

Thorough knowledge of codes and zoning regulationsĬoordination skills: consultants, schedule, construction administration, etc. Proficiency in applicable BIM and CAD software(s).Ībility to lead and guide the production of construction documents Some of the common qualifications sought in a Project Architect include: While a team effort, the PA is heavily relied upon to ensure the quality, accuracy, and professionalism of the instruments of service and the facilitation of the final architectural product. Overseeing the delivery of a project is one of the most important responsibilities within the practice of architecture. The duties of the Project Architect are pretty regular across firms. However, while technically inaccurate, some firms may use the term “Project Architect” to merely refer to a project team member who is not a licensed architect (sometimes this is for billing reasons) who would otherwise be called a “ Designer.” Qualifications and responsibilities A notable difference tends to be the greater years of experience, an architectural license, and the level of responsibility. Similar to a Job Captain, the Project Architect moves the firm’s projects forward, coordinates with consultants, and realizes all of the instruments of service agreed upon in the contract. This individual can also oversee the construction administration of a project if the client has retained the firm for such services.
#Staff architect definition professional#
On a fundamental level, the Project Architect is a licensed professional who oversees the development of the design of a project (and can often collaborate with a design principal or principal-in-charge) along with the production of the construction documents. On a fundamental level, the Project Architect is a licensed professional who oversees the development of the design of a project along with the production of the construction documents In this context, a PA will typically report to a PM, who is in charge of the broader strategies of the project and the communications between the firm and the client.

Since we are exploring the individual role of the PA in this article we will assume an organizational structure that employs separate professionals to each of these respective roles. Normally these services include administrative responsibilities as well as technical responsibilities.” With this definition in mind, it’s important for us to start by acknowledging the tendency for some firms to combine the PA and PM roles, having one individual fulfill the duties of both designations. Let’s look at what this role entails, what firms look for when seeking such team members, and the qualifications and competencies required to operate at this level.Īccording to the Architectural Handbook of Professional Practice, a “Project Manager” is a “term frequently used interchangeably with ‘ Project Architect’ to identify the individual designated to manage the firm’s services related to a given project. We’ll look at the Project Architect (PA), the multi-faceted position that truly captures the historical and intrinsic characteristics of the architect.

This is our sixth installment of Archinect's Guide to Job Titles. Sometimes this role might overlap with that of a Project Manager (PM), and sometimes they are one in the same, both topics we’ll discuss in this piece. Project Architects are typically tasked with the technical delivery of a project: leading the production of the construction documents, ensuring its quality, coordinating with consultants, leading an internal team of design professionals, and a number of other duties key to the development and delivery of a given project. Today we move to the Project Architect (PA), a position that quite literally captures the essence of the architect.

In our study of the various job titles within the industry of architecture, we’ve so far explored a wide variety, each with its own unique qualities.
