Steven Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Here's the deal. My nephew is 14, a freshman in high school and wants to be an architect. He has wanted to do this since he was about 5 and has always drawn out fairly intricate, yet amateurish plans to just about anything he's done. I used to take him on job sites with me so he could see residential and commercial construction projects during various phases from apartments to million dollar homes to strip malls, ect.. He also shows alot of attention to detail, so I think he's pretty serious. I bought him a nice drafting table and some basic design tools (protractors, french curve, straight edges, ect) for Christmas. My question is: what else that I wouldn't normally think of should I look into and where could I find these things? I bought everything at Office Depot so far, but I'm sure they're not the be all, end all of architectural supply. I see architects building scale model productions of their designs. What do they use and where could I get ahold of some? I have had several programs that he has used before. Are there any particular software programs that are better than others? Last- what classes should he focus on as electives in school? I told him to focus on math and graphic design classes, but what else should he consider? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillLearnin Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE!!! I myself am heading down that very path. I am a senoir in college working on a Civil Engineering degree. Your nephew should focus very heavily on math and physics. They are the basis of every class I have taken. As for programs. He needs to learn AUTOCAD. Every engineer I know uses it and I wish I knew more about it than I do, but that is one thing I am working on. I hope this helps and wish him the best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rifleman25 Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE!!! Sorry I'm a chemical/fluid engineer in an oilfield. I'm of no use on this one. I had to know geology, chemisty, physics, and a host of other things I haven't had to remember since college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE!!! When I was working and had my own construction company, I taught myself how to use Autocad! That was a very dumb way to do it! Have him go to a good school that teaches CAD type programs. It is the only way to go! Wishing him nothing but the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE!!! [ QUOTE ] Your nephew should focus very heavily on math and physics. They are the basis of every class I have taken. As for programs. He needs to learn AUTOCAD. Every engineer I know uses it and I wish I knew more about it than I do, but that is one thing I am working on. [/ QUOTE ] In a nutshell there it is. The most important program in the drafting world is AutoCad. I run it on a daily basis from the architectural/ commercial stuff I do to the chemical separators and burners Im doing. This may be a bit long but Im just trying to give you all the info I can. AutoCad will never be phased out so that is defiantly a program he needs to learn. There are various different versions from the cheaper AutoCad LT to full blown AutoCad, to Architectural desktop, Mechanical Desktop, 3D, etc. Once you learn the basic version you can pretty much run any and all of them. In fact about 90% of his practical knowledge will come from real world experience but taking the classes to learn how to use Layers, scales, functions, writing lisp routines, etc will be very important. This will definitely be a college/ trade school thing. AutoCad is a bit pricey. The LT version (which is basically stripped down) is something like $700. The full versions are thousands and the Desktops (such as the Architectural Desktop)....well, lets not go there..... If he gets the chance he should also learn Solid Works. Architects wont use it much but its an up and coming 3D program, very important in the Engineering world. It does 100% sold modeling. It will only increase his value. Stuff to buy As far as drafting on a board, its not used much anymore but is a good way to learn the principle. One if not the most important thing is the pencils. Buy him a good set of Mechanical Pencils. I prefer Staedtler Mars. They have a spring function that keeps the lead from breaking. You can push straight down and the spring allows it to suck up into the pencil. The three typical sizes board drafters use are .3, .5, and .7. Each serve a different function for the drawing. They also make a bag that is filled with eraser scraps. You shake it over the drawing to keep from smudging the drawing. He will need a scale (to measure the scale of the drawing such as 1/4" = 1'-0"). These are a necessity for anyone looking at prints or drawing on the board. If he is serious about learning to draw on the board get him an eraser guard (little thin piece of metal with holes that allow him to erase small parts of the drawing without effecting the drawing). It wouldnt hurt to buy him an Aims Lettering Guide. Its a small piece of plastic that you draw text lines to keep your text uniform in size. He will need a few triangles. The only two ive ever used are the right angle (45deg triangle) and the 30/60. He will also need a straight edge. They make them in different lengths and the straight edge does not have to be any longer then the board is wide. Some drafting tables (board) have a built in straight edge. If this one does ignore that previous item. One very important thing to board drafting is the eraser. Buy him some white artistic erasers. NEVER USE PINK. Buy him a drafting template too. They have them with scaled versions of Stool, Urinals, Sinks, Doors, etc. They arent more than a couple of bucks either. All you do is line them up on the drawing and then draw around the outline. Its sounds like a lot of stuff but its really not that expensive. The highest priced thing would be either the straight edge or the combination of the mechanical pencils. Ive payed anywhere from $2 to $30 each for the Pencils. My favorite pencil ran me roughly $7. I use it for everything from art to rendering. The scale is typically a couple of bucks for a plastic one, triangles are a few dollars. It will all add up but I dont expect it to be that expensive. Most of this stuff can be bought at many different stores such as Walmart, Ridge ways, Hobie Lobby, art supply stores, etc. Just head for the art department. Artist use a lot of the same tools. Architecture is an amazing field! They are the infinite last word on just about any job site (baring the fire martial and or city). Regardless, they make a TON of money for the most part and have a lot of pull in Commercial and Major residential construction. If we had a school around here I would have my degree right now. Unfortunately I would have to move to OKC for that. Regardless, if he is serious back him. That is definitely a GREAT carrier choice. As stated above, have him take all the math he can and as soon as he gets into college have him talk to an adviser. They can set him on a Schedule with a list of classes so he doesn't end up taking a ton of stuff not needed. Ill Pm you my phone number. If you have any more question feel free to call me. Ill help in anyway possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE! Still learnin, OJR and Jeramie nailed it. Especially Jeramie. I was going to reccomend CAD. I am taking CAD in school and really like it. My future plans in life are to either become a wildlife biologist or an architect. I already took a Design & Draw for Production ( DDP ) class last year, so CAD is pretty easy. Definitely have your nephew look into classes being offered at school. If the DDP class is being offered, take that class before taking any CAD classes. The CAD classes, from what I have discovered in the past few months, is the DDP class, just drawing on the computer now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE! [ QUOTE ] My future plans in life are to either become a wildlife biologist or an architect. [/ QUOTE ] You can easily do both! I know a lot of "Moonlighting" Architects that are making a fortune working far less then the rest of us. Get the architectural degree and then pick up the classes for the Wildlife. The Architecture will offer far more jobs and loads better income. Once you finish your understudy setup an office at your house and pick and chose your jobs. Then you can do the biology. If finding a job gets tough you have one heck of a degree to fall back on. There will be a few more years associated with the duel degrees but ive seen Architects pull down 10% of total job cost meaning they were pulling in Hundreds of Thousands on new strip centers, Churches, etc. There is where pick and Choose comes in. If you have the chance to design a strip center you literally farm the work out to a Cad Drafter like me that charges X amount an hour. You mandate how the drawings will be done and once they are finished you stamp them. Independent Architects rarely do their own work after they have a few years under their belt. Most of the time its guys like me that do it and they just approve it. Thats easy "Moonlighting" money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrswtnhunt Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE! Don't know anything about architecture....just a simple registered nurse myself....but i like that you support and encourage your nephew...keep him focused on his goals and always remind him of the benefits of going to college and making something of himself...he is lucky to have you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE! Jeramie is right,he'll definately need some type of AutoCad schooling first and foremost.I don't know much about architecture,but do engineering,sheet metal design,and trailer layouts. Learning to use a 3D cad program wouldn't hurt a bit.Solid works seems to be the most popular right now.Here we use Autodesk Inventor,which is good,but not near as popular as Solidworks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfletch7441 Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE!!! [ QUOTE ] I myself am heading down that very path. I am a senoir in college working on a Civil Engineering degree. Your nephew should focus very heavily on math and physics. They are the basis of every class I have taken. As for programs. He needs to learn AUTOCAD. Every engineer I know uses it and I wish I knew more about it than I do, but that is one thing I am working on. I hope this helps and wish him the best of luck [/ QUOTE ] I'm doing this very same thing, and agree %100. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted November 10, 2006 Report Share Posted November 10, 2006 Re: Hey architects/engineers/designers... JERAMIE!!! Steven, sent you a PM!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.