Are you a client who is curious about how your architect spends his or her day?
We caught up with Corey Solum, AIA, a Principal Architect who works at Think Architecture to learn what a day in the life at an architecture firm is like.
There Is No Typical Day In An Architect’s Life
Every day is different, according to Corey. An architect must wear many hats and complete a variety of tasks every single day.
“It’s pretty unique,” says Corey. “It’s very challenging and a lot of fun at the same time. I manage a lot of projects but I’m typically in the office about 80% of the time. When I’m not in the office, I’m at job sites or sitting in various contractor’s offices or I’m working to get permits at the city or county government offices.”
An architect might be dealing with the city for the first hour of the day, acquiring or researching necessary permits for a project. Then they might do design work for the next two hours, drafting up documents. Later, they may schedule a meeting with you or do initial consultations with new clients.
“There’s a lot of research and communication involved,” said Corey. At Think Architecture, there is an emphasis on communication and transparency with clients, so an architect will constantly be updating you on your project status or showing you design versions.
Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected some of the operations. However, at Think Architecture, remote meetings were already very common. There are a lot of digital meetings like Zoom and GoToMeeting, but since many clients were out-of-state or remote already, there wasn’t much change in how the architects at Think Architecture corresponded with clients, contractors, and government agencies due to the pandemic.
What An Architect Does At Client Meetings At Think Architecture
Clients may feel apprehensive about working with architects and a little unsure of how the process works, especially if it’s their first time working with an architect on a residential or commercial project.
“We’re very collaborative,” reassures Corey. “While none of the architects that work here at Think Architecture work exactly the same, the one thing we do is communicate well, both here inside the office, with each other and outside with our clients and contractors.”
If you contact Think Architecture, your first point of contact will be with the Marketing Coordinator who will ask you a series of questions and match you with the architect who best fits your project scope, design needs, and style of working.
Think Architecture is adaptive, so a client who doesn’t feel comfortable meeting in-person can interface with their architect online through Zoom calls or other mediums. In-person meetings can be conducted on-site or at Think Architecture’s offices.
At a client meeting, your architect will walk you through a series of questions to discover your vision for your project. Corey says, “It’s our job to take your ideas, magnify them, and give you something you never thought about.” On interior design and our architecture projects, the architectural designers at Think Architecture listen first and ask a lot of questions. “We really want our clients to feel comfortable communicating and asking us questions about our process,” he says.
Once the architects at Think Architecture have your answers and understand your vision, the project scope, and know the budget, they get to work planning and researching everything the project needs – from zoning and permits to whether the site needs restorative work if it’s been contaminated.
“We don’t just sit and draw all day,” Corey laughs. “We’re a little bit of Jacks of all trades. But one thing that sets Think Architecture apart is that we try to be more comprehensive and complete than most firms and include everything the owners need.”
Why It’s A Good Time To Be An Architect
Architecture is an old profession that dates back to ancient times when people first built public structures and it’s evolved. Now, the architecture industry is utilizing cutting-edge technology to make buildings stronger and safer than ever. Styles are being modernized and updated, zoning laws and regulations changed, energy and materials efficiency is a huge focus and buildings are getting smarter and smarter every day. Architects are always working to stay on top of their field and complete a lot of continuing education to stay abreast of the latest developments.
“It’s a good time to be an architect,” says Corey. “I’ve been doing this a long time. There’s so much opportunity and enjoyment in what we do. It’s very rewarding to create something for a client and have them be happy with it. What you’ve created at the end of the day makes it very rewarding.”
It’s not for the faint of heart, he says but his enthusiasm for helping his clients is contagious. He is excited to help clients develop their vision and exceed all of their expectations.
“There’s a lot of work. To succeed, you must feel comfortable with being diverse. There’s so many things you can do as an architect and you have to be pretty flexible.”
Work With The Architects At Think Architecture
Now that you have an idea of how the architects work at Think Architecture, give us a call. The architects at Think Architecture each have a wide range of experience, and many specialize in different types of projects. Visit our portfolio.
Whether your project is a large high-rise multi-family residence or a custom-designed family home, a municipal building, or a large corporate office—there is an architect at Think Architecture who has the experience and background that will match your specific project.
Call for a consultation today at (801) 269-0055.
Interested in joining Think Architecture? Call or submit your resume and portfolio today.