Architects are involved in planning, designing, and overseeing of residential and commercial projects. With the baby boomers reaching the retirement age in the very near future, there is an increase in the demand for health care facilities and retirement homes. With the ongoing need for replacement of aging structures, the demand for architects is likely to extend beyond the coming decade.
With the increasing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions with the use of sustainable building materials and design, the demand for architects with green design skills and knowledge is expected to rise. By applying eco-friendly designs, materials, and specifications, architects ensure conservation and efficient use of renewable resources while reducing pollution and carbon emissions.
While there are an estimated 128,800 architects currently in the United States, the expected job market growth rate is 4.2% in the time frame between 2016 and 2026. Over the coming decade, there will be a need for 9,900 architects in the US.
Why do architects need architects professional liability insurance?
Architects are employed in the detail-oriented, highly skilled industry where the high quality of design, construction, and consultation services is expected. While every architect is committed to offering services that are free of errors, at times, even the minutest of mistakes from a contractor or subcontractor can lead to serious consequences.
If your client is unhappy with any aspect of the work, they may file a lawsuit to sue for damages due to negligence, delay, budget deviations, and other errors. With the cost of defending against these claims, apart from the restitution costs in case you are determined to be at fault, can create a huge dent in your finances and cripple your business.
Architects professional liability insurance is an effective safeguard against these risks and covers your defense costs in the event of a claim.
The in-demand architecture jobs
The pathway to becoming an architect is through an accredited bachelor’s degree in architecture, industry internship, and licensure exams. Some of the entry-level jobs for architects include:
Urban planner/designer
As a result of rapid urbanization and shifting of the population into urban areas, urban planners and designers are in demand. From large scale problem solving to surveys of land, expansion or upgradation of urban facilities to meet new needs or designing a new transportation or layout plan are handled by urban planners and designers. Urban planners and designers need to be experts in:
- Building codes
- Zoning of land for commercial, residential, or industrial purposes
- Analyzing demographic and geographical data
- Implementing plans to preserve and protect historic buildings
The job titles that are held by urban planners and designers include:
- Planner, city government
- Planner, consulting
- Research Associate for non-profit/international urban development
- Consultant for Urban Planning firm
Some of the top employers of urban design architects include:
- Government agencies such as state/city departments including the City of Chicago, Urban Redevelopment Authority, New York City Department of Housing, GSA, and EPA.
- Transportation agencies such as the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
Residential architect
Residential architects specialize in the design and construction of residential properties. These architects could be self-employed or work for large architect firms.
Some of the firms that specialize in residential architecture projects include:
- Noble Johnson
- Klopf Architecture
- Cummings Architecture
- Wyrick Residential Design
- Purple Cherry Architects
Interior architect
Interior architects are skilled in the design of interior spaces in commercial and residential buildings. Interior architects are concerned with optimizing the use of available space with a focus on functionality and aesthetics. They look into various aspects including positioning of windows, doors, walls, light fittings, and other fixtures to not only meet the décor needs of the client but to ensure the interior comply with legal and safety requirements.
Green architects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for architects with sustainable or green design skills is expected to rise. Energy conservation and green building materials are already crucial aspects of the design and construction of residential and commercial projects. A study published by Dodge Data and Analytics revealed 47 percent of participants have a goal of going green with 60 percent of projects by 2021. The top green architectural firms include:
- ZGF Architects
- James Corner Field Operations
- Michael Maltzan Architecture
Landscape architect
The demand for landscape architects as per the BLS data is set to grow at a rate of 6 percent, which is higher than the average for other architect jobs. Landscape architects design public parks and outdoor spaces of commercial, recreational, residential areas. Landscape architects are well-versed in environmental restoration, stormwater management, and sustainable design.
The typical roles and responsibilities of landscape architects include:
- Meeting and coordinating with clients, building architects and engineers to understand the project requirements
- Prepare site plans and cost estimates
- Plan and coordinate land features
- Provide graphic representations of the project with the use of CADD (computer-aided design and drafting).
- Choose landscaping materials
- Evaluate environmental reports on energy usage, drainage, and land conditions
