To Become an Architect (a guide, mostly for women)

Mar 2010

By Sebastian J — Filed under: Architecture News , Women in Architecture

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“In the profession of Architecture today women currently make up about 50% of Graduate students. However, in the profession itself, licensed women practitioners make up only about 15%. Why do you think we see such drastic percentage drops? Why don’t we, women, make it to the end?”

Under this premise, the WIA (Women in Architecture) fund looks to support women to become professionals and leaders in Architecture in America.

They recently published the book “To Become an Architect (a guide, mostly for women)”, a guide for new students, and interns, along with personal insight from Angie Brooks (Pugh+Scarpa), Anne Fougeron (Fougeron Architecture), Dawn Merkes (Group 4 Architecture) and more, to raise money for this fund.

You can buy the book right here.

Cite:
Jordana , Sebastian . "To Become an Architect (a guide, mostly for women)" 31 Mar 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/54818>

Comments (14)
Tweets (13)
Links to this entry (5)

lisa says:

I had a kid… and architects don’t really make great money.

# March 31, 2010 at 16:29

user says:

ha. i was going to say babies.

# March 31, 2010 at 16:38

a r c h i T E X T says:

RT @archdaily To Become an Architect (a guide, mostly for women) http://archdai.ly/dbpTEB http://fb.me/vA1P5avt

# March 31, 2010 at 17:05

Michael Janzen says:

I really don’t want to knock on this profession… I have a great deal of respect for architects… and I’d like to see more good design in the world… but we’re at a weird point in history where there is a bit of uncertainly.

Will big business get bigger? Will the middle market and middle class be reinvigorated with localization? Will rapid economic growth continue for decades to come? How will changes in energy supplies and options change how and what we can do in terms of building or rebuilding?

In other words will independent architects have many paying clients? There is definitely a need for good design, but will economics support it?

My humble advice is to learn as much as you can that is practical and you’ll have more to fall back on. Increased diversity improves sustainability in skills, economics, and eco-systems… so hedge your bets before betting a bunch of time on a university degree that may or may not give you what you’ll need.

# March 31, 2010 at 18:30

Thiefsie says:

I would have thought it would be pretty obvious really…

Architecture is one of the worst professions for women.

Long hours, male-dominated, experience based, not good for leaving for maternity and coming back where you left off, largely dominated by trades people at construction stage – who are stereotypically vulgar (at least on everything I work on), low salary, high stress, lack of role models (how many are notable directors of companies?!?)

# March 31, 2010 at 19:26

IKB says:

As a high school student it was not a matter of having female leaders in the field as role models. What inspired me to pursue architecture was meeting women who had successful small practices. They were good mothers and members of the community.

Now that I’m done with school and entering the field I could not be happier that I chose a path that gives me the skills to go “big” or to stay small and have a family.

There will always be a place for small practices in architecture, I think. If anything, I think architecture is one of few professions which will always have the option to stay small or go big. For me, this makes it a great career for women.

Not to mention it’s kind of bad a** to be a female architect.

# April 1, 2010 at 15:00

:the Administrator says:

Let’s see, in the US:

Liz Diller, of Diller Scoffidio + Renfro

Lise Anne Couture, of Asymptote Architecture

Jeanne Gang, of Studio Gang

and, of course, our ‘Collaborators’:

Angie Brooks, of Pugh + Scarpa (AIA 2010 Firm of the Year)

Anne Fougeron, of Fougeron Architecture

Dawn Merkes, of Group 4 Architecture… the others, plus many more that work hard, are professionals, but unknown to the masses.

All are women, all are leaders, all are in the US.

… this is the reason for all of this. We need more women leaders in the profession.

Join Us !

~ WIA ( Women in Architecture ) fund

# March 31, 2010 at 19:36

NDS says:

@Michael “There is definitely a need for good design, but will economics support it? ”
Michael, its at a point where the economy cannot support design period. Regardless of the definition of good. Architects primarely work in the private market sectors, not all, but that is where the “good” design is at. Until things flow again, the ebb is deep. So women please, come join us and stand in line for your unemployment check.

Because the profession is drastically different than school?

# April 1, 2010 at 11:07

template says:

perhaps women don’t “make it to the end” because they choose not to.
This is not a question of lacking rights or opportunities. Architecture is a level playing field for men and women alike.

Even maternity leave is a choice. I have seen women principles who have children without missing a day of work (In this case, delivered on a weekend, and was back at work on Monday).

# April 1, 2010 at 11:53

-1

jane says:

“In this case, delivered on a weekend, and was back at work on Monday…”

WTF its child birth!!!! not a botox injection or wart removal!!!!! why can’t we get out of the 90 hr week mentality… our profession is based at improving/protecting humanity and its culture. But our profession lacks its own… so sad.

# April 2, 2010 at 11:49

arc says:

I feel sorry for that baby. What a horrible mother. People seriously need to get their priorities in line.

# April 25, 2010 at 23:35

tom dylan says:

template, i find your comment incredibly ignorant.

http://www.architecture.com/TheRIBA/WhatTheRIBADoes/Policy/EqualityAndDiversity/Research.aspx

This is a huge issue the industry should be concerned about. There are many accounts of unequal pay and opportunities for women in architecture and its good to see a publication highlighting this.

# April 1, 2010 at 13:16

Rupesh Jamkhindikar says:

I think it is not an issue of why less women as professionals. The profession is tough and needs loads of patience and hardwork with a lot of uncertainty. And most important is consistency in this. For women who need to take care of a family and children its tasking to stick to architecture.

I know many women who practice architecture as passionately but yes it turns to be a male dominated profession and with huge money involved “BIG” men find it hard to rely of womens professional abilities. I personally think women are more empowered but its just the outlook in our profession.

The risk is huge, future is uncertain and if u make it big as an Architect its mainly by fluke.

But trust me guys the rewards are unmatched if you make it big. In no other profession you mite see bunch of professional work their a** out just to make your visualization come true.

I love it anyways and think women should be looked at as more able professionals.

# April 1, 2010 at 13:30

Riddhi says:

one aspect- Many men are so pervert, they lack respect for women. They take undue advantage when we seek their help. Guess manners have to be taught from college level? It is difficult for women to survive in such an unsafe scenario! But guess we women have to take action, not sit back but to go out and fight.. its a war!

# March 8, 2012 at 13:18

4:42 AM Apr 1st

ilaria defilippo

RT @archdaily: To Become an Architect (a guide, mostly for women) http://archdai.ly/dbpTEB

11:09 AM Apr 1st

the citylab

To Become an Architect (a guide, mostly for women). A new book from WIA.

http://j.mp/aBhaOL

#archdaily

5:13 PM Apr 1st

Helen Crawford

Im in the 15% but have babies too..1 answer 2 why.@archdaily http://bit.ly/cBA52d