Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning : Guide to courses

13. Careers for Architecture, Building and Planning graduates

Table of Contents

 13. Careers for Architecture, Building and Planning graduates

 13.1. 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.

 13.2. Property and Construction

Graduates in property and construction, 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.

Property and Construction 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.

 13.3. Landscape Architecture

Graduate landscape architects are in demand in government departments and agencies and in the private sector. Landscape architects are employed at all levels of government from federal, through to state and local, in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Graduates are also employed in consultancy firms that specialise in landscape architecture and planning, and in multidisciplinary firms that provide services in urban design and planning, architecture and engineering. They also work in diverse groups such as conservation agencies and development companies. Many firms consult interstate and in the Asian region as well as locally and some are linked with international companies.

 13.4. Urban 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.

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 four-year BUPD graduates are qualified to work as accredited town planners for local councils, government departments, planning consultancies or development companies.

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