How do you become an Architect?
Architects often come to the role through a STEM degree, and then experience a desire to work on the bigger picture rather than one specific part. There is, however, no specific academic route to becoming an Architect. Jacob, for example, started his career through an apprenticeship before going on to complete his studies. “Although I now have a degree from the OU, what kick-started my career in architecture was asking the right questions,” he says.
The range of access points means there’s not really a single technical profile for an Architect. “I’ve got a jigsaw puzzle of the different Architecture capabilities we need, and I’m looking for all sorts of differently shaped pieces to complete it,” says Paul. If your skills lie in Engineering and you don’t feel like you’re ready to make the leap to Architect just yet, you can join Zühlke in that capacity and grow. There’s an Architect accelerator program in place within the business, master classes and skills shares that allow aspiring Architects gain the abilities they need to step into the role with confidence.
If you want to become an Architect, you can get going by simply asking the right questions. “Say you’re working on one part of a project – go and find the person who can give you the big picture and talk to them about what’s going on,” suggests Paul.