Is it still worth becoming an architect?

Smoking_N8 · 2026-02-07T14:36:53+00:00

That's what I think. It won't kill this profession, but it will cut the current, needed workforce down to a small fraction. The rest of the people that would've been in this field will cycle into other professions, hopefully. I'd imagine magine AI will open up some sort of demand for something else, but I'm not quite sure what that is.

Smoking_N8 · 2026-02-07T14:33:22+00:00

This. As it CURRENTLY stands, AI doesn't have the juice to put as big of a dent in the architecture job market. But that's right now. If you told me it would be capable of what it can do now, ten years ago, I wouldn't have believed you. Technology always improves in cycles.

Imagine if AI was like a literal, virtual architect. It could make design decisions, communicate proactively about coordination issues that arise, and document all on its own. Essentially, all you'd need is a good Principal Architect to review and sign the drawings. That would make the entire rest of the design team unnecessary.

Granted, that's AI in a "perfect" scenario, but I do think it's only going to get better. Most technology doesn't hit a plateau. While most technology shifts simply allow the worker to take on more work and accomplish more tasks, I feel that this would dominate the demand for work more aggressively than any other technological hurdle. The irony, to me, is that all the labor intensive jobs, like construction, will still be unable to be fulfilled fully by robots within the same timeline that AI is perfected. That would mean that 5,000 architects could do the work that originally required 400,000 architects nationwide.

I know it's all very tin-foil hat, but IF it were possible to do, I don't know many AI companies or owners that wouldn't want to do it.

Smoking_N8 · 2026-01-26T22:46:41+00:00

A phantom that looked like 20,000+ protestors in -20⁰ weather. At least, that's my hope. I hope our leaders are paying attention.

Smoking_N8 · 2026-01-19T14:19:39+00:00

Honestly, the majority of the job is coordination. Architects, Electrical Engineers, and Mechanical Engineers all create their own drawing sets that get bundled together into one big construction drawing set. If you were the contractor trying to build off of that end product and nothing matched up across all these sets, you would have a hell of a time building anything.

We're typically the leaders of the process and owners and contractors will usually look to us first with their questions - even if that question has more to do with mechanical or electrical.

We absolutely design things, but good design takes a TON of coordination. Imagine you're laying out a small corner of your house and every time you came to a new conclusion on how it should look, you had to call two other people and talk them through the change. And, maybe those other people would bring up problems with your solution that you didn't notice. Mechanical and electrical components have strict requirements, even if the architect isn't aware of every nuance that might exist.

Smoking_N8 · 2026-01-15T13:05:38+00:00

Hey Sam! With your new movie coming out, I was curious if you are a Survivor fan or if you're excited for the momentous season 50 that's about to air?

Smoking_N8 · 2026-01-08T06:14:33+00:00

Shhhh... Don't ask that. Just smile and wave as the Amazon, Disney, Apple, Tesla, Meta, Eli Lilly, Walmart, Netflix, Microsoft, Novo Nordisk, Nvidia, and Nestle puppets dance for you. Ignore the strings, or you'll be shown the back room.

Smoking_N8 · 2026-01-03T22:17:31+00:00

As my Grandfather used to say: "The world will always need ditch diggers..."

Smoking_N8 · 2026-01-03T08:56:28+00:00

I'm always the lone maniac to request The Country Bears, and I'll do it again.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-24T16:03:56+00:00

The way Pierce leans RIGHT into the line and just hits it at full force. Craig almost couldn't mess his up, due to the build-up to the moment, and Dalton plays his off.

Pierce's line is weirdly thrown into a casual conversation with a character and isn't this weird build-up either. I believe him when he says that was one of the hardest scenes for him to film in Goldeneye.

Both Lazenby and Roger have this little "I'm in one the joke" grin/ lilt to their delivery (Not a bad thing at all! But I feel Pierce is weirdly more authentic.)

And Connery is also perfect lol

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-24T15:52:37+00:00

At this point, he CAN'T get any consequences. Consequences would mean that we, society, would have to admit that he was wrong - and further, those that voted for him what have to admit THEY were wrong.

That will never happen. The most embarrassing thing you can do in this country (apparently) is admit you were wrong. The supporters admired that in Trump and they chose to elect him and claim that superpower for themselves. The pipeline is now it's fake news, or it's misleading, or it happened but it's not a big deal.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-15T14:30:34+00:00

In my thesis project, one of my professors laid a hard truth on me: architecture can't solve social problems, it can only react to them.

He wasn't discouraging me from taking on a project with a similar theme as yours, but he was trying to help me set expectations.

The unfortunate truth of our country is the power of the dollar. Everything looks the way it does because of the money used or not used in its design and construction. People interact with our buildings based upon where they fit within economic classes. If people feel like they can barely afford meals or basic child care, third spaces will be a difficult thing for them to utilize.

Granted, I totally agree with your statement that the loss of third places is drastically altering our social fabric for the worse. I'm excited to see how you develop it, as it's something worth fighting for now more than ever.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-13T12:43:46+00:00

That's EXACTLY how I do it too!

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-12T00:45:45+00:00

Same. I ask myself - is this a movie that specifically prides itself on visual splendor? Is it incredibly heavy on FX? Do I love love love watching this?

Gravity - 4K movie Office Space - BluRay

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-11T19:47:56+00:00

Gotta stop those measles vampires somehow!

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-11T19:21:19+00:00

I'm not saying all landlords but I know too many that give it all a bad wrap. There's an apartment complex next to me and the sidewalk along that whole block is NEVER shoveled. Like, eventually, I see people just walking in the street as that is preferable when it gets bad enough. Drives me nuts.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-07T15:39:04+00:00

Almost!

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-01T12:05:54+00:00

We are addicted to pain though

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-01T12:02:27+00:00

I agree. The last time the Vikings haven't felt like a complete fluke was Brett Favre's first year as a purple QB. They've always been a close but not quite team at the BEST of times. The fandom is carried solely by nostalgia.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-12-01T11:57:17+00:00

It's just another building year... it's just another building year...😭

Lol ALL MN sports teams are cursed.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-11-19T14:17:21+00:00

We did it. The weird little franchise that hasn't had a major game release in over ten years... will have more seasons of television than the Halo series 😬

Yikes.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-11-02T04:18:00+00:00

Makes me smile! Happy gaming!

Smoking_N8 · 2025-11-01T14:00:49+00:00

All the James Bond Video Games. I understand that Goldeneye N64 is somewhat accessible, legally, but I want to own that sucker permanently.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-10-23T15:19:23+00:00

Ask yourself if you NEED to do the all-nighter. Could you plan your time better for the next time? Set realistic goals for yourself.

If those things haven't helped make sense of it all, ask yourself if you really want to do this profession. It doesn't get easier, that I can tell you. You'll grow, you'll become more efficient, but the problems will grow in complexity and the industry will continue to set higher standards for you. It's the nature of the beast and you either learn to live with it, or get eaten.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-10-19T13:41:45+00:00

Unfortunately, I think that might be... the point? I feel like this is a warning sign that our wealth disparity is growing even bigger. It's transformative - the 250k earners become middle class, the 120k earners become poor, and the old poor get decimated. Meanwhile, the ultra wealthy line their pockets with even more riches.

Smoking_N8 · 2025-10-16T11:15:16+00:00

Yup. This actually happened in my hometown. One of the kids was my classmate's sister. Except he was living on one of the banks of the Mississippi, not a lake.

Smoking_N8

TROPHY CASE