architecture practice

The architecture industry has grown over the past few decades, and now there are more architects than ever before. But, with more architects come many barriers to entry for new professionals. The professional landscape is changing, and those who want to stay at the top of their game must stay up-to-date on all these changes. So, as an architect, how do you know what to do with your practice? You may have a few ideas in mind, but you are not always going to implement them. Thus, this article explores 5 ways architects can improve their practices and give some practical advice for each one.

Step one: 

Increase the workforce. The first thing to do is find more people interested in architecture and work for your practice. You want to have a more extensive base of employees from which you can choose, rather than taking whoever is available. It may take some recruiting on your part. But it will pay off in the end if you put forth effort into finding new employees with skills that match what’s needed for your business.

Think about this step as building up a team that is already qualified. Instead of training a staff when they are hired, it takes time away from other projects.

Step two: 

Use technology. Technology has changed so much over the past few years, and it’s only going to keep changing. You have an opportunity here to use these new technologies to better our practices and make them more efficient. The first thing you can do is integrate a cloud-based file storage system into your workflow. This will allow for easier sharing of documents with colleagues, clients, or other parties that may apply to the project at hand.

The next step would be using digital design software like SketchUp Pro or Autodesk Revit. This will enable you to work on projects having no physical models around.

Step three: 

Be selective about who you take jobs from. As an architect, sometimes some people will come to you with a job offer, which might sound great on paper. But when you try to find out more about the project, it makes little sense. Those jobs are ones you would pass up. There’s no point in taking them because they’ll take away valuable time for other projects or will be too much of an inconvenience to work around.

Step four: 

Try new things! As an architect, working from home or having office space is vital for many reasons. For instance, creativity and productivity, so if you can’t have one now, what are you going to do? The answer is simple! Get creative and let yourself explore your surroundings (whether inside or outside). Invest also in different furniture such as standing desks or drafting tables. These things will help you think differently and be more creative with your work.

Step five: 

Learn from mistakes. As an architect working on a project, there are bound to be some errors in the design. But that doesn’t mean they have to stand! A rule for this is if you make a mistake too many times, then you should take the time to learn how not to do it again. Use computer software such as AutoCAD or SketchUp Pro. This way, next time around, those issues won’t happen again because you’ll know what not to do.

One of the most critical decisions an architect can make is what type of certification to pursue. Certification has become one of the most significant factors in what architects are paid. Also, what clients look for when hiring professionals. Architects need to know that certification doesn’t mean how much you know. But also, what types of skills you have mastered. One way architects can improve their practices is by pursuing TOGAF certification. What is TOGAF certification? To put it simply, TOGAF stands for The Open Group Architecture Framework. This framework guides enterprise architecture planning and development. It has a strong focus on IT governance, security, and risk management issues.

Final Thought

Learning these five ways architects can improve their practices can lead to more efficiency. Also, it can lead to better design choices and higher levels of job satisfaction.

What’s more, to continue in the fast-paced world of architecture, architects must look for ways to improve their practices. Luckily, there are a few things that can help them keep up with new trends and technology! The five tips listed above will ensure they’re ahead of the game no matter what comes next.

By Anurag Rathod

Anurag Rathod is an Editor of Appclonescript.com, who is passionate for app-based startup solutions and on-demand business ideas. He believes in spreading tech trends. He is an avid reader and loves thinking out of the box to promote new technologies.