Main Responsibilities Of An AIA Architect Running Their Own Firm
Laurie's dual role encompasses "meeting with clients" to develop schematic designs, coordinating with consultants to obtain building permits, and overseeing construction to ensure adherence to design intent, alongside administrative tasks. The career also involves a significant teaching component at UCLA and UC Berkeley, focusing on CAD and design fundamentals for aspiring designers.
Project Management, Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Design Technology
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Laurie Friedman
Architect
AIA Architect
University of California, Los Angeles and University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Master of Architecture
Architecture, Interior Design, Fine Arts, Music
Architecture, Construction & Design, Consulting & Related Professional Services
Creative
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Collaboration with engineers and other professionals is a significant part of the job, requiring compromise and design adjustments.
2. Architects oversee the construction process to ensure the final product matches their design intent.
3. The role involves a balance of creative design, technical skills in CAD and drafting, and business-related tasks like client communication, billing, and marketing
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities within your current role?
I have two roles: licensed architect and instructor of architectural design and technology. I'll start with my work as an architect.
My responsibilities include meeting with clients to understand their architectural needs for their dream project. I then use these ideas as inspiration to produce several schematic designs with different concepts for the clients to evaluate. After meeting with them, I consolidate their preferences into one design.
At that point, I coordinate my design with consultants like structural, civil, and mechanical engineers, and sometimes an interior designer. I then put together a set of documents for the building permit and for a contractor to build from. I oversee this process, ensuring consultant work conforms to my ideas.
Sometimes consultants point out limitations, requiring me to adjust my design. We reach a compromise that can be built while maintaining the original design intent. Once we get a building permit, the project moves into construction.
During construction, I monitor the work to ensure it conforms to my design intent. Because I run my own firm, I also handle administrative tasks like billing clients, keeping meeting notes, marketing, networking, and updating my website.
I've reduced my practice over the last few years and now spend most of my time teaching design technology at UCLA and UC Berkeley. My role is to teach the next generation of designers, including interior designers, interior architects, and architects, how to use computer-aided design. This includes basic drafting and how to design spaces like bathrooms and kitchens.