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Architect

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Explore Being an Architect with Keith Chambers

architectcz:Briefly describe your job.

I am the President and Senior Architect for a local architecture firm. I am also the President and a licensed Contractor for a local construction firm.

cz:How long have you been working in this field?

30 years. I started in this field assisting my uncle fixing up houses for resale. Then I started architectural drafting and design in high school, then during my college period, I worked part-time for some local architecture firms and then after college, I joined a variety of large architecture firms moving from a draftsman to a senior project manager and then to an executive.

cz:When and how did you decide to choose this career?

Eleventh grade, as stated before, I assisted my uncle fixing up houses and then in eleventh grade, I took an architecture drafting class and I was hooked. I even turned down a sports scholarship at a local college because they did not have an architecture program.

cz:What education and training did you receive before entering your field?

I have an Associate Degree in Civil Technology, Bachelor Degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering along with a Master Degree in Business Administration. All of my degrees are nationally accredited and accreditation is very important to this field.

cz:How did you begin OR What was your first job in the field?

My first job with the State of New York architecture design office. This job was after my associate’s degree. They hired me at minimum wage as nothing more than an errand boy for the senior architects. I worked for one year and before I left to go to college, I worked myself up from an errand boy to one of the main draftsmen working on a psychiatric hospital. Two of the architects gave me a recommendation to get into my university.

cz:Describe a typical day on the job?

Wake up at 6:45am. My cell phone is on from 7:00am to 9:00am for any telephone calls from contractors asking me questions relating to construction. I visit project sites between 7:00am to 9:00am. My office opens at 9:00am. Between 9:00am and 10:00am, I am coordinating the staff on the projects we need to work on today. Between 10:00am to 12:00pm, I am either doing business administration or I am designing new projects. At lunch I usually meet with new clients. Between 1:00pm to 6:00pm, I am either creating or checking construction drawings, visiting job sites, meeting with clients, meeting with city officials, meeting with contractors, creating marketing proposals, or creating budgets for new projects. Between 6:00pm to 9:00pm, not daily but periodically, I attend City or County Boards or Councils explaining my projects and receiving their approvals.

cz:What do you like most about what you do?

I like the idea of meeting clients, creating a design to meet my client’s requirements, creating drawings, and then watching the projects come to reality; then watch the people walk into the buildings and really enjoying the design.

cz:What has been the most rewarding experience so far in your career?

Knowing that some of the buildings I have designed will be around for a long time.

cz:What do you like least about your job?

The architecture day can be very long and stressful.

cz:What is the biggest challenge for you in this job?

The balance between being an artist that creates a building and a businessman running a company.

cz:What would you like to say to someone considering this career?

The architecture field is not easy but it is fun. Architects require 5-6 years of college education with a large turnover during college. Of the 100 students that started with me in the architecture major, nine of us graduated as intern-architects. All nine of us have gone on to fine careers.

cz:What are the most important personal and professional skills necessary to succeed in your field?

Professional skills: Computer, math, science, and artistic skills

Personal skills: Creative, strong personality, good communication skills, organizational skills and intelligent enough to think of creative solutions to difficult tasks.

cz:What would a person interested in entering this field have to do to get a good job in it?

A good education and the personal and professional skills stated above.

cz:What could someone who is interested in this field do to learn more about it right now?

A summer job in an architecture field; the architecture profession is an applied profession best learned by watching or assisting.

cz:Is there any general advice you would like to offer on making a career choice or on work life itself?

Choose a profession that you have a passion for but always give yourself a variety of options.

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