As someone who has spent the past 7 years working in numerous architecture studios in Europe, I still remember how exciting it seemed to me by then to get started. In this post, I will tell you what you can expect based on what I was doing as an entry-level architect working for small and mid-size architecture studios.
I should mention that there is no one-size-fits all type of a rule for what an entry level architect should be doing. But in general, you will be working under architects who are not quite seniors/project leaders themselves, but they are somewhat mediators between you and the project leaders / senior architects.
Here are 8 activities that I was doing as an entry-level architect and what you will probably doing as well:
#1 Assisting with Drafting
This includes drawing floor plans, facades, sections, creating 3d models in Sketchup & Revit, getting comments and improving the drawings until they were good enough.
Someone might consider drafting as not significant and easy, but that’s not the case. Until you acquire the skill, it actually takes a lot of mental effort and dedication.
#2 Modeling the existing situation of the project
This is one of those important steps of the project, which no one from seniors like to do and waste their time on it. Modeling the existing situation is usually the job for interns and juniors.
For someone it might seem boring, but you do need a lot of attention to detail and being mindful. Your mistakes might mislead design decisions.
#3 Taking measurements
Going with your colleague or two to the site and taking precise measurements can be a lot of fun. You get to go out of the office and not sit at your computer the whole day. However, if the site is in poor condition (and most of them are), you might not enjoy visiting it that much.
Usually, two people go for taking measurements. One is measuring and the other is sketching/writing measurements down. The one who is sketching should repeat the number back to the one who’s measuring to avoid mistakes.
#4 Creating digital illustrations for presentation
This one might become one of your favorites, because it’s fun. Architectural illustrations can be super creative and literally, sky is the limit for what you can come up with. You can use illustrator, procreate, and even hand sketching techniques to help senior architects visualize their ideas in an outstanding way.
Here are some examples which I did while working at Architecten|en|en as an intern architect:
Nowadays, with the rising of AI there are tools like Archivinci that help you generate visualizations from a rough sketch.
In addition to those techniques mentioned above, I strongly recommend getting comfortable with Midjourney and learn more about prompt engineering.
#5 Researching
This includes doing desk research to find reference images for the coming client presentation, researching materials or researching solutions for a particular detail.
I really loved this type of tasks, because I was learning a lot along the way.
#6 Documentation Support
Helping with organizing project files and maintaining documentation might be fun from time to time, unless this is the only thing they need you for.
If that is the case, it’s time to show some initiative and willingness that you’d like to take extra responsibilities. Your early years are valuable and you should be spending them on learning as much as possible.
#7 Model Making
As a fresh graduate, you should have quite solid model-making skills. Model making takes a lot of time, and since you are an entry-level architect, your time is not as expensive as the time of senior architects. So, guess who’s doing the model?
#8 Folding the papers before project submission
Sometimes the project documentation is printed on large formats. You can’t take them directly anywhere, they need to be folded into A4 or A3. Sometimes you also need to cut the papers. Do it on a special cutting board and don’t damage the work table. That won’t be appreciated.
Once again, this task might be fun occasionally, but if this is the only thing you are doing, you need to step up and ask them for other types of responsibilities.
Conclusion
Being an entry-level architect is an exciting period of your life. You get to experiment and try out many different things to understand what you really like doing. Day-to-day life in the architecture studio sometimes includes exciting things to work on, and sometimes the type of work you get to do is not that sexy.
In any case, try to learn as much as possible and build real connections. The world of architecture is small and a nice referral will never hurt.