What Can You Do With an Architecture Degree?

4 min read

Education & Career Trends: December 26, 2023
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS


Depending on your interests, there are a variety of architectural specialities to choose from.

Excerpts are taken from an article published on prospects.ac.uk.


Architecture professionals design structures for many purposes. They can build factories, design landscapes, or renovate homes to include climate-friendly measures. Architects use technical skills and creative artistry to design functional and attractive projects.

Why Pursue a Career in Architecture?

Architects are creative problem-solvers who enjoy creating structures and designs that increase efficiency and optimise spaces for communities, homeowners, and businesses. These professionals visualise projects based on client specifications and create plans and blueprints to realise those visions.

Architecture professionals need time management, communication, and mathematical skills. They must also work well in leadership roles and be comfortable adapting to changing styles and regulations.

10 Types of Architects

Depending on your interests, there are a variety of architectural specialities to choose from. Several different types of architects include:

1. Audiovisual Architect

Audiovisual architects or engineers focus on custom audio and visual entertainment systems. Those in this role may collaborate with building architects and structural designers to design, build and install audiovisual equipment in commercial, industrial and residential settings. They typically hold at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field.

2. Building Architect

A building architect designs and plans out the elements of buildings. They work in various settings, including government sectors, public organisations and private firms. Building architects typically design private and public dwellings, complexes, educational and manufacturing facilities and even commercial plazas. They typically hold at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field.

3. Commercial Architect

A commercial architect designs and develops commercial spaces like office buildings and retail spaces. For example, they may work for an architectural firm or a business specialising in real estate management. They design projects such as shopping malls, schools, universities or apartment complexes that consider the movement of people and the purpose of the building. Commercial architects draw the designs, choose the materials and present them to the clients. 

4. Restoration Architect

Conservation or restoration architects focus on repairing and restoring older buildings and other structures to resemble their original presentation. They often collaborate with restoration projects to help preserve buildings. They conduct research and first-hand inspections to understand the historical value and significance of the building being restored.

5. Industrial Architect

An industrial architect designs structures for industrial use, such as factories or industrial parks. When developing a design, they consider their client’s industry and the materials the client manufactures in the building. They also consider the client’s needs regarding space, access and machinery. 

6. Interior Architect

Interior architects plan the interior rooms of buildings, including the location of walls, windows and doors. They also determine where to place pieces of furniture. Interior architects need to understand the nuances of human behaviour to construct environments that best serve their clients in their daily lives. They may also develop colour schemes and specify various interior finishes according to the client’s wishes and the intended use of the space.

7 Landscape Architect

Landscape architects design the landscapes of outdoor locations such as playgrounds, college campuses and community gardens. They often possess a keen knowledge of how to coordinate natural materials such as trees, flowers and other foliage with certain buildings and roads in the environment.

8. Planning Architect

Planning architects or engineers oversee structural projects’ planning, design and construction process. They develop and initiate master building plans for projects, including new constructions, renovations and restorations. Planning architects and engineers identify priorities and determine the scope of the project. They typically hold at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field.

9. Sustainable Design Architect

These architects use energy-saving techniques in their designs to create sustainable living environments. Their goal is to create environment-friendly structures and make the most of natural resources and materials. This may include designing structures for sustainable energy sources,

10. Urban Architect

Urban architects develop and oversee entire areas, such as neighbourhoods or communities. They’re extremely detail-oriented, considering everything from skylines to street layouts, even trees and shrubs. They often work in heavily populated cities with limited space.


Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?

10 Sustainability Careers That Can Make a Difference


(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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