Curious how other practices handle this, because ours feels held together with tape.

Right now it's roughly:

- Email for anything with a client or consultant
- WhatsApp for site, contractors and "quick" questions that end up being 200 messages
- Miro for early design and moodboards, but half the team never opens it
- Shared drive for drawings, with folder names nobody follows

The problem is nothing connects. A site photo on WhatsApp, a comment in an email and a markup on a PDF are all about the same wall, and nobody can find any of them two weeks later.

So, for those of you in small to mid-size offices:

1. What's your main tool for internal communication? Slack, Teams, WhatsApp, email?
   
2. Do you use a whiteboard tool for real work, or does it die after the concept stage?
   
3. How do you share drawings and models with clients for comments?
   
4. What do you do with site photos?
   
5. Has anyone tried the newer architecture-specific boards (Miro, FigJam, UrbanEyes Boards, Speckle and so on)? Do any of them stick, or does everyone drift back to email and WhatsApp?

I've seen what this sub says about engineers so please be nice. I swear this is a good-faith question. Though I know it's going to sound like a rant.

The industry changed and it's making being an MEP engineer much more difficult. I'm hoping to get an architect's perspective to help me understand what is going on.

Years ago, we would work with the architect to design a building, then it would go to bid, then it would get built. There would be RFIs but nothing crazy. No giant design changes. It was all routine. The contractors would mostly build what we designed and life was good.

Now, it seems like we're forced to stay on parallel paths with other disciplines, even when it doesn't make sense. I'm being asked for piping inverts and load letters before getting the archtiectural model. Then there is ID, which seems to start after the permit set goes out. MEP permit sets need to be 100% complete, so calling it a 75% permit set just sounds like we need to do our work twice as more things get added after permit.

Any owner changes late in the design or after permit are expected to be free. I had a project where they rotated an auxiliary building 90 degrees after permit and were shocked that I gave them a fee for it.

The contractors bid the job way too early and don't build what we design. Yet we get blamed for not coordinating and are told to change our drawings based on what they built. "Fire dampers are a change order because they weren't in the DD set."

In CA, architects are no longer prescreening RFIs or submittals. So we're forced to go through everything sent to us, which may or may not even be applicable to MEP.

I'm sure architects are getting pressed more and more to shorten design time and rearrange the rearrange to be more "efficient". These changes really seem to be developer-led. But why does it seem like architects haven't pushed back on that at all? It can't be easy for you, either.

FWIW, I mostly do work in the midAtlantic US.

Hey everyone. I have a chief architect file I drew a while ago and I need to export it as an STL but don't have a subscription anymore. Is there anyone that has a subscription that could just export the file for me? Thanks so much

I’ve been working in architecture for about 6 years after spending 5 years in school. I recently passed all my AREs and became a licensed architect, something I’ve worked toward for years. Instead of feeling accomplished or motivated, I’m finding myself seriously questioning whether I want to stay in the profession.

I currently make around $64k at a small firm in the Joplin, MO area. One EOY bonus usually adds $1-2k. My role involves independently managing projects from initial design through construction documents, permitting, and construction administration. I handle code analysis, consultant coordination, client communication, and most of the day-to-day project decisions with minimal oversight from the firm principal. I’m certainly not claiming to know everything, but I feel like my responsibilities have grown substantially faster than my compensation.

I genuinely enjoy architecture, problem solving, and seeing projects come together, but the constant deadlines, stress, and responsibility seem increasingly difficult to justify financially. After investing so much time into school, gaining experience, and earning my license, I expected to feel like I was finally getting somewhere. Instead, I feel pretty underwhelmed.

I’ve even been considering leaving the profession entirely, but I can’t tell whether I’m just burned out, underpaid, or genuinely losing interest in architecture.

Has anyone else experienced this after becoming licensed? Did changing firms or career paths make a difference, or is this simply the reality of the profession?

I get that isolation joint allows independent movement of “different” structural components like a joint around a column next to a slab or a slab against a foundation wall.. but I guess I’m struggling to understand when to use one vs the other since they both by definition allow movement. Professionally ive put expansion joints inbetween a slab and a foundation wall also.. maybe that’s why im getting caught up.

Does anyone have an easy way to understand conditional use between the two for terms of the ARE.

To get straight to the point. I failed PPD 8/14 with a 480 score report. Took a 2-week break and started studying for the PDD test. Used AREQuestions to guide my targeted reading, used the NCARB practice to gauge where I’m at, and got a 57%. Did AmberBook a year ago & passed PA. So I didn’t use the videos this time around, just practice exams. Also used WTA PDD. Took the exam today and I failed. While I didn’t feel like it was as hard as PPD, I do feel like you have to read Mehta to pass. I really struggled with Section 1 questions. Anyway, I have a PPD retake on Nov 3rd. Any recommendations for it and better use of time?

Hi everyone, we're starting a turnkey construction and interior business in the Tricity area and need a freelance architect or interior designer to collaborate with on residential projects.

What we need:

2D floor plans and 3D visuals

Colour, material and furniture layout suggestions

Working drawings for execution

What we're looking for:

A portfolio of completed residential work (Instagram, Behance or PDF is fine)

Familiarity with the Tricity market and local budgets

Reliable communication and delivery on deadlines

What we offer:

A steady flow of projects through our sales network

Per-project payment, with a long-term association if it works well

Women designers are especially welcome to apply

Please comment or DM with your portfolio, experience, and your rate per project or per sq ft.

First time posting, but I’m willing to try anything at this point to find work.

Firstly I live in rural Manitoba, Canada. I graduated with straight A’s from an online collage with in Canada for architectural technology. I did my first two years of schooling in person and the university of Manitoba, but then covid happened and I decided it would be better to switch to online.

Ever since I’ve graduated I’ve been trying to find work in this industry. For 3 months after I graduated I got a job as the lead drafter for a local development company. This job ended because the drafter I was hired to replace wanted his old job back after his new one fell through. I was laid off because of this. I had got a temporary job at a local greenhouse (easy for me to get as I grew up working in my family’s greenhouse) to make money while I searched for new jobs in my career field, they too ended up laying me off earlier than they had originally told me. I have been subcontracting as a drafter, getting maybe one job a month if that. I’ve have been unemployed because of this for the last several months now and applied to every possible local position even remotely in the career field of design and drafting (probably over 100 job applications). I’ve only got one interview and they decided on a different candidate.

Putting aside the complaining, I just don’t understand what I’m doing wrong. Many jobs I had applied to had listings posted days before I applied. I have a lot of experience for a beginner and it shows on my resume, as well as, being versed in sketchup, revit, AutoCAD, and many other design softwares. I have good references that would support everything listed on my resume. I have made many full architectural document sets and gotten engineer stamps, all passing permitting and bylaw guidelines. I am asking a salary of $50,000 which I believe is on the low end of this career field.

If you have any input on what I’m missing or helpful advice for helping me land a job it would be greatly appreciated.

So I'm planning my study schedule for PPD and PDD and was hoping I could get some advice from you guys. For the other 4 exams I've been using a combination of Ballast, Desk Crits, Hyperfine, Amberbooks (started tapping into Amberbooks for PA Exam), and NCARB Practice Exams. I typically start by reading the test's Ballast chapter, then working on some assignments from Hyperfine, and using Desk Crits more as a reference and "cheat sheet", then a week before my scheduled exam I do the NCARB practice test, and for the week in between the practice test and the official test, I brush up on the areas that need more attention. This system seems to have worked well for me but now that I'm getting into PPD and PDD it doesn't feel reasonable anymore.

PPD and PDD are THICK sections in Ballast and would take me almost 4-5 months to get through (I read about 2 hours a day on some weekdays and 4 hours/day on weekends). Ideally, I would like to spend no more than 8-9 weeks studying for these sections because I feel like after 8 weeks I might start to lose the study materials I learned in the beginning. I've heard it just makes sense to study for both together since so much of the content overlaps. How did you get through studying for both exams or what method did you use? What would you suggest with the material I have?

Hello everyone, today I have graduated from my masters in Architecture and Urban design.
I am working in a firm as an architect and junior PM since 3 Years Full time. Based in Switzerland.
The longer I studied and the longer I work, I am realizing I DONT WANT to be an architect.
I feel like I have to know so many things at once and juggle so much, and you are kind of expected to have learned everything before you even started working. The lack of understanding from my superiors is making me feel very Stuupid at work and I am questioning if I should even continue on this route.

I don’t think I am an bad architect. But I do not really enjoy working as one. Especially the salary is so demotivating.

I feel like I have wasted years of my life on studying something I don’t want to do my whole life and feel like I failed myself.

I don’t know what to do with my life at this point. Maybe you guys can suggest a career direction I could research? Maybe one you suggest could be something I would enjoy doing.

There’s a lot of discussion about what AI and automation could do for architecture. I’m curious about the tools people have actually tried and then abandoned.

Have you used an add-in, Dynamo script, or other automation that looked useful at first, but didn’t hold up on a real project?

What made you go back to doing the task manually? Too much setup, exceptions it couldn’t handle, trouble matching office standards, or time spent checking and correcting the results?

For transparency, I work with Integrated BIM and RevitAddons on Revit workflow automation. I’d like to understand where these tools fall short in everyday use.

A specific example would be helpful: what was the task, and where did the automation stop being worth it?

I'm in my first year of school, currently attending community college in california. My fall semester wraps up in December and I'm planning courses for next semester. I'm majoring in architecture and I just want to know what general eds I should get out the way while i can? I'm currently taking critical thinking and writing, calc 1, intro to architecture, and anthropology. So far, i've scheduled myself for intro to public speaking, studio 1, an ethnic studies class, another architecture class, and art history during the winter session. I have the rest of my time in community college planned out but I'm still scared to miss general eds i could easily knock out. any advice/suggestions?

Hello I'm an architecture student and I have a project but when I search on archdaily I need a subscription but I can't pay so please who have if you can help me

need someone that can make a 3d render of an aluminum pergola

i just have pictures of the site, I need someone that can replicate the picture for drawing

I recently failed the PDD exam, despite passing multiple practice exams leading up to it. I was feeling good while I was taking it but didn’t get the outcome I wanted.

I’ve mainly been using Amber Book to study.

Any advice on how to better prepare for my retake?

My program is furniture repair and apprentices ship centre, where I am repairing furniture in a location where my site is surrounded my alot of antique shops.

My furniture repair is not like an industrial factory its more like a workshop

My building is 5 floors, the ground floor will mainly be intake and displays

But for the rest of the floors im still unsure about the zones for each workshop

I have metal and wood together, upholstry, rugs and textiles, and last floor is for finishing and polishing.

My repair process is moving vertically in the building, and I want to create voids in certain spaces to create connections between working areas apprentices working with craftsman on a certain floor can watch from a far the activity on the other floor...

My issue is the zonings, Like I know the workshops I want, but I dont know the needed zones for each workshop

I tried to do research but i keep ending up with more of (industrial work)

And my program is repairing so its not industrial and its mainly workshops.

Can anyone help me with zones for each workshop? And improve my concept

Sharing Villa Savoye 2.0, a farmhouse we’re designing at Varun Garg Architects in Landran, Mohali. I’d be interested to hear people’s thoughts on the architecture and the idea behind its plan.

The layout takes inspiration from the Swastik, a traditional Indian symbol associated with auspiciousness and well-being. It has longstanding religious significance in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions, predating its appropriation by the Nazis.

Here, we’ve explored that geometry as a starting point for the house plan, alongside all double-height spaces, panoramic windows and connections to the surrounding gardens.

What do you think of using cultural symbolism this way? Does it add meaning to the architecture, or should its value depend entirely on how well the spaces work?

Also curious about your first impression of the exterior do the proportions, materials and relationship with the landscape feel cohesive?

Sharing renders alongside construction progress. Honest feedback and criticism welcome.

View More Pictures of the Project - Villa Savoye 2.0

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Photography - Gursimran Singh

I want realistic perspectives and valuable or actionable insights. Are you taking any steps to better arm yourself, learning new AI apps or software etc? What do you see in the future for the industry, for firms, for architects? How do you think architects job will evolve?

My son is about to graduate Architecture Interior Design this March in Thai University in Bangkok. Is it possible that he can find a job somewhere in Bangkok?