Becoming An Architect By Lee Waldrep

From the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House, to the Guggenheim Museum and the Falling Water House, architects design fully functional masterpieces that catch the attention of tourists, critiques, and even future architects. To me, architects have more interesting and rewarding careers than art professors and have the capability to turn their creativity into works that are utilized and admired by many. In Becoming an Architect by Lee Waldrep, architects are defined as “professionals trained in the art and science of building design and licensed to protect public health, safety, and welfare, (that) transform these needs (of places for use) into concepts and then develop the concepts into building images than can be constructed by others”

In an interview, Frank Gehry, an experienced architect and designer of computer programs for architects, remarked that “(architects have) less and less responsibility; the contractor becomes the leader” (qtd in Bergeron). To be more self-sufficient, present and future architects may also need to take on the responsibilities of a contractor. In the field of architecture, many clients are now preferring the use and practice of “green buildings,” or “energy conscious designs,” which use natural systems for heating and cooling (Waldrep 298-299). I find these changes in the responsibilities of an architect to be intriguing signs of progressive movement in the career field that will continually provide entertainment. An architect’s profession quickly begins with exciting advancements whereas an art professor’s ladder to achieve their title can take up to 10 years (“College”). This extensive journey implies the need for patience, which I would not be able to endure for such a lengthy and uninteresting process. According to Amanda Allison, many art teachers and professors are not recognized, and art courses “tend to be the first subject eliminated when there are budget cuts” as there are limited availabilities to grow in the career (Allison; “Art Teacher Careers”). This struggle does not seem promising as there appears to be little reward in becoming a professional art teacher. While there are some options to advance in the career (Allison), the outlook and respect gained does not positively coincide with prior efforts. As opposed to the limitless possibilities for the outlook of an architect, the few and unimaginative opportunities for an art professor to develop in the profession make it seem dull and unattractive to take part in as a lifelong