How To Become an Architectural Consultant in 5 Steps
Indeed Editorial Team
Updated June 24, 2022
Consulting is often a career option for professionals who have many years of experience and knowledge in a particular field, like architecture. Architectural consulting is an option for experienced architects who want to offer design, professional development and safety advice to other architects, construction companies or individual clients. Understanding what an architectural consultant is and what they do can help you determine if this option is right for you. In this article, we define the career path, identify key duties and provide five steps on how to become an architectural consultant.
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What is an architectural consultant?
An architectural consultant is typically an experienced architect who offers their knowledge and skills to help other architects or designers. They offer advice and guidance in architectural design, safety standards, construction techniques, aesthetics and professional development. Often, consultants work with large architectural or construction firms to help direct the design and construction teams in their efforts and provide a unique perspective on the design process. With enough experience as an architect, you can pursue a career as a consultant by learning some additional interpersonal skills and building client relationships.
Related: What Is an Architect? Everything You Need To Know
What does an architectural consultant do?
Architectural consultants have several key duties, including:
Helps develop blueprints for designs
A consultant may assist the design team with creating blueprints for an architectural project. They can offer advice on how to create a blueprint, participate in the production of blueprints and review completed blueprints for quality and accuracy. They may also help ensure that the construction team understands the blueprints and offer some direction on the construction site. Consultants might also show novice architects how to design their first blueprints and what equipment, techniques or software to use. Consultants can advice design firms on the best software for the industry or what tools they might need for more specialized designs.
Read more: What Is a Consultant?
Assists clients with planning and budgeting
Consultants also assist their clients with the planning phases of the project, which typically includes budgeting. They can help assess the cost of materials, architectural designs, labor and other factors to determine an estimate. They might also help the design team create a timeline for the project, creating milestones to measure progress and ensuring the designs follow sequential orders for structural integrity. Since the planning phase of architectural projects can be complex and require collaboration among team members, consultants might also help facilitate this collaboration and show teams how to work together.
Offers advice on aesthetic choices
An architectural consultant can also offer advice on the aesthetic design of a project. With more experience in the architectural field, they might understand certain design choices, materials or structures in a more intimate way, offering helpful advice on how to make the structure look more pleasing. For example, an architect might suggest using a stone facade for a building to provide more aesthetic value and structural support for the building. This advice can help influence how the architects or design firm works on future projects and may create a unique design style based on the consultant’s advice.
Provides professional guidance for novice architects
Consultants might also offer career advice and professional guidance for novice architects. For example, if a consultant works with a firm that recently hired a new architect, the experienced consultant can help them learn the basics of the design process, advise them on best practices and safety standards and advise on how to maximize their career in the industry. This helpful advice can help companies develop more independent and skilled architects.
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How to become an architectural consultant in 5 steps
If you want to become a consultant in the architectural field, here are five steps to follow:
1. Establish yourself in the architectural community
One of the most important steps in becoming a consultant is creating a strong, positive professional reputation in your industry. For an architect, this can mean working on specific projects, performing high-quality work or establishing connections with specific people. It’s important to give maximum effort to any projects you work on in the field to establish a reputation for quality, consistency and performance. This can help you later when you’re building a client base and want to showcase some of your achievements and work ethic.
Related: Solution Architect vs. Technical Architect: Key Differences
2. Earn a master’s degree
Typically, consultants have extensive experience and education in their field. They’re often considered masters of their discipline, so consider pursuing a master’s degree in architecture. This can help expand on your fundamental architectural skills and introduce you to higher-level architecture concepts and processes. Once you complete a master’s degree, you can include the credential on your resume and potentially impress future employers or clients while verifying your education and skill level.
3. Build a client base
Consultants typically need a strong client base to work with, especially if they work independently. If you want to work as a freelance consultant, you can start building a client base early in your career by taking additional projects or offering consultancy on projects. Focus on mastering interpersonal and networking skills and attending events where you can establish new relationships. You can build a career profile on career websites and start contacting consulting firms, businesses or individuals looking for architectural consulting services.
4. Work on larger, more complex projects
Larger, more complex design projects can help challenge your skills and improve your professional reputation, which may help you become a more valuable consultant. For example, if you design a new seawall to protect the city’s lower areas from floodwaters, your name becomes attached to something more significant. Potential clients and employers can look at that project and understand that because of your contributions, the project became possible. This can be a great conversation starter for networking and establishing new relationships.
Related: What Is a Commercial Architect? (Plus Skills and Salary Info)
5. Establish your own firm or seek employment
Consultants have the option to work independently and establish their own consulting firm or seek employment with pre-existing firms. Both options have pros and cons, so it’s important to weight these options carefully and consider what type of employment structure works best for you. If you seek traditional employment, prepare your resume and apply for open positions. If you want to establish a consulting firm, follow your state’s business guidelines and create a brand name and logo to get started.
