You may think that becoming an architect in Maui is simply a degree and a few hard skills, but there is much more to it than that.
In many ways, pursuing a career in architecture is similar to becoming a doctor or lawyer. It means many years of study, practice, and an internship under the auspices of an experienced architect, as well as testing and licensure, depending on what state you’re working in.
While skills like math and analytical thinking are useful in many careers, architects need a more specific skill set. Like any degreed professional, architects need a wider range of skills to create and design structures for their clients.
Math & Science
While most people think of an architect in Maui as a person making drawings, math and science are essential skills that support the drawings.
An architect’s skill set is a combination of:
- Algebra
- Engineering
- Geometry
- Physics
- Programming
All these skills converge to create safe and practical working structures, from residential homes to commercial buildings. It’s also important to understand the weaknesses and strengths of different building materials, and their ability to withstand weight under stress. Features like energy efficiency and hurricane- or earthquake-proof buildings are particularly important in a place like Maui.
Design Skills
Design is another important skill for an architect. Different from the math/science skills, drafting and drawing also require an understanding of aesthetics. Part of this also requires an understanding of the art of architecture, as well as different forms of architecture.
As important as drafting, drawing, design concepts, and innovation are, it’s also important to have an understanding of:
- Artistic skills
- Conceptualization
- Creative thinking
- “Design-to-delivery”
- Innovation
- Industrial design
- Visualization
These additional skills are what help you bring an idea into reality.
Business Skills
What does it cost to build a residential or commercial building in Maui? Can you build on the beachfront, or around agricultural lands? Can your client legally add an ohana to their current property? What do you do about unpermitted work on a house the client wants to remodel?
Whether or not an architect opens his or her own firm, other business skills are also important, such as:
- Communication and client relations
- Collaboration
- Leadership and management
- Financial skills—costs and budgeting
- Project management and scheduling
- Business plans
- Legal knowledge—zoning and building codes, planning, permits, and other important information to know before designing anything
Because everything is interrelated, even the best architects need these “soft skills” to be successful.
Technology Skills
While some may prefer to create drawings by hand, most architectural work is done on a computer with programs such as AutoCAD (computer-assisted drawing.) Basic designs may start on paper but are eventually created in a program. This means an architect needs tech skills to create the most effective and thorough drawings.
In addition to AutoCAD, an architect must learn:
- Revit
- Modeling
- CAD
- Architectural rendering
Technology lets architects create drawings better and faster than before, and make changes much easier than with hand-drawn plans.
Call Pro Draft For All Of Your Architectural Design Needs
Interested in remodeling your existing home or commercial property? What about building a new one? Let Pro Draft help with architecture, drawings, blueprints, permits, and everything else. We’re happy to answer all of your questions before construction starts and throughout the process. We’ll work to make sure your project is done to your specifications and your needs.
Call Pro Draft today at (808) 579-9050 or 1-800-499-4699 from the Mainland
