Building design is the design of architectural exterior/interior spaces, engineered elements and shelter design. A building designer, architect, or building engineer may produce designs for all types of buildings in small projects while larger projects will often need other engineers and consultants in structural, mechanical and electrical engineering. As building projects are getting larger and more complex, modern trends in building design need professionals trained broadly in many disciplines.
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Occupations
Draftsperson (documenter)or(Draftsman)
A draftsperson or documenter is someone who has completed a certificate or diploma in drafting, and is generally employed in a drafting office or architectural firm. Initially, they begin as a trainee, doing odd jobs in the office, and drawing up working drawings (floor plans/elevations/sections) from sketch plans of designs generally designed by those higher up in the ranks. As they work their way up and develop more experience, they eventually become a draftsperson (sometimes known as a documenter). The type of work involved at this level can be anything from design to the documentation of projects. A draftsperson is generally someone who is not a registered building designer, and who works under one. Some draftspersons, after gaining a few years experience, will proceed to become a registered building designer, and either become self-employed, or start their own drafting office.
Building designer
Building designer is the term used in the United States and Australia for people involved in the design of buildings who are not registered architects. In Australia anyone may legally call themselves a building designer in the broad sense, however, the official term 'Building Designer' is recognised as describing a person who is registered with the various state bodies as being suitably experienced, qualified and holding the required indemnity insurance to design low rise structures. The majority of residential buildings in Australia are designed by a Building Designer As in Australia, many of the states within the United States have exemptions in the Business and Professions Code allowing persons to design residential buildings and light commercial buildings without having an architectural license, given certain guide lines. Those who have chosen to specialize in that discipline are legally allowed to call themselves Building Designers. Building designers are also commonly known as residential designers due to the fact that many of the people in this field specialize solely on Residential Design and Residential Remodeling. Formerly there existed a National Certification for Building Designers in the United States, which provided legal standing, but this has since been removed due to the lobbying of the Certified Architectural portion of the Industry, specifically the AIA. However, in the state of Nevada, a specific license for residential design has been re-established. Because the focus of a building designer's practice may primarily be residential in nature, this particular class of design professional may or may not have the same or similar qualifications and experiences as registered architects. Building and residential designers in the United States seeking credentialing for their skills may qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by the National Council of Building Designer Certification. Those who have successful passed the NCBDC exam are given the title Certified Professional Building Designer (R).
Architect
In Australia an architect usually has attended university for 5 years and has obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree (B.Arch.). In addition they must be registered with their state's architecture registration board. In order to be admitted to the Register they (typically) must have a minimum of 2 years experience (apprenticeship) under the guidance of a Registered Architect, after which they must take and pass an exam.
Thus it should be noted that technically there is no such thing as an Australian Architect, any more than there is such a thing as an American architect. In both countries, the regulation of architects is done state by state. You may be registered in Texas or Queensland as an architect, but you in breach of the Business & Professions Code if call yourself an architect in New South Wales or New York. The title 'architect' is strictly regulated. However in Australia the work of an architect is not regulated. It is up to local Municipal Building Certifiers, engineers and, indirectly, clients to verify that a structure is compliant with all appropriate Codes and Regulations.
Building engineer
Building engineers would normally have an accredited academic degree with a concentration in building engineering from a recognized university. The completed degree may be designated as a Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science depending upon the university. Building engineers are trained in all phases of the life cycle of a building and develop an appreciation of the building as an advanced technological system that encompasses many sub-systems and their individual components, and understands the building itself as a large integrated system. Technical problems are identified and appropriate solutions found to improve the performance of the building in areas such as:
- Energy efficiency, passive solar engineering, lighting and acoustics;
- Construction management;
- HVAC and control systems; Indoor air quality;
- Advanced building materials; building envelope;
- Earthquake resistance, wind effects on buildings, computer-aided design;
- Lighting design to achieve adequate illumination without energy wastage or over-illumination;
- Noise mitigation design to achieve acceptable interior sound levels.
Market share
- In Australia: Civic buildings make up a very small amount of buildings in Australia, followed by Commercial and Industrial, and then by Residential, which takes first place as occupying most of the building market. Architects generally get around one quarter of the residential market in Australia (the higher priced buildings) and Building Designers get 3 quarters (lower priced buildings)
Related occupations
- Interior designer
- Landscape architect
- (Various building industry related trades)
External links
- American Institute of Building design
- Building Designer Association of Australia
- Building Designer Association of NSW
- Investigating the Australian Architects' Acts
- National Council of Building Designer Certification
- Review of Legislation Regulating the Architectural Profession
- Architect or Building Designer - Who Do You Choose?
- NSW Architects Registration Board
