Let’s be clear about something right up front, nothing can substitute actual talent, ability and the will to excel in any field, so we will skip those in this little rulebook. Instead, we will focus on what established architects always suggest to young and upcoming talent, so that they can make the most of the talent and knowledge they already possess.
Even your faculty and fellow students are going to become your sources for the present and also the future, so as much as you must study while completing your education, do pay special attention to making important contacts while you are still in architecture school.
Contacts can virtually come from any place, as long it’s relevant in some respect to your choice of career. Nonetheless, a majority of them will have to be made while you are still studying for your bachelor’s degree in architecture. By the time you finish your Master’s, you should already know everyone in the field that you should know.
Every successful architect and civil engineer in the business has his/her sources to get the materials necessary for completing projects. Unless you have your own suppliers, business won’t be easy because you will be paying a lot more than you should and you will have no way of knowing whether or not the materials are actually any good.
One business to consider sourcing materials from is WR Meadows. Their air-barriers, water proofing solutions, sealants and construction liquids are unmatched in the industry in terms of quality. Plus, as they have been in business for nearly a century (from 1926) now, their fame precedes them. Visit the official WR Meadows website to go through the details of the various category of materials they supply to contractors, engineers and architects. While you are there, don’t forget to go through some of the many case studies which they have uploaded on the site for everyone to check out and get an idea of what to expect. If you can find a supplier in them, you won’t have to worry about that aspect of your business anymore.
Where the architect arguably differs from the civil engineer is that he/she pays attention to the finer details and reduces the minute errors that might become big issues down the line. Meticulous architects are those who are successful because they always make sure everything from the size of doors and windows, to the location of the lighting fixtures and outlets, are exactly where they should be. This attention to detail is what builds a reputation for an architect.
Let the civil engineer handle the simpler aspects of the design; your job is to incorporate sophistication and a bit of complication into the structure that you are designing.
Do not confuse intricate aesthetics with impeded functionality by the way, because everything will still need to be extremely convenient and functional for users, but the art needs to have an essence of complexity to it, as no one remembers simple buildings that remind them of nothing in particular.
There are so many other rules of successful architecture that you can easily find out for yourself, but by keeping these in mind, you will have a fine start.
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