Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning : Guide to courses

12. Careers for Architecture, Building and Planning graduates

Table of Contents

 12. Careers for Architecture, Building and Planning graduates

 12.1. Architecture

A typical role for an architect is to head the team which designs buildings (which may consist of structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, land surveyors, property consultants and interior designers).

An architect in a small firm, however, may design buildings, document them (which takes an extensive knowledge of structures, materials and law), administer contracts, run an office and keep the business financially viable.

Many architects combine careers (architect/developer, architect/builder, architect/lawyer, architect/planner). Some enter service industries, specialising, for instance, in furniture design and manufacture or programming for computer-aided design.

 12.2. Building

Graduates in building, depending on their majors, find employment in construction or project management or in the cost management of building projects (quantity surveying). They may begin on site (often as a coordinator or construction programmer) or in a contractor's office (as a contract administrator, estimator, or cost or project planner).

As construction managers they consult with designers on how a building will be erected, plan the job and the logistics, and manage labour, materials and equipment.

As quantity surveyors they take responsibility for the financial feasibility of potential projects and, when under construction, for cost monitoring and cost control.

Building graduates also work as directors of real estate firms in sales, leasing, property management and valuation; computer systems designers; consultants in historic buildings; commercial arbitrators; commercial property and volume home building contractors; in specialist subcontracting, maintenance and renovation; and as teachers, researchers and academics.

 12.3. Planning

Planning graduates work in government agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry for Planning and Development, or for local government instrumentalities. They may also work in private practices.

Environmental planners are involved in land-use planning and management. They assess, plan and manage our resource use, such as water and energy, and develop local conservation strategies. They work as consultants, preparing environmental impact statements and assessing the economic, social and ecological effects of proposed developments. Some work as economists and environmental lawyers.

 12.3.1. Landscape Architecture

Landscape architects work with open space and natural materials such as soils, landforms and plants. They seek to understand how urban, rural and natural landscapes are evolving and the interaction between people and nature. They plan and design public areas such as malls, riversides, boulevards and parklands. They redesign and revegetate derelict parts of cities and towns, and they conserve and protect heritage gardens and historic buildings.

 12.3.2. Urban Planning

Urban planners help shape cities and towns and solve urban problems. They work to ensure that transport facilities are well located, shops and jobs are conveniently placed, houses are built away from factories, which developments should proceed, and which buildings or spaces should be preserved.

With a three-year BPD they may work in government or private industry, but most elect to study for at least four years. This qualifies them to work as accredited town planners for local councils, government departments, planning consultancies or development companies.

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