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Back to the Drawing Board
Local architectural firm shows the ropes to prospective colleagues
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Business New Haven
11/24/2003
By: Melissa Nicefaro
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For aspiring architects, the bells and whistles of computer technology will have to wait.
And architecture students may learn nothing about how buildings are built until well into their schooling.
Just a handful of Hamden High School students attended a career day Nov. 6 at Silver Petrucelli & Associates' Whitney Ave. office, but those who attended expressed little doubt that architecture is their true calling.
First and foremost, "Make sure that the program you're looking at is accredited," advised architect and president of the firm, Bill Silver. Many colleges and universities offer courses in architecture, but not all are accredited institutions. Connecticut has two accredited universities: Yale and the University of Hartford (see accompanying article).
Stephen Smith, 17, a senior at Hamden High, is still looking at colleges. He was not discouraged with the advice offered by the architects.
"Be ready for a lot of work," Dean Petrucelli, vice president at Silver Petrucelli, said.
Architect Dave Stein agreed, noting that many architectural students drop out of the program in college because they don't anticipate the intense work. "You have to crawl before you run, then all of a sudden, you're sprinting to get a thesis done."
Smith is ready for the intense work. He wondered how job opportunities are and what his employment outlook might be.
"It depends on the economy," the architects agreed.
"If you can move around and you don't mind going to other states, the opportunities might be better in a time when Connecticut is a little skinny," Silver said.
Smith is at least five years from that point, but he has been educationally preparing at Hamden High for a few years.
In terms of course work, pre-calculus is recommended for those students pursuing careers in architecture, though it is not required. Physics and environmental sciences are not critical, but are a feather in your cap, according to Silver. Portfolios, even of high-school work, are required.
"Schools love to see your ability to communicate visually," Silver explains. "As lousy as you think your sketches and renderings are, keep them. Schools want to see your portfolio almost as much as your high school grades."
Before having the students break off with architects to see what their daily work entails, Silver described the dimensions of the industry.
"More than three-quarters of architectural firms in the U.S. are run by single architects or two-person teams," Silver said. Silver Petrucelli has 11 architects and is considered a mid-sized firm.
Large architectural firms - like New Haven's Cesar Pelli & Associates, with about 80 architects - tend to concentrate more on commercial architecture, not residential.
"Mid- and large-sized firms cannot survive on residential work," Silver said.
Silver Petrucelli is currently working on an expansion plan for Orange Avenue School in Milford, and the Navy Band Expansion at the U. S. Naval Base in Newport, R.I.
But while architects use computers for the bulk of their work these days, Hamden High students were told they'd give the phrase "Back to the drawing board" new meaning.
However useful, "The computer is a rigid tool," Petrucelli explained. "It forces lines to be straight and mechanical. We want to be free-thinking first."
That's not to say computers don't have their place elsewhere in architectural life. "Draftsmen used to spend hours to produce a piece of artwork and now we need to understand what the computer as a tool is capable of doing. Computers are capable of adding not only depth, but trees and clouds, people and cars."
Silver agreed: "I have respect for kids who spend time at a drafting table with a pencil, paper and ruler."
"Save that work," he advised. "Schools and architects look at that because it shows talent and by looking at your drawings, we can judge an individual instantly."
The Career Day program was developed and sponsored by the Connecticut chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CT) to provide students with a better understanding of career opportunities in architecture and the profession's educational requirements.
The visiting students toured the firm's office, inspecting drawings, models and computerized designs being prepared for a variety of projects. They learned about the nature of architectural practice, were given copies of the requirements for a degree in architecture, and gained an understanding of the opportunities that exist in the profession. The students also received a brief explanation of the internship and testing process required to become a licensed architect.
Students were told that being an architect is more than designing pretty buildings. There is an ethical standard at the same level as that in medicine and law, Silver explained.
"You have to be able to say that you have done everything in your power to make the sure the building is safe, even if it is contrary to a client's wishes."
There's a long road between a high school senior and architectural integrity. But it's never too early for aspiring architects to start working in related fields. High school students interested in architecture are encouraged to work summers for contractors, developers and architects.
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