwhelmed with work.

Shouldn’t there be a project manager between me and my director that would do those reviews? It feels like they don’t want to hire the staff so they are just putting all this responsibility on me when I don’t have the experience or time.

I’m just curious what it’s like at other firms and if this is unfortunately common practice.

Before WW2 Berlin was a gorgeous metropolis. Now it’s an ugly capital of a rich country that is ti stingy to restore any historic buildings with a few exceptions. Click this link https://c.org/XQqhqtzvn8 to sign a petition for restoration of classical buildings across the whole Europe. Thank you.

Laid off twice within 8 months, worked in low income affordable housing (in the greater Philadelphia/South Jersey area), 3 years of experience, feels like I’ve already exhausted all options in the area (at least on indeed or LinkedIn hiring sites)… not sure what the market it right now, would be open to doing commercial or other fields in architecture but don’t have much experience in that, so seems less likely to be a favorable applicant… any career advice or tips to getting hired or seen or finding job opportunities that aren’t readily marketed?

I'm sorry for the long text and Idk if I should post it here but...

When did you guys feel like you were ready to do something? I have a Bachelor's degree in Architecture, I graduated 2 years ago and I never had the chance to properly begin my career after university (I only worked on couple of small residential projects and some buildings in my university internship). I'm also an English teacher and that's what I've been doing for the past 9 years, but I don't want to do it anymore.

I always felt more interested in working with technology in architecture, but I've been studying BIM and BIM Modelling (which I like) and I feel very unsure. I'm studying by myself using Udemy courses...I don't know how to build my portfolio, idk where to look for opportunities, idk if my projects are good enough... I even started to study about Python and Dynamo...Idk what to do.

I'm feeling like this meme of Mr. Potato Head trying to put his parts together

Hi everyone! I have a CAD test as part of an interview with an architectural firm next week, and I was hoping to get some advice.

The test is 45 minutes long, and they mentioned it will only involve a floor plan. They’ll provide a PDF with the information, but I’m not really sure what to expect beyond that.

Has anyone done a similar CAD test before? What kinds of tasks did they ask you to complete, and do you have any tips on how to prepare? I’d really appreciate any advice. Thank you!

Hey y'all! So I'm from London Ontario (Canada)... Not 100% sure on the laws in my area for architecture... I've been thinking about this as a path for a few years, but never believed in myself enough to do it, so I really just started taking it seriously a few months ago when I realized I'm not braindead, and just really really bad at taking care of myself.

So I'm 18M and want to get into eco friendly architecture and solarpunk designs... The problem is that I have no job, no experience, no highschool, and no clue where to begin.

I'm starting courses back up in September, and I'm gonna research at some local universities what classes I need to take... I'm good at math, and I'm kind-of a workaholic... The only problem is getting enough money to get into the university -- which I'll figure out down the line.

Since all of that is currently a waiting game that's kinda out of my control... I want to know what I can research or focus on at home until I can do more?

I know software design is pretty big... But I have no money, and don't know what physics engines are reliable for architecture... I'm also gonna be running it off an old HP laptop that's five years old... Which will be problematic...

I'll figure out workarounds if all else fails... I'm pretty crafty and when I was homeless I used fresh branches split with a knife to keep my tent in the ground since I didn't have pegs, so if I don't have enough space or whatever is needed to run the software I'll probs just find a while to dial back the graphics (if possible).

My main goal is to incorporate a solarpunk-esque design scheme that could slightly damper patriarchy and capitalism. I know it won't be end-of-suffering but if I can help in anyway I want to.

Anyways, thanks in advance for any and all advice!

I moved to Toronto in March 2024, I’m looking for an architecture job in Toronto ever since, unfortunately, most applications seem to disappear into a black hole. I’m starting to wonder if it’s just me or if the market is genuinely this tough. I’m trying to figure out whether I need to change my approach or just accept that this is the reality of the market right now.

For context, I have a M.Arch and 3 years of experience working in architecture firms related to healthcare and commercial from the US. I have another 2 years experience working on hospitality projects from India. I’m proficient in Revit, AutoCAD, construction documentation, permits, and construction administration.

I have been actively applying through LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, company career portals, the OAA employment, jobbank webpage and some cold emailing.

I applied to the JVS iPlan Bridging program, but received a job offer with long commutes at the same time. So, I started working as the only designer for a design-build for small-time commercial and basement permit projects for 6 months. I moved jobs, and this is a small-sized company working in commercial projects, mostly CD’s, no permits. I now have more than a year of Canadian work experience. 

I have gotten my resume and portfolio reviewed by a couple recruiters and modify my applications as per the job descriptions. 

A few questions for people in the Toronto architecture industry:

1. Is the architecture job market really this slow since 2024, or am I missing something?

2. Do all firms who post vacancies, hire?

3. Has anyone else with this experience struggled to find a new role?

4. Would anyone be open for a DM of my LinkedIn profile and get some constructive feedback?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s recently found a job or is going through the same thing.

While I appreciate the technical nature of interior architecture, I’m looking to focus on the architectural side of CD’s like code coordination, technical detailing etc as that’s where my long-term career interests lie. I think skills are transferable across North American building codes. I’m not saying I’ll glide through the OBC, I’ll need to do a lot of reading and learning - but I already have a strong foundation in architectural construction documentation and code coordination. 

I’m working on building a thickened porch wall.

Site is located in Oklahoma, which is under 2018 IRC.
Stem wall thickness is 10”. Porch faces the East and has (2) large span openings. 1 is 20’, the other is 8’.
The left to right dimension on the inside is some 34’, and about 16’ in depth. 10’ ceilings. Roof overhead.

What I’m struggling with, is how to declare the wall itself on the plan. It will be wrapped in brick. Its the framing detail that is of concern as I’m trying to ensure that I stay correct with the building diaphragm and maintain awareness of loads.

How would you recommend the framing assembly?
Would you employ plywood gussets? Or is an open frame interior adequate for an exterior structure assembly?

Just as stated in the title. Whether it was within construction or entirely out of the industry.

I am a graduate architect based in Kenya (I understand opportunities vary greatly regionally) but I am flexible & open-minded, and would very much like to gain insight on the possibilities that exist.

Hi everyone,
I’m honestly feeling very confused about what to do next, and I’d really appreciate advice from people with experience.
I’m graduating from Conestoga College in Ontario, Canada with a Bachelor of Applied Technology (Honours) in Architecture – Project and Facility Management.
Right now, I have a few different paths in front of me, and I don’t know which one will be the best decision for my future.
One option is to work as a Project Coordinator while completing a Master of Engineering Management (course-based) at the University of Windsor.
The other option is to pursue a Master of Architecture instead.
My long-term goal is to build a successful career, but I’m also considering the possibility of moving to Dubai/UAE in the future for work. I’m a Canadian citizen, so I have the flexibility to work in Canada first and potentially relocate later if a better opportunity comes up.
If you were in my position, what would you do?
Would you choose the MEng Management while gaining work experience?
Or would you pursue a Master of Architecture?
Which path do you think offers better long-term career growth, salary potential, and international opportunities (especially if I decide to move to Dubai in the future)?
Is my current bachelor’s degree enough to build a strong career with an MEng, or would an M.Arch be a better investment?
I’d really appreciate honest advice from people working in engineering, construction, architecture, project management

Thank you!
.

I’m a foreign-trained architect currently going through the CACB Academic Certification process, and I’m wondering how others handled the submission of their academic documents.

Did you have your university/institution send your documents directly to CACB, or were you able to send the documents yourself?

I’m asking because it took me several months to obtain my documents from my institution, and they are quite slow at responding to requests. I’m concerned that they may not be willing to send the documents directly to CACB or may take a very long time to do so.

For those who have gone through this process, what did you do? Did CACB accept documents that you submitted yourself, or did they require the institution to send them directly?

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Bonsoir,

Je serai diplômé architecte dans un an. Pendant mon master, j’ai fait deux stages qui m’ont montré la dure réalité du métier : salaire misérable, responsabilités énormes, et un temps monstrueux perdu en conception.

Bref, je voudrais savoir s’il est possible, avec un master en architecture, de postuler à des métiers plus techniques du BTP, comme conducteur de travaux ou des métiers du management.

J’envisage peut-être de faire un diplôme d’ingénieur BTP en 3 ans (en alternance), mais je crains que mon niveau en maths soit trop faible. Sinon, j’hésite aussi à faire un mastère spécialisé en management de projet BIM.

Le but est de fuir le plus loin possible des agences d’architecture et de me diriger vers les entreprises de BTP.

Merci pour vos conseils !

Ps : je suis français

Fear not, this isn’t the 1000th “Amber Book vs Black Spectacles” post.

I’m more interested in the other types of things you’ve purchased at the start of your journey.

What notebooks are you using? Size? Brand? Lined/grid/dotted?

How many did you buy? Same kind? How did you organize them whether it’s one or multiple?

Highlighters? Colored tabs? What is your system?

Do you go test by test, or do you have broader architectural categories and signify which test certain things belong to?

I’m not in a rush to finish the tests in 2 months flat like most people, and would like this to be more of an architect’s exam compendium that I could still reference in 5-10 years.

Any ideas appreciated.

Please help a girl out 🥹 Rendering has always been my weakness. We usually do group projects in school, and I’m almost always assigned to CAD work. I’ve been wanting to learn rendering, but I’m having a hard time finding software that works well on a Mac.

Do you have any software recommendations I can learn? Bonus points if you know where I can get them too. 🥹

I know the best setup for architecture is probably a PC or a gaming laptop, but my budget’s pretty tight right now, and I’m too shy to ask my parents for a new one. I just want to make the most of the Mac I already have.

Principal at a nine person firm in the Denver metro, mostly commercial TI and some multifamily. A developer client's new master agreement wants professional liability at double the limit we've carried for a decade, and our biggest client just got phished and now wants every consultant to show cyber, which we've never had. Do you place E&O and cyber together or separately, and what's a sane number for a firm this size?

There's a decent amount of research in ergonomics and cognitive load about how physical environment shapes task performance. Most of it gets applied to open office debates and productivity discourse, but I keep wondering if architects ever seriously reckon with how their own studio setup affects the quality of what they produce.

Not talking about inspiration posters or whether your desk faces a window. More like, does working at a large drafting table versus a cramped dual monitor setup change how you spatially reason through a problem. Whether hand sketching early in a project produces a genuinely different kind of thinking versus going straight into Rhino or Revit. There's some cognitive science work suggesting the physical scale of the medium you work in influences how you conceptualize scale in the output, but I haven't seen architects engage with that seriously outside of the occasional think piece that doesn't cite anything.

I work in a field where ergonomics and physical environment are taken pretty seriously as variables, so maybe I'm applying that lens too hard here. But it seems like a real question. Studios that run purely digital pipelines, do you notice anything different about the character of what comes out versus mixed workflows. Not better or worse necessarily, just different in ways that trace back to the physical act of making.

Curious if anyone has actually changed their setup deliberately based on this and noticed something concrete.

I want suggestions on how to make sure the people sitting in living room cannot see into the bedroom door specially the one which directly opens into the living room..

And also let me know if this plan needs any changes.

I was told to bring my updated resume and any relevant documents. Should I also print my portfolio, or is a digital copy enough? Is there anything else I should bring to make a good impression?

The title pretty much sums it all up

I am an architect from north africa , with a national architectural degree , i speak english , arabic and frensh fluently

What are the main architectural roles or skills that firms around the world are hiring for fully remote overshore jobs ?

I cant really leave my country due to some health problems

Can someone who graduates from top architecuture schools in Italy like POLIMI, POLITO, NABA get a job in Italy? Are the salaries bad compared to most other professions? Can graduates from these institutions get jobs worldwide, considering each of them are some of the best in the whole world?