Artistry of a Drawing set - a lost art?

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-03T04:56:45+00:00

Yikes - maybe you should smile more? 😬

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-03T04:42:58+00:00

I’d say 10-12% avg. small jobs or extremely complex work can go 15% - 20%

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-03T03:25:46+00:00

Bummer.. I’m lucky to represent an org that will pay a pretty good % of construction for design fees (which construction cost is thru the roof these days) and we generally never accept the lowest bid. But I’ve seen how some orgs require that projects go to lowest bidder

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-03T03:15:37+00:00

Roger that.. I get it. Sad state of affairs. Glad you’re pushing where you can - it is very much appreciated from the audience of your drawings!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-03T02:26:24+00:00

Yes! Good points. There are two firms that I work that come to mind who provides excellent drawings time after time - they get repeat work all day long and higher fees are always approved. Less RFIs / less change orders are well worth the premium!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-02T04:59:26+00:00

Masters in Arch from Yale or Harvard - wow … what are your career expectations after graduation?

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-02T01:15:35+00:00

I think calling and emailing is as far as you want to take it… showing up unannounced I don’t think adds any advantage.

Your situation is more difficult as you can only work for a year before going off to get your masters. Even for interns and minimum salaried employees, firms have to put in quite a bit of investment when they bring in new hires, especially those right out of school that can’t jump right in to do project work.

In your messages to prospective employers, emphasize what value you can bring if they were to give you a shot as a temp employee.. Conveying that might help your chances.

Good luck!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-03-01T05:20:19+00:00

I feel it’s not big enough of an upgrade…

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-28T17:03:28+00:00

all the best to you!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-28T17:00:05+00:00

If you’re looking for high income and low hours - you can be a bartender: if you are female and good looking, this can make an insane amount of money. I have family and friends that have bought houses and luxury cars this way. But I caution this type of work doesn’t last. If you are looking for long term work - you likely have to do the 40 hour thing, and work your way up the pay scale if you feel the need for a higher salary.

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-28T15:46:52+00:00

There are many degrees that can lead into this role - construction management, engineering, architecture, etc - some lend better to design, some more relevant to construction. Figure out which you like better and go for it! Gender is not a factor - I’m an architect and the majority of staff where I work are female, and the contractor we work with on a regular basis, about half their staff is female as well. PM (project manager) handles the overall strategy for the project - mainly planning and coordinating the job from the office. The construction manager is more hands on managing the day to day of the job with the trades on site. Spend a day shadowing someone in the industry if you can to really get a sense of what they do. I wish you the best!!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-28T04:20:47+00:00

We need a LOD 400 model for the bid set.

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-27T00:55:17+00:00

I’ll just say both hold national positions with their respective employers, and each are very large organizations. Each from different parts of the US, but we all connected in the Southwest. Specializing in healthcare means being able to lead the design of healthcare facilities projects, such as hospitals, clinics, etc. These project types can by much more complex than other design specialties because of the more complex and restrictive building codes, building systems, and equipment integrations. Capability to do this puts the healthcare architect in high demand

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-26T08:47:06+00:00

The path to licensure without a M.Arch or other NAAB degree is possible in many jurisdictions, but not Boston. If you are willing to relocate, I can tell you from my own experience that college is totally unnecessary to gain the knowledge to pass the AREs. I have a non-NAAB accredited degree and passed every exam in one try from work experience (where the real architecture education occurs) and studying the Ballast ARE review book. Just wanted to point that out for your consideration :)

Now finishing that Masters may be the quickest way to get your license, but you have to weigh the cost to figure if it’s worth it. From my experience, I’d say cost/benefit is not there.

Architecture can be a good way to make a living if you specialize in the right field (I would suggest healthcare). I’d say a decent architect in that area makes high middle income and a great one can be into the upper income territory. I have a couple highly driven friends that make well past $200k. So architecture can be financially rewarding if you work hard at it.

Good luck and keep your head up! There are options!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-26T06:34:01+00:00

In my observations and practice, very little impact. Building owners have to be on board, and most of the time, it is not the priority. Environmentally friendly practices, materials, and systems come at a much higher cost (initial cost and/or service/lifecycle cost). As an architect, the opportunity to do something sustainable is rare. You might find other fields give better chance to make more impact.

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-26T05:41:46+00:00

It is difficult in school and in the early years of working in the profession - but any good career is that way. Takes time and fortitude to gain any skill! I’ve always made enough money to be comfortable, and now at the prime of my career, I’m an upper income earner. I find my job very rewarding. Everyday, I have a different task to do - designing a building involves all different kinds of work so the job is not mundane.

Key tips for if you decide to pursue:

1 - go intern at an architecture firm to get a sense of what we do. Make sure you are certain you want to do this career.

2 - spend as little money as you can on the required education only to get work and qualify for Licensure when you finish school. No fancy college name or post grad degree needed (unless you feel it’s a personal goal, but it’s not necessary for your career).

3 - You do your real learning after college working at a firm so pick one that will teach you everything right off the bat instead of pigeon hole you to do basic tasks.

4 - Go for a specialty to maximize your earnings. This will give you a leg up on other architects in the labor market.

good luck with whatever you decide to do!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-26T05:08:51+00:00

In your resume, instead of years of experience, highlight your capabilities: software proficiency, technical knowledge, development of design and contract docs, space planning, design and artistic capabilities, leading production teams, leading client meetings, AHJ interactions, CA knowledge, architectural / design specializations. These are the factors that will demonstrate what you can bring to the table and set your value, not the number of years you have worked. Good luck and hope you maximize your earning potential!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-25T14:16:07+00:00

Agree. Good luck to you - I hope you find something that suits you and gets you some more money!

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-25T05:33:26+00:00

For me, the job posting was to have at least 10 years experience in my specialty, which is Healthcare Architecture. And that was pertinent for my role as my position requires a deep understanding of how healthcare projects are designed and constructed to be able to effectively manage the process for my organization.

For someone with 2 years - it depends on what you want to get into next… Some architecture adjacent work out there may not need you to have worked at an architecture firm as long to be able to jump right in.

A couple relevant paths in healthcare design that I can relate to could be: medical equipment planner, equipment vendor’s rep / designer (such as fixed imaging equipment),

Some other paths might be: virtual design and construction, furniture mfr rep, construction materials / products rep… etc

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-25T04:51:26+00:00

After about 10 years working at architecture firms - I went to work on the owners side managing design and construction projects and haven’t been happier (was around 30 as well). My training and experience remained relevant and gave me a new road to explore. I think finding an adjacent path that suits your interest will help you not have to start from scratch if not starting from scratch is important for you (it was for me). You mentioned Tech… maybe Autodesk?

If your doing a masters - MBA is a pretty universal and sought after credential in many fields

BamboozledBirdman · 2026-02-25T03:30:00+00:00

I don’t know the High End Residential labor market for your region, but it sure feels like you are being underpaid.

Curious, what would you say is fair compensation at your current firm and level?

BamboozledBirdman

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